tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345208912024-03-05T04:56:39.627-08:00Brick by BrickLiving life one brick at a time Matthew 5:8Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-58160878563486675982010-07-20T06:44:00.000-07:002010-07-20T06:44:18.101-07:00Qualifier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAjf5mDgCw0JJKpvwPmEh15xuQ_5WpEUECBr3Nns76Q5hQSpr_XUH58gJWoawuKpEusPhj74gCPuFPPgJyNGO2hBJ9nQSXqopG8lQV7CXjq8u-jMiLgmYG54ZFf0gCmtDTXmi/s1600/AG+Natl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAjf5mDgCw0JJKpvwPmEh15xuQ_5WpEUECBr3Nns76Q5hQSpr_XUH58gJWoawuKpEusPhj74gCPuFPPgJyNGO2hBJ9nQSXqopG8lQV7CXjq8u-jMiLgmYG54ZFf0gCmtDTXmi/s320/AG+Natl.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It took some time, effort and a 9-hour drive one way but I accomplished my goal of qualifying for the USAT Age Group Nationals to be held September 25th in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Whew!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Qualifying was my only triathlon goal this year and this was my last chance to do it. The race was the Evergreen Lake Tri in Hudson, Illinois, an Olympic distance race. This was the closest regional qualifying event left before Nationals...that's why I drove 9 hours to race (I should say 'we' drove because my good friend, Rusty, volunteered to come with me to keep me company and help drive....GREAT guy!).</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Being the middle of July I expected race day to be hot, even in the middle of Illinois. It didn't disappoint. There were a few things I didn't expect, however. The water temperature was 82-degrees race morning which is very warm. I've never done a race with water temperatures that high. That meant no wetsuit. I also didn't expect there to be big rollers like there were on the bike. I expected Illinois to be flat and fast. The wind was blowing harder than I expected as well.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Overall times were slower than I've come to expect. The winner of my age group crossed the line in 2:25:and change. Usually the winner of the male 45 - 49 group finishes the distance sub-2:10. My time was 2:53:and change, good enough for 10th out of 30. I guess the heat and hills wreaked havoc on all.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was more relieved than anything when I realized I qualified. I wanted to accomplish my goal. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I have one more race this season. One more good, hard block of training weeks to go in 2010. I will concentrate on my run, try to strengthen my swim and maintain my bike. </span></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-8185863504703782172010-06-25T14:28:00.000-07:002010-06-25T14:28:59.002-07:00Ghost Rider<span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I didn't know Marilyn <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Fulper</span>. She had no idea that when she awoke early Sunday morning that it would be her last bike ride. It would be her last day on earth.</span></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I don't know the person who hit Marilyn <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Fulper</span> with her car, either. A hit Marilyn would not survive. </span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCv4MJawI11wG2QEUi6wiND_LW4hUdugYrPw4np1UXlxAxfv72CBYWEK3zq3BUqudpqAwRAOYG4CU_YMEjG4KkngfjanaYRLE7Gv_bFAW9e7jBb0qc2MvZlVRz86H4G_l-GQ2/s1600/Ghost+Rider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCv4MJawI11wG2QEUi6wiND_LW4hUdugYrPw4np1UXlxAxfv72CBYWEK3zq3BUqudpqAwRAOYG4CU_YMEjG4KkngfjanaYRLE7Gv_bFAW9e7jBb0qc2MvZlVRz86H4G_l-GQ2/s320/Ghost+Rider.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A bike painted white sits at the corner of Hwy 10 and River Mountain Road in Little Rock, the place the tragic accident occurred, as a memorial. It is indeed a tragedy. One accident tragically alters many lives forever.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's a tragedy that occurs all too often across the country and world. Some one's not paying attention and an irreversible mistake happens. Something like this doesn't get more irreversible. It's an awful way to learn a lesson! And, really, what lesson is learned? Are you going to never drive distracted again? Probably not. Something, at some point, is going to distract you. You can certainly minimize what you let distract you. By all means, don't text or use the Internet with your phone and don't use alcohol while driving. I'm not certain, but I believe neither were involved in this particular accident.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cars and bikes are going to always share the road. For those of you in the cars, please, please pay careful attention. It's difficult to overcome being struck by your car. If there's another lane, please use it and give the Cyclist plenty of room. It's OK to slow down a little too. Cyclists, wear your helmet, obey traffic laws and wear things that make you clearly visible. </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have to learn to share the roads to keep senseless tragedies, forever life-changing tragedies, like this one from happening. </span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></b>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-59549326541876732182010-06-22T13:30:00.000-07:002010-06-22T13:30:22.405-07:00TdF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnByhibxo4vflZRIVCBVGCyroJHDo_VeEWYgyL1lnm4LkHS_Q6gPPfSGl4wuyDP0_J1zHaJWcEbJ8CCau6AIdTNZbkFCG_eL2hZ2GaxUqQ7gYLzQMEc6A2WMkOI5dbl734aDX/s1600/TdF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnByhibxo4vflZRIVCBVGCyroJHDo_VeEWYgyL1lnm4LkHS_Q6gPPfSGl4wuyDP0_J1zHaJWcEbJ8CCau6AIdTNZbkFCG_eL2hZ2GaxUqQ7gYLzQMEc6A2WMkOI5dbl734aDX/s320/TdF.jpg" /><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">D</span></span></span></a></div><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">June is coming to a close. By all accounts that means July is looming. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That can mean one thing. Le Tour <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">de</span> France! Love me some <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">TdF</span>. Also, love me some Versus because they show it all day long. Over and Over so you can catch it at one time or another.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll have my eye of several teams and riders. For sure <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">RadioShack</span> will be front and center as well as Astana. Astana is not the same team it was a year ago. Of course they still have Alberto <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Contador</span>, a.k.a. the defending champ! But gone is Lance. Gone is Levi. Gone also are a few other riders that helped support that team. Will they be as strong? Did they accumulate enough talented riders to help <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Contador</span> repeat. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Is Lance strong enough to compete? Is he too old? Will Levi be satisfied with a support role or will he want his day in the sun? He was strong last year until a bike wreck broke a bone in his wrist forcing him out.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Will one of the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Schleck</span> brothers stand atop the podium this year. Will a dark horse steal the show?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The sprinters will sprint and the climbers will climb but who will stand alone in the general classification when it's all said and done. Twenty one racing days covering 2,236 miles. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The biggest bike race in the world is about to commence. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Let'em</span> roll!</span></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-4473101329997050882010-06-17T16:40:00.000-07:002010-06-17T16:40:51.421-07:00Tri Lingo<div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joanna Zeiger is one of my favorite triathletes. She's competitive at every distance, she's had a long, consistent career being competitive at every distance, she's a very intelligent person holding a PhD and, having met her, she's very personable.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She's apparently also a linguist and creative.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I came across this list of words she created and thought I'd pass them along for all you tri-junkies. I'm sure you can relate. Enjoy.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Aquarash - </b>The strange burn that appears on the neck after a wetsuit swim.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bodyslam - </b>The full body muscle soreness the day after a race.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bottleshock - </b>When you reach behind to grab a bottle from your back cage and it is gone. You realize it probably popped out 3 miles back. <i>You hope an official didn't see it and assess you a 2:00 penalty (my addition!!)</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cycleroma - </b>The smell of a room after an indoor bike workout. The smell is exponential to the number of people in the room.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><b>Fungoo - </b>The residue on your bike frame from gels and drinks <i>(not to mention sweat, snot and nasty road grime!!! - again my addition)</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gasplorch - </b>What to say to the race official (in lieu of the regular expletives) who pulled you over for littering when your bottle escaped after hitting that bump in the road.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><b>ill Suiter - </b>An individual who wears their wetsuit backwards or inside out.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Invisibuoy - </b>The disappearance of the huge orange or yellow buoys on the swim if it is rough or if the sun is in your eyes.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overage - </b>Adding a few runs to your run or bike ride beyond what you had planned on your schedule.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Overstride - </b>What happens when you are fading in a race and then drink a cup of cola.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Runnerstummy - </b>GI distress that occurs during long runs, speed sessions or races that forces you to stop.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Spreader - </b>An individual who takes up too much space in transition and encroaches on your area.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tridew - </b>The clammy, awful state that your gear is in when you have to pack it wet after a race.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yo-Yoer - </b>A person who passes and drops back and repasses and drops back and passes again during training or a race.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you make up more?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-21973253173125455032010-05-26T14:33:00.000-07:002010-05-27T18:25:49.999-07:002010 MiM<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This very strange day started in a van down by the lake...literally.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, how's that for a set up? It was a strange day and it did start in a van down by the lake. I actually slept in my van the night before the race and my van was situated down by the lake where the swim took place. The accommodations were, strangely enough, not that bad. I hid all the back seats in my nifty stow-and-go van, inflated a blow up mattress, let the car running for the A/C and locked the doors. It was quiet and I had plenty of room. I also had a power outlet to run my computer allowing me to watch a movie and check email. But who am I kidding? It was kind of weird.