Sunday, December 31, 2006
New Year's Resolutions
1. spend more time with friends and family
2. spend more time biking and less time planning to bike
3. drink less coffee and watch less TV
Biking/Tris:
4. finish Fitchburg Longjso
5. increase avg mph on bike leg of tris to 20+ mph
6. finish in top 50% of all cyclocross races entered
7. improve 10K run time to 8 min mile pace
Colorado Ski Report
The skiing has been great! Spent a day at A-Basin and a day a Copper so far. A-Basin was fun, but snowy and cold. Spent most of the day in the trees on steep double fall lines - I managed to survive somehow. Copper was awesome - sunny, blue skies, warm - just like CO skiing is supposed to be. We spent all day in the back bowls - it was gorgeous! We were hoping to take the cat up, but the cat wasn't running. Oh well. Molly took lots of pictures, which I'll post as soon as I get them. Today I'll probably head over to Keystone and ski the outback - hopefully there's still some good snow left in the trees. For tomorrow, Sol and I are hoping to snag spots on the cat at Keystone and ski Independence Bowl.
That's all for the ski report!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Colorado = Snow
Another Rainy Ski Patrol Day
Friday, December 22, 2006
Elder Law Blog
Anyway...back to the purpose of this post. I found another great blog! All dedicated to elder law in Massachusetts. Lots of great reference material and links to everything elder law.
So, as I go home to spend Christmas with the family, I now feel more prepared to deal with, and start planning for, the things that might "happen".
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Why I Started a Blog
Why blog?
I'm a bit behind on technology - really far behind - and only recently began to learn more about blogging. In fact, we're about to create an internal company blog where I work. My first thoughts when this was first suggested were: how silly, who'd ever actually post to it?
Since then, I've checked out a lot of blogs and my opinion has completely changed. I really enjoy reading other people's blogs - from cyclists to lawyers to other random people. There's some really funny, interesting, and educational stuff out there. For example, if you've ever been an associate at a big city law firm, Anonymous Lawyer completely rings true and is hysterically funny (ok, maybe just to former big city law firm associates...). If you're into cycling, you can find out what a day in the life of a pro is like by checking out a blog like TreeFarm's (the new US National CX Champion). Or if you're interested in what life is like in the Peace Corps, you can check out Aaron in Africa. There are blogs devoted to literally anything you can think of.
So, I thought I'd join the mix. Can't promise my posts will be funny, interesting or educational, but you'll get some insight into my life struggling to balance a demanding job with my self-imposed demanding pursuit of triathlons and bike racing, with lots of skiing and some kayaking thrown in. I'll also try to throw in some links to interesting blogs and useful websites from time to time. Like this link to an article on Sheldon Brown's site - should be helpful as I attempt to convert my old Raleigh into a single speed or fixed gear next summer.
Until next time, happy blogging!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
My Skis
The Teles:
2005 Black Diamond Lyric with Black Diamond O3 Bindings
These skis are awesome! Got them at the recommendation of Chase and I rarely ski my other teles anymore. They're super stable and wide enought to ski through anything, from crud to spring mush to powder. They're even good on New England packed powder.
2003 K2 Instinx with G3 Roxy Bindings
These are great for back country skinning and powder days. Not super wide, but light and soft.
2005 K2 She's Piste with Black Diamond 03 Bindings
Bought these to replace my 2003 She's Piste's. Haven't skied them yet, but heard they are stiffer than my old ones and a bit more active. Looking forward to checking them out on some Killington hardpack.
The Alpines:
Volkl Attiva 5 Star with Marker Bindings
Love these skis - could be a bit stiffer, but they're great in bumps and on hard pack.
Lusting for:
Head Sweet Fat Thang
These skis look cool. Hope to demo them this season - mounted tele of course!
My Bikes
My second road bike (see below for my first). In 2004, Sol, Susan and I each bought road bikes. That was back when I thought 18 miles was a long ride and thought every road in Vermont was too steep.
Just upgraded it from Ultegra to Dura Ace (thanks Sean!) and switched over from a triple to a double (hope I can make it up App Gap this summer with the 12/27). I don't deserve the Dura Ace, but maybe in a couple of years I will. Everything else is stock, including the wheels - Mavic Kysrium Elites with my favorite tires, Vittoria EVO Corsa. Trainer by Kurt Kintetic. Check out www.cannondale.com for the parts list and www.kurtkinetic.com for trainers.

The Cervelo: 2005 P2SL
In 2004, Susan informed me we were doing a 1/2 ironman in 2005, nevermind that at this point I thought 18 miles was a long ride, hadn't swum laps in about 20 years, and liked motoring along at a 10 min mile pace on my runs. She bailed b/c of an injury and I finished Timberman in 7:03 (running 13.1 miles in 90+ heat will do that). But, I was hooked. So I bought the Cervelo to ease the pain of the run (and, hey, tri/TT bikes are cool) and in 2006, I finished Timberman in 6:11. Would like to shave another 45 min off the time in 2007, but I'm focusing on bike racing instead (enough running already).
This bike is also Dura Ace (12/27) with an FSA Crank and Bontrager Select Wheels. Vittoria Diamante Pro Light tires. Check out www.Cervelo.com for the parts list.

The Specialized: 2002 Specialized Epic FSR (m)
In 2002 my rigid mountain bike was stolen from my apartment in Beacon Hill. So I decided to upgrade. I love this bike, even though I still can't mountain bike. My last ride on it was this summer at Hinesburg Town Forrest in Vermont. Or I should say my last walk with it. Hopefully 2007 will inlude more mountain biking (now that I don't have to run 13.1 miles) and I'll somehow get better.
Like the others, it's all stock, with Shimano XT. New Chris King Headset (thanks again Sean!) which I'll be testing out this summer to see if headsets really are worth the upgrade. Specialized no longer makes this bike, but check out www.specialized.com.

The Redline: 2005 Redline Conquest
In 2005, Sol decided to start cyclocross racing after being encouraged by Jamie. So it was either race or hang around and do nothing while everyone else raced. I chose to race and bought the Redline. After a season of coming in last at every race save one, the 2006 season proved much better. Despite a rough start, by the end of the season I was usually at the top of the bottom third, and only last in one race! Still need to work on the lactate threshold (oh, and skills, power, & just about everything else too), but looking forward to more improvement in 2007 (and not getting lapped by the juniors).
The Raleigh: 1982 Raleigh Super Record 10 Speed
My first road bike - state of the art in 1982. My dad bought me this bike for my 12th birthday and it still fits! Too bad I didn't ride it very much. This summer Sol and I will be turning it into a single speed or a fixed gear so I can use it to commute to work.
[PICTURE TO COME]
2007 Race Schedule
Sterling RR (Su 5/13)
Lake Sunapee RR (Sa 5/19)
Lake Auburn (Sa 6/2)
Great Falls Crit (Su 6/3)
NAV Holiday Farm Mtn Bike Race (Su 6/10)
Cyclonaughts Monson, MA RR (Sa 6/16)
Housatonic Hills RR (Sa 6/17)
Fitchburg Longjso Stage Race (6/28 29 30 & 7/1)
Tour of the Hilltowns (Sa 8/18)
Triathlons:
Lowell Mill City Olympic Tri (Su 7/15)
Greenfield Olympic Tri (Su 8/5)
Cranberry Country Olympic Tri (Su 8/26)
Hopkinton Olympic Tri (Su 9/9)
Cyclocross:
To come - Fall 2007