Rain, rain go away..... 

Rain

The weatherman lied. Again! He said it wasn't going to rain until the weekend. But this morning at 4:30 am I was awakened by the sound of a downpour. The was raining cats and dogs. The only good thing about the rain is that I don't have to fill the pool with water ( I think it has a leak).

Tony and I had planed to do our usual Friday morning 25 mile ride after fixing my flat. But it was just raining to hard to leave the garage. I did fix the flat. Last nite stopped by Clint's Bike Shop to get a new tube. Clint gave me a free replacement tube since he found the "pinch" in my tube. Apparently he pinched the tube in between the rim and the tire causing my leaky tube. But now it's fixed.

Since I had the time but couldn't ride, I went to the fitness center and ran on a dreadmill. Only 5 miles. That's all I could stand in the 45 minutes I had. Ugh I hate running indoors. I was hoping to ride tonight when I get home, but alas it's still raining..not hard but hard enough to make a miserable ride home in the rain.

It isn't suppose to rain in Florida during the dry season only during rainy season and then on time. You see during rainy season it rains every day for about 30 minutes at 3 or 4 pm. It never rains all day unless it's a hurricane. I can't remember the last time it rained all day other than Hurricane Charlie. Speaking of Charlie, they finally came and fixed our roof damage from Charlie. Not that it was leaking, just missing roof tiles.

Well it off to fight the rain and the traffic...Ugh

Rant - another flat tire

Well I have the worst luck with tubes! I took Roo to the shop last week to get her ready for another year of riding. It was her 5,000 mile check up.! So new tires, new tubes, new chain, and cassette and I'm home with her Friday. I take her for a ride on Sat...After the feel test of the tires I decide air is not needed so I happily ride her. Sunday morning time for my ride with Tony...and I feel test the tires and decide air is in order so 110 lbs in both tires. Good ride...back home wipe down Roo... and so on to Monday. I go to ride feel test the tires and the rear is FLAT.... no air. Ok go to pump up the tire...it will not take air.... after ten minutes of trying... I change the tube using my spare but alas it is a short stem which is to short for my deep V rims and I struggle to get air in tube but finaly it works good ride. Now today I go to ride feel test the tires and the rear is flat...and I can't get air into the stem because it's to short and slips into the V..... UGH... I ride the Steel Monster.

Riding the Steel Monster is ok when your alone because you can do your own pace. But today Tony was on time and I had to jump in without warming up, all upset about the flat, and do 18 mph. About 5 miles out my left quad starts to ache, not overuse pain but using it different pain. I push harder to keep up with Tony. As we go to the flats straight-a-way I struggle to keep 23 with Tony drafting me...my legs are aching. One the second loop I fall behind and just plain hurt. Finaly 25 miles... I'm ready to stop. So much for conditioning!

Well I plan on taking the "new"tube back and asking WTF?

O BTW... I have my stitched taken out today at 3:30 and I just got a call from my oncoogist's office, they set-up a second opinion for me with another brain surgeron...but not the guy I wanted. Now I'm working to get the guy I want after all its my brain....

Pres Day Off

I had Monday, Presidents Day off since the markets were closed. So other than prepare my will since I'm looking at brain surgery in March, I had nothing better to do than take a long ride on my bike. Tony rode with me for the first two loops (10 miles each) and dropped out since he had to work. I rode another loop by myself and felt sufficently tired so..that was it!

Totals for Last Week Ending Sat:

Bike: 50 miles
Run: 7 miles

It was a little off due to my back surgery on Tuesday to remove another tumor. I get the stitches out this coming Friday. I will not be able to swim though for another 3 weeks.

Here's a Picture of Roo...My bike all clean and shiny. She just got new tires, chain and cassette. I took her to Clint's Bike Shop in Naples for her 5,000 mile check up. The only problem was when I went to ride her on Saturday, the rear tire was flat. UGH...a new tube gone bad!

