I piss in my wetsuit

A lot of very nice people have said some very nice things to me lately. Things like, "I love your blog" , "Your blog made me cry" or "Your blog is so inspirtaional".

We cannot have this.

So may I remind you. Triathletes piss in their wetsuits. In fact they piss while biking and if necessary will piss while running. Do you think we are going to kill ourselves in training to cut 1 minute off our time and then give it all back because of bodily functions?

If you do not believe me ask Greg Clarke or Gwen Trusler.

"Can someone remove my thigh from my ear"?

Let's have a crack at my race report.

Heading into the race I had a little tweak in my ankle but it seemed to calm down. Walter DeNino and I had planned to juice up my bike a little. We also planned to leave everything on the course.

Lisa and I drove up on Saturday. A little late but not too bad. We arrived and our room was not quite ready so we had to check out bags. Have you ever tried to check a bike at a bellstand? A little tip, however, and the bike gets stored in the break room

We had lunch planned with Tom Holly and his wife, Val. Lunch was to be at Cocco Pozzo fulfilling the carbohydrate criteria. Now these two are great and still look great whild celebrating their 20 th wedding aniversary at the Drake hotel. As an aside, this brought home that my 20th wedding aniversary will be next year. Good???

Anyway, they seem to be doing well and Val is considering a Danskin tri and Tom is dancing around a tri himself. Somebody push him and tell him to go for it. As a matter of fact, sign up with Chicago TNT for St. Anthony's next year and let's have a go at it.

After lunch we had to fly down to the expo and get body marked (so the coroner can identify you) and get race numbers etc. They were out of T shirts by the time we got there. I still was able to buy a bike workout video by a very enthusiastic coach to use during the long winter months. After that we headed back up to Spiaggia for our pre race dinner and then to bed.

4 am comes early but I achieve my major goal of not waking Lisa by pumping my tires in the hallway. I get to ride through Chicago with mostly triathletes on their way to transition. Bike set up goes well and I get spot near a tree with easy access from both entrances.

Lisa gets there just before the swim start and what a relief to have her there. The start is a deep water start which means that you have to tread water before taking off.

I felt pretty good and was moving along but got a mouthful of gasoline. This triggered a negative reaction in my head and I started to think, "Why am I here" and "I need to get out"? Shades of St. Anthony's. Now in the past I have thought about what Lisa went through and that has kept me going. But this time I really thought I should quit. Then I realized that the blog readers would make fun of me---"Nice wetsuit, manatee"!!! So I lumbered on and finished in a very slow time with Lisa walking along the shore.

Well that sucked but let's move on. I got through transition in 1/2 the time of last year and headed up Lake Shore Drive on my bike. It is two loops to the city limits and back. I really moved well and was able to keep a much better pace than in the past. I was passing people for the first time ever. So now I am happy but how hard can I push? I tried to keep my gears high and my heart rate down around 155 or so. But this is a big breakthrough.

As the bike ends I come to a hairpin turn down the exit ramp. I know about this and misjudge and almost go sliding. On to transition hoping for a fast time.

In transition I go to change my left shoe. Monster cramp--the kind where your leg bends towards your ear. So I running up and down the aisle trying to work it out. I finally solve that and change the other shoe--Wam!!! same thing. So much fo a fast transition.

Keep moving the legs-no cramps. I am taking baby steps down by the lake and head towards the museums. Lisa is there on the path to wish me luck.

On the run I see a guy wih one leg, a girl with one leg and a guy with no legs. Now you were complaining about what? Keep moving, keep moving.

Sometimes it is the little things that catch you. Near the swim I see a family all wearing blue tee shirts. On the back it says, "In honor of Alex". Without knowing, you know that this is a big day for them. You can imagine what they have been through without knowing what they have been through. You know it was painful and you hope there will be joy. But today a meaningless race is the most important thing in the world. For real.

