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September to remember

This has been a different sort of month for fitness and competition, not to mention health.  I am winding up the month battling a stomach virus and am just now getting back active after a week recovering.  I think maybe nature has a way of forcing recovery time.  I have been going at it full tilt for the entire spring and summer with not much rest to speak of so I guess this is my rest.  Expert wisdom says that I need more recovery but without a coach, it's hard to judge.  Also, it's not much fun to gain a few extra pounds but it's difficult to adjust eating habits that are so accustomed to full activity.
This month has seen me do back to back races and feel surprisingly good doing so. I never would've thought I could do a 6-hour trail run then turn around the next day and do a run-bike-run duathlon.  Progress is good.  Next I did a 100-mile bike ride in torrential rain. Wow, where did that come from? I don't know. I guess it's just proof that we are all capable of more than we think.
The past week I have been reeling from body aches and stomach maladies.  I think I picked a virus up from one of the porta-potties at the 100-miler. Either that or the buffet afterwards.   It's so strange to me to not engage in physical activity for an entire week.  Regardless, it felt rather good to rest and let my legs and knees recover.  Weight gain be damned.  On a side note, it's hard to believe that I've gained any weight at all considering how little I've eaten recently.
On the horizon is Renee's 50k at Signal Mountain, Tenn., which she may talk me into doing also. Insane! I think that if I do that race, I will emerge a changed person. But is change what I need at this time...No,  I need some stability I think.
Then I have a duathlon on October 26th and possible one on the 13th, also in Chattanooga.  There is a mountain bike race in Alabama that I am also looking on the 19th.  Also, I am looking at doing some cyclocross races but I don't even have a cyclocross bike. Wahhhhh..
So you see, I have a full schedule coming up.
After all, fall is the best time to be outdoors! Until next time...

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