could it possibly be?

sure signs that spring is here?

-i am temporarily done with the dreadmill. no more ice, the trails are open for running
-the mooring cans are in the harbors
-it is still late when i get home from work...well at least when i work the day shift
-we have flirted with 70's, it has been in the 60's, back in the 30's
-high of 65 does not mean much with an easterly wind...
-more people are out excercising
-i have hung up the heavy winter coat
-start to think about riding outside on a more regular basis
-seeds for the outdoor vegetables this summer have been planted inside
-it is still cold outside...and it isn't summer yet...but soon

the first ride outside

today i was able to free my bike from the death grip of the indoor trainer and get outside for a long peaceful ride. i had great hopes when it said the temperature was 57 degrees. dressed myself in layers, felt nice and warm. however, i think the slight east/south/east wind was pulling some cold from the lake and dropped the temp just a little bit. needless to say, the changing scenery was far better than anything inside.

somewhere around mile 25 i paused to take some pictures of the sky line and partially frozen lake... just to prove to any naysayers that i was actually outside today riding. well here i am. and there is the frozen lake in the background. it really was a spectacular day, completely blue sky, slight wind, very relaxing.

out on my ride i ran into several of my friends who were out running and enjoying the weather as well.

maybe this is a sign of things to come, maybe the weather might actually be warming up...but then again it is still march in chicago which means that we are probably still in for another snowstorm.

time to go find some toe covers for my shoes, and maybe some warmer gloves, everything else stayed nice and toasty warm.

moving forward

the foot is feeling better. not sure exactly what was wrong, but a day or so later was walking without any pain. it has been 2 weeks now since i last run, since clearly not a bony injury with no xray findings and no pain any longer, will probably start to play on the eliptical soon.

i have been trying to make lemonade despite the minor set-back that was thrown at me. i have taken this opportunity as a chance to try to swim more and get on my bike. the mileage on both has jumped up in the last week. i swam 120 lengths last week - around 53 minutes, and it felt great. i'll just keep adding distance and time. i could feel that i was getting stronger and faster, and the times proved it. i think i took about a minute off of my 100 lap time earlier in the week, which is why i decided to add some distance. the cycling has increased too. i have been holding >20 mph on the trainer, the last two rides i have gotten in 40 mile rides. as a result, i have finally caught up with my distance from last year. unfortunately i had been lagging behind the benchmark i set last year. i am still clearly behind in the swimming department in terms of distance, but i feel better and faster in the water this year. and well running...at least i had the mileage before the brakes were applied, but hopefully that train will leave the station soon as well.

in other news it appears as if spring might be on the horizon, they are predicting 50 degree days soon...it is hard to believe when i drive into work and see the ice covered lake michigan. there is always hope, and it is still only the first week of march.

dinner time, i am hungry.