cross training weekend

Friday at 10am John, Hardcore, The Machine and I met for a run/swim workout. We put out a full invite to the team but it was just the us Four Horsemen that showed up. We started with a run up Superstitution Mountain to a familiar bench about 2 miles up the hill. We made good time. The Machine said he wanted to go farther and we ended up going another even steeper two miles to a huge rock jutting straight up out of the side of the mountain. In all it 90 minutes of technical trail running.

It appears we are going to continue doing trail run/ hikes as a substitute to the open swims which we cancel this time of year.

Speaking of which we then drove up the canyon to the lake and planned on short swim along the beach and then a BBQ. The Machine was putting on his wetsuit and the zipper broke. John and I were already in our suits but I said, "No suit for you, no suit for me." This guilted John into stripping down too. In all we swam a very cold 300 yards, nothing big but the 'Polar Bear' mentality was very cool and it unified us one more time.

Pre-swim I fired up my camp stove and boiled up a large can of chicken soup so when we got out we had something hot to drink while we waited for the burgers to grill up. Hardcore Mike took care of the grilling since my expertise stops at camp food. The four of us plus Hardcores ten year old son spent the rest of the afternoon listening to the radio, drinking some beer and hanging out as a memorial to closing down the 'pool' for the next three months.

Today, Saturday, the four of us again came together though this time with several of the Machines son's friends for a day of paintballing way south in the Valley. What a blast. All of us got great shots on each other and general enjoyed the great weather and outdoor comraderie.

Oh, and it does feel good shooting a ten year old with a paintball.

Its important to spend time with your team in ways that are not simply triathlon related.