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I didn't plan to sleep in my van down by the lake when I signed up for this race back in December. By the way, the race was the Memphis in May Olympic distance triathlon I've done for the past several years. It's unofficially the start of my race season. As mentioned, I didn't plan to sleep in my van; it just worked out that way in the end. Normally our entire posse participates in this event but for one reason or another our posse started dropping like flies in the kitchen of a determined mother with a fly-swatter. No Trey or Heather or Shannon or Troy or Ernie or Gary or Bird or Dean. It ended up being just me.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many racers and their families camp out at the race site every year. This year Trey and I decided we were going to join them. He was going to bring his tent and cots and we were going to camp out. Trey started hinting that he may not be able to go this year because work had become very demanding...I don't know, something about this tiny oil spill in the Gulf...please! (Seriously, I'm just kidding, it's really overwhelming). When he started hinting at that I booked a hotel close by. I thought it would be too much of a hassle to go the tent route plus I thought Bird may join us in the hotel. Trey ultimately flushed the race and Bird took his entire family to Memphis with him. As much as I like the Birdwells I determined it a bit awkward for all of us to stay in the same hotel room. Not to mention that they got their own room...at another hotel. As a side note, issues arose for Bird and, as mentioned above, he didn't do the race even though he was in Memphis. When it came down to it I didn't really want to spend that kind of money for a hotel room by myself. So I slept in a van down by the lake.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just laid a lot of groundwork to set up the fact that the day started abnormally. At least in the spirit of consistency it stayed abnormal the entire day. Not necessarily a good thing!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After waking up in my van down by the lake (earlier than my alarm went off...of course!) I ate about half a Cliff Bar and downed some GU2O, popped open the van door and began gathering my gear to get ready to head down to transition. Normally during this time you chit-chat with your buddies. However, as mentioned above, none of my buddies were there. I know, poor me, right?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Setting up transition most of the participants were waiting to hear what the water temperature measured so we could know if the race was wetsuit legal. According to USAT rules the water has to be below 78-degrees in order to be able to wear wetsuits. Because of the unseasonably high temperatures for this time of year it was touch-and-go as to whether wetsuits were going to be the order of the day. Twenty minutes before race time it was announced....the water temperature was....wait for it...77-point-7 degrees! The announcement was met with mixed reactions. Most folks appreciate wearing wetsuits because they simply help you swim faster. It makes you more buoyant. However, the combination of wetsuits and high water temperature can cause you to overheat during the swim and elevate your heart rate.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fast forwarding a little...transition is ready, wetsuit, swim cap and goggles are on. Down to the water I go for the time-trial start. I get the tap on my shoulder and off I go. I'm not a 100 meters into the swim and I can feel my timing chip loosening around my ankle. Well that's no good! No timing chip, no time! So I had to stop and try to adjust this thing. It sounds simple, but not necessarily easy. I apparently didn't do it right the first time because about 200 meters later I felt it loosen again. Adjust, swim and it loosens again. Starting to get hacked off. Fortunately the third time it happened I was near a kayak so I was able to brace myself and secure it properly for good. At 29:05 my swim time wasn't my best but it wasn't my worst either. I probably killed a minute-and-a-half trying to secure that dang chip> So all-in-all I could live with the swim.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As mentioned above the air temperature was abnormally high for this time of year. It was humid as well. I don't do as well in the heat especially when it's early in the season and I haven't had an opportunity to train in the heat. By the time I transitioned to the run it was 90-degrees. My heart rate was up and I was cooked. I could tell right away that me and the run were not going to be friends on this day. I was right.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">6.2 miles and an hour-and-13 minutes later and my race was over...mercifully. I walked as much, if not more, than I ran. But, dang it, I finished. Everything inside of me told me to turn back and stop. End the day. Make it go away. But I couldn't do it. I heard a great quote one time with regards to the </span></span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ironman World Championships saying, "you can quit and they won't care, but you will always know!" So I trudged the distance pouring as much cold water over my head, down the front of my shirt and down my back as I could.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recognized that I wasn't the only athlete struggling. I could tell one of the few racers I passed was struggling as well. I put my hand on his shoulder and we commiserated on the day as we walked together. I think it fave us both a lift</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did run the last few hundred yards and near the end a runner encouraged me to finish strong. Little did he know that I was just glad to finish, though I appreciated the support.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it was all said and done I crossed the line in 2:55:02. It was my worst Olympic distance time by far. But the story doesn't there. I really struggled once the race was over. Very light headed. I thought I was going to hit the deck a couple of times but managed to stay upright....until I was smart enough to sit down.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I made i home, checked my time on-line and it read 2:57:02! I was penalized 2:00 for "equipment abandonment". During the race I apparently hit a significant bump and lost a water bottle our of one of my cages on the back of my seat. I didn't notice until the race was nearly over. The bright side of that part of the story is....if ever I was going to be penalized in a race this was the one to have it happen...because I did not care. Besides, what's a pound to an elephant at this point?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Overall it was a tough day. But as I look back on it, I consider it to be a very good, hard training day and I now it will make me better in the future, if not smarter about racing. It was a miserable day but I'm looking forward to doing it again! </span></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-35086524444300278112010-04-16T07:53:00.000-07:002010-04-16T07:53:32.962-07:00Hello Again<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's been nearly an eternity since I've posted (or two months, whichever is shorter). Much is happening and the time just slips away. Not uncommon I'm sure!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been hot and heavy training for my first triathlon of the season. The Memphis in May Olympic tri is in about 5 weeks. I'm really looking forward to it to see what I can do. As I've mentioned before I'm attempting to qualify for the USAT Age Group Nationals held in September. To qualify you have to be in the top 33% of your age group. In order to do that, based on past years results in my age group, I'll have to PR. It's do-able and it's really giving me something to shoot for. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm approaching this event like you would a class where there are no grades but you merely receive a 'pass/fail'. I will either qualify or I won't. There's no middle of the road. I've never approached a race like this before so it'll be a new experience. What makes it different for me is I'm going with an all-out effort. Right now, that's how I'm training. It's kind of scary. I've typically taken a somewhat conservative approach during a race, trying to leave a little in the tank throughout. I've never put the pedal to the medal, so to speak. I may totally bonk! Hope not.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One thing is certain, I will learn something either way.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I do know this,</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_iXuXob31pukYdZv5rUs6HJsaYaN7EuQglQ8ytJ6gk4GhtlAReoohQdVeyL_VPmJQqN2D4AZDxkvIatQUUEwFEg1ncejbJ4l8NE72NtmMQMrgHE8kkR-YvEUcwNOcik7jek3/s1600/Voler+Tri+Top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_iXuXob31pukYdZv5rUs6HJsaYaN7EuQglQ8ytJ6gk4GhtlAReoohQdVeyL_VPmJQqN2D4AZDxkvIatQUUEwFEg1ncejbJ4l8NE72NtmMQMrgHE8kkR-YvEUcwNOcik7jek3/s320/Voler+Tri+Top.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">my new tri top is going to make me super-fast! So I got that going for me, which is kinda nice!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, and the other nice thing about my new super-fast tri top is that I got it for $15 (including shipping!). Heck of a deal. It's regularly $55. </span></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-37172184581097840552010-02-13T11:57:00.000-08:002010-02-13T12:33:14.095-08:00Number 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSomcxk9W3gtMsbX8SbEzrznRGVKrnfm4W1h1WTM-QX49T_G51dCFQWJakDPSEhAb-cDIKSzPtQzEteHh9iN_34y5yk8JK6OOPGCCINWarrAkyeGj2e2EG5zDUsl7slzAqnkL/s1600-h/show+it.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSomcxk9W3gtMsbX8SbEzrznRGVKrnfm4W1h1WTM-QX49T_G51dCFQWJakDPSEhAb-cDIKSzPtQzEteHh9iN_34y5yk8JK6OOPGCCINWarrAkyeGj2e2EG5zDUsl7slzAqnkL/s320/show+it.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Pretty excited and proud of my youngest. He went to Russellville for a Valentine's Day kids run today....and finished top spot on the podium! He won the race!</span></span></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Winner, winner, chicken dinner...Great job Will.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think we have a budding runner on our hands.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyskbuxQSkYJXmTVZJ0aeUIJQgen4TTrO4NVMFgZbFzlr6ppwZAn3dIF1IGNB538SJh8mq7X_hr1I97DA82STYGDAgKxEi6iBqXTm1i5EIrLAG-gwSclKGh6NYWVE7idKSb8L/s1600-h/Mom+and+Will.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyskbuxQSkYJXmTVZJ0aeUIJQgen4TTrO4NVMFgZbFzlr6ppwZAn3dIF1IGNB538SJh8mq7X_hr1I97DA82STYGDAgKxEi6iBqXTm1i5EIrLAG-gwSclKGh6NYWVE7idKSb8L/s320/Mom+and+Will.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Will and Mom Pre-Race</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtMlYoe-9SPWyN1o6gbdSH0ZOwd2LBlITYvC98mWVGf1E6gMQwzk6qP2AizUWMhGM2MhVhV_uo_W3onz23nrSmv0-CUWnGGZvX9gOMb2JTAfQaaa2uC7v_Qh6QMXnSYetg_ZI/s1600-h/prerace+stretching.