While Roo was in the shop on Friday, I rode the "Steel Monster" for my regular Friday ride of 25 miles. I was surprised on the straight-a-way I was able to get her to 24 mph. While it's not 30 mph (our goal) it was fast for the Steel Monster! I guess it's right it's not the bike but the rider!

Sunday Tony and I did our regular ride of 40 miles, all though I really didn't feel like riding. I would have much preferred to stay in bed asleep.

Just a little ketchup!

I have been in a bit of a funk so I have failed to update my blog, sorry about that. Since the half marathon I've been keeping a some what modified training schedule. It's been cold in the mornings, well cold by Florida standards, so I have lacked motivation. Last week I was able to ride three days for a total of 75 miles and I ran twice for a total of 12 miles. I had my friends Jerry and Ginger come down for 6 days, so that interrupted training as well.

So this week. I was able to ride 25 miles Monday with Tony, it was a pleasant ride except I'm having trouble with my chain. I think it is stretched and needs replacing. Well it has 4,000 miles on it! I took Roo (my bike Quintanna Roo Tequilo) to the shop yesterday and will have her back on Friday.

Tuesday I had my surgery. My friend Jerry was suppose to take me but he had the flu so Ginger went instead. Thanks Ginger. It was 7:30 am since I like to be the first case when everyone is awake. They gave me general anesthesia so I was in the OR form 8:30 to 11:00 and got home at 1:00. They took a golf ball size growth out with a little muscle too. I worked at home the rest of the day.

Wednesday I ran 2 miles light, since the doctor said no strenuous exercise and no riding my bike. I went to work but wished I hadn't since felt so bad by noon.

Today... Hey I ran another light 2 miles...I had a little difficulty figuring out what day it was... I hope it's not the thingie in my brain but just my wackiness.

Naples Half Marathon

I finish the Naples Half Marathon yesterday in 2:34:42. No world record but an improvement over last years time. It was a great day! Joanne and Tony were at the finish line to take pictures and to cheer me on.!

Joanne and Me at the Naples Half Marathon Pasta Party Saturday night. This was after we found out that I don't have a brain tumor. It was a great party with pleanty of pasta for the 1,500 runners taking part in the Naples Half Marathon on Sunday.

Futures and Options

Today at 4:30 pm, I see my nuerosurgeon (brain surgeon) Dr. Michael Lust. He comes highly recommended. Hopefully the oncologist has sent all of my test to him so he can give me an intelligent update on my options and my future. His office is at NASA (Neuroscience and Spine Asociates) it is close to the office so I can slip out at 4:30.

What could be worse than cancer? A brain tumor!

I got my results from all of my tests last week. It took a while and the oncologist would not tell me over the phone. Always a bad sign. I had to go in Tuesday during my lunch to get the results. The MRI showed a spot on the frontal lobe of the brain...and the PET scan showed that it was a tumor approximately 3.3 centimeters or 1.3 inches. The growth on my back is well...soft and squishy....

So I will be seing my surgeon next Wednesday to set up a time to have the growth on my back removed....

Next I will be seeing a Neurosurgeon to determine how to handle the brain tumor...

I still plan on doing the Naples Half Marathon this Sunday.....

Tomorrow's Brain Scan

Well tomorrow I'm scheduled for a CAT scan of the chest and brain. Tonight I have to drink some kind of dye....I guess I'll glow in the dark!!!! This all messes up my training and I wish it were over....

Here's my weakly totals:


Bike.... WOW A NEW HIGH 175 miles
Run....what a low......14 miles


Goal this week:

Bike - recovery week 100 miles
run -take Tuesday off- 20 miles

Tour de Cape Finish

Tour de Cape

Well it was a great time!!!! And I finished the 100 mile-which was my goal. Here is a brief report of the race.

