"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." ~ Anne Bradstreet

So with my second full week of "trying to get my ASS in gear" now completed, it actually did start out pretty well.

Saturday, with snow on the sidewalks I thought it would be easier to run around the streets and sidewalks than the trails. Boy was I wrong, snow ruts everywhere that did a little dance on my ankles. But after 2 hours running in 18 degree weather, I did actually feel pretty good, but it brought on my ankle inflammation "itis" ~ pissing me off stuff again.

Then on Sunday at sunrise, I figure I would see how it goes and headed out to the snowy trails. A dang deer crossed my path again and would not move. It was actually wagging it's tail. Hmm, could I actually pet this "Bambi', I thought to myself for a couple of minutes. Then I had "When Animals Attack" TV show flash across my thoughts and came to my senses and scared it away.

I was hoping to do at least a 3 hour/20+ mile trail run that morning. But my ankle was pretty jacked up for the day before, so not a great run day, but I got to at least run with some of my TRI-club buddies.

So while still hobbling around today. I decided upon a preliminary race schedule for 2008. I think splitting my year into two seasons worked really great for me this year:

Season One: UltraRunning

Season Two: Triathlons

So season 1 is going to hopefully go like this:

Land between the Lakes 50 mile trail run
Ice Age 50 mile trail run

Also try to complete this new race series:

2008 Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam:

Clinton Lake 30 mile trail run
Farmdale 33 mil Trail run
McNaughton Park Trail run
Rock Cut Hobo 50k Trail run

Not sure if you actually get anything besides a "Grand Slam" breakfast at Denny's for your effort, but why not?

Then within that race series will be my 1st 100 mile race (maybe second) for 2008.

Yes, McNaughton Park 100 mile trail run. Okay at least I did not sign up for the 150 mile race.

So there it is for now, Is there more, Hell YEAH,

Hmmm, my TRI-season this year will be along the lines of racing when I can, but I do see a non-corporate Iron Man type distance event with my name on a bib number on it somewhere in the United States.

But for now, season 1 is fast approaching.