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I know it’s been a while!! Lots of fun stuff to report about. I think it was 2 posts ago where I was all gung ho about being a “tri geek again”. I was really disappointed about missing my Olympic Trial qualifier in Miami, so I did what I have been doing the past 3 years. I go to triathlon when the going gets tough with my running. For me, in triathlon, there is no pressure, no huge expectations, just fun and training. Hell, I can over train without getting injured!!  Don’t get me wrong, I train hard and race to succeed, but it’s not my life. For me, it has become my easy way out. April 20th was an eye opening day for me. I watched the Olympic Trials on TV. I cried all day. I was totally feeling sorry for myself. I was so sad that I wasn’t there participating. I had a knife in my heart all day.  It had been a full 3 year since I raced well and had “that feeling”. My sister said it straight up when she said “Kelly, you weren’t there because you quit!” She was right. For the past 3 years I have bounced around between running and triathlon. I realized that every time the going gets tough with running, I quit and go right into triathlon. After watching the trials, I realized once again that I am a runner. It is my passion. It is what I am. It’s my childhood dream and still is today. I remember the 2004 trials and my coach said to me “Kelly, I want you to remember all those days that you didn’t want to go for that run, or you were so tired that you didn’t want to go, but you did.” I said, ” Greg,  there were never days like that and I always want to run. ” He said,  ”Exactly, That’s my point and that’s why you are here. Remember that. “So, I’m going back to my roots. I’ll be working with my long time coach Greg McMillan. He is a great coach and  friend and I have learned so much from him over the years. Greg let me quit when I needed to quit, and now he has welcomed me back to the sport with open arms. I am looking forward to some training trips back to good old Flag, 7000 feet, Shultz Creek trails, running up to Kelly’s rock on Waterline Road, and the McMillan Elite gang. It’s going to be an interesting journey, but what the hell.  As Paula Radcliffe says, “You should never fear failure.”I have been in Burlington VT visiting the sis. I’m here until Aug 1st. Kim and I have been doing a lot of running together. She calls me her punching bag because I have been doing whatever workouts she does and my job is to push her through them. In the process I am whooping my ass into shape.  We’ve had a blast training on the many hilly dirt roads and trails here in Vermont. Kim and I expect great things on July 20th at the Lake Placid Ironman. She is going to freakin kill that run course and I will be so happy to know that I helped her get there!Happy training everyone!