Tony and I left the house at 5:45 to get to Cape Coral on time to register for the race. Yes we did not pre-register because of me. After registering while getting our bikes ready and pumping the tires a guy parked near use came over to tell us that he had a flat. He was looking for theSAG but no one was around. Since he didn't have tools or a spare or a patch kit...Tony and I changed the tire for him and Tony gave him his spare. Then the guy came back and said the tire was flat again.....there was glass in the tire...so we changed the tire again and give him my spare. So Iwas off with only one spare left.



When 7:30 came the Cape Coral police escorted us out of the parking lot and the race was off. Tony and I being in the middle just rode along at a brisk 23 mph....it wasn't long before we fell back to the second pack and fit in better there doing 20 to 22 mph. Each of us took a turn pulling and I did my share.....I froze my water bottles so I had no water for the first 20 miles....ugh! At the 50 rest stop the pack decieded to stop to "refuel" so I was able to drink eat, stretch etc.... then it was off again. I was a little stiff after the stop and wondered about the need to stop had I the fuel on my bike.

At the 60 mile mark...I began to have cramps..so bad they brought tears to my eyes...or maybe it was sweat! I stoped to massage my legs...the park ranger asked if I needed medical assistance and I refused....I drank some orange juice and continued on...but now I was alone...

I fould a nice lady who was cleaning her already clean garage. I asked her for some water and some salt. So I ate 3 teaspoons of salt raw then put some in my water bottle and drank that as well.....hey it helped I didn't cramp any more!!!!! I now had to deal with never been this far and the just plain pain...the ball of my left foot started to hurt....then at 75 miles I stopped at the aid station and drank some pickel juice, ate 2 bananas, drank some water, gatorade...ate some salttines with peanut butter.... and was on my way....

At 80 miles I had a major headache and dizzy spelll....but it passed...Finally I made it to the finish line...well there was no one there except Tony sitting on the tailgate of his SUV...no banner or line or clock or people to cheer...whats with that?

Well I finished and now I can say I did 100 miles....the first 50 was great being in a pack of riders was alot of fun. I averaged 20 mph for the first 50...so not to bad...


Tour de Cape tomorrow

Well I've had a headache and ringing in my ears since Monday. No big deal just a slight headache rather dull ache, a stiff neck and a little dizziness. I've been able to run and ride though it.

I saw the dermotologist and mentioned the lump that is growing where my first surgery was...orginal melonoma. He said it is not noral for something to grow so quickly. dah!!! Since then it has almost doubled in size...so he said to call the oncologist....

The oncologist says she wants a CAT scan of my back and since I'm having headaches a brain scan....then a PET scan to see it the cancer has spread anywhere.... I want to wait until monday...soooo and I also call the surgeron for a Wednesday appointment....

So tomorrow is the 100 mile Tour de Cape. I've been looking forward to this for about 6 months. Tony is going to do the race with me. Our goal is to keep a steady pace of about 17 mph. But I'm sure Tony will want to go fast at times.

Tour de Cape Start

Old Shoes

This morning I didn't feel like wearing my regular running shoes for some reason, so I pulled an old pair of Brooks Beasts off the rack. They don't look pretty but they feel good! I thought since haven't been running in two weeks I'd just take it easy and slow with my old shoes. Well I felt pretty good. I did the first mile in 9:54 with a heart rate of 145 then for the next 6 miles just tried to keep getting a little faster. I did stop at the 3 mile mark for water then to take off my shirt but all in all I think it was one of my best runs in a long time. 7 miles in 59 minutes! Maybe I should just rotate old shoes......

Goal Setting

Last year I set a few goals for myself....

Complete Naples Half Marathon...Done!
Complete a Sprint Triathlon... Done Ft. DeSoto!
To Swim/Bike/Run every week... well almost....does sickness count?

My weight goal was to be 175 lb...I'm 15 lbs short of my goal..ugh!

Here are my year end stats:

Bike 3,456 miles
Run 1,289 miles

So I hope to do better in 2005! Here are my goals...A goal without a plan is a wish!