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtMlYoe-9SPWyN1o6gbdSH0ZOwd2LBlITYvC98mWVGf1E6gMQwzk6qP2AizUWMhGM2MhVhV_uo_W3onz23nrSmv0-CUWnGGZvX9gOMb2JTAfQaaa2uC7v_Qh6QMXnSYetg_ZI/s320/prerace+stretching.JPG" /></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Pre-Race stretching oh, so important</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlCbHUVVjzeDxBTbUSyVMIgYCWscHyq1EDI8Sf-Xkftcr9aZ1Nmf7GSwCltTUlBK_brWcK4E3o386xEiutahepwGOVMJw6C0npCE_CbKqj9ZGuMaje8z2KZR2YYSWuQnKjS4e/s1600-h/Startline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlCbHUVVjzeDxBTbUSyVMIgYCWscHyq1EDI8Sf-Xkftcr9aZ1Nmf7GSwCltTUlBK_brWcK4E3o386xEiutahepwGOVMJw6C0npCE_CbKqj9ZGuMaje8z2KZR2YYSWuQnKjS4e/s320/Startline.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On your mark...</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLa-p3HXiWBH3SxTWUORm2Vs4_gBsLY9SnOSmTxth2lr6O58K-R4uRWDXHtC2dT6vZu-Sf0HaCEsFj8I9PEzZjwSYj7pnhiXCVFVxmEIzNzxhzYw_OAiqG4hAEnoUaaUj2WUI/s1600-h/in+action.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLa-p3HXiWBH3SxTWUORm2Vs4_gBsLY9SnOSmTxth2lr6O58K-R4uRWDXHtC2dT6vZu-Sf0HaCEsFj8I9PEzZjwSYj7pnhiXCVFVxmEIzNzxhzYw_OAiqG4hAEnoUaaUj2WUI/s320/in+action.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...go</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzDWYubn6uwsu5LdDP9H-09_zcgiRTbKQIFQWB4fXa4iRidq2E9ty_dEt97JJnI2_B1Nqb1k6-3dPaVbpS03lA0wkmk6cp52w-4M3iIoFiTa-09CZ8SdbmWg6LFjwUr6E5we4/s1600-h/number+one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzDWYubn6uwsu5LdDP9H-09_zcgiRTbKQIFQWB4fXa4iRidq2E9ty_dEt97JJnI2_B1Nqb1k6-3dPaVbpS03lA0wkmk6cp52w-4M3iIoFiTa-09CZ8SdbmWg6LFjwUr6E5we4/s320/number+one.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First to the line</span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZSwaB9Fnfgm3nkV4PVNP06XtN01_uKZhGvFPt1G_1gFa2Bd27c76LKBvBAJvd0n3tESuajrVEmdnZ9vwD6CUS98bwPU_O07zzgHvMJadMJ82SHyL2LN3C3jbjH7V1M353Q57/s1600-h/medal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZSwaB9Fnfgm3nkV4PVNP06XtN01_uKZhGvFPt1G_1gFa2Bd27c76LKBvBAJvd0n3tESuajrVEmdnZ9vwD6CUS98bwPU_O07zzgHvMJadMJ82SHyL2LN3C3jbjH7V1M353Q57/s320/medal.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The winner's medal!</span></span></i></span></div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-82934734240128394832010-02-10T17:45:00.000-08:002010-02-10T17:45:17.169-08:002010 = The Year of Smiling Minimally<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEVAKWCEZeJ7J1Cu7xnwJP1Kd8nJvB_eJ1VtbKDYO1IlkkVe4owxGF9_Laeupigv9TC_iKQ6NpxEaWD2NWU-ujtglc420ueI3CkMnSMpxSM8Hlds6QU3v-cqLWU5kByvwGYJ6/s1600-h/Scott+PhilbrickI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEVAKWCEZeJ7J1Cu7xnwJP1Kd8nJvB_eJ1VtbKDYO1IlkkVe4owxGF9_Laeupigv9TC_iKQ6NpxEaWD2NWU-ujtglc420ueI3CkMnSMpxSM8Hlds6QU3v-cqLWU5kByvwGYJ6/s320/Scott+PhilbrickI.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">OK, this is me smiling normally...that was yesterday. Well, not really yesterday that was taken a couple of years ago, so, it was me, ya know, metaphorically yesterday.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is more like me today....and not metaphorically today....but just today!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHeUPFIaW0alVhZWPLiPjfSzpTh1VAFzA7KJuVUxnVrwNUt1lyyJo1Cox_NCqp3BAQEEUsld10QFRvZLz9pslaZRICL9zVMYXeiYqwKIKXMM8UOWCh4AwS6bZXwy7DikpaD31/s1600-h/smile+metal+mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHeUPFIaW0alVhZWPLiPjfSzpTh1VAFzA7KJuVUxnVrwNUt1lyyJo1Cox_NCqp3BAQEEUsld10QFRvZLz9pslaZRICL9zVMYXeiYqwKIKXMM8UOWCh4AwS6bZXwy7DikpaD31/s320/smile+metal+mouth.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this is what I'm going to feel like tomorrow when I put on my suit and go try to be a professional calling on doctors with what feels like what's in the above photo in my mouth...</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPRoNxNqXRaq7OI0ClWtRu4_qT7RIGGnlPGUrGMzOSU6KfzaBw45LRS0qQgx_44b6RJlW1DIApnErs64zPHcXDm_Hrqef-xDvFUWABIS7jYtA3VE_4KuUrX1MsMo08FrUYk4o/s1600-h/smiling+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR-nbGxt26sPtJqsliXt6nssJ0jLBv0ISqg5PnagLw2e5cmFPTH_UzNkmlS9QRH5VC4NtKCRLNqJ5JggaoAFSV_RyZHGAIp-s0YtVzibZ5Pj8W2MAoUoDa2oqeSTp2gUFaeyJ/s1600-h/17668-Clipart-Illustration-Of-An-African-American-Businesswoman-With-Braces-Smiling+with+braces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUR-nbGxt26sPtJqsliXt6nssJ0jLBv0ISqg5PnagLw2e5cmFPTH_UzNkmlS9QRH5VC4NtKCRLNqJ5JggaoAFSV_RyZHGAIp-s0YtVzibZ5Pj8W2MAoUoDa2oqeSTp2gUFaeyJ/s320/17668-Clipart-Illustration-Of-An-African-American-Businesswoman-With-Braces-Smiling+with+braces.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">...now I recognize that I'm not a cross-dresser nor do I have moobs, nevertheless the feeling, and the look will be similar, at least in my mind.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did it. Pulled the trigger. Did the deed. Went out on a limb...and got braces for the first time in my life. It's an incredibly weird feeling. A feeling I'm not sure I'm friends with. But I guess we better learn to co-exist. At least for 12 months.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So lay 'em on me. These are the ones I know: Zipper lips, Brace Face, Metal Mouth, Tinsel Teeth, Train Tracks and Wire World. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm hoping at the end of those 12 months this will be my look....</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPRoNxNqXRaq7OI0ClWtRu4_qT7RIGGnlPGUrGMzOSU6KfzaBw45LRS0qQgx_44b6RJlW1DIApnErs64zPHcXDm_Hrqef-xDvFUWABIS7jYtA3VE_4KuUrX1MsMo08FrUYk4o/s1600-h/smiling+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPRoNxNqXRaq7OI0ClWtRu4_qT7RIGGnlPGUrGMzOSU6KfzaBw45LRS0qQgx_44b6RJlW1DIApnErs64zPHcXDm_Hrqef-xDvFUWABIS7jYtA3VE_4KuUrX1MsMo08FrUYk4o/s320/smiling+face.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">...of course without the supple lips of a female....or the lipstick!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now if I could just break out with a horrific case of acne and some raging hormones.....</span></div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-79244987048409321802010-02-02T13:34:00.000-08:002010-02-02T13:36:31.244-08:00'Tis the Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQpcdupTPT9KZftR3Mm5DVcD25-u-tLhG-2sdwgJUOCZByV5wB7-YdD3lcDq88ONEKwikNe4GO9XaEQ7GpxaseBJ3TSylgYhyxtnweog7wkQmivOFN0fQ9Q7xyBp23bOZl38L/s1600-h/MiM+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQpcdupTPT9KZftR3Mm5DVcD25-u-tLhG-2sdwgJUOCZByV5wB7-YdD3lcDq88ONEKwikNe4GO9XaEQ7GpxaseBJ3TSylgYhyxtnweog7wkQmivOFN0fQ9Q7xyBp23bOZl38L/s320/MiM+2010.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...Why the Tri season, of course!</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">OK, I'm just going to reveal it now...I'm a big fan of The Lion King...watched it over the holidays. That opening scene where the sun breaks over the horizon and they belt out the tune - "Nants ingonyama bagithi baba!" (it's true, those are the actual words spoken, I looked it up. kinda ruins it in a way because all this time I've enjoyed just throwing out these random sounds and not having a clue what they were.) anyway, that opening scene is awesome.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I say all that as a backdrop to be able to reference one line from the monkey Rafiki as he acknowledges that Simba is about to take charge - "It is time".</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is time to gear up for the 2010 tri season. It is time to begin to shed that comfortable layer of cushion that accumulated over the holidays. It is time to get back in the routine of a training schedule. I'm ready.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have a specific focus for this year which is to increase my speed in all three disciplines. I want to become a faster, more efficient swimmer. I want to get faster on the bike and I want to be able to run a sub-:50 10k during an Olympic distance event.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My ultimate goal for this season is to again qualify for the USAT Age Group Nationals held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama the end of September. I qualified in 2009 but wasn't able to participate. That was fine because my 'A' race last year was Ironman Florida and that's where my focus was as well.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm not doing an Ironman distance race this year for the sole purpose of focusing on increasing my speed and participating in the Nationals.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To that end my first race of the season is a big one, Memphis in May Oly the 4th Sunday of the month. It's a special qualifier for the Nationals so I want to do well. It's not the only opportunity to qualify, but it's the first.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have a 16-week program I use and week 1 is this week. I'm excited.....and motivated. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-20567496444885456712010-01-08T07:31:00.000-08:002010-01-08T07:31:44.754-08:00From Bowl Madness to Poll Madness...with March Madness Soon to Follow<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">30-some-odd bowl games up....30-some-odd bowl games down. The college football season is complete with the Alabama Crimson Tide begin crowned national champions. A perfect 14 - 0 season. BTW, has Nick Saban smiled yet? Just wondering.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With completion of the season comes the final rankings. The polls. Those random rankings based on people's opinions....educated or otherwise. I wonder if some of those pollsters think, "Hey, they're the Chippewas....that's kind of cool....ok, number 23...there." </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="messagebody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The polls are a funny thing....<br />
<br />
I look up and down the poll and I see Central Michigan at 23 (speaking of the Chippewas). I think to myself, is C. Michigan better then Oklahoma. I also think to myself, if I asked pollsters face-to-face to pick one: Oklahoma or Central Michigan, I wonder how many with a straight face would pick Central Michigan. <br />
<br />
Now C. Mich. had a good year. 12 - 2 by most standards is great, especially when you take into consideration the power schedule C. Mich. played. Seriously. Taking the field against perennial powers such as Alcorn St., Akron, Toledo, Ball St. and No. Illinois would bolster anyones ranking. That's a freakin' murderers row! I'm not sure how they survived! Now on the other hand, anyone who would schedule Texas, BYU, Nebraska, Miami & Texas Tech is just looking for an easy way out. <br />
<br />
OK, I realize, when you're Oklahoma there's really not much difference between 23, 24, 25...or 26 and above for that matter. When you're Oklahoma and in those spots it represents you didn't have the kind of season to which you're accustomed. But having said that and taking into consideration the kind of adversity this team faced this year I would've liked to have seen them crack the top 25.....for their own morale purposes. <br />
<br />
I realize the polls are incredibly imperfect...<br />
<br />
...but this poll is saying that C. Mich. is the 23rd best team in the country....better than Oklahoma, OSU, Auburn, Georgia, Arkansas and so on and so forth. I'm pretty sure you put anyone of these teams in that schedule and...well, you get the idea...</span></div><div class="messagebody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="messagebody" style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So with the wrap on the college football season and poll madness it's on to March Madness....a sport that actually crowns it's champion on the court rather than in the polls! <br />
