Running Hawk

So I was out running in the woods yesterday and I was divebombed by a hawk. I think that it was a Sharp-Shinned variety of hawk but it zoomed by pretty quick and then off into the woods it went. Big one too. Wild to see such a large bird manuver through the branches so well.
No other bird sightings were nearly as remarkable as the Hawk. Interestingly the Eastern Bluebirds were not in their usual fields, but there were swallows near the dairy farm.

Did a nice 21mile bike ride without turning it into anykind of a workout at all. I resisited all urges to go fast or hard. I couldn't even bring myself to go fast downhill. I'm just not feeling the same level of comfort in the saddle this year for some reason. Hopefully some measure of comfort will come back in the next few weeks to let me get in at least a few good rides.

Tri, Tri, Again

Well,
my annual jaunt around the roads of northern Greenfield has concluded once again. That's right, the Greenfield Triathlon. I have loved this event for many years. It was my introduction to the sport of triathlon and as such has a special place in my race calendar every year. This year however I was in for a surprise as the event was also hosting the Annual USA Triathlon New England Club Championships! Holy Moly did that raise the bar on competition and level of uber-tri-geekness. I felt so ordinary with my Specialized Allez with its Profile Aero bars. Where was my disc wheel? Where were my Zipp Rims?
I did Ok.
My bike was slow as I haven't been out on it for weeks but I survived somehow.
Too many people out on the course trying to race kinda shook me a little I think.
Too much softball perhaps, not enough racing.

I think though, that this event has lost a little of its small town appeal, it's cozyness. It's grown in size and quality to be sure but in doing so it loses some of its closeness. Or maybe it's that I can't compete against the big dogs?