Training Goals:

Swim 600,000 yards or 12,000 yards a week
Bike 6,250 miles or 125 miles a week
Run 1,850 miles or 37 miles a week

weight Goal 161 by 12/31/05 lose 0.58 lbs a week!

Race Goals

Complete Naples Half Marathon under 2 hrs.
Finish St. Anthony's Tri
Finish Florida 1/2 Ironman
Qualify for Boston Marathon at Steamtown Marathon in 3:30

Back at it....

Now that Christmas is over, I'm back to my training and races. This week is the 100 mile Tour de Cape and then later in the month is the Naples Half Marathon.

My break really started the week before Christmas when we had some cold weather here in Florida. That week I was only able to ride two days out of my regular 4... Over Chirstmas week I did no training until I got home on Thurs (Dec. 30). Also when I got home I had a flu bug so that didn't help either. It is amazing to me that when you take a few days how quickly you lose fitness and gert sick.

Weakly Totals:

Bike 65 miles
Run Nada
Swim Nada
Weights Nada

Goals this weak:

Bike 80 and 100 mile race
Run 25 miles
Swim 3,000 yards
Weights 2 times

Christmas Vacation

My Christmas Vacation started with a nightmare. Tony took me to the airport thursday night December 23...in pleanty of time for our 8:40 pm flight. After check in I discovered the plane to RSW was delayed...delayed due to weather in Newark, The plane was to arrive at 7:30 and leave again at 8:40. After much waiting, watching Lord of The Rings on the puter and waiting and waiting the 7:30 plane arrived at 12:30 am Friday and we left at 1:300 for a 3:45 am arival in Newark.

Even worst was the cold ! When I left Estero it was 75*. When I arrived in Newark it was a balmy 26*...needless to say I was cold!

Training is taking a vacation!

Weakly Totals

This past week was a little disappointing, I've been tired and it has been chilly by Florida standards. Sunday was down right cold in the morning, 45* at 7 am!

Looking forward to 2005 and keeping with my goals I did sign up for St. Anthony's and I'm considering Walt Disney Half Ironman in May so far here is my schedule:

Jan 8, 20056 Tour de Cape 100 mile Bike Race
Jan 23, 2005 Naples Half Marathon
Feb 12, 2005 Chilly Willy Duathlon
March 6, 2005 Bay to Bay Classic - 12k run
April 25, 2005 St. Anthony's Triathlon - Oly distance
May 22, 2005 Florida Half Ironman
June Publix Fitness Tri Series - sprint
July Publix Fitness Tri Series - sprint
September Publix Fitness Tri Series - sprint
Oct 9, 2005 Steamtown Marathon - Boston qualifier
November Great Florida Triathlon -Ironman distance

Here are the Weakly Totals for the Week ending 12/12

Bike : 130 miles
Run : 17 miles
Swim: 1,000 yrds
Weights 1 x
Pilates 0

Broken Treo

Well I went and did it.... I dropped my Treo! The screen looks weird! I can't use it and will be getting a new one in a few days. But I find it hard to live without my Treo. I read my emails onthe way to work. Use Verichat to IM people. Surf the web on the way home and read the Philly papers. I even use it for work having Outlook and all of my contacts. I've been using a laptop for a few days instead of my Treo. It works great when your near a wireless connection. But it just isn't the same as the Treo.

Weakly Totals

Last week was a little odd...so here's the upddate

Run 20 miles
Bike 150 miles
Swim 1,000 yds didn't feel like swimming much


I registered for the St Anthony's Triathlon in April. It's an olympic distance Tri.... Also for the Tour de Cape Jan 8, it's a 100 mile race (not a ride) and the Naples half marathon Jan 23 (this year I think Joe Bonness is in my age group!).

Josh Called

Josh, he's my youngest, called from Iraqi where he is serving in the Army in a forward communications unit. Satilites are us! He may be coming home in January IF he doesn't get exteneded and then will come to visit with me in Feb for a couple of weeks.

Birthday Colonoscopy

I've been a little lax about updating my bog soooo.....