</span></div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-77107739075850051792010-01-04T09:21:00.000-08:002010-01-31T06:50:45.757-08:002010<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So what's it going to be?</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How are you going to say it?</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Is it 2-thousand-10 or 20-10?</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Think back more than a decade ago...did you ever say 1-thousand-9-hundred-95? Of course not! That takes entirely too long. You'd be weird. It was 19-95...for that matter it was 19-64, 19-75 and so on and so forth.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not that I was alive and can recall but listening to people who make reference to the years more than 100 ago describe them as 'aught-8'...you know, "back in 'aught-8'"...it was 19-aught-8. It wasn't 1-thousand-9-hundred and 8. Heck it was even 19-08 before it was that long, drawn out version.<br />
</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But for some reason most of us described the past decade as '2-thousand-1,2,3,4...and so on....not 20-01, 02, 03...etc, etc. I wonder why.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If for no other reason it's nice to be in another decade. It takes entirely too long to say '2-thousand-10' as opposed to '20-10'. </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm happy about that....I wonder what I'll do with all that extra time? </span></b></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-34265107367466284272009-12-25T05:57:00.000-08:002009-12-25T05:57:07.492-08:00Merry Christmas!<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. </i>~Philippians 2:7</span></b></span></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-24694479501045218232009-12-24T10:43:00.000-08:002009-12-24T10:45:28.378-08:00BACK IN THE SADDLE<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hopped aboard the magic bus for the first time since IMFL '09 and rode the trainer for an hour. That's a period of 6-weeks and 5 days! That's a long time. The longest I've gone in...I don't know when. Why did I pick today? Not sure. Maybe it was because I was drinking coffee, browsed the movies on hulu and found <i>Prefontaine</i></span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;">. <b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I got inspired. I also realized I needed to start building back my base.</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I rode for an hour and my HR didn't get above 130. I watched the last hour of the movie on my trainer....I know. I eventually looked down at my HR monitor and I was at 106 so I stepped it up a little. Definitely wanted to stay aerobic but that was a little too aerobic. It felt good to go for my stationary ride.</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I also signed up for Memphis in May Olympic tri. It's in May. I know. This year's MiM is a qualifier for the USAT Age Group Nationals held at the end of September in Tuscaloosa. My goal is to qualify for that. </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love a goal!</span></span></b></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-41731918359387413242009-12-22T13:56:00.000-08:002009-12-22T13:56:07.081-08:00Great Weekend<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just got back from a really fun weekend of hunting and fellowship with my long-time friend Jeff. I've known the guy since 9th grade and roomed with him in college. We've been friends every since. Were in each others weddings. My oldest, Alex, went with me and he ended up getting a real treat. More in a smidge.</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jeff lives in the SW corner of Oklahoma, Altus. It's were I graduated from high school. Home of the bulldogs! I digress.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jeff is a great lover of hunting...he's also very good at it. The picture below is just a few of the monsters he's taken.</span></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The mounts hang in a cabin Jeff shares with one of his friends. The two built it together on his friends land.....and it's a lot of land, with a lot of deer roaming. And other forms of wildlife. It's beautiful country and excellent for hunting.</span></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDGnn1mLk0iAwGdF0aZ5Sgq2jTyZcFUpbeZKYk39cvebjF1loc8gK6j2wqo8yhNFdW2ri5ethYICtEHCq5VXm-67A60E8CdbQgZ7h6XEmQiLxb6Pu57bbFKAmfti-RI-X8Llh/s1600-h/cabin.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDGnn1mLk0iAwGdF0aZ5Sgq2jTyZcFUpbeZKYk39cvebjF1loc8gK6j2wqo8yhNFdW2ri5ethYICtEHCq5VXm-67A60E8CdbQgZ7h6XEmQiLxb6Pu57bbFKAmfti-RI-X8Llh/s320/cabin.jpeg" /></a><span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span> <br />
</div><span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The cabin's about 1300 sq. ft. with one large living area, two bedrooms and two baths. Perfect. That's Jeff on the right and Alex next to him.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We got in Saturday afternoon, hunted that evening and all day Sunday before driving back Monday morning. It was three hunts total, a lot of good conversations and plenty of food. Too much, actually.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, the Sunday evening hunt was adventurous for Alex. Plenty of deer were in sight but ended up being a little too far to try and take. But lo and behold another predator came on the scene. It ended up about 100 yards away and will soon be on the wall.</span></b></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A beautiful bobcat weighing about 25 pounds with a gorgeous coat. Alex was thrilled.</span></b></span> <br />
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</span></b></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-70505998295694784412009-12-12T05:22:00.000-08:002009-12-12T05:23:03.993-08:00O Tannenbaum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf51EkKDHRo33bdrLdK5__J7dKTkbeuYFNWb75YTf8AvurLTL3Qh2bqwLM-sI-z2OwPjDjdwwuaci9i9gXjS7MWRA0h4d3UjN7axxM2VzIKTls5J9AAJfgmIAZd7OSQyDlqp5/s1600-h/angel.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYf51EkKDHRo33bdrLdK5__J7dKTkbeuYFNWb75YTf8AvurLTL3Qh2bqwLM-sI-z2OwPjDjdwwuaci9i9gXjS7MWRA0h4d3UjN7axxM2VzIKTls5J9AAJfgmIAZd7OSQyDlqp5/s320/angel.jpeg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOwvdh5ipfEJQnCVSeFNOcm-DfV6UKFHPswx4x2rXWf27fTQEI5XDMzNiFrXzZo7fdvyBaLBiARwRyg34ya7qoBRBKxHXSQ7Ys52W4QO5sqJseMaLKfKE5RYFGvlOkQ4adaIs/s1600-h/My+view.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOwvdh5ipfEJQnCVSeFNOcm-DfV6UKFHPswx4x2rXWf27fTQEI5XDMzNiFrXzZo7fdvyBaLBiARwRyg34ya7qoBRBKxHXSQ7Ys52W4QO5sqJseMaLKfKE5RYFGvlOkQ4adaIs/s320/My+view.jpeg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The tree went up last night, a little later in the year than normal. I spent a few days out of town (see post below) so the timing wasn't right. Certainly the tree can't go up without me around, right?</span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My job is to bring it in, make sure it's secure in the stand and put the lights on. I kind of went easy on the lights last year...didn't like it. So this year I had to make a run to the Christmas tree light store for more. </span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I plugged them in and they all worked...WHEW!</span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Once my job is complete I sit back and watch...my favorite part. I love to watch the ornaments get unwrapped and listen to the stories being told. There's a story for every one isn't there? Good stories. Stories that cause you to reminisce. It's a good thing.</span></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">O Tannenbaum! </span></span></span> <br />
</div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-13957399818555938972009-12-11T15:53:00.000-08:002009-12-11T15:53:59.500-08:00NY, NY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-S7LpYZfgbVynZhJxuPWUfaclIWl6H1-ROX6IpJ-HCbd-LPxg37JirjNJpQ8gIj2PBuJNzHfPuU3vOHctrNXfIgIm8SHP6B1GgQKCxjZ9SDRZWRDwVUM8Eu0gmve9FOiPOmn/s1600-h/Me.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-S7LpYZfgbVynZhJxuPWUfaclIWl6H1-ROX6IpJ-HCbd-LPxg37JirjNJpQ8gIj2PBuJNzHfPuU3vOHctrNXfIgIm8SHP6B1GgQKCxjZ9SDRZWRDwVUM8Eu0gmve9FOiPOmn/s320/Me.jpeg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Spent a little time in NYC this week....pretty fun.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">As meetings go it wasn't typical. Usually at these types of things it wouldn't matter if it was in Paris, New York, San Franciso or Bald Knob, Arkansas...one conference room looks like another which looks like another.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">This one was a bit different. Only because I made it different. I came in early and stayed late. I wanted to see the city, at least a little.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">It didn't start out great though. I was scammed by the cabbie to the tune of $$$. I learned post-scam to never accept a ride from someone who asks...they're not liscensed.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMTyZDqKA_kttQM9PtELnsRypD8HuLXlNwg4lsEhW0lWxqIfZdkj7rvdkjnE8T7aXs2I52kDsBWQX_Fg8F_bzEGepHuQ2ZCc1tDrfY0KVgQb634tAzpqcYkmXGcwxw7RM3CPN/s1600-h/heister.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMTyZDqKA_kttQM9PtELnsRypD8HuLXlNwg4lsEhW0lWxqIfZdkj7rvdkjnE8T7aXs2I52kDsBWQX_Fg8F_bzEGepHuQ2ZCc1tDrfY0KVgQb634tAzpqcYkmXGcwxw7RM3CPN/s320/heister.jpeg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>This guy wasn't liscensed...he was nice...just not liscensed. I took his picture and sent it via text to my wife in case I was abducted. I wasn't abducted. He actually took the most direct route to my destination (I know because I google mapped it). The only thing missing from me was the word "tourist" monogrammed on my back!</strong></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I got in around 2pm and the official order of business was a group dinner at 7pm. So I hit the streets. I had no idea where I was going, but I hit the streets.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Who passes up 'Five Guys' burgers and fries? I didn't. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I did pass up most of the stores...including D&G, Dolce and...something, I forget. I did take a picture and sent it to my wife. She was jealous.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I ventured north towards Times Square and Central Park via the subway. It's a pretty awesome sight when you first see the city at night after walking up to the street from the train...</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">...even the McDonald's sign has some brilliance to it!</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnfQ0qihTB6VZGMeC5a-F3TY5pVlU9hyphenhyphen4Jxsm8m_GeXQSO564QKJh3ign7Zs81TEgY_q_lpIp0riYXi7OtFG99gZAe_4vV-aaErMOV9tHJT0c_5xz32IQn6s6x2E8dJZZmBnu/s1600-h/mcdonalds.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnfQ0qihTB6VZGMeC5a-F3TY5pVlU9hyphenhyphen4Jxsm8m_GeXQSO564QKJh3ign7Zs81TEgY_q_lpIp0riYXi7OtFG99gZAe_4vV-aaErMOV9tHJT0c_5xz32IQn6s6x2E8dJZZmBnu/s320/mcdonalds.jpeg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I learned this in short order...you better be ready. If you're not you'll either get trampled, run over, honked at or verbally scolded in one way or another. I was definitely a rookie in the subway. I stood back and watched people buy their tickets from the machine for a few minutes so I knew what to do. The probably thought I was stalking or something.</span></strong><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I observed this as well....there's a lot of thin people in NYC because they walk everywhere...or take a cab...but they walk a lot. Notice I said thin, not necessarily healthy because while they're thin, they're all going to die of lung cancer. I couldn't believe the number of smokers. Tobacco Road would be proud. </span></strong><br />
