Friday

Weekend:
Pretty excited for the weekend.  We're inbetween kids' sports seasons, and with no racing for awhile, we're in a string of open weekends.  Watch a little college hockey, some reading, a long trail run, some biking, maybe some skiing.  The 4" of powder we got Tuesday, maybe a storm on the way this weekend, and a forecast of below-freezing temps is all good.  I feel like my Winter Season is just starting. 

Alaska Fast:
With the 4" of powder we got Tuesday, the snomo trails are finally pretty rideable.  I was able to get out for a 3 hour ride Thursday after work on the new Fatback to dial in the fit a bit, get some bike leg back and just to have some fun.  I had the whole trail to myself, save the bald eagle and fresh wolf tracks.  Some parts of the trail were only 'groomed' by a single snomobile, most had about 6-7 snomo tracks on it, none of it professionally groomed.  It was very soft and slow, requiring super low pressures and lots of leg work, I was pretty spent by the end of the ride.  Per the Alaskans that's what all their trails are like.  They must come down here for the Arrowhead and feel like they're riding on a paved road.

52 Weeks and Counting: 
I always told my wife the only way I'd do Alaska/ITI is if I won an entry.  Towards the end of Arrowhead I started thinking about ITI, and the shape I was in was going thru that mindframe of NO WAY I'd ever do it, even ever do anything endurance again.  We all have been there and know how long that thought lasts.  I still had hesitations upon arriving back in Duluth, but my wife and kids were so excited for me, one of the first questions my wife asked is if I was going to do Iditarod.  Pretty much sealed the deal.  So guess now it's 52 weeks and counting.