The Three Coconuts

We had booked a great hotel in Austin. Love those long term stay places with little kitchens and full breakfasts. Got in on Thursday and hit the YMCA to stretch out the kinks, then sprinted through Whole Foods (not just any Whole Foods, but the original mother of all Whole Food stores) before a mad



dash to the movie theater to see "Race Across the Sky", a documentary on Lance Armstrong and 1400 other competitors doing the Leadville 100 mountain bike race. Watching it with the Austin crew was very cool. The Livestrong Challenge was going on in town and everyone was wearing their Livestrong and Mellow Johnny's (Lances bike shop) gear. The movie was a one time showing and really inspiring. An inside look at something we had all heard of but really had no visual images or grasp of the magnitude and diversity of the course. The characters were interesting (racers, management and locals) and the message motivating. All weekend long I kept hearing:

... you can do more than you believe you can... and .... you're better than you think you are.

This stuck. I've read alot of sports psychology and have tried to get a mantra to stay in my head during a race. I haven't had much success, sometimes something sticks... but that doesn't mean it's helpful for racing, and it usually isn't what I had planned. This one wasn't planned, but it was a good one, and I heard it in the gravelly voice of the founder of the Leadville race.

Friday morning, bright and early, Flipper needed a chlorine fix, but first a trip to Mellow Johnny's. The name is a take off the the French maillot jaune, or yellow jersey. Pardon the spelling, it's been a very long time since high school french. The shop was awesome, and absolutely swamped with people in town for the Livestrong Challenge fundraiser. Oakley was doing promo's and all the employees were top notch as was the merchandise. There was lots of Lance's bike memorabilia, a cafe (Juan Pelota Cafe) on one end, downstairs a training center and bike fit area. We loitered awhile and spent way too much money.

We then headed to the YMCA where Flipper got his swim and I begged The Genius to go for a gentle jog. I wanted to share Town Lake with her. Town Lake (now officially called Lady Bird Lake, for the former First Lady who was a long time Austin resident) is a reservoir of the Colorado River in down town Austin. It is full of bike and jogging trails, people, pets and wonderful surprises. I fell in love with the Town Lake paths 2 years ago and wanted her to see them. She has not been running, so she was suspicious that this could result in pain, but we had the best morning.

Jogged up the helix and over the water.

Nippy weather made us playful.

Loved all the dogs running with their owners... and the "Off Leash" areas where it was a canine frenzy.

Beautiful park with nooks, trees, benches and bridges to explore.

Afterwards, lunch at Zax with a great local brew selection and awesome food.

We dropped off The Genius to do some homework while Blain and I went to drive the bike course.

Then to a sushi place for dinner that was highly recommended as a "must try" by the staff at Mellow Johnny's. You're not gonnna believe this place.... will share it with you tomorrow. And don't forget, eventually there is supposed to be a little triathlon at the end of this trip!!

Aloha,

The Three Coconuts.