Distance Swim

Coming this weekend is a local favorite race the 8th Annual 24 mile Tampa Bay Marathon Swim Here's a brief except from their press relase:

CLEARWATER, FL--Another world-class field of marathon swimming stars will assemble for the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim on Saturday, April 16. The 24 mile swim race starts at 7:30am from the Sunshine Skyway at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort (800 227 8045) and ends at Ben T. Davis Beach on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. The race course covers the entire length of Tampa Bay and is held each year to celebrate Earth Day and the revitalization of Florida's largest estuary.

Since this event was first staged in 1998, it has drawn competitors from across the United States, Great Britain, Dominican Republic, Guatamala, Germany, India, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. A record fifty-seven participants have entered this year's event, either as soloists or as relay swimmers. Here are the twenty individual swimmers and the ten relay teams that will compete for honors:

I'm sure all of you want to do this race with me next year!

Windy Day

This mornings ride turned into a battle against the wind. There is a small cold front going through just north of Naples. This caused a slight breeze according to the weatherman, yea 18 knots! On the first loop I was able to do 16mph into the wind and 23 mph with the wind! It seemed like more into the wind than not...


As we started our second loop, Tony noticed his son was still waiting for the 6:10 am bus. At 7:30 the bus still hadn't arrived...It broke down and a replacement bus was on the way. So Tony had to drop out to take Chris to school soooo the second loop was alone into the wind! Not fun....



Flowers 

My flowers in the yard.

Sunset

Sunset 

I suppose everyone has one of those days. You know were you don't want to get out of bed. I didn't sleep well last nite, so when the TV went off and the coffee pot alarm sounded saying the coffee is ready, I wanted to go back to sleep.

In the words of Garfield, Why can't morning come later in the day? 5:30 am comes early! But I do have everything timed so I can get my training in so I pushed myself.... maybe I shouldn't but I did. Yea I know listen to your body so when it tells you to rest take a day off. But what about pushing yourself to new limits?

So it was a run day, I started out slower than usual but then it happened...right after a 1/2 mile, I turned the corner and there is another runner! Guy about my age not as good looking as me and runner is going my way. He doesn't say hi or wave or nothing...so I just follwed along behind him, nice pace. We are running in line and like a cyclist I'm drafting him...can you do that? Now we are running at an 8:10 pace. Surely he knows I'm there.

As we run along I see the usual people I say hi to in the morning. The shower girl taking her two large dogs for a walk..shower girl because she looks like she just got out of the shower threw on sweats and out the door with the dogs. The skinny lady and her husband...man is she thin...weird thin too, the walker ladies, the weights guy (he carries weights) and Chris in his red Vette going to work...but the runner doesn't acknowledge anyone...

So now at my 1 mile mark, I'm still behind the runner, macho kicks! Oh no in I've got pass him... I pick up the pace..hey he picks up the pace...now according to Timex Bodylinx 7:45. so we run along a little more, me just slightly behind but now to his side now.... I know he knows I'm there...he can hear me breathing... ok..my 2 mile mark...I started out to fast but that's what happens with mucho....did I tell you I'm tired, I didn't sleep well last nite?

Now it's time to pass the runner and look him square in the face and make him say HI! Increase pace to overtake and ....he stops! Dead stops... I go by and continue on to the end of the cul de sac we are on knowing he is watching me run by him so I have to maintain my pace because I'm going to turn around at the circle and run by runner again!

As I turn around and start back now my pace is causing pain... I look down the street and runner is gone! Vanished...poof gone!

So as I slow down my pace and run my final 5 miles I contemplate runner. who is he? where did he go? why didn't he say Hi or get off my a$$? HUH?

Did I mention I was tired? Now I'm really tired! I can't wait for sunset so I can go to bed!

Neat Car -btw right hand drive Rolls  I thought all the rich people in Naples went home. I saw this neat looking Rolls when I walked to the Post Office.

