Columbia Triathlon

Last week, we traveled down to D.C. for a little visit and so that I could compete in the Columbia Triathlon.  I decided with a cycling buddy of mine from Chevy Chase/Blessed Sacrament that we would try to make this race an annual opportunity to get together.  I ended up having a fantastic race.  The weather was perfect, although the day started a little chilly.  I broke away at the swim start and came out of the water first in the swim.  I held my position on the bike, proving that you can get into reasonable cycling shape for a May race doing most of your training in February and March on an indoor bike at a Residence Inn.  I then had a very steady 10K run on an extremely tough, hilly course.  It was a really fun day.  Under USA Triathlon rules, you race at your age as of December 31, 2006, so I was in the 40-44 age group for this one.  I managed to win the age group, proving again that, unlike in the old days of swimming, it now is quite beneficial to be the youngest one in the age group.  I also was 39th overall out of over 1300 competitors. 

Click here to see the age group results, and here to see the overall male results.  There are also some race pictures here, and a picture of me collecting my first place trophy here. 

Something Else I Will Never Do

At least this guy does not have to worry about the water aerobics ladies complaining about the water being too cold.  He probably never has to swim circles either.  Safe to say he generally has the water to himself.

It's A Start

It may not be much, but at least things are beginning to move in the right direction.

Yes, But Can He Swim And Run?

On the one hand, you really have to respect this guy . . . if not for his perserverence in cycling over 330,000 miles, then for his ability to control for all that time the innate desire for new gear that burns within all cyclists.  No surprise at all that he's a German.  But on the other hand, you have to wonder about a person who apparently simply dropped everything to ride a bike around the world for 44 years.  Personally I either (1) think he's certifiable, or (2) really envy him -- can't decide.     

Fun Weekend

New content on State of Nature is long overdue.  Finally I have both something to post and the time to post it.  We had a very nice Spring weekend, complete with a visit from Nonni and Grand Daddy Dick.  Saturday was Stephen's first T-ball "experience" (Not a game, actually.  Instead, it was a great deal of teaching and general fun to introduce the kids to the sport).  And Sunday was "Touch a Truck Day" over at the soccer fields.  So here are some pictures of the weekend, along with some bonus shots of the kids on trout-stocking day at Birchwood Lake.

One Year Closer To A Teen

Nina's 11th birthday was last Sunday, which, frankly, I find more unsettling than the fact that I will be turning 40 in three months.  She had a lovely day with her parents and brothers, along with Nonni, Aunt Christina and Olivia, who made the trip up for the weekend.  The big event was a home screening of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, followed by a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.  Here's some pictures memorializing the day.

VICTORY!

As I'm sure you've all noticed, there has been an unsettling silence from State of Nature for the last month and a half or so.  The principal reason for that was that I had been in beautiful Lakeland, Florida for seven weeks at a large trial for Honeywell.  Thankfully, given the time away and intellectual and emotional investment I made in the case, we prevailed last Thursday when the jury returned a verdict fully vindicating Honeywell.  This article from the local paper roughly describes the conclusion of the case without too many inaccuracies.  I, however, am partial to the short, sweet, description in the company press release following the verdict.