1st weekend of racing this yr...

Grandview GP and Allntown Sportsfest. Grandview was a nice, shady course, and my legs felt like lead. I stayed with the pack for about 5 of the 10 laps, then fell off the back. No "go" in the legs. Maybe it was the fact that 1) my training ride on thurs was cut short by a snapped chain or 2) I had no training ride on fri. Or both. Whatever. 19th out of 22 starters. Yay me.
The sportsfest found me having better legs but this yr it seemed to be much faster than last yrs snail-like pace. I stayed with the pack the whole time but wound up 17th (missd 16th by a gnat's pube). Stoopid tactics. I kept gaining ground on the hill by the start/finish line, then fell back a bit on the flat. WTF was up with that? Loss of 10ish lbs, maybe? Who knows. All in all I'm OK with it; starting intervals again and I'll race again Aug 16th, hopefully a bit fitter and faster.

Meet Ralphie

He's a 34 lb 1 1/2 yr old chow mix with a severe case of skittishness. He is really warming up to Chelsea and Sarah and is gradually coming around to me. After a near miss with adopting another shiba, we found him at Molly's Place, a really cool shelter. It is great to rescue a dog; I wish we could have taken more home. He's really sweet and wants to play with the cats but they're scared to death of him. Zoe is her usual grumpy self; it's going to take a while for her to get used to him; he just wants to play.

Various and assundry things. Or whatever...

Today was a beautiful day in central PA.
I am actually feeling REALLY strong on teh bike. (This is setting myself up for major dissappointment, I'm sure).
I love doggies. All kinds. Well. Check that. Not too fond of chihuahuas.
I look stylin' euro-pro in my new HUP kit and Diadora shoes.

Good bye silly little dog..

On Sunday, Sam and I were going to go to Lowes to get some more pavers and stone to finish under the deck. We hoped in the car, pulled out, and I felt a bump under the wheel. I glance out the side mirror and see Sasha, our youngest Shiba, flailing around and then falling to the ground. She had apparently been under the car and I ran over her. Frantic call to the vet and we get ready to take her there. She was laying on the back seat as I waited for the girls, and it was there that she left us. I still feel like shit. Sam and Sarah are taking it pretty hard; especially Sarah; she's so sensitive. It's a huge hole in our life cut out. I even think the cats miss her; Zoe isn't the same either. She was the eternal puppy; 5 yrs old and still goofy.
I suppose we'll look to get a rescue dog, preferably a Shiba, in a while. But for now it hurts too much.