Missing Man Formation

Sunday's ride was the missing man formation






No not that missing man formation flown by F-16s, the Sunday bike ride was missing a man, Tony! I started out on my usual route expecting to find Tony alone the way. I even went to his house when I didn't meet up with him alogn the way, but no Tony. So I back tracked to the start of my route doing it over again and goin past my house one more time. Again no Tony. So I started my usual route that goes by Tony's house yet again. No Tony.

As I pasted his house the garage door was down and there were no signs of life at 7:30 am. So I just did my normal bike ride alone. I passed the joggers and walkers. Avoided a weaving biker who couldn't ride in a straight line becuase he was going to slow. I saw the road kill on the side of the road but no Tony.

I stopped at 30 miles only becuase I was bored riding alone around the same loops that we do every day. I had forgoten my cell phone (yea I know I promised to always take a cell phone) so I didn't escape the local compound.


So today, there on the very beginning of my daily 25 mile ride was Tony! He was out yesterday riding but couldn't find me. He even went the opposite way on our route but couldn't find me. He saw the same joggers and runners, even the same road kill but he could find me! The missing man formation of bike riding.


The Missing Man 


THIS WEAK IN REVIEW

Run: Tues 6 thurs 6 Sat 8 Total 20 miles
Bike Mon 25 Wed 25 Fri 25 Sun 30 Total 105
Swim NADA
Walk Sun 3 miles

Not great but it was something!

Who's In for $20?

Someone (jon) sent this Popapalooza 2005 brack pool. Who's in for $20?

Here Lies a Moron

I was thinking about what I don't want written on my tombstone....Here Lies a Mornon! What made me think about this is a book I'm reading "Deep Survival: Who Lives. Who Dies. and Why" by Laurence Gonzales.

In Gonzales chapter "Danger Zones", he uses Lambs Slide on the east side of Longs Peak in Colorado's Rock Mountain National Park as an example of a Danger Zone.



"Since the epic 1871 uncontrolled descent of Lambs Slide by the Reverend Elkannah Lamb, the accident has been repeated continually with results varying greatly from injury to death"

You see from below Lamb's Slide doesn't appear treacherous, it's not, UNTIL you're fully committed about one third of the way up. A perceived easy hike gets steeper and steeper until.... The accident results is so common it's called "Lost Footing. Couldn't Self-Arrest. Fell to Death or LFCSAFTD".

It's made me more aware of the Danger Zones I put my self in from time to time. Open water swim with no buddy. Riding long distances away from home with no identification or cell phone or even money. No one knowing where I went or even if I went. It's creating my own Danger Zones.

So since I don't want my tombstone to read "Here Lies a Moron" I'm going to work on not creating my own Danger Zones.

Timing

Timing 

It's all about timing.... Yesterday and today I've noticed a slight change. The tourist season which runs in Naples from Jan 15 to April 15 closed early this year. A lot of our "snowbirds" went home early for Easter. Remember it's all about timing...Easter was early this year, March 27, they change it every year unlike Christmas, it is always Dec. 25th. I'm always confused about the timing of Easter but never Christmas.

So since Easter was early, a lot of the snowbirds went home early. This means the traffic jams due to the snowbirds going to breakfast and tee times when I'm driving to work, or the snowbirds going to the early bird dinner specials before dark when I'm driving home has lessened. The timing of their departure has left the roads with less traffic.

But enter timing.... Yesterday I noticed a change in timing! The Naples City Fathers changed the timing of the traffic lights. Since snowbird season is over, the lights are now on a summer timing schedule. You know summer? Summer is when no one is in Naples due to the heat and humidity, except us poor working people. Therefore in the summer there is no traffic at all.

But it's not summer! It's April and there are a few tourist, rich people and other non-working people. People who went home for Easter and came back on their private jets, or came via the airlines, or, God forbid, drove back. So the timing of the timing change was the WRONG TIME!

This morning it took me three, take the time to count them, one, two, three light changes to get thru the intersection. The timing is messed up! And not just one intersection but 4! It has never happened like this until yesterday and now today. The timing of the lights is short...two or three cars can get thru....TIMING!

