Shortest Month Of The Year

The view from my window.

I absolutely hate winter.  For me, every day like this one is a day closer to living somewhere else.  But I'll try to find something nice to say as February begins.  Let's see ...

It's the shortest month of the year, so even if every day sucks—and don't say it couldn't happen—at least there are fewer of them.

The more formal and intense part of my indoor training will begin next Tuesday, Feb. 8, and I’m looking forward to that.  It’s the same 12-week program I followed last year and I expect good form when my racing season begins in May.  I am also looking forward to the next trainer party on Saturday, Feb. 12.

There’s plenty of pro cycling to follow this month, starting this Sunday with the Tour of Qatar.  Versus will offer live streaming of the week-long tour.  Working from home, I’ll be able to follow along.  And it looks like Versus also will stream the Tour of Oman, Feb. 15-20.  Highlight shows from the tours will be broadcast on TV on Feb. 20 and 27, respectively.  I’ll have to hope for text updates on Cyclingnews.com for the semi-classics Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Feb. 26) and Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (Feb. 27).

Aside from cycling, my other sporting passion is softball and mostly for its sake I do a lot of upper body strength training.  I had a really good January in the home gym, and on Thursday morning I will increase my working-set bench press weight by 10 pounds.  When I do so, I will be out of spare weight plates and that’s a good sign.  Following the shoulder separation I suffered last August, I gradually rebuilt my upper body strength.  Now I have proof that I have added even more.  I won’t complain about having to buy more weight plates.

So, there are some things to feel good about … but if I see a groundhog running away from his shadow tomorrow I’m going to kill the son of a bitch.