The next two weeks will be spent fine-tuning my form in order to be ready for my first race of the year, Challenge Mallorca.  With so many long rides in my legs after this camp, I won’t need to worry about adding volume.  I will just be focused on shorter more intense days, trying to help the body remember what it is like to be racing.

Courtney and I will also be rediscovering the Catalunya region of Spain.  We have both really missed the culture and atmosphere of Europe, and are excited to be back.  It will be great to spend some time together and revisit our favorite spots and dine at some of our favorite restaurants.  There are so many great things to look forward to at the moment.

Our ride today started out quite pleasant, actually.  Maybe it was the fact that we had the wind at our backs the first half of the ride, and the sun in our faces that kept us warm.  As soon as we started to head back it was a different story.  The rain blew in; followed by a short burst of snow, then more rain!  Luckily, all of this crazy weather hit us in our final half hour, so it could have been much worse.  It is also amazing at how just having some fresh roads to ride makes the day go that much faster, and it also makes you a little less sensitive to these bad moments.

I am looking forward to getting the year going and figuring out where my fitness is in the first few races.  I feel the winter has treated me well, but it’s hard to say when you’re not racing and don’t have anything to compare with.  I am also really excited to get back to life in Girona.  The life and culture there is about as good as it can get.  Morning coffees overlooking the river at our place, and an evening glass of wine in one of the town squares with Courtney are some of the best parts of life.  It will also be nice to escape the bitter cold that has settled in Greenville, and have some fresh roads to train on.

This Christmas weekend should be as special as always.  It’s hard to believe it’s actually that time of the year.  I have been so busy lately that it’s been hard to keep up with when and where I actually am.  Surely when I sit down with my whole family for dinner on Christmas Eve it will set in.  Enjoy the Holidays!

Now it is time to once again re-adjust to a new time zone and finish up all of my holiday shopping.  It’s hard to believe Christmas is this week, but it sure does feel like it.  Returning to the cold weather was a shock and it is strange to see snow by the roadsides and ice in the trees.  Training is full on for the 2010 season now.  It was a very quick switch from easing into things to being in the thick of it.  In fact, the week spent in Lanzarote, I had around forty hours of exercise!

The goal for the next few weeks is to just enjoy as much time with my family and friends as possible.  Before I know it, I will be back in Mallorca, Spain, for our next training camp and then the racing season will have officially begun.

Thanks to the incredible number of folks who submitted possible names. There were a lot of good ones there, and it’s heartening to see so many people are following the blog. Maybe I’ll actually make it to camp before it ends and I’ll send some updates from there.

Everything has been going quite smoothly in my preparations for the 2010 season so far.  Some power is finding its way back into my legs and it is taking a little bit longer each day before I bonk out there on the road.  I would say that I am better than ever before at this point in the year.

On a side note, while on the massage table a few days back, Jeremiah noticed something poking out of a scar on my shoulder.  I had shoulder surgery over five years ago, but I had no idea of what it could be.  All I knew was that something had been itching me for some time so I asked him to pull it out.  Once we found some tweezers he proceeded to pull out a three-inch bright blue stitch!! It was quite gross to say the least.  It is crazy to think that it has been working its way to the surface for over five years.  The body really is an amazing organism and full of surprises!

The next night, Courtney cooked another amazing meal for her family at our place.  When I met her three years ago I doubt she could even make cereal, but now she has some serious skills when she puts on an apron.  This Thanksgiving dinner also doubled as a surprise birthday get-together for her dad and was a huge success.

With the weekend came yet another birthday, this time with a boys night out to celebrate Rich Hincapie’s.  A big night of drinking some great wine followed.  Not sure if there is any better way to celebrate. Although, it took a solid three hours of mountain biking and sweating the next morning to start feeling normal again!