Courtenay Brown

It’s probably a combination of working life, training life, and smitten life that is making me so quiet! I’d much rather play with Ben during my free time than play with the internet. But, there comes a point, for example today, when I get the urge to ramble on about myself and how much I rule.

I finally got to start riding my bike again yesterday. Woo! My saddle sore is a lot better, the swelling has decreased dramatically and my position on the saddle feels much more balanced. I hadn’t realized how crooked I was sitting, although I could see it in some of my race photos from this year. It’s not gone all the way, I am currently on antibiotics which I hope will kill off the infection, but the progress is amazing. I had some kind of blocked duct that formed a cyst out of a staph infection, or something, yea my last science class was in like 1995.

I have decided not to race the Seafair Triathlon this weekend. I am disappointed because it’s a local classic and the run course is awesome, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me (neither mentally nor physically) to show up to a race for which I feel so unprepared just because it’s only a twenty minute drive to get there.

Instead I will keep it a low key weekend, maybe go to a nearby bike race (50 miles with a group is way more fun than 50 miles solo!), and enjoy the good weather with some swimming and running. I’m feeling super happy with my running - I’m loving it more than ever and I’m feeling really present in every workout. In my triathlon training, I really like brick workouts. There’s something very meditative in quickly rolling from bike to run, letting my legs figure out what to do with momentum. But at the same time, it can feel like the act of running is itself a formality, a necessary step before lunch and a shower. These past two weeks with no bike to worry about have felt completely different, and I’ve hardly even missed my bike because I have spent so much time thinking about running! And how to do it more.

“Thinking about running”, by the way, also includes thinking about running outfits (obviously). My favourite recent acquisitions include a few pairs of Brooks running shorts: the Podium Split, the super cute Trance, and for long summer runs (precious tanning time!) the Podium Boy Short. The best part about all three of them is they don’t chafe my legs. Who knew there could be running shorts that don’t rub like crazy after only 20 minutes of running? “Not I,” said the Cat.