Training on Martha's Vineyard

We're out on Martha's Vineyard for two weeks as work more or less leaves the equation and family time and training take hold on the priority list.

The first morning, I headed out for a beautiful 50 mile ride.  The first 30 were solo and ended in Gay Head at the far end of the island.  While taking a quick break to admire the view, another cyclist arrived and our interaction went like this:

Me:  Where you headed?
Him:  Back to Edgartown.
Me: Me, too- will join you. (now riding) Where you from?
Him:  Boston
Me:  Boston proper?
Him:  Actually, Wellesley
Me:  You don't ride with my friends Cary and Lew Collins out of there, do you?
Him:  I rode with them yesterday morning.

Both of us blown away by this small world interaction (60 seconds to either side of our meeting and we probably don't connect), we got to know each other over the 20 miles back home and will get in a few more good rides over the coming weeks.

With John from Wellesley

The next morning, I was able to connect with a great friend from our time working together at Millbrook School.  Libby Mitchell and her family were on the tail end of a visit with her mom and step-father in East Chop.  Libby and I logged a lot of miles together at Millbrook (will have a future post about running buddies) and it was great to get back on the road with her.  Ran 7 miles to their house and then Libby and I went out for 6.5 miles around Oak Bluffs.  We spent quality time later in the day with husband Jim, son Cooper (3.5 years) and daughter Emerson (7 months)- what an amazing family.  Coop was Mr. Chatty and as adorable as you can imagine as was Emerson.  Alison and I realized that we're not around young kids that much anymore- it was fun to step back in time with such great parents and kids!  A few changes in the almost 7 years since having a young kid- video added to the audio monitors, baby food in a tube (with its own special spoon- squeeze the food out of the tube right into the spoon), and the iphone as distraction during adult time conversation.  Libby and Jim just moved out of SF to Mill Valley- hope we get to see them on MV every year!

Libby, Coop (as T-Rex), Jim and Emerson