It is straight up 5:00 pm on Monday evening. A bit of rain is spattering the windshield as we head south on I-5 just north of Bellingham, WA. I think we made it in record time through the US-Canada border, especially since Erica is Australian and just had her first crossing without being required to get out of the car - 15 minutes, a new record and maybe a good omen for 2006.

The New Year was spent in Vancouver with Erica, my partner, Fiona, her twin sister, and an assortment of friends. New Years Eve featured a phenomenal hike 2,500 meters up Granite Chief in Squamish - the self proclaimed adventure capital of British Columbia 45 minutes north of Vancouver. The view from the top was unparalleled as intricate cloud formations decorated the valley below and surrounded the countless towering peaks. We were thankful for the ladders and chins bolted to the slick granite, but more thankful to have the perch on 1st peak all to ourselves. The following day, the first of 2006, featured a trip to the normally tranquil waters of Deep Cove. We were wondering why crowds were amassing, but soon found out. Polar Bear Swims appear to be a particularly Canadian New Year's tradition and as we approached the crowd (Erica, Fiona, Pablo - a kiwi friend, his mom Henni, and I) we heard a microphoned voice announce, "three minutes, three minutes."

Something about the spontaneity of the moment in freshness of the New Year inspired Pablo and I to strip down to our boxers and make for the frigid waters. The count-down was more exciting than the previous evening watching an anemic firework display from the Seattle Space Needle over the television. Here we were with 473 registered "Penguin Plungers" diving headlong into waters that were sure to do my recent cold no favors. The post plunge bonfire, hot chocolate, and seafood chowder happened to be a more than adequate reward.

So now it is Monday, January 2 and I find myself southbound in a Toyota Matrix heading for Portland, Oregon. Erica and I have the pleasant feeling in our legs of a few hours of snowboarding Whistler on ten inches of fresh powder, though I am sure in about six hours from now my road weary body will be singing a different tune. But this time provides a nice opportunity for reflection on the year just past and contemplation of the year ahead. In complete honesty I am nervous about my chances for Kona qualification at Ironman Canada, and I know a long road stretches ahead of me before August 27.

Each year I start my training log towards the end of November so though it is the turn of the New Year, this is officially week 7 of my training. The past week I was struck by a nasty bug that seems to have attacked many with ferocity this cold/flu season. My training volume was essentially zero as I focused on getting sleep, keeping hydrated, and marveling on how out of shape one can feel so quickly. Over the past many months I have considered myself quite fortunate as I have enjoyed a virtually pain free and medication free existence. I guess I should qualify this statement. The existence has been pain free from an AS perspective, though I am still battling an assortment of post auto accident maladies that will serve as good fodder for future entries. For now I was living in the post-cold fear that grips many who suffer with AS, "am I going to experience a flare up?"

When I was in 4th grade I experienced what was retroactively diagnosed as my first AS experience, a deep and unexplained hip pain. Unfortunately a similar pain is mysteriously attempting to reemerge now and will just have to be one of the many things I track through the weeks. Right now my focus is on what I have to do in the New Year to set myself up for a solid season. The next major dates on the calendar are February 4th - the first day of a 7 day training camp in Santa Barbara, California where I will log over 500 miles of cycling with a group of 8 other triathlon and cycling teammates and friends - and February 19, the first cycling road race of the season.

So what do I have in front of me in the immediate future? The month of January will see a continuation of the base training I have been laying for the past few weeks with an emphasis on a minimum of 12 hours at an elevated heart rate (above 120), a weekly ride in excess of 4 hours, a switch from an adaptation to a strength phase in my weightlifting, and at least 3 weekly yoga practices for strength and flexibility. The other priority is on nutrition. Like many, the holidays were sugar coated and my indulgence, combined with my post car accident inability to race last season has left me a solid 15 pounds over my race weight. I find myself around 200 lbs, 5 lbs over my optimistic goal of 195 by January 1. The hills will be a little harder in the early season races, but I would consider it a minor victory to weigh in around 190 by my first race in the end of February. Five pounds a month seems a reasonable goal for the first three months of the season.

The weight target (195 by February 1) fits nicely with a renewed emphasis on better nutrition. More whole foods and raw produce will grace my plates. All soft drinks, caffeine, and sugary foods are ceremonially banned along with any alcohol for the month of January as punishment for not hitting my target by January 1. I am looking forward to the feeling of general health, more consistent energy, and flexibility that seems to accompany this better nutritional state, just as I am looking forward to this new year.

I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, so you will not find any here. I am sufficiently driven by my Kona '06 desire and the corresponding priorities. This month I will focus on the two-headed monster of 1) increasing my volume of base training and 2) reducing my weight with a better diet.

In all I have to be grateful for where I am and my opportunity to pursue this goal. All the best to anyone reading this entry and best wishes for 2006.