The best running group in Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham and Morrisville turns 2 today. Happy Birthday!

Thanks to all the runners, triathletes, swimmers, cyclists, stand-up comedians, and psychiatrists for keeping us all healthy, fast, and laughing our lungs out!

Whats in store for 2009? A lot of us are doing our umpteenth marathon, an Ironman (our first or our dozenth, definitely not our last), open water swims, half marathons, sprint triathlons, international triathlons, group spin class, triathlon clinic, brick, or otherwise.

We are traveling and competing around the country, around North Carolina, mostly getting together for the classic Saturday morning run at either Umstead Park or Shelley Lake, with some American Tobacco Trail runs, Whole Foods / Meredith College runs, and our Spring/Summer/Fall bricks out at Jordan Lake.

I hope everyone has a great 2009 year running, swimming, cycling, and triathloning. Check out the 2009 racing season post to see what everyone is up to!

Some possibilities:

- Group Ride

- Group Brick (Duke Half Course)

- Splash in the water at New Hope Overlook after the Brick.

Thoughts?

The In-Laws are in town from Portland Oregon. Dr Leisure, my wife’s father (a friend of his had Dr Leisure cards printed up for his retirement party a few weeks ago) shipped out a bike to stay in NC permanently. We are bringing the whole fam’ out to Jordan Lake Ebenezer park on Sunday.

Anyone up for a modified repeat of last weekend?

Time: Around 9AM start on the bike.

Jordan Lake water temp – Currently 59 degrees

Where: Beach Lot at Ebenezer Church Park


View Larger Map

When: 6:45 AM

What: Approximately 2 hour ride, 30 minute run, 30 minute swim

Why: Prepare for White Lake Half

Weather: Mid 50s to mid 60s for bike, water temp probably mid 60s

Cost: $5 (At the gate)

*** RECAP: Wow that was JUST what the doctor ordered. After a little triangulation figuring out where the Ebenezer boat launch area is, we all joined up. While gearing up, I realized that I hadn’t packed my cycling shoes. Doh! The Sandbaguette had a Book Club gathering and the ladies were muching on lasagna and wine until well past a proper bedtime hour for 5:30 AM roll call. Hence I wasn’t quite collected when the alarm went off.

After a 45 minute high speed multi-county cannonball run for my cycling shoes, I caught up with the rest of the group. The had gone from the boat launch to Pea Ridge and Old #1 and back. The timing was perfect.

Off we went down Beaver Creek, to Old #1 again, over to Sharon Harris past the Lineman Rodeo (you know, the electrical power pole jockeys – yes, they have a rodeo for EVERYBODY).

Forest Gump kept it well reigned in as I was trying to convince him to layup on Duke Half rather than do Pinehurst Olympic a few weeks afterwards.

Squeeky and I were still breaking in our new rides. KarenG8r was effortlessly keeping pace. Herbs hardly broke a sweat. Litl’bit put on a fierce pull as we rounded out somewhere south of New Hill.

After returning back to base camp, we did a T2 and ran 2 miles down to the beach and back. Already wound up for the swim was Supreme Commander!

We bemoaned our cement sacks for legs for the brief return, gathered our stuff, and headed down to the beach section.

Forest, Herbs and KarenG8r declined the splash in sub 60 degree water (I think it may have been as much as 61 or 62). I tried swimming in Squeekys hand-me-down wetsuit and we swam a couple hundred meters.

The weather was fantastic, the scenery and location ideal, and the company was top-notch. What an excellent end to the week.

More pics after the jump.

When – 6:30AM (at the trail – not meeting in the parking lot)

Temp – Humid

Distance – 7+

PART 2

Where – Jordan Lake Ebenezer Church (Carpooling saves you $5)

When – After the run

Wetsuit Legal? – Not even close