Hey it was my birthday Sunday....the 15th anniversary of my 39th birthday...54! I watched the Eagles beat Green Bay whoa! GO EAGLES>>>>

The oncologist has been on me about getting a colonoscopy. I kinda don't like things that don't belong there being pushed up there.....so I've putting it off. So I made a pact with myself to get all of my medical done in tax year 2004 so hopefully I can get a deduction for these expenses....

The doc doing the colonoscopy said the prep was worst than the test and he's right! I had to take 2 laxatives and then mix this stuff with gatorade and drink 8 oz every 30 minutes. He didn't menton you can't get to far from the bathroom. I didn't sleep well and my test was a 10:20 am so it was a long night. I had a little trouble getting some one to take me to the test since I couldn't drive afterwards....no one wants to sit about for 3 hours....so I bribed Joanne with a dinner at a resturant of her choice IF she would drive me home.

The doc was 1 hr behind schedule sooooo since my test was at 10:20 I didn't get in until 12 (an hour huh?) They put me out completely...the nurse said they found this best because people tend to scream and they have even had people crawl off the table....but it was a pleasent sleep. No dreams....

When I awoke the doc came to see me and yup you know me, they found something....he said he would sent the results to my surgeon and oncologist and he call me in 7 days or so with the results. I just don't want to poop into a bag.....kinda will mess up swimming.

When I got home there was a message from yet another doctor, my favorite painful giving doc the dermatologist. I had an appintment I had forgotten about....so off Tuesday to see Dr. Hurt. He did a full body scan, which means he looked EVERYWHERE! (yup everywhere). On the site of my first melanoma, which was the size of bagel and he removed with a local OCH, he found a growth growing about the size of a golf ball. He dosen't want to remove it this time, thank God. I think he was a little surprise since the nurse asked him if that was normal and he siad no way.... So I have to see the cocktail mixer and the cutter....my oncologist and my surgeon.

Kids Visit and Busch Gardens

The kids and grandkids came down to visit for Thanksgiving. Actually they arrived the Saturday before T-day and left the Saturday after. Needless to say my training schedule was a little disrupted. I did run on Satuday and did a 20 mile bike on Sunday but after that it was somewhat down hill.

Sunday I had my riding partner, his wife and their rabbit, Mango, come over for dessert and drinks. Then my neighbor on the west side and her husband dropped in at the same time so the party was on....with beer, wine and Scotch. No a good combination if you want to get up Monday at 6:30 to ride.

Max with a Bird on his Head 

Max at Busch Gardens 

Justin at the Beach 

Max at the Beach 

Justin asleep

Justin is such a good baby. If he wasn't sleeping he was playing in his swing. Just hanging out....

Max at play

.

Crazies on the Road

Well I guess it's that time of year in Florida. It beautiful, warm and always sunny. As you ride around communities you find people walking their dogs, walkers, joggers and bikers. But the warm weather brings out the Crazies! It is those seasonal people who come to Florida for vacation or the season and don't know how to drive. It not just old people either. Crazies are the people who do really stupid things around people riding on bikes, therefore I call it Crazies Season.

Take this morning. It was a beautiful morning 68* and sunny. I saw two otters crossing the road to get into the lakes. The birds were singing and the yup the crazies were out already at 7 am! I was just going along minding my own business enjoying the morning cruising along at a comfortable 20 mph when all of the sudden a green Mercedes pulls out of a driveway in front of me. Like he didn't even stop or hesitate or anything from garage door to street non-stop! Ok I'm happy its a nice morning I just saw two otters playfully cross the road.

As I follow the green Mercedes I'm about two car lengths behind him just keeping up with him when we come to a T intersection. You know the kind you either go left or right and straight is not an option. I notice the green Mercedes has no turn signal (perhaps Chyrsler didn't put turn singals on that model or it was an option) so it's guess time. Where is he going? My vote is left towards the country club to play golf because it's that time of day and that's were most men who are awake at this time of the morning are headed. But it's just a guess.

