Signs of Improvement

This morning I went out for a ride with my friend (and triathlon mentor) Bob Wright.
Bob is a great guy and a really good athlete. He's been doing triathlons for years, is the guy who inspired me to train again and start doing tris, and is my resident gear-head: almost all the bike equipment I own he either gave or sold me.
Anyway, we go out for an easy ride, couple of hours, goal 30-35 miles. Easy, just mileage. (He has a race tomorrow).
At one point we are just cruising along, talking; I look at my speedometer and we are doing 24 mph. Immediately my mind went back to my second ride--ever--which was also with Bob. At one point, he said, "Get on my wheel and just hang on for a while." I remember putting my head down and pedaling as hard as I could for as long as I could. I topped out at 20 mph (speed blew my mind!) and lasted for maybe 2 miles.
That was 2 years, 30 lbs, and a lot of miles ago.
I guess you do get better...

Back again. Again.

One thing is obvious: I'm not much of a blogger. But the Augusta 70.3 is getting closer, and my training is heating up (well, South Carolina is heating up--101 forecast for tomorrow, with a "feels like" temperature of...hell).
We have just returned from our annual sojourn to the great North Woods of Wisconsin. I can't think of any place more beautiful to spend July. And a great place to train. I got in several long runs, a few good long rides (the roads are fantastic: rolling hills, tree canopies, and amazing pavement), and a couple open water swims. I even wore my Xterra wetsuit one morning cause it was, to be blunt, chilly.
One evening I ran 9 miles from HoneyRock camp to Lickety-Spiltz Ice Cream Shop in Three Lakes. I rewarded myself with a single scoop of Coconut Joy (best ice cream flavor in the history of the world). Remember that? That was awesome.
Getting up early in the morning for a long ride/run brick. Hoping to beat the heat. If I'm done by 9 or 9:30, I should be OK/survive.