Mile three is down near McCormick place. It is a lonely part of the run--far but not far enough. He cranks U2's "Beautiful Day" and I cry a little---"Whaaa Whaaaa I am overcome with emotions", "Whaaaa Whaaaa" Just shut up and run.

The end is near and Lisa is at the finish line. This is a big race and the finish line has a major league feel to it. I continue to raise my effort right up to the finish.

First stop--the big blowing fans with the mist---works great. Next stop Lisa. Then congrats to the Cincy Team in Training folks.

Better off than last year but still room for improvement. Time to rest for a while and then get ready for next year---first stop the pool.

Now I have some big plans for next year. Any suggestions......?

Greg Clarke is a Triathlete

They threw everything at him and he still made it.

I got the call on Saturday night after arriving in Chicago. I was going to the market across from the Doubletree Hotel (near the Drake). I knew they would have Bannanas and some form of bread, my standard pre-race meal. The place is run by four Pakistani guys who always stand in the same order behind the counter.
So the phone rings and it is Greg. Now people sound strange to me when I am on a cell phone. They sound stranger still when we are both on cell phones. Taking that into account, I can say that Greg sounded like he was calling me from the afterlife. A kind of slow drawl that only comes from the near dead and stroke victims.
It turns out he had been sick and had not eaten since Wednesday. Now to make matters worse Greg had a late start time which usually means more heat and sun. He would not begin his swim until 9:13
I gave Lisa the "Oh, Oh--Houston, we have a problem look".
By the time I started the next day at 7:57 Greg was still not on site.

Sure enough, he made it to the start on time though. He sailed through a 41 minute swim. Very good. Then off on the bike. The course is flat but north to south wind had been picking up all day making it a slogfest on the part of the course that goes from Chicago near the Loop out to the city limit and back. This leg we do twice.
Greg tackled it though and then off on the run.
Here's where things turn interesting. It is really hard to run after biking. No--I know you believe that it is hard, but is is still harder than you think.

I was finished because I got an earlier start so I was able to sit with Lisa and wait for Greg near the finish. Lots of people in various states of exhaustion coming by. Finally we see Greg. Lisa and I are screaming and he goes right by without noticing us.---"Houston, we have a problem". Now how do I explain to Ohio Heart that I talked one of their partners into this.

So Lisa and I run up to the finish area. Partly, I wanted to see if he needed to go to the medical tent. There he is with his family taking pictures and laughing. He looks great. What kind of transformation took place at the finish line? Even later at the victory party, to celebrate the $550,000 raised at the event, he still looks great. What a machine.

An amazing display.

If you go to the Chicago Tri Link and follow to the athlete alert system you can actually see videos of both of us crossing the finish line.

Greg's page is still up for anyone who wants to check it out and make a donation.

So why would a guy race, while sick, through what is a pretty grueling distance? Answer---because he cares. Story----when I got home I checked my email and had a message from a triathlete friend. She congratulated me on finishing (Hard to keep secrets in the internet age) and then told me about a 25 year old, Iraq war veteran guy just diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

This is why we race!!!!!!!

Greg Clarke is a triathlete.

"Every Day is a Winding Road"

So race week is upon us. I have tomarrow off to get set. I finished work and got home around 9PM. Just in time to see one of my favorite shows, "Insider Training" on FitTV. Ok so it is hosted by Gabby Reece. Tonight was a replay of their Triathlon episode. Great inspiration and even some info.

So a few things

1)I am one of these triathletes , like on the show. Not a good one but that may come,

2)I assume no one reads this. But I assumed wrong when three people asked me about how my foot was doing. The answer is much better, thank you. A quick call to Ellen Daly earlier in the week has carried the day

3)Click on the Tri Geek Kahuna link. Tonight's writing is great

4)Lunch for Sat is set with Tom Holly and Val at Cocco Pozzo in Chicago. They kicked in big time to Greg Clarke's fundraising.

5)I am already planning big things for next year.