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</div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-38652341134075898222009-12-04T07:32:00.000-08:002009-12-04T07:32:31.119-08:00MARK YOUR CALENDARS<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxvEoaJc-OM&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxvEoaJc-OM&feature=player_embedded</a>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-84319771656444628732009-12-01T18:42:00.000-08:002009-12-01T18:43:27.764-08:00LR Marathon, Part Deux<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwg76SlBuE6h7sokhqTmgdti-9_bZN-xSghn2PK4mk0p_MIJGQyjDmEQ33CbbIfGqWD1JAkpBzHPWlW28hMS6kQfyLSpBH6UIxRYblzBkbbTPzjWffWkWPV1l2uGRCHtrw7777/s1600/Little+Rock+Marathon+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwg76SlBuE6h7sokhqTmgdti-9_bZN-xSghn2PK4mk0p_MIJGQyjDmEQ33CbbIfGqWD1JAkpBzHPWlW28hMS6kQfyLSpBH6UIxRYblzBkbbTPzjWffWkWPV1l2uGRCHtrw7777/s320/Little+Rock+Marathon+II.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The time has come! Training for the Little Rock Marathon has begun. I've built a training plan and I plan to stick with it....this time.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">After my first Ironman (Wisconsin, 2007) I decided to run the Little Rock Marathon. I figured, why not. I had already done a lot of running in preparation for the Ironman so that, surely, gave me a jump start on training for just a little old marathon, right?</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Well...a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line. Well, O.K. I'll say it, a lot of time elapsed on the way to the finish line, like 4:42:and change. My marathon at the Ironman was 4:57:and change. So the absence of swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 only netted me 15 minutes.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">The truth is I did not train properly for the LR Marathon in 2008. I disrespected the distance. I paid the price and got exactly what I deserved. I will not make that same mistake again.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I'll lay it out right now...my goal for the 2010 LR Marathon is a sub-4. That's already a stretch goal but, what if I could qualify for Boston? I'd have to run a 3:30! Now that's a stretch goal! </span></b></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-26746385209339268972009-11-28T07:38:00.000-08:002009-11-28T07:38:51.223-08:00Ironman Florida 2009<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05ZJgFAgjFYaxHVCGmoAJPo4eRJCLwp7qoi5qTExS3PV_528apmHus_zxWlVeR53-6yfgWdL6ViotRMTIB0HYGRHBPy-5tsL-WEK5lIUrCr1VsWn3gvxlKeXvmfZU2qbmjP0S/s1600-h/Finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05ZJgFAgjFYaxHVCGmoAJPo4eRJCLwp7qoi5qTExS3PV_528apmHus_zxWlVeR53-6yfgWdL6ViotRMTIB0HYGRHBPy-5tsL-WEK5lIUrCr1VsWn3gvxlKeXvmfZU2qbmjP0S/s320/Finish.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As I did two years ago when writing about IM Wisconsin I'm starting this race report with the end at the beginning. This time around I'm minus two kids and 18 minutes shy of two hours better than in 2007. It was a good day!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was a good day for everyone in our 'All In' group. Everyone PR'd. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>~PRE-RACE~</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i> </i></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-iyJrpZorINe3uVBpiR0aHHUH3hebbtb_AB4bDVLsToKiSMP7SfyiFMS_kT_-OVwBiKbrzOMiX6QP3WQwxoG7mybjuVNg4YplECAVajOi0Ryo1sQlPxHufwayZ_0x4pd1hLU/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-iyJrpZorINe3uVBpiR0aHHUH3hebbtb_AB4bDVLsToKiSMP7SfyiFMS_kT_-OVwBiKbrzOMiX6QP3WQwxoG7mybjuVNg4YplECAVajOi0Ryo1sQlPxHufwayZ_0x4pd1hLU/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One of the nice things about the race this year was that we stayed at the host hotel. It was a beautiful thing and made race morning much less stressful. Everything was right there! The swim start was in our backyard, transition was on the side of the house as was the run start and the race finish was a block down the road! It spoiled me and I'm not sure If I'll be able to stay off-site again! We didn't have to worry about travel logistics, we got to sleep later (well, with whatever amount of actual sleep we got!), we got home-field advantage with the pre-race bathroom visit (incredibly important!), we didn't have to stand outside before the race and we stayed in our room until the last possible minute. </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">We took care of the essentials first thing. And no, none of these particular essentials had anything to do with bodily functions. We took our special needs bags to the appropriate places, got body marked (dang, look at the guns on 1560!), checked our transition bags one last time, made sure our bike tires had the appropriate air pressure and then headed back upstairs.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Joining us in our condo race morning was Colin and Kirsten. Colin (The good doctor - doing his residency in Rochester, NY) is a sports enthusiast, cyclist and Iowa Hawkeye fan ~ don't hold that against him. In the photo above he and I are discussing the fine art of looking calm pre-race when you really feel like hurling. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNt3f1iy2gqqSMWX7jYUNCFsekIyw4NnMVBq0f0neBy91u5dcgXDOFXIm2BuHVDqW6gMjBJo8DZPIKO_rlMVfl3Wr4veSDVaGe2RbDFzA7zYBoArrm07pEC2VWpEqU4QIB74h/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNt3f1iy2gqqSMWX7jYUNCFsekIyw4NnMVBq0f0neBy91u5dcgXDOFXIm2BuHVDqW6gMjBJo8DZPIKO_rlMVfl3Wr4veSDVaGe2RbDFzA7zYBoArrm07pEC2VWpEqU4QIB74h/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Kirsten was a first time Ironman participant. Dang, look at the guns on 2416! I should probably delete my photo! She is now an Ironman and caught the bug in a bad way already signing up for Ironman Louisville 2010.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">It's incredibly difficult to eat race morning but it is essential. I woke up at 4:41 a.m. give or take 2 or 3 seconds. I set my alarm for 5. Anyway, after waking I immediately began hydrating with GU2O and ate a Cliff Bar. After getting back to the room from checking things out in transition I drank more GU2O. And, more importantly, I had my first cup of caffinated coffee in two weeks! It was nice.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Then it was time to start gearing up with the wetsuit. I wouldn't say I put my "game-face" on at that point, but I made sure I knew where it was. I'll show you what that game-face looked like a little bit further down in the post.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5XbnO9_E4AtocaXE0lsBhK__LrVNLdci3NEuZLEeedIens6aJzvuNuLDknX60eDDUfN6mWhaZbm0EaQNnZCGVlX4FQOTaBdfmXrssFvRCd6lO0hnFDw9jwbSFaHGjjrDVSFg/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5XbnO9_E4AtocaXE0lsBhK__LrVNLdci3NEuZLEeedIens6aJzvuNuLDknX60eDDUfN6mWhaZbm0EaQNnZCGVlX4FQOTaBdfmXrssFvRCd6lO0hnFDw9jwbSFaHGjjrDVSFg/s320/IMG_0245.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's not that you can't put your wetsuit on by yourself it's just that if someone can help I let them. 10-minutes before an olympic distance race a couple of years ago I was tugging on the string that's attached to the zipper that helps you zip your wetsuit. It wouldn't budge. I pulled harder and still no luck. Then I pulled even harder and the zipper broke by pulling away from the teeth at the base of the zipper. I couldn't fix it before the race! I was panicked. I swam without my wetsuit that day. I did it, but the anxiety that event created taught me something......<b>get help with your wetsuit</b>! Even if it's by a total stranger, get help. They'll help you. I promise. They, too, probably want help. This day help didn't come from a total stranger but from my brother-in-law, Trey. He's multi-talented because he also provided some comic relief, as he frequently does, as is exhibited in the photo below....</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...it took a lot of work to get his stomach out that far.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVLJTAmFjYkLLuNeW56NCLv7ECvQDVUjxQsLXbUSjiv2ewOdJH5iuVUcZn5bmxM_a_TGbHSnhHmelBI9J4GtdAqrvGKukBJBQnmQgwqbyM7KqHZmyWdtsy8CGBkww0rvV35fi/s1600/IMG_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVLJTAmFjYkLLuNeW56NCLv7ECvQDVUjxQsLXbUSjiv2ewOdJH5iuVUcZn5bmxM_a_TGbHSnhHmelBI9J4GtdAqrvGKukBJBQnmQgwqbyM7KqHZmyWdtsy8CGBkww0rvV35fi/s320/IMG_0253.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The time had come to head down to the water, me, Kirsten and Trey...</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">...and put my game-face on.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">~<i>The SWIM~</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The start of the swim in an Ironman event is an incredible thing for both the participant and spectator. It looks and feels like a school of pirana going after this unfortunate critter that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. For the spectator it's really amazing to watch. For the participant? Well, it kind of feels like being that unfortunate critter!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The gulf water felt a little rougher than 2 days earlier when we swam a practice lap. But I'm not sure if it was actually rougher or if all the elbows, fists and feet that were churning up the water made it seem that way. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">My single thought standing on the beach before the gun sounded was....breath. I'm not talking about the anxiety ridden short, shallow breathes you might take in stressful situations. I'm talking about making sure that I don't hold my breath at the start of the swim. There are so many things going on at the start of the swim that you forget to breath. It sounds ridiculous, I know. The gun sounds, you're running to the water with 2500 other people, knocking into each other, some tripping in front of you as they lose their step making their way to water deep enough to swim. When you get to that deeper water and begin making your strokes you try to find one that doesn't involve hitting another person....or being hit by another person....or being kicked by another person. Ultimately you do get kicked, in the face, your goggles shift and begin leaking water. You think, "how dare you kick me!" before you realize they're thinking the same thing about someone else who kicked them. Everyone's just trying to survive and move forward. You have to tread water and re-adjust. Then get back to swimming. And breath. Because if you don't you'll have that feeling of always having to catch your breath. It's exhausting. It's exhausting because you're muscles aren't getting the oxygen they need. Your heart rate will soar. So, my single thought while standing on the beach before the gun sounded was....breath.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">It was a 2-loop swim. You can see in the photo above it's a rectangular swim and if you look close enough you can see most of the age-groupers are at the top of the rectangle. At the end of the first loop you had to exit the water, cross the timing mat that's underneath the white arch at the bottom of the picture and head back out for loop number 2. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">I swam my first loop in 37-minutes-and-change. I was pleased with that. Upon exiting the water after loop 1 and crossing the mat I heard my name shouted. I looked over and it was my wife Ashley and Colin. Ah, a little surge of adrenaline. I needed that. Thanks! Now, back out for loop 2.