Open Water Swimming

I'm pretty sure today was our last open water training swim for this year.  Except we just spontaneously registered Jason for Austin 70.3 at the end of October... but I'm still pretty sure I'm not getting in the lake again for a bit.  One last race for me this season - Bend 125 next weekend! 

We are super lucky to live 20 minutes from a great little lake with horsepower restrictions for boats, meaning we usually have it pretty much to ourselves.  The other day I tucked my Garmin in my swim cap just to see what my route looks like.

One loop around, then an out-and-back to add some extra time in.

Another summer comes to a close, see you next year Fuller Lake!

Morning Ride

I rolled out early yesterday to get over 4.5 hours in before lunchtime.  It was a foggy morning in Victoria, which turned to rain, then turned to sun.  Sounds about right.  I did half my ride and snapped some pics before meeting up with my friend Catherine for the second half.  

Solo roll out from the lake.

All quiet on the roads.

Fog means calm on the water.

Looking across the Strait.

September

This morning's ride felt like September.  Maybe because there were overcast skies after a sun-drenched weekend, maybe because I stuffed a vest in my jersey pocket for the first time in a while (but at least it stayed in my pocket...), maybe because my mind has reverted back to work mode, or maybe because it actually is September.  This morning definitely had that melancholy and wistful feeling I always get at the beginning of fall.  By the afternoon, though, things had changed... halfway through our swim workout at the lake the sun came out.  I regretted the sweatshirt I had packed to wear home as it was 26 degrees C (79F).  We're not quite done with summer weather yet, of course!

I love summer.  That may be a huge understatement (right, Janet?).  No matter my age, summer transports me back to being a kid, with that feeling of never-ending play and no responsibility.  This year, because my job changed a bit (I went from teacher to Vice Principal), I actually had to be back at work a couple of weeks ago... but it still felt like summer.  Tomorrow is my real end of summer, when school starts again, the tank tops get relegated to the back of the closet (don't worry, flip flops - I'll never put you away!), and the blazers come to the front.

My race season is not quite over, however.  It ends on the official end of summer - I'm racing the Leadman Bend on September 21.  After that, my season formally comes to a close.

I know there are still lots of evenings on the deck to spent enjoying a glass of white wine and watching the sunset... but I'm seeing the shadows stretching longer and longer.  We're starting to use the hot tub in the evening again, and I just bought a wool skirt.   I'm finding myself thinking about packing a lunch again for work as the dog days are fading away.  Hello, September, welcome back (I guess).