It’s been a lazy week thus far, by design. Today, for instance, I’ve done little since I got home other than eat, talk to Ed on the phone, and take a two hour nap. It’s strategic healing from the week before last.

Riding the Kokopelli on Saturday is my big goal for the year thus far. All the marbles are on the table. My training has been good. My gear is good. I’m in the best shape of my life right now, and could not I think be more prepared.

Naturally, it makes me a bit nervous. Pressure to not fuck up and all. I’ve got better at dealing with this sort of thing as I’ve matured, but still have a ways to go. It’s good nervousness, in the end. Makes sure I know I’m alive, exactly what is at stake.

Also naturally, it brings into question the year thus far. It’s been a good one. Starting with the RATS ride on my birthday, still the hardest ride this year (not for long!), most things have been an enormous success. The Red Hot was a failure, but one from which I was able to bounce back, producing the year’s best moment: Coyote 2 Moons, which went perfectly. The Rim Ride was a failure, but I can’t get too upset about it. Dawn til Dusk and the Sedona BFL also went as well I could have asked. So, it’s time to wrap things up.

I find myself looking beyond this weekend. My body is pushed pretty far at the moment. A rest from serious cycling will be in order, soon. Not a total break, mind, but I’m planning on spending more time on my feet, more time riding easy. In the long term, I can’t burn hot all the time. Nor do I want to. My mind doesn’t care to hold up. Moving and grad school will dominate the rest of the year, with a strong bias towards gradually ramping up running and hiking, with an eye towards a few burly Hardrock training outings early this fall.

In other words: life is good. I’ve got plenty to do, but not too much.

I’ve spent some time this week thinking about food too. I eat a lot, as one could imagine, and financially it’s an interesting thing to consider. Most good food, produce and what not, is not too expensive. For instance, guacamole, version 4.

Some chopped white onion, 5 garlic cloves pressed, tomato, avocados, a strong dash of olive oil and a good bit of salt.

No hot pepper, either! Though that’d be a good idea. Gets better as it sits.

I’d also like to point out my wrist. I’m not lighter than I was six months ago (I think), but I’m a lot leaner. And my legs are just stable. When I went into physical therapy to fix my running knees four years ago, I could hardly stand on one foot and touch my toe without falling over. Now I can bend flat on one leg and eat a sandwich. (Thinking of JJ, get well!!)

I’ve also, in the interest of re-entering life as a student, been thinking about cutting costs on the food items that are quite expensive. Two that come to mind are coffee and beer. Two things I have no desire to give up, or even cut down too much. So, I’m experimenting.