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">I felt good. You had to travel a little farther starting the second loop to get to water deep enough to swim. My time wasn't as good on the second loop but I was incredibly pleased with my overall time. 1:18:23. That's 10-minutes off my swim time from Ironman Wisconsin.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">~<i>T1~</i></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Controlled chaos continues once you exit the water. After being horizontal for a good bit of time it takes a minute for the blood in your body to redistribute appropriately. I always have a sense of accomplishment and relief upon exiting the water. The part I struggle with the most is complete.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Trudging up the sand to the Peeler's area I made eye contact with a volunteer and pointed at him. He pointed at me in return as if to signal, "you and me, right here, right now". No, we weren't bowing up for a fight...he was going to help me get my wetsuit off. The wetsuit peeling area is much like the pit area at a NASCAR race, there's a lot of activity and what would normally take you a lot longer to accomplish on your own is done in a fraction of the time. While approaching him I pulled my suit down to my waist. Then I laid down on my backside and he yanked, stripping my wetsuit off. It actually took him a couple of yanks, but it's not his fault. I have these protruding heels that act like hooks in situations like this making it difficult to accomplish the task. It's the same with socks or long johns or baseball pants, not to mention duck waders. It's the family heel. My daughter, Lilly Kate, and son, Will have the same heel. Hey, even with the heel I PR'd, so we got past it.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Running up the sand to T1 we passed under these showers to get as much sand off as possible as well as rinse off some of the salt water. I will say though that you don't really get all the sand off. I think I still had sand on me when I crossed the finish line, much later in the day!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">T1 is great for a couple of reasons. You're out of the water and you know you're going to see your people. By that I mean your support people who are going to shout your name and give you encouragement. It may take you a little time to see them, but you can hear them from the instant they shout your name. And you can hear their shouts over all the other shouts being given to other athletes. I look forward to those shouts. I need those shouts (I know, I know, "you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall!" - indeed I do). </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I grabbed my T1 bag and headed to the tent where you see a lot of bodies (and body parts, some unmentionable) but you don't really see any faces. It's all kind of a blur.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Out of the tent. On to the bike. Out on the road!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRnzRhwKEUPZVh76RXqyqie1gBl9s-3dQaViOM_Pfl8eOY2HAzve5AybBnwmeCHH4x8DqjLQwM35MKhfQdaG1O7Fv1hQGqPX6vvI36WZd2IcHgqvUc8Vuc0nhYBh-citZ61YK/s1600/IMG_0279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRnzRhwKEUPZVh76RXqyqie1gBl9s-3dQaViOM_Pfl8eOY2HAzve5AybBnwmeCHH4x8DqjLQwM35MKhfQdaG1O7Fv1hQGqPX6vvI36WZd2IcHgqvUc8Vuc0nhYBh-citZ61YK/s320/IMG_0279.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That's me in front (yeah, that's what it is....I'm leading the whole race, yeah).</span></span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">~BIKE~</span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Once I get on my bike I feel like I can settle in a bit. I'm confident once I get on those two wheels. It's the strongest of the three disciplines for me. Although I will say that my run has improved and is catching up. This portion is about the bike, though.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm putting a picture of the bike route on here to give you an idea of what I'm describing. On race day the wind was from the east at about 10 - 15 mph. So, heading out we had a tail wind to start off. That was nice. It gave me a chance to keep my heart rate in check, gather my senses, find a good cadence and rythym and not have to work too hard.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">I felt strong and my HR was in the mid to low 130's. Perfect.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">My nutrition plan for the bike was much the same as it was for IM Wisconsin because it worked well then so why change it. I had 5 bottles on my bike filled with GU Brew (great stuff). A lot of people would consider that adding too much weight but I prefer to have what I know works well for me rather than taking hand-ups at the aid station of something I'm unsure about. I also had 6 GU gel packets, one Cliff Bar and 6 hours worth of Endurolytes in my bento box. My plan was to drink one bottle of GU Brew, take one GU gel and 2 Endurolyte capsules each hour and eat my Cliff Bar at the midway point. For the most part, mission accomplished.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">After a nice stretch heading west we turned north into a cross wind. It wasn't bad though and was actually a nice transition to what we had to look forward to as we prepared to turn right again to head east and into the wind.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">I clicked off the first 20-miles in 1 hour which would turn out to be a consistent theme throughout the bike. My cadence was good and where I wanted it to be hovering in the mid-90's. My average cadence on the day turned out to be 99. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Eventually we turned right on HWY 20 and headed into the wind. It was inevitable. You just had to take it like an Ironman. I mentioned above that my single thought standing on the beach before the swim start was to breath. I also had a single thought to focus on during the bike (I had one for the run, too but I'll get to that later)....take what the wind gives you. That was my focus. You're not going to beat the wind. It's pretty relentless. And tireless. You can't wear it down. But it can sure wear you down. My goal was to be able to maintain a low to mid-90's cadence without my heart rate shooting through the roof. That meant that into the wind I had to shift down to the small chain ring and a bigger cog in the back making it easier to peddle. While traveling with the wind I could hammer the big ring and a smaller cog creating more power and speed. The other key component for me heading into the wind was to stay in the aero position as much as possible creating less drag.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Another big component of riding into the wind for me, aside from the technical strategy, is mental strategy. I tried not to mentally complain about the wind. The wind can't help it. It's just doing its job. Mental complaining isn't going to make it easier. But, it will sure make it tougher and longer. For the most part I was able to accomplish that....but there were a few times - <a href="mailto:$#@%&^&*&^%#$@#">mailto:$#@%&^&*&^%#$@#</a>. You get the idea. One thing is certain, all those monotonous, wind howling, beat-down, long rides we took on the roads heading east out of Little Rock sure paid off! </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">For the most part the roads were fabulous. There was one stretch where it was awful! Referencing the map above it was the out-and-back stretch after turning right off RD 2301. First off all the road was old, not smooth at all and it seemed every 50 or so feet there was a crack that stretched from one side of the road to the other....ca-thunk, ca-thunk, ca-thunk...every 50 feet. Every 50 feet! No joke. Add to that the fact it was heading east meaning a nice, stiff wind. I admit, that's when <a href="mailto:&^#$@*%&#@#%$">mailto:&^#$@*%&#@#%$</a> came into play. Not knowing exactly I think it was about 8 miles out and back. Making the out portion especially heinous was the fact that you had to watch people coming back on the other side of the road...with the wind! It was sure nice when I was one of those people.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Making up for that awful stretch was the long stretch of W HWY 388 past HWY 77. Without a doubt, it's THE best road I've every ridden my bike on. It was glorious! They just finished re-paving it two days before the race. Did I mention it was glorious. And there was a tail-wind. We were flying on two wheels clipping off the miles at an average rate of 25 - 27 per hour.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">I felt strong both physically and mentally as I turned left back onto Front Beach Rd. and the homestretch of the bike. That portion was both encouraging and especially challenging at the same time. It was encouraging because it was near the end and there were signs of civilization with condos and stores and people. It was also challenging because you wanted to get off the bike, it was into the wind and you felt like it was over but you still had about 6 or so miles to go.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">My bike split was 5:31:05 for an average of 20.3 mph. I was very pleased to cut an hour off my IM Wisconsin time of 6:31:54.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">~T2~</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Happy to be off the bike I handed it off to one of the many wonderful volunteers, trusting him to treat it gently, grabbed my T2 bag and headed back to the tent. I saw my friend Kevin in transition where he was preparing for a fantastic run. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">In transition a volunteer stayed with me the entire time. He helped me unload my T2 bag and generally took care of me. Thanks! Unlike Wisconsin the only thing I changed in T2 this time was my shoes. I did put a lot of Glide on my feet to help prevent friction and therefore blisters. I grabbed my hat, my GU and headed out looking forward to more shout outs from my peeps, which I needed greatly.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">~ <em>THE RUN</em> ~</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">After drinking in the shout-outs and feeling the adrenaline surge kick in it was off for the start of 26.2 miles. Looking back on it now I didn't have the same feeling in Florida that I did in Wisconsin. I remember in Wisconsin feeling that I was never more thrilled to be running a marathon because that meant that I was finally off that bike! I didn't feel that way on this day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">The biggest disappointment after starting the run was that we had to turn left out of transition. Why that was such a big deal to me at the time I'm not sure except that in my mind I had rehearsed coming out of transition and turning right. The entire marathon was right and here we had to turn left out of transition! Oh, the unfairness of it all! That distance wasn't even a tenth of a mile before we headed in the right direction...inotherwords, no big deal!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">My marathon strategy was to run 10-minutes and walk one. Run 10, walk one, run 10, walk one.....and repeat. I trained that way based on some research I did stating that people PR'd utilizing that strategy no matter what their PR was. This strategy was suppossed to keep you fresh for the back half of the run and keep your heart-rate in check for the duration. My marathon goal was 4:30:00. My time in Wisconsin was 4:57:50.