One week ago I rolled back into my winter training grounds in Tucson, Arizona. With the onset of colder temperatures and snow in Colorado, and Ironman Pucon 7o.3 looming just a few short weeks away, I packed up the Touareg and hit the road. A quick stopover in Grand Junction to see my family, and then a really long drive, and I was back in the Dirty T. It’s hard to leave Boulder, but it always feels good to get back here, this being the fourth straight year I’ve visited to escape the winter of Colorado. Tucson has been gaining a lot of press recently as a top training ground for pro athletes (and especially triathletes), and it’s well-deserved. With a huge variation of terrain and consistently warm and sunny weather, it’s the perfect spot to log the miles. Add to it that I’ve got a great network of friends built up over the years, and I really consider this my second home now.
The first week has been a good reintroduction, with rides out west to McCain, north to Avra Valley, and even a Shootout thrown in for good measure. I’ve jumped back in the pool with Ford Aquatics at the University of Arizona, and have logged some good runs in the downtown area. It’s all coming together nicely as I get ready for my “vacation race” in Chile in a few short weeks. And right before that will be my first training camp with the crew from The Cycling House from January 3-8. Happy holidays to all… Enjoy the final days of 2011.