So next year, please change the timing of Easter rather than the timing of the lights!

Health Update

Inquiring minds want to know.....

So I went to the brain surgeon yesterday. Even with calling ahead to check on the waiting time in the waiting room I still had to wait 90 minutes to see him.

The answer is...well we don't know what it is.

THE GOOD NEWS

1. we are pretty sure it's not growing... but we will check again in 3 months.

2. we are pretty sure it is not an AVM all though it looks like an AVM but with the MRA it doesn't have a blood supply...so no AVM..we think.

3. we are pretty sure it is a cyst but it doesn't have a regular shape, actually it looks like a collection of holes in the brain kinda like an AVM, it doesn't appear to have fluid in it....just a hole

4. we are pretty sure it is not pushing on any sections of the brain...but it might be.

5. we are pretty sure it is not cancer, it didn't "light-up" on the pet scan but it could still be a slow growing giloma or the beginning of a melanoma...we will test again in 3 months.

6. we are pretty sure it's been there a long time perhaps all your life, but we are not sure.

So let me get this straight, it's not cancer, not an avm, not a tumor, it could be a cyst but it doesn't have fluid or shape.... right! It's just weird!

THE BAD NEWS

1. we think you should just leave it alone and watch it. we will test again in 3 months.

2. biopsy would be bad news since it doesn't have a regular shape and is in a hard to work on area of the brain.

3. removal would probly be impossile because it has no regular shape and brain tissue would be removed as well.

4. it might be the beginning of a giloma or melanoma...we will test in 3 months.

But what about the headaches, dizzy spells, ringing in the ears, stiff neck, etc...

we don't think it is coming from this.... so let's see a neurologist. It's just weird.

So April 18th another doctor.

Olivia Orchid

Orchids 

This morning I counted the blooms on Olivia Orchid. She has 40 blooms all total! I bought her last year from Publix, the local Florida grocery store. She has bloomed 4 times since I rescued her, of course she gets fed and watered every week to ten days. I guess I'm a little nuts naming my plants.

Well today is the big day! WHOHOO! I see my doctor to get some answers to my questions. I still am trying to get an understanding of this brain tumor. What does it mean going forward? Do I need surgery since they have told me it is in a dangerous spot? Why do I have blurry vision, headaches, stiff neck, whistling in my ears, and get confused from time to time? Questions.... What about exercise and bumping my head? Roller coasters? Fast cars?

Today was a bike day. While I usually meet Tony after I have warmed up, he once again was no where to be found! He over slept!!!! UGH! I guess with the time change and he's getting older...8 years younger than the Oldman.

Tony appeared coming the opposite way on the straight away like a fighter pilot coming out of the sun.

Today:

Bike 28 miles, ave speed 18.6
Swim tonight..Maybe.

Doctors update... the doctors office called to say the brain surgeon is in brain surgery...and of course running late! My 1:40 appointment is now scheduled for 4:15! They want a 6:45. I think I need a different doctor since my appointment last week was canceled to today and now pushed back. Wait! Next they will call to cancel totally!

St. Anthony's

Well I spoke via telephone, since I'm having a hard time seeing straight while I drive or work or ride my bike and have had a headache off and on since my last MRI, with my brain surgeon. He doesn't want me to do St. Anthony's. I'm not surprised since I just got over my last surgery to remove a tumor (3rd surgery) from my back.... BTW I have a new one growing on the site of second surgery.

So what should I do. I paid my monies... other than swimming I've been training ok... Should I say he$$ with it I'm doing it anyway?

Needless to say I'm bummed out.... having cancer & brain tumors at the same time sucks!

Weekend Update

This weekend saw a weather change. What started out on Friday night with high humid and clear skies gave way to rain on Saturday morn and windy cold weather on Sunday.

If you don't like Florida weather, just wait a few minutes it will change.