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">Ironman Florida is probably the flatest run course on the Ironman circuit so there were no hills to deal with on this day making it easier to work into a nice stride rate and rythym. My pace to start was a little more than 9-min/mile, a pace that I wasn't going to be able to maintain, but I think I was running on adrenaline to start.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">The course was a 2-loop out and back with the first couple of miles in town. From there the map led us though some neighborhoods then a loop through a state park before heading back in for the turn-around/finish. There were aid stations about every mile. These stations were stocked with all sorts of goodies: water, sports drink, gels, pretzels, orange slices, bananas, ice, cold/wet sponges (those were so nice to put in your hat, down your shirt or anywhere else you deemed fit.....it was warm, to me, for the first loop of the run), coke and, later in the day they were stocked with chicken broth. I know, it sounds weird to drink chicken broth during an event like this but it is so good for many reasons. First of all it tastes good. It also provides some quick sodium and it's warm. I took it at 4 or 5 aid stations on my second loop.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">People lined the streets at various points of the run which is always great encouragement because they cheer for you whether they know you or not. There's also a section during the run where they place all these signs that family and friends created in the days leading up to the race. So for about a tenth of a mile, on both sides of the sidewalk there are these hundreds of signs sticking in the ground offering encouragement to the athletes. I couldn't believe it but I actually spotted the one my oldest, Alex, created for me!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The second one was one he created for his Uncle Trey...kind of an inside joke. They also made one for Kirsten. Seeing that sign gave me a big lift!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I changed shirts, hit the turnaround and headed back out for loop #2. The sun started going down and I was on the home stretch!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This sounds a little silly, but once the sun started going down it was dark! There's probably a little explanation needed. My comparison for something like this is Wisconsin. The run in Wisconsin was in the city of Madison. It went through the downtown area, the campus of the University of Wisconsin and right next to the state capitol building. There were street lights everywhere and it was well lit. Not so in Florida. Of course, there were street lights in the areas we ran through town. There weren't as many in the neighborhoods and there were none in the state park loop portion of the run. That place was dark, and lonely. It was completely dark during that portion of my run on the second loop. You were doing good to see 10-yards in front of you...It sounds strange, I know. To try to remedy that situation race organizers put these portable light banks on that part of the course. You've seen these things at road construction sites that are being worked on at night. They put off a lot of light but it was almost too much because you ran directly into the light and it was kind of blinding. I remember pointing my head down trying to cover up the light with the bill of my hat so I could see where I was running. I noticed a lot of people were doing the same thing.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Getting through that park the second time was a huge mental lift. I was on the homestretch, I was getting closer and closer to town, civilization and the finish line. I knew I was going to make it. And I also realized that I was going to blow away my goal of a sub-12:30:00 Ironman. As I began to calculate even further I realized that I was going to blow away my stretch goal of sub-12:18:00.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The last 6 miles I began to feel the muscles in my lower back and legs really begin to tighten up so during my 1 minute walk time I spent about 20 seconds or so stretching those areas. It made a big difference. So did the chicken broth and soda at the aid stations.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During the months and months of training for this event you envision the day coming down to the last mile. This time was now for me. You really don't feel your legs anymore partly because you've covered nearly 140.6 miles and partly because you're running on adrenaline. There's so much going on around you and in your mind that the hurt gets replaced with excitement. People line the streets, there's music blaring, you hear shouts of encouragement and you begin to realize that you're going to make it....you're going to be an Ironman, you're going to accomplish your goal!</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I crossed the line in 11:36:24. I cut an hour and 40-minutes off my time from Wisconsin. I was very pleased and humbled. It was far better than anything I expected.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">~<em>AFTERWARD~</em></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">So many things made this an experience I'll never forget. Training with the 'All In' group and seeing everyone perform so well was fantastic! I was really proud of and for everyone. Trey, Kevin, Troy, Heather, Ernie, Dean, Jordan, Jeff, Kirsten. Describing how well everyone did is the subject of another post altogether. Thanks to you all for the months of training, the commraderie, the encouragement and the accountability! </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia;">A very special thanks to my wife, Ashley, and kids, Alex, Lilly Kate and Will. Our group was called 'All In' for a reason. Not only are the athletes all in emotionally, physically and mentally but so are family and friends. Without that support and understanding this is a much more difficult endeavor. I'll go so far as to say it couldn't be done. Thanks for putting up with me, for allowing me to train those many hours and for the time to recover after those long workouts. Thanks for encouraging me, for being there during those training months and at the race and for being excited with me. I love you guys!</span><br />
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</div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-49093817203202344122009-11-10T08:32:00.001-08:002009-11-10T08:35:15.040-08:00RACE REPORT COMING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspYlxOnFKTB99fwRFiRq31GC0CvzRc8iBEwKMg2fbV9LQTC-1NnTT9pE5NY8S5vQcg8snyXtiMMm6LHgTXJiUUyjjsyLo4bV4wd6MVCFHPSxhG71hkn9JsMlTnfSLEqos6xsP/s1600-h/IMG_0273.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402514069080758578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspYlxOnFKTB99fwRFiRq31GC0CvzRc8iBEwKMg2fbV9LQTC-1NnTT9pE5NY8S5vQcg8snyXtiMMm6LHgTXJiUUyjjsyLo4bV4wd6MVCFHPSxhG71hkn9JsMlTnfSLEqos6xsP/s320/IMG_0273.JPG" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">A full Ironman Florida race report is coming soon!</span></div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-57075319337647642702009-11-06T07:00:00.001-08:002009-11-06T08:05:47.380-08:00RACE WEEK ~ THURSDAY/FRIDAY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGawfy-GuzSSkRntLdivjyR5rGMOONuCvPLQRi_J6_JGxKuilDHyIpkfRVG05LM6IEa1y4skTJVnhBjjSa-Me8ZXhk9cGoEvVpwhDa51rJ5_tCRd1tKe6-MfRyiZxYbeBiu6qx/s1600-h/Florida+sign.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006792204108130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGawfy-GuzSSkRntLdivjyR5rGMOONuCvPLQRi_J6_JGxKuilDHyIpkfRVG05LM6IEa1y4skTJVnhBjjSa-Me8ZXhk9cGoEvVpwhDa51rJ5_tCRd1tKe6-MfRyiZxYbeBiu6qx/s320/Florida+sign.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcXtfpfeW8BzqVC6yRgSCEj02eJsJt60L_FVdQ4q8xcNArBbSc8dIwAUHGdx4D2mPiiwAWMAeP1UOx8sse34J19RFL4-sSvP7WJ5vklZW1s-6sL_nP240YuW6Mt2doFUYF-2e/s1600-h/Ash+travel+day.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006722908795858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcXtfpfeW8BzqVC6yRgSCEj02eJsJt60L_FVdQ4q8xcNArBbSc8dIwAUHGdx4D2mPiiwAWMAeP1UOx8sse34J19RFL4-sSvP7WJ5vklZW1s-6sL_nP240YuW6Mt2doFUYF-2e/s320/Ash+travel+day.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInGaTgymEgjAxd75UGhUrhZepPdWb7mQxL-himrLtWabZ5ePeSV96_ZD3fOfihyphenhypheno78K6hWjNiGCLnFZC5P0xL68pJmH0ciX7_y4bII90kKpZtlfONLVnuK0ooVsewQ_ZFs8Jd/s1600-h/LK+travel+day.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006619411454178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInGaTgymEgjAxd75UGhUrhZepPdWb7mQxL-himrLtWabZ5ePeSV96_ZD3fOfihyphenhypheno78K6hWjNiGCLnFZC5P0xL68pJmH0ciX7_y4bII90kKpZtlfONLVnuK0ooVsewQ_ZFs8Jd/s320/LK+travel+day.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxw_UHl2lxU4Nn_6AsFlAAUTJjl8K0cBg1ST6usE54S4JDdMmT6cceywYE8fkf3gmBegyzOPF8ID9rv5jWeBo-brsi2eLssy6Gfu-iKwAkZ_7RXwdynjLQHkwPWy8qQpYdhqf/s1600-h/Will+travel+day.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006528538603858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxw_UHl2lxU4Nn_6AsFlAAUTJjl8K0cBg1ST6usE54S4JDdMmT6cceywYE8fkf3gmBegyzOPF8ID9rv5jWeBo-brsi2eLssy6Gfu-iKwAkZ_7RXwdynjLQHkwPWy8qQpYdhqf/s320/Will+travel+day.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIlv9uoAh8nhucYg3BhDdhH9OMpOYg9aflw37ztc9TyXR2Rcf3gQ40zQo77CCAxA8tBWwdw_lcyXpbUluSxBjLMzbbBIYuEyunNerF6IiskVp0X2bzJVR74YxxNtBwR8Nk1DX/s1600-h/Swim+finish+thursday.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006405564721938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIlv9uoAh8nhucYg3BhDdhH9OMpOYg9aflw37ztc9TyXR2Rcf3gQ40zQo77CCAxA8tBWwdw_lcyXpbUluSxBjLMzbbBIYuEyunNerF6IiskVp0X2bzJVR74YxxNtBwR8Nk1DX/s320/Swim+finish+thursday.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AhSP0wUrGYHqYjq7yo81_DEcdizXyGgPeTr2Z2CePiPEAzOsWqIkRu-wQ41AYqBpr_QC33hWzgVynRZoRZ2F0cTvkZIyeama2E6G8Zj47n24Fg1ns-tohyjuu6MfbVH9xPai/s1600-h/The+ocean.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006287369391074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AhSP0wUrGYHqYjq7yo81_DEcdizXyGgPeTr2Z2CePiPEAzOsWqIkRu-wQ41AYqBpr_QC33hWzgVynRZoRZ2F0cTvkZIyeama2E6G8Zj47n24Fg1ns-tohyjuu6MfbVH9xPai/s320/The+ocean.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzMDXW2ITwm9U8ZVTvGOnvVr80TZojQw78ZdtN3ajCmCGp3l1wlJyvM657rXEsjNp4FyvQU-GOX6fHioWp6Xfh5n1oyV1JYSGGZsPJrYZWuskEcbRlDW3dbyxOc0ZC4enNP2h/s1600-h/The+boys.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401006169962866338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzMDXW2ITwm9U8ZVTvGOnvVr80TZojQw78ZdtN3ajCmCGp3l1wlJyvM657rXEsjNp4FyvQU-GOX6fHioWp6Xfh5n1oyV1JYSGGZsPJrYZWuskEcbRlDW3dbyxOc0ZC4enNP2h/s320/The+boys.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW1JdPepHmCJ1fs52NmhIjoghfh-n3DZeUkFkxh9prHUwrHgHX0A8U1FR0y7ZYSMPTJuhttPpi1RDNrUsCVeGFnetDa1A1YpmQTDzfwHB8lai5m5Wl3HpjSqaWe0LOiJFays8/s1600-h/The+Village.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401005921552479618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW1JdPepHmCJ1fs52NmhIjoghfh-n3DZeUkFkxh9prHUwrHgHX0A8U1FR0y7ZYSMPTJuhttPpi1RDNrUsCVeGFnetDa1A1YpmQTDzfwHB8lai5m5Wl3HpjSqaWe0LOiJFays8/s320/The+Village.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">We definitely got to Florida safe and sound Wednesday evening. It did take a little longer than I anticipated but we were <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">caravaning</span> with 4, sometimes, 5 cars, 16 people, 2 under the age of 10 and one under the age of 5....so....you know how that goes. So considering all that, we made decent time. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">Thursday was a full day. We did one loop of the swim course which is roughly 1.2 miles. It is pretty shallow for a good ways out. I was trying to acclimate myself to the ocean which is a completely different swim than in a 25 yard pool! I could not find the black line in the bottom of the ocean! I did find some jelly fish though but I didn't get stung. It got pretty choppy on the inward part which was good practice. I told myself multiple times to just stay relaxed and and execute nice, smooth strokes. All in all I felt good about the swim and good about the time.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">After the swim we came upstairs, grabbed a shower, some food and some decaf (no <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">caffine</span> until race morning). Then I played around on the computer a bit before heading over to the race village to register and look around. The registration line was <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGG</span>. I didn't time how long it took to get through it but it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">must've</span> been 27 hours! Sure felt like it. We hooked up with some friends and met new ones in line which helped pass the time.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I was also in the market for a couple of tubes and new tires for my bike. It'd been at least 2 years since I changed both and my old tires were looking worn and flat. Plus my front tire kept losing air mysteriously. I didn't want to chance it so I changed tubes and tires for both wheels. It looks great and I feel much better. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">Later it was off t0 the athlete dinner. Got my fill of pasta, again with friends. The friends made it better.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I didn't sleep as long Friday morning as I did Thursday. So I got up and took out for a 20-minute run. Easy. Felt good. Then pancakes and coffee with a friend to talk over life and race strategy. Mostly race strategy.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">So here I am Friday morning. We'll check in the bikes and get the bags together. Then chill out the rest of the day. Maybe play some gin with Alex. </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">But generally, chill!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-15297521801635053422009-11-04T02:57:00.000-08:002009-11-04T03:10:49.974-08:00RACE WEEK ~ WEDNESDAY<span style="color:#000099;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUE1Iwx86vXXpZFJ2XDgxcGVAOsv7wKFRKCpOk0TBaBuSR_yPjW1q5OpBn0tUGsvyPAdxwRp65AXZJ7wN_mm56eyb2N1zoGZnCwBnySlFXUJJITS_UEd9-hRsVDskBWyVccx7/s1600-h/Gear.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400201237775576962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUE1Iwx86vXXpZFJ2XDgxcGVAOsv7wKFRKCpOk0TBaBuSR_yPjW1q5OpBn0tUGsvyPAdxwRp65AXZJ7wN_mm56eyb2N1zoGZnCwBnySlFXUJJITS_UEd9-hRsVDskBWyVccx7/s320/Gear.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">Travel day.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">We are hitting the road today. Destination, Panama City Beach, Florida. I'm a little surprised because the car's not as stuffed as I thought it was going to be. I even anticipated we were going to need the car-top carrier. I'm so glad we didn't have to though because it makes such an awful noise while driving....kinda of annoying.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I ran a nice 7 miles yesterday and felt good the entire route. I ran relaxed and at a good pace for me...8:25/mile.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I also got a sports massage. Wonderful. Kinda hurt too which, I guess, means it wonderful. He said my upper body was a little out of balance and told me some stretches to do to help correct it.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">I shot a similar picture to the one above two years ago before Wisconsin. I'm always afraid something I desperately need will get left behind so I lay everything that I'm going to need on race day out on the table and check each item off my list to assure myself that it's packed. Everything is packed! After I go through this exercise I'm always amazed at how much stuff I actually use to swim, bike and run. I'm also reminded by this of how expensive this sport can get. You NEED so much stuff!</span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"> </span></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;">Gotta go. Wheels rolling in about an hour and I've got a few things to finish up.</span></div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#000099;"> </span></div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-7491455590636775442009-11-03T04:28:00.000-08:002009-11-03T04:43:25.259-08:00RACE WEEK ~ TUESDAYT-minus 4 days.<br /><br />When I look at the calendar it's just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away. But for some reason or another, right now, race day seems a long way off. I guess it's because I'm still at home and the race is in Panama City Beach, Florida. That all changes tomorrow. I will also be in Panama City Beach, Florida.<br /><br />Today is today, though and there's much to do. The list I made yesterday was mostly completed. Oh, the yard looks great. The oil in the car is fresh and ready to do its job. The loose ends from work are no longer loose.<br /><br />A new list was made this morning and it looks longer than the one from yesterday. No details today but rest assured that many endorphins will be released as I cross things off.<br /><br />After the kiddos are off to school I'm going to hit the streets for about a 7 mile run. Gotta recharge my iPod now......OK, that's plugged in and is now recharging. Whew! Hey, I downloaded that new Creed song, "Rain" the other day. I kinda like it.<br /><br />Today weather.com says Panama City Beach will be partly cloudy with a high of 72 on race day! Even better!Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-37655324131538160492009-11-02T06:43:00.000-08:002009-11-02T07:01:53.287-08:00RACE WEEK ~ MONDAY<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000099;">It's Monday of race week and I'm in full taper mode. We rode 3 hours Saturday and it was about 45-degrees at the start. Well, I say we rode three hours but it was actually 2:51:and change. After riding out 1:30 we did a negative split on the way back. The ride felt good. And I felt good after it was over. We stretched the legs out with a 20-minute run. I won't say it was easy, however, because we did an 8-minute pace. That's fast for me.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Again, it's Monday of race week and there's so much to do before we leave on Wednesday. The list is extensive:</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-get oil changed in car</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-clean office</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-buy new bike tire</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-put said tires on bike</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-clean bike</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-get tri gear together (that could be broken down even further)</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-tie up some loose ends for work</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-tidy up the yard (and have strapping young sons do the same!)</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">-continue to train (taper) - oh, by the way, love the taper!!!</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Having all that stuff to do is not necessarily a bad thing. It certainly keeps the mind occupied with things other than Saturday's 140.3.</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">I feel good. I feel ready. I'm not even as anxious as I was last week. Saturday's long ride had something to do with that because I felt good off the bike. Oh, and not to mention all the other endless hours on the bike, in the water and afoot on the road! </span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Weather.com today gives Saturday's forecast in Panama City Beach a '10'. It's supposed to be mostly sunny with a high of 75! Sweet!</span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34520891.post-84984144823930781182009-10-11T19:54:00.001-07:002009-10-11T20:23:20.065-07:00CATCHING UP<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlsxn4saH4yI_pbzwJQcCv-eb2H-LOv_UapOHAw3WVhyphenhyphenfe5v2z9z2juYnTza8eduHDvCvQS_Tvl3Z8T751Lx9hJhvj0TMC8e712LfNYEHoZnvkMZHWb0hQx4Ch99D0iJ2cxOO/s1600-h/IMFL09II.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 131px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWlsxn4saH4yI_pbzwJQcCv-eb2H-LOv_UapOHAw3WVhyphenhyphenfe5v2z9z2juYnTza8eduHDvCvQS_Tvl3Z8T751Lx9hJhvj0TMC8e712LfNYEHoZnvkMZHWb0hQx4Ch99D0iJ2cxOO/s320/IMFL09II.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391541995738596722" /></a>It's been a little while since I've laid down some thoughts in the blog. There's certainly a lot going on. Work, training, church, baseball, tennis & flag football are just a few of the things demanding some of my time. By the way the 9 & 10 year old Titans chalked one up in the win column today. Big win against the Bucs...34 - 14. Will the Thrill with a couple of big catches including a huge grab on 4th down giving us a first and a catch on the point-after. Nice!<div><br /></div><div>-It's definitely getting down to it as far as Ironman Florida is concerned. November 7th is right around the corner. I'm trying to slow down so the corner doesn't get here too fast! Just a couple more weeks of hard training and 2 weeks of taper. Did a self supported half Saturday and felt really good. Well, I felt really good on the run. Ran at a 9:15 pace which is stellar for me. Swam the 1.2 miles in 37 minutes and I was pleased about that. Bike was a little slow at 3:07 but we were riding in a group. I'm going to hit it really hard the next 2 weeks and peak with momentum!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmGLEj0sk5bd1F4pA-k3penQiZDhZvPdvF2ZfPcF3yzZtE7QUI-iEOPlNZPlaiLowanZlKxSwe7iNNjrAurRZBGDRjVLwz0urH8ECmz74_x7CDR_VZys8WlIsMI6Zs_nVZqIO/s320/955-3787656.standalone.prod_affiliate.2.jpg" /> - Now for a few words about the Vikings. Got in the win column again today against the league's worst team...the Rams. The victory puts them at 5 - 0 on the season. The last time this team went to 5 - 0 they went on to go 6 - 0 and still failed to make the playoffs! They lost on a last second touchdown pass by the then hapless Arizona Cardinals. The year was 2003. So, 5 - 0 is good, but it's way to early for the undefeated Dolphins team of the '70s to start getting nervous. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>-Chrissie Wellington is simply amazing. She broke a women's record and won her third consecutive Ironman World Championship Saturday in a time of 8:54:and change. She finished 23rd overall. INCREDIBLE!</div><div><br /></div><div>-Craig Alexander won on the men's side for the second year in a row. Once again he was stellar on the run at 2:48:and change.</div><div><br /></div><div>-The Major League Baseball playoffs are upon us and once again the Reds are NOT part of the festivities. I guess after 9 consecutive losing season I should really expect them to get on the right side of .500 before anticipating the playoffs!</div><div><br /></div><div>-OK, it's 10:20 pm on a Sunday night and it's WAY past my bedtime! What am I still doing up?</div>Brickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044020456390570210noreply@blogger.com0