Take a Load Off, Fanny

I am beginning to feel The Weight, just a little. The other day I woke up and it hit. Lot's of stuff going on the past two years and it all started to get to me. So I went running on our new treadmill. A perfect metaphor, lots of action getting you nowhere.

The other day I was riding with the two kids which is painful for them, because they have to talk to me. So I said, "It makes me happy to ride with you two because I can tell jokes, make you laugh and that makes you happy". Christopher fires back, "You don't have to laugh to be happy. You can be happy doing other things". So I thought for a little time. I said, "What about when you bang yor head and it hurts. Are you still happy?" Without missing a beat he says, "Only one little part of you is sad. The whole rest of you stays happy". Now my goal over the last two years was to show the kids that when one bad thing happens, the rest of the world does not fall apart.

"....and, and you put the load right on me"

Countdown to Chicago

One week to go. A tiny little twinge of discomfort in my left heel. Oh No!!!!
No workout today---must preserve foot. Do not let inflammation take hold

You make the call

Earlier this week I went out for an early run. Well let me back up.
The night before the run we had Andrew's birthday party. A blowout by toddler standards. But I had to lay low. Nothing too exciting. That's what makes the run possible.

So out on the run I head. Rounding on Observatory I get passed by an Olympian, Julie Ishpording from an earlier Olympic Marathon team. Not bad company. A little further up the road a giant pack starts heading towards me. In the middle, Andy Chun training for the Columbus Marathon. Ok so he actually runs while I kind of...
We give each other a high five. Now you need to know that when the season started Andrew and Sunjoo were the first two people to send me a donation. Which marathoner was more impressive?

Greg Clarke--TeamBigWave Kind of guy

Greg Clarke joins a long line of super great and super motivated people next week when he races with me at the Chicago Triathlon. A true TeamBigWave guy.

Greg has been training all summer and is ready to go.

On the right side of the screen I have included a link to his web page. There is a button to donate. Remember, even small amounts count and frankly mean the most to us. Ok big ones count too.

What I Think

Lots of people ask me what I think about the Floyd Landis deal. Well I know what I think but have not been able to find words to express it. Fortunately someone did and I have added the link to the side column.
What I think is that I will not stop believing that good things can hapen. I will not stop believing that people can do great things. I will not stop believing that people can change in positive ways.
Now i need to go out and ride some big hills because a)I do not believe that good things happen by magic b)Andrew's birthday party is tonight and the house will be crazy today

I don't wash my calves

We went to the Red's game tonight. So first about the game.

Christopher and I went down to see the Reds. Now they are doing well which is actually a big problem for me. I like baseball in any fashion and I like geting cheap tickets from scalpers. I take it as a source of fatherly pride that my children know how to scalp.

But the Reds are doing well and last night's game was sold out. No ticket at the window and few scalper tickets. We finally scored some outfield seats that were pretty good. Of course I am only going to sit in them for one minute as we parade for peanuts, sno cones etc. But I did my best. Kid finally gave out in the before ninth inning. So off we go. We get into our car and turn on the radio to hear the Red's winning home run go over the center field wall. Glad I bought those tickets. But that's not the important thing that happened.

When you do a triathlon, they mark your arms and legs with numbers and stuff. On your legs they mark "ITT" for international distance race and "44" for my age group. Now these markings come off slowly. Tonight a guy, "kid", asked me what these initial meant. So I explained and he seemed impressed. No Really. I told him, "Anyone, could do these races with a little training". He said, "Are you kidding? Look at the people in this line." I said nothing.

I don't wash my calves

We went to the Red's game tonight. So first about the game.

Christopher and I went down to see the Reds. Now they are doing well which is actually a big problem for me. I like baseball in any fashion and I like geting cheap tickets from scalpers. I take it as a source of fatherly pride that my children know how to scalp.

But the Reds are doing well and last night's game was sold out. No ticket at the window and few scalper tickets. We finally scored some outfield seats that were pretty good. Of course I am only going to sit in them for one minute as we parade for peanuts, sno cones etc. But I did my best. Kid finally gave out in the before ninth inning. So off we go. We get into our car and turn on the radio to hear the Red's winning home run go over the center field wall. Glad I bought those tickets. But that's not the important thing that happened.