Saturday I had scheduled a brick...20 mile ride 10 mile run. When I got up Saturday morning, it was raining lightly with thunder off in the distance, like cannon fire on a distant battlefield. So I decided to for get the ride and just run. Of course I left all of my "electronics" at home with the exception of the Heart Rate Monitor.

At the two mile mark the heavens opened with a clash of lightening and thunder! I found my self running thru a Florida car wash. It wasn't one of those warm summer rains.
No it was a cold drenching down pour. I just kind of plodded along with my head down to protect my eyes forms the stinging rain. At the four mile mark, I felt I had enough punishment for the day and went back tot he house. So best laid plans goes out the window...Total run 4.5 miles...

Sunday was a cold and windy morning. With the time change it was even harder to get out of bed. I went to met up with Tony after my 5 mile warm up, but no Tony. His bike was in front of his house, the garage door was open, but no Tony. He went inside to wait for me and fell asleep! So I rode 30 miles in the windy cold air by myself. No fun!

RAT PATROL UPDATE

I found another dead rat in the trap...He was starting to smell..This was Saturday. Then Sunday I found another dead rat.... UGH. I put screens on the ends of the downspouts. I've heard them inside the gutters. I also plugged two spots that I though they might be coming in with foam. I didn't hear anything last night.

WEAKLY TOTALS

run 16 miles
bike 75 miles
swim - nada

Start of the Week

Monday started off cold again. Even colder than yesterday. 53* and it was dark at 6:30. Ugh. Even so Tony jumped in today and we did our 25 mile loop. When I finished my fingers were numb and the hot shower felt real good. Since I have to walk to the bank at lunch time there will be no swimming.

Headaches, Rats and other stuff

I've been trying to keep up my regular training schedule this week but everything has been against me. Mondays schedule 25 mile ride was shortened due to a down pour. Now I don't mind riding in the rain but the rain was stinging me like bees stings as hit it my skin. The golf course lightening alarm went off indicated in should head for cover. Can you get struck by lightening on a bike with rubber tires? So I cut the ride short since Tony didn't show up. 15 miles in the he pouring rain is enough.

Tuesdays run while hot and humid was some what uneventful. I did 5 miles. While crossing the street at the turn around point a car came danerously close to me. Since I run in the street usually against traffic this is the one point where I am going with traffic. I had my Rio playing loud so I didn't hear or see him coming. After he went by, he had to stop at the circles stop sign then a landscaping truck was blocking his path. I was able to get along side of him and scare him by thumping on his car.

Tuesday was also the MRI day. I had to go to the NASA office for an MRI of my brain with contrast but unlike the MRI's I've had done at Radiology Regional, this time they didn't start an IV but shot the dye straight into a vein in my arm. For some reason I've now had a headache on the left side of my head...that is where the tuor is located... Some times it hurts worse than others but the pain is still there.

Wednesday another ride day started bad. I went into the garage to pump up Roo's tires when I heard a strange noise. Thump, thump, thump in the garage's attic. I have rats invading the attic and have set traps so I thought I caught a rat or perhaps a squirrel. It was on the hatch for the pull down stairs. so I had to get the half dead RAT out of the attic, reset the trap...get cleaned up then ride..so I was only able to do 15 again! UGH

Wednesday was also a brain EEG day! So after work I went back to NASA for a brain wave test. The tech put little thingies on my head and two on my arms to measure brain activity and heart rate. She showed me the nice squigglie lines it made..so my brain works even with a large tumor! I celebrated the fact that my brain was working by having a pizza! No beer...whats with that?

Thursday was a run day and inspite of waking up with my headache I though if I ran it would go away. So I took a bottle water and ran 7 miles. I felt pretty good and have a 8:30 pace. But when I got done I still had the headache! I attended a meeting until 9:00 pm about the growth in our community. We have 30 new homes sold every week. There has been permits issued for 10 million square feet of commercial real estate to be build, including a mixed use mall!

Friday was a ride day. Feeling pretty good I met up with Tony after a 5 mile warm up. We rode 25 mile together at a 18.6 mph pace. Tony said I was going to fast so he let me pull most of the time.

