Getting Settled In

Well, it's been a few days, and I'm starting to get settled in and get into a rhythm out here. The room is coming together nicely. I'm probably half-way unpacked, but it is livable and furnished and all that. I went to WalMart a couple days ago and picked up a few cheap things, including a Bed-in-a-Bag. Comforter, sheets, pillow shams (seriously?!), and a dust ruffle (again, ?!), all for $30. The downside of buying cheap was that I didn't have a whole lot of design options. I almost (note the sarcasm) went with the design that included the broad and brightly-colored pastel stripes... but then I didn't. Instead I chose the rather large (and still rather loud) blue-green plaid. Still, it's not terrible.

Been putting in quite a few workouts already, and I'm slowly starting to adapt to the altitude, I think. People we've been talking to say it takes about a week or so to really start feeling comfortable, so I'm just taking it easy for the next few days - no high intensity. I went out this morning for a short but beautiful bike ride. The Rattlesnake area, named for the Rattlesnake Creek that passes through our neighborhood, extends north for a few miles and then just ends in open wilderness. Despite what Google Maps says, the roads end in wilderness, too. We thought there would be some nice rural routes and quiet two-lanes to ride our bikes through, but they turn into dirt paths and walking trails within five miles or so. Still, by following a number of different roads, I managed to get in almost seventeen easy miles. Good enough for an easy recovery hour of cycling.

Yesterday was a rough day, weather-wise. The weather could not make up its mind what it was going to do. The morning started cold and overcast, then it rained a little bit, just sprinkling off and on, then the sun came out and it warmed up, then the clouds returned and it cooled ten degrees in ten minutes, then we had what looked like a clear patch, so I took a chance and went for a bike ride. Within 30 minutes, though, the temperature had dropped and it had started raining, so I was a little cold on my (fast) return journey. Then it cleared up by about 6pm and, although windy and cool, was nice enough to go swimming at Frenchtown Pond in the evening. I really felt the effects of the thin air while swimming, so I went back to shore after half-an-hour or so. It didn't help that Alex and I were trying to keep up with a couple of local professional triathletes!

Weather today has been beautiful. The morning started cool but as soon as the sun came out things have warmed up into the high 60s, and it has been clear and sunny all day. In an hour or so I'll go out on what for the next few days passes as a "long"run - just five or six miles, at least until I feel comfortable at the altitude. Then I'll come back and do a short strength training workout, before finally calling it a day.

For kicks, I'm signed up for the Mountain to Meadow 14 Mile Fun Run this Saturday. I think we've already established that my idea of "fun" is probably different than yours. It should be a good way to kick-start the training, plus it should be just beautiful out there.

Well, time to start thinking about that run...