<p><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151024509774396&amp;set=a.10150237577039396.331629.772254395&amp;type=1&amp;theater”><img alt=”” class=”floatRight” height=”320″ src=”https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/533353_10151024509774396_1481807597_n.jpg” width=”239″/></a></p>
<p>This past weekend I did the Crystal Ride in Arlington for <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&amp;subaction=showfull&amp;id=1307977297&amp;archive=&amp;cnshow=news&amp;ucat=2&amp;start_from=”>the 2nd straight year</a>. I went 66 miles in 2:59, which is 3 more miles in 10 fewer minutes than last year. I earned a gold medal (nothing too special… you need 57 miles in 3:30 for that), and “placed” (not actually a race) <a href=”http://www.airforcecyclingclassic.com/PDF/2012/2012%20AFCC%20Lap%20Times.pdf”>7th overall out of the 1500 participants</a>. I have to give a lot of the credit to the great pace line I found myself in, but I think my riding is in much better shape this year, regardless. Last year I wasn’t able to hold onto the back of my pace line, but this year I actually pulled a bit after the early leaders gassed themselves, and did a 20mph lap solo to finish off the day. I started an 8th lap to get an even 66 miles for the day, and in retrospect should have finished it as it would’ve put me in “2nd” for the day. Oh well. Next year for sure.</p>
<p>I ran the <a href=”http://www.dcroadrunners.org/races/race-results/2012-results/1759-2012-run-after-the-women.html”>Run After The Women 5k</a> just down the trail from my house on Wednesday, putting the 3.1 miles away in a new post-injury best of 19:15 (6:12/mi). Very happy with the performance… Actually felt like I finished with some gas in the tank. Still half a minute off my adult PR, but I’ll get there. Just gotta keep training smart.</p>
<p>Heather and I applied for a new house! Rental… We haven’t yet heard back, but we were first to apply so I’m assuming it’s ours. About 3/4 mile further west down Washington Blvd than we currently reside. Pretty much right next to East Falls Church Metro, which is awesome. As if our current distance of 1/2 mile from the W&amp;OD wasn’t close enough, we’ll now be about a block from it. Awesome! Older house, but well taken care of. 3BR, 1BA, partially finished basement, garage, wooded yard. We’re excited… we just hope it’s ours. The lease would begin on July 1, which kind of stinks because I need to give my current place 30 days notice on a 1st, which mean’s we’d have to eat a month’s rent, but also gives us the flexibility of moving slowly.</p>
<p>I’m really wanting to buy a new bike and an iMac (except the bastards @ Apple didn’t update them this past week, as expected). If anybody has $5k sitting around that they’d like to donate to the smile on my face, I’d appreciate it. Maybe time to start buying lottery tickets?</p>
<p>Yes, I still owe a trip report. It’s slowly rising to the top of my to-do list. It will happen, unlike my Japan report 🙂 Promise. I took really good notes this time around so it should be effortless.</p>