When you do a triathlon, they mark your arms and legs with numbers and stuff. On your legs they mark "ITT" for international distance race and "44" for my age group. Now these markings come off slowly. Tonight a guy, "kid", asked me what these initial meant. So I explained and he seemed impressed. No Really. I told him, "Anyone, could do these races with a little training". He said, "Are you kidding? Look at the people in this line." I said nothing.

A bad day=water going down your back is better than water going down your throat or how to be the perfect husband

I know. I know. No blogs for a while. So here goes a long one.

We finished out our trip to California with a few decent swims in the ocean and a great run around Pasadena. But even La La land must end at some time. So back home we went.

Sunday was the East Fork Tri. David Young was willing to go with me and step up to the Olympic Distance ( Mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6 mile run). I was to meet him aroun 6:30 at my house. I went outside and he suprised me by jumping from behind the car where he had been reading the paper. First heart rate acceleration.

Off we go. Now I know the directions the Irish way, "Well, you kind of go down by the big road and then when you see the old building, make a left but not too sharp. Well, you'll know where it is, everybody does"--That sort of thing--move by feel.
David also kind of knew the way but more through half baked verbal directions. The end result--we mixed the two styles to great failure.

A word here about, "the locals". Legend has it that locals know "the best place to eat", "the quickest routes" and "where to get the best deals". I have always contended that the locals are overrated. Sunday did not disappoint. We go into the UDF and ask for East Fork Lake. I emphasize here that East Fork Lake is a large body of water is the Middle of NOWHERE. First three people inside , "East Fork Lake??? (With requisite dumb look)". Not going too well. Outside, guys in trucks--hope springs eternal. The guys responds with overlapping irrational instructions, "Head down here two miles and turn right at the Asteroid, or was it left". No help. So we drive around until we find a guy who says, "Drive down 222 for three miles, turn left on 125 and thr lake is on the right". "Thanks", I say. Quick glance at the license plates--Pittsburgh, PA. I rest my case.

Now David is very fast. He barely trains and is way faster than me. He actually looks good doing this. So I am trying to talk him into Team in Training next year for Philly or St. Anthony's. He would love it. He would take off with coaching and the trip would be great. So he says to me, "If Jody (wife) wants to go I will do it". Newlyweds learn so fast. The Perfect Husband.

David had a great race and I think was impressed at how difficult it is to do this distance.

I swam ok but got a little off course. Out of the water and onto the bike. Did I mention that the bike starts up a big hill? Did I mention the law of gravity? I start up the hill and my chain jams. Now there is a moment when I know I am not going forward and it is only a matter of time before I go backward (remember the clippy bike shoes). Crash--down I go at the start. Big cut on the elbow. Start over and spend the first ten miles just trying to get a flow going. Then come the downhills. Not great because that means there will soon be uphills. A real slog back to transition. Off on the run and the temp is now up to 96 degrees. Two more degrees and we would have a boy band. By the way, the hill is still there and it is a double loop course so that means twice the fun. I find that drinking water is of little help but throwing over my back lets me run a half mile or so. I do this multiple times until I realize that my socks are wet and I now have blisters.

A couple of insults to injury:

1)As I am finishing the ambulance crew is leaving as if to say, "If he kicks now his life is not worth saving"

2)As I am finishing, the creepy guy with the ice cream truck is leaving

3)When I am heading up the hill for the second loop of the run one of the winners is calling to me. She is saying, "you forgot to turn in your timing chip". She thinks I am done. So I correct her and let her know that I am still racing. A look of shock and disbelief come over her. "Ohhhhh, you are stillllll racing". Not in a condescending way,but rather with the same tone she would use if she had just seen space alien. "The Horror, The Horror"

Well now onto Chicago at the end of the month---What awaits us on the hot apshalt?