As I'm contemplating how to get thru the intersection without unclipping my shoe from the pedal, I notice there is a man walking on the other street carrying his golf clubs. Now this is strange. Strange because first of all no one walks to the country club carrying golf clubs...It's just not done! Put the clubs in a car drive the mile or use an electric cart and drive but don't walk. Second it's strange because he is actually carrying the the clubs.

Well as I approach the intersection I move to the right because I assumed the green Mercedes was turning left. But low and behold have now pulls to the right curb on to the shoulder then the grass a stops and opens his trunk all in one motion. He's blocking the intersection with an open trunk, I on the right, thinking I'm going to pass on his right as he turns left, so I now move to the left to pass him on the left when he throws open the drivers door into my lane! Smooth move exlax!

Why did he stop? to pick up the guy carrying his golf clubs of course! Why did he open the trunk? To put said golf clubs in the trunk. Why did he open the door? To stand at the rear of his car while the other guy put the clubs in. Or to make me dodge his door!

So...Stay awake because it is Crazies Season!

Another Fall

This morning while doing, my 2 mile warm-up lap on my bike, I hit a slippery patch of road while trying to go around a speed bump I went down. I noticed my left pinky finger was making a left turn. Assessing that it was dislocated and not broken, I pulled it back in place. Now it's just purple! I also have road rash on the left side of my body.

Steve joined us for our ride today. While it's nice to have another person pull into the wind, Steve is stronger and faster than me so it was quite a workout. Often we were going 22 -24 mph. Hey he's also 20 years younger.

This past week has been a slow week in training, although I feel like I'm getting a little faster on the bike. My ave speed has gone up and I recover faster. Now if I could just get faster on the run.

Saturday after my run and swim, I met up with Joanne and took a tennis lesson. It's a lot of fun chasing the ball around the court. My hamstrings don't seem to like it though.

Sunday I met up with Tony for our LSD ride. Although I feel like we are not going slow but jump in going as fast as we can. We did the Pelcian Sound Loop then debated given the pending rain on going out on the roads. We decided to stay in and modify our course adding extras to the various circles we go around. I ended with 40 miles with an average of 18.4 mph.

This weaks totals:


Bike: 130 miles
Run: 17 miles
Swim: 6,200 yards
Weights 2 xs
Pilates 1xs
Hours total 19

Weather Has Changed

This week the weather has really changed. Friday we had a brief shower, during my ride of course, and a cool front go through. The humidity has dropped, I've turned off the air conditioner and opened the doors. It's so pleasent to have the breeze go thru the house. The day time highs are about 82 and lows about 62.

This week Tony had a home show and was not suppose to ride on Sunday so I had planned a long slow ride around my community about 6 loops for 60 miles. But Tony did make a brief appearence which help me get thru my ride. After my ride I planned tennis for an hour which was a good change for my muscles.

Saturday was the Florida Ironman, which meant the registration for next years race, which I wanted to do, opened on Sunday. It filled in 9 hours! Yup, I was to late to register. Back to the drawing board.

Weakly Totals:

Bike: 150 miles
Run: 17 miles
Swim: 6,200 yrds
Weights 2 xs
Pilates 2xs
Hours total 21

I'm concerned about my running totals give the approaching half marathon in January. But I don't want to back off on my bike since I have the century race in January. I'm thinking about doubling up on my run days to have two run workouts. While this adds miles, I'm not sure about the long milage and on one run to develop the slowtwitch muscles. I guess I have to increase my long run as well.

Swimming with Dolphins

I went to St. Pete Beach Thursday thru Saturday. I was able to run before I left on Thrusday but I missed my ride on Friday, instead I swam 1/2 mile in the open gulf off St. Pete Beach. While swimming I stopped to adjust my goggles and there was 3 dolphins about 10 ft away! How kewl is that? I guess they were wondering about this old guy swimming or maybe there were keeping the sharks away.

