I'm just keepin' it real...

It is inevitable. A group ride will have a mixture of abilities of riders. But it is also guaranteed to offer up a bit of humor. Or a lot, depending on who you are with.

As riders keep a NORMAL and average pace, there are others who will speed ahead. And sometimes you can even count on them to wait for you at a stop sign. At this particular instance, and actually the first stop sign, a relatively important question was raised by DK, "What is everyone's plan for the ride?" My humored response was, "I'm just gonna keep it real." What that really means to those, specifically Kelly, who know me is "I just want to pedal, laugh, snack and get through this 56 mile ride without racing the deer running along the side of the rode." I'm pretty simple.

The Annual 56 Mile Memorial Day Bike Ride (newly named the "teamdawnkelly" bike ride) went off without a hitch. And what these riders don't know about teamdawnkelly is the importance of snacks - and these snack breaks were genius-ly scheduled at 15 miles, 30 miles, 45 miles and then we are done. But "done" also means a blanket and medley of snacks at the end. It is lovely and delicious.

We, teamdawnkelly and the other riders, finished in a respectable 3.5 hours and soon parted ways. Others chose to go home and take a nap, or spend an afternoon with family. teamdawnkelly finished up that 56 mile day with a trip to the Regal Cinema to take in the just released SATC 2.

Everything about today was amazing - including our immense speed and desire to soak in hours of shoes and fashion.

It's the Eye of the Tiger

It isn't every day that a person can frequent a local city festival AND watch Survivor do their rock n' roll gig - for just $5. This new SURVIVOR obsession began with a phone call, a conversation with Frankie Sullivan and an article. All of these acts transpired into a perfect TRAINING opportunity for teamdawnkelly. The training portion being getting margaritas and guacamole and then seeing the show.

Of course, of the 6 band members, my man, Frankie Sullivan, had to be the most "hardcore" looking of them all. Striped pants. Opened button down shirt. Blond stringy hair. It was meant to be. Although we didn't roll into the presence of their backstage activities, we did watch from just a handful of rows back, the band sing all of the songs we know, plus a couple of surprises mixed in.

Ironman fits well into this mix. Kelly came fully prepared with calendars and training schedules. I came with myself. We did lay down some serious swimming, biking and running into our weekend lives. Along with planning a long bike ride around my "boating birthday fun". That is VERY responsible of us.

Just two days until the teamdawnkelly Memorial Day 56 Mile Ride. We are in heaven.

Pictures to come! Congratulations to teamdawnkelly for actually taking photos.

Tires, T-Shirts, Shoes..Rest Day!

As previously mentioned, Monday, May 24th marked the first day of training. During the day of rest, I was updated by Kelly at how well she felt during her "rest day" and her deep love and skill during this day. I felt the same...

I experienced, for the first time in 5 years, a got a flat. And because of the time frame and miles ridden on the same bike tires, I didn't have any hard feelings towards my Giant. Instead, I took it in for a new tube and ended up with two new Bontrager TIRES! I am going to be so fast. On my high of speed, Kelly informed me of her hot new open toe sandals. She wins!

And keep your eye out for the pink teamdawnkelly t-shirts coming to a store near you. Well, not really a store, but they are going to be awesome and everyone will want one. Wear it year round!

This week also marks the coming of Survivor and Frankie Sullivan, the Memorial Day 56 Mile Ride and SATC 2 Matinee...Ironman training is AWESOME.

More to come...

Almost Here - Official Training Start

I have been informed, by a friendly outsider, that the blog is not up to date. For this, I apologize.

But what perfect time to get back to business with just 2 days between now and the official start of Ironman 2010 Training for me and Kelly. This isn't to say that we have been laying on lawn chairs sipping margaritas and eating chips. teamdawnkelly stays true to our training ways year round.

Over the past couple months Kelly and I have endured a couple bike rides, possibly a run and most definitely another 60 minute massage. What is interesting (or maybe not that interesting at all) since our IM 2010 Kick-Off in January, is that teamdawnkelly has stuck to the promise of monthly massages, more than our penciled in training on our infamous Audrey Hepburn and Robert Pattinson calendars (Kelly with Audrey and I with R Patz). And we have to admit that Kelly's calendar is MIA and mine is collecting dust on my never used coffee table. But who really needs a calendar.

Monday, May 24th starts the 16 week build, peak and taper into IM 2010. Thankfully, Monday is a "rest day" of which Kelly and I truly excel. We know nothing more than how to snack and how to rest. However, our week will progress and climax into a stellar Memorial Weekend complete with dinner and margaritas prior to a Survivor concert - complete with backstage passes and a chat with Frankie Sullivan, and the annual Memorial Day 56 Mile Bike Ride at High Cliff. This year we are doing it right with snacks from all parties involved. And in 2010 the Memorial Day Ride will end properly with a matinee showing of Sex and the City 2. Life really doesn't get much better than that.

Coming up - teamdawnkelly fan shirts AND the official tracking of our cash boxes.