Ready, set, grow...

I worked from home today. I still wasn't feeling 100%. Around noon I went for a moderate 30 minute run. I was curious to see if my left Achilles was okay. I had a feeling it would be and it was. I took it easy and I was surprised my speed was as fast as it was. That's a good sign and I feel ready for Clearwater.

I felt great on the run. It was a beautiful day, sun out and fairly warm. I had the tunes playing and every song was good. Even the stretching afterwards was magical. Once I finished I figured I better start packing. The first thing I did was get my bike box out of the basement closet and moved it into the garage and started taking my bike apart.

I took my time. It seems every time I start packing my bike, my back gets sore. I'm not sure if it is from all the bending or nerves or both. As I took the bike apart I noticed a small and unexpected thing that the mechanic at Wheels did. On the rear fork where the wheel is inserted, they put spacers around the adjustment screws so they would not move and would remain in perfect alignment. It's those little things that impress me. The reason I even noticed them is because I've had problems in the past with those adjustment screws moving out of place during transport and I went to tape them in place when I noticed the spacers.

I can honestly say I'm a little tense and nervous. My back is slowly getting tight. I'm so glad I finished all my packing early. Tonight I'll be able to relax and not think about it. I've also taken my time and made sure I have everything. All I need to do now is put the bike box in the Truck, which I'll do tonight, and take it easy. The plan is to now veg on some TV and stay away from the Internet.

It's fun having kids. They do things that take you back in time to when you were their age. For example, last night, Reid, who's going to be 13 years old this week, was showing me his moustache. It's something he is most proud of and constantly looking at and showing off. I catch him curling up his lip and brushing it with his finger. He's always "Dad, look, see I got a moustache!" To which I say "yeah right, I don't see anything. Your dreaming".

I guess that's a right of passage for all boys growing up. We all want a cool looking moustache early. I was like Reid when I was a kid, I felt I had a moustache and it only took two years until anyone else noticed it. Of course in every school there was a kid with more than a moustache, he was the one that grew a beard way early. Reid laughs when I tell him about Mike Petrasek, a guy I knew who had a full beard at 15 years old.

Mike played on my "Bad News Bears" Tier 4 hockey team. He could hardly skate and just wanted to fight. When your 15 years old and an opposing player with a full beard wants to fight you, it can be pretty darn intimating. I remember walking to the dressing room after the game ended and was trash talking an opposing team player walking in front of me. Mike was right behind me. I finally pushed the opposing players button and as he turned around to tell me off, Mike punched around me and nailed him in the side of the head and down he went. There was no face masks back then. Mike was an animal. After that, I guess because I set him up a good opportunity, Mike and I became friendly teammates.

Reid laughs when I tell him that story. I don't tell Reid about another right of passage, where in the not to distant future that he'll be having a shower in the boys locker room and some kid will out of the shower with a full out major hairy bush.

I remember it happening to me and was like, "Holy S**t"!!! and you just start laughing, just like Beavis and Butthead.That's not a sight you can get out of your mind easy. Just thinking about it now makes me laugh again, like I did when I was 15 years old. I'll never forget that guy, he had a pocket protector and a big hairy bush.

Mantracker Update: I got an email that John and my video has been given to the executive producer to watch and a final decision will be made shortly. Fingers crossed.

Mod Run - 30:07 / 3.74 Miles / 8:03 pace / 135 avg hr