be kind

Long, Hot Brick
It's been quite a weekend. I got up early on Saturday and rode 100 hilly miles, followed by a hard paced 6 mile hilly run in 92 degree sun - nearly killed me - hardest workout I've done in a long time (bike/run combination workout is known as a brick). This of course was near the end of a long training week and my energy level was pretty low to start with. I think the 2.5 mile swim on Friday contributed to the low energy level, or was it the 6.5 hours of sleep on Friday night?

At mile 83 of my bike ride, I ran into the West Chester Bike Club - and fortunately it was the group I usually ride with. I also often ride at the front, and while I should have just enjoyed the draft, I somehow ended up at the front pulling the group along Creek road and up most of New Street. It gave me that last push I needed at the end of my ride. Unfortunately, by the time we got back to the parking lot, I was still 8 miles short of my 100 mile target with the 6 mile run to knock out, so I didn't stop to chat.

Wicked
After a shower and a nap, I went to a nice dinner and the Broadway play "Wicked" in Philly with Sena, Erika and her boyfriend Dave (Rachel refused to go to a 'musical' - teenage stubbornness I guess). Unfortunately, that put us home well after midnight, and having too much chocolate dessert (I'm pretty sensitive to caffeine and sugar these days), I stayed up and read past 1am.

Taylor's Memorial Service
I slept late (7am!), read a bit, made breakfast for me and Sena, and got ready for the Memorial Service. Rachel's friends came over and got ready for the service, and went to pick up more friends.

It was a beautiful outdoor service at Greystone. It is such a loss when someone so young and gifted loses their life. He had touched so many lives in his short life - hundreds attended. My daughter was good friends with Taylor, and after the service, I wish I had known him better. The key messages I took away were reminders to live in the moment, do what you love, and be kind - even try to remind others to be kind.

After the Service, we went to lunch at the restaurant that Erika is working at and she waited on us. It is her last day of working there before she goes back to college and I left her a nice big tip.

Running 10 miles on a full stomach
After our late lunch, I got home and read for a while, but couldn't stay awake. After a long and often interrupted nap, I decided to do the 10 miler I had planned. Unfortunately, I had over eaten and my stomach felt terrible the entire run, forcing me to make multiple pit stops along the way. I like running so much however, even this bad run was ok in my book.