Anna Maria Island

Rachel and I just got back from Anna Maria Island yesterday, where we spent 6 days with our family there. I'll have some pictures to share soon, but those don't even come close to doing this place justice. My family has gone there for a few years now and it's just a great place to relax and enjoy one another's company. There isn't a whole lot of touristy things to do, but it's better that way in my opinion. Everyday minus the day we arrived was sunny and in the 80s. Most mornings we'd wake up, lounge around for a bit and then the majority of us were off for a run, walk, or swim or in my case usually all 3. Nothing too long or intense, but just getting out and enjoying moving in nice weather. Then it was back to our house a block off the ocean that we rented for the week. It was time for breakfast and then beach time! The beach there is nice, white sand...similar to Clearwater where they used to hold the 70.3 world championships. In all the years we've been going down there I can only think of one where the weather really stunk. This year it was great and the water was nice too...refreshing, but warm enough to stay in it for a while and play in the waves or toss the football around. Usually we'd last a couple of hours and then we'd go make some lunch and chill by the pool at our house most of the afternoon and who knows...maybe have a cocktail or two. Dinner was next after getting cleaned up and man we had some good meals. We grilled out a few nights having ribs, salmon, and burgers. Another night we had spaghetti. All favorites of mine. Most dinners followed with some sort of dessert and then we went to watch the sunset. I wish we could say we had lots of crazy nights, but to be honest we were all pretty tired by night's end and we hit the sack quite early. I hate to say it, but I prefer that these days...same thing goes for when we're home in Michigan. The early to bed, early to rise crew is almost always the more successful crew. If someone tells you otherwise they are fooling themselves. So that's that. I'll share some pictures once we get them downloaded. It's time to really buckle now and get serious for Eagleman and the rest of the races coming up this summer. I feel I've set myself up for a good couple of months. I've trained hard this winter, but my mind and body are still fresh and ready to do the big work that lies ahead. Started today with a solid swim session this morning and then a track workout tonight. Run and ride planned for tommorrow. And the weather is finally getting better. 60s this weekend they say! Let's goooo as my Hampton kids used to say.