In the afternoon I went to register for the Suncoast Triathlon to be held Saturday at Ft. DeSoto. It was a limited sprint triathlon for 300 athletes. With USTA registration and race registration it was $90. Since I would probably finish dead last I decided to save the $90.

Saturday which was suppose to be my race, I took a long ride along the beach at St. Pete Beach down to Pass-A-Grille and then over the bridge toward Ft. DeSoto. At about 20 miles from the hotel, I picked up a screw in my rear tire. Yup another flat tire one of three in four weeks! UGH. I tired to patch it but ended up putting in a new tube. After changing the tire, I headed back. On the way I saw a pack of roadies (about 20) and not one waved to me on my tri-bike. Snobs?

Tony and I did our usual Sunday ride to Coconut point and back. I got my 50 miles but I was tired.

Weakly Totals:

Bike: 130 miles
Run: 12 miles
Swim: 3,200 yrds ??? not sure since I swam about 1/2 mile in the gulf
Weights 1 x
Pilates none

Goals for this weak:

1. Eat more healthy foods and staying on my nutrition plan... 4,100 calories
2. Drink more fluids..I feel a little dehydrated....1 gal of water per day!
3. Stay with my training plan... Increase Saturdays run to 12 to 15 miles.

Trick or Treat!!!!!

I had 8 kids visit this year for Halloween! There were scarey Orks and beautiful Princesses..... and some funny looking parents too!

Marlene Pumpkin 

Wagon Load of Kids!

The Masters Circle Trick or Treaters Parade 

Hey... I voted Saturday!!!!!

I forgot, I voted Saturday at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Bonita Springs. It was a pleasure using the new Touchscreen. Other than a 20 page ballot it was not hard at all. With all the hoopla going on here about long line at the polls on election day and students being recruited at FGCU by the Dems to disrupt the old folks in line, I was concerned about having time to vote on Tuesday. So I drove over and did the early vote. Hey it was easy and there were no UN Inspectors nor Jimmy Carter or Jessie Jackson. So like they say in Chicago vote early and often.

Another week down

Sunday's ride was frustrating again. I met Tony at 6:50 am, while it was still dark, for our Sunday long ride. Our goal was to go to Florida Gulf Coast University then up to Ft. Myers and home. However at 30 miles it happened again, Tony was on my wheel when he noticed the back tire was going flat. I stopped and added some air hoping that would hold it but luck was not with me. I had to stop a short while later at FGCU campus to change the tire. What is it with Sunday rides that I get a flat? We finished up around the campus and headed home since I was out of air and had no more spare tubes. We did 45 miles... which doesn't help my weakly totals.

Here's this weaks totals:

Bike: 130 miles
Run: 24 miles
Swim 6,200 yds
Weights 2xs
Pilates 1x

I have to go up to St. Pete's Beach which is 2 hours north for three days. I'm thinking about taking my bike and stuff to do the Suscoast Tri on Saturday at Ft. DeSoto. Might be fun, but it will disrupt my schedule.

Friday's Sunset

On Friday I had a nice bottle of wine, stopped for some fried chicken and took Joanne to Barefoot Beach for sunset. The beach closes at dusk but there were only two other people for as far as you could see. We sat in our beach chairs watching the dophins and the sunset. What a sight. We stayed so long I had trouble finding my way back to the path, it was dark on the beach!

The True Ironman 

Ironman Triathlon World Championship

The picture above is Christian Sadowski who won a free Cannondale bike at the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Chris, a construction worker from Florida, showed the real spirit of the Ironman while competing in Saturday's World Championship. Chris was struck by a press corp motorcycle destroying his bike at the 104 mile mark of the 112 mile bike course. Chris at the time of the accident was averaging approximately 19 mph over the grueling course. The two riders on the motorcycle where taken to the hospital, Chris was OK but his bike was destroyed. Since the Ironman rules state the competitor must cross Transition 2 (T2) with a bike, Chris did the only thing he could do, he removed his bike shoes, picked up his bike and ran the 8 miles to T2 carrying his bike! Once at the transition area Chris was able to put on his running shoes and complete the marathon (26 miles, 385 yards). Chris finished the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in 1534th place. To honor his show of the true Ironman spirit and courage, Cannondale presented Chris with a new bike at the awards dinner. Way to go Chris!

This Weeks Update

Hello..No I don't want to take another poll about the election!

Here in Florida we have been getting all kinds of phone calls from the DEC (Democratic Election Committee?) asking how are we going to vote... Not for John Kerry! So stop calling. Everybody I talk to is fed up with there phone calls why do they do this? To annoy voters?

This is three weeks in a row that I've felt I had pretty good training times. Yesterday, Tony and I did 62 miles. While I was a little sore, I felt I had a few more miles left in my legs. Of course the first 20 miles I did in the small cog and just spun at 80-90 bpm to keep my legs fresh. Te 2nd 20 miles I did on the big cog but large ring to keep the same 80-90 bpm. The last 20 it was as what ever we could given how tired we were. Next Sunday we are thinking of doing around Estero Island, approx 60 miles.

Here the Totals for the weak:

Bike 142 miles
Run 27 miles
Swim 6,200 yards

The weather has changed some what here, it has gone from very humid to a lot less humidity to down right cool on Sunday 58*F. I had to start my ride with a long sleeve t-shirt.

The Famous Underpants Race at Kona, Hi...today as a part of Ironman Week

Sunset from the liani last night. It looked like fire in the sky. 

Great Ride

Today was a ride day. Although I didn't feel like getting out of bed, I had a great ride. I kept it in the small ring and was able to spin at 90 to 95 bpm. On the flat straight-away Tony and I did 25 mph! I felt particularly strong today and the only thing I can attribute it to is using PowerBar Endurance Drink and Recovery drink after training. Even Tony noticed today and commented on me pushing it today. If I had slept better maybe I would have been even better on the ride.

Another Good Training Week

The humidity has been dropping and the nicer weather is coming. While we can't open our doors and turn off the AC, I feel that the cooler weather is just around the corner. Today I was much strong and I think it had to due with the lower humidity.

This weaks totals:

Swim - 6300 yds
Bike 130 miles
Run 22 miles
weights 2 times
pilates 2 times

It's been a hard week I haven't wanted to get out of bed plus I did dinner for my office staff on Friday (12 people) and the a dinner club Saturday (8 people). After 2 days of cooking and on my feet I was really tired Sunday.

I've started using PowerBar Endurance during my training over an hour, which is pretty much every day. the PowerBar Recovery after. I have noticed that I feel a little better than with gaterade and I am not as dehydrated after training. I am continuing on Chris Carmichael nutrition plan and I'm not as hungry as I was especially eating 4,100 calories a day, plus I dropped another pound this week.

Good Week Training

It was a good week training. I feel I met all of my weakly goals except my long run on Sat. I did 8 miles rather than the 13 I had scheduled. But I did have a hard day of yard work after my long run, plus some pool time.

Yesterday , Sunday, was my long ride. Tony and I did two loops inside Pelican Sound then we went out on the road to Coconut Point. On the second PS loop I fell. It was at the turn around and I was just coming out of aero position at 22 mphs and didn't slow down enough. The shoulder was wet from the irrigation so down I went at 20 mph. I bruised my left side and my handle bars are bent slighly. We continued on and finished the 50 miles but I'm sore and have had a little trouble sleeping.

Total w/e Oct. 3:

Bike: 125 miles
Run 18 miles
Swim 6300 yds

Tony and are are going to start getting ready for the Tour de Cape, a 100 mile race Jan 8, 2005 in Cape Coral. Along with that I'm getting ready for the Naples Half Marathon Jan 24, 2005.

Here are this weaks goals.

Bike: 130 miles
Run: 22 miles
Swim 6300 yds
Weights 2xs
Pilates 2xs