So now as I write this my headache is back. I think it was the dye they used. UGH!

I'm thinking about doing a brick tomorrow. That is a ride and a run. I'm thinking about riding 25 miles then running ten. Let's see how I feel especially since I have to Rat proof the house to keep the rats out!

Storm Coming 

Persistence

Today it was Tony's turn for a flat! As I started my ride this morning, I noticed there was glass on our circle from the recycling collection on Monday. It glass was is neat round "pools" as if the bottles had been broken and then poured out into the street. The pools were close to edge so when Tony joined me on the ride I told him to stay to the center of the road to avoid the pools of glass.

But those Englishmen don't listen to us Yanks. Tony loves the edge of the road often times hugging the left side of the road rather than the right. He also get up my right side during the ride. So I wasn't surprised when he got ahead of me on the circle and then stopped. A piece of glass was stuck in his tire. Unfornately for me he had no spare tube, so with my tube and Co2 we fixed his flat and off we went..This time Tony stayed in the middle of the road.

Palm Sunday

I feel my recent training is going welll. If I could just stay away from the doctors and surgeons, I would be able to train more. Saturday was my first time swimming this year since my surgery on my shoulder. It felt good to get back into the pool even though it was a short 1/2 hour work out. My surgery site was a little sore but no big deal. So my weakly totals look like this:

Bike 90 miles
Run 17 miles
Swim 1,500 yards

I went for my usual Sunday ride and met up with Tony. At about 7 miles into the ride I remembered it was Palm Sunday, duh! So I just did 1 loop and stopped at 15 miles. I had just enough time to get home, shower and make it to church. I was surprise that while there were a lot of people at church it wasn't packed. I guess next Sunday I better plan better and be to church early.

My goals for this week are:

1. Eat better. I think I'm over eating especially in the morning. So this week I want to eat better and more balanced food. Salads, veggies, etc.

2. Consistent Training - I found I was a lot faster today on my Monday ride. Actually I pulled most of the time for Tony. He said I was setting an awful pace for w Monday. When the ride ended our ave pace was 18.4 so I'm going to try to keep my ride speed above 18 this week.

3. Swim - I want to get more swims in but I just don't know when. Other than I'm off on Friday I don't know when I'll have pool time. Swim Friday, Sat and Sunday?

St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patty's Day!


Since I grew up in a Protestant and English we never celebrated St. Patty's Day. Rather my father would wear yellow for St. Shellie, who's day is celebrated by Englishman on March 18! Dad would always say it's going to rain on St. Patty's Day because "St. Shellie always pees on Patty!"

Well it is raining today and I ran 7 mile sin the rain. I feel a little tired and lack motivation today. Perhaps it is because I'm seeing a new doctor today. I'm seeing Dr.Henn a neurosurgeon in Ft. Myers. Hopefully he will tell me something about the thingie in my brain.

Ugh

Well I fix the flat tire last night. It wasn't what I thought it was originally. I thought it was the value system not accepting air. But it was in fact a large puncture which allowed the air to escape faster than I could put it in! Sooo I tried a nice patch but that literally blew off...So it was a new Continential tube. Once the new tube was in place, everything else went smoothly. It was still up this morning.


NEW PROBLEM

Today while taking my shower, well after the actual shower, I was looking at myself in the mirror (yes it's a guy thing) and there on my back is another tumor beginning! It wasn't there three weeks ago when I saw the surgeon for the surgery follow-up from removing the tumor on my shoulder blade. It wasn't there last week when I saw my dermatologist for a "full-body" scan. But it's there now! I can't believe it just as I'm getting ready to swim again and now this one!

BRAIN PROBLEM

As you know, I saw Dr. Lusk the nuerosurgeon. He is sending me for a second opinion because he's not really sure about his opinion and wants to 1. run up my bill and 2. get some one to agree with him. 3. hope some one has an idea about the thing in my brain. Of course he's hoping for a cyst and not a glioma.

Last night a doctor that works with Eric who is a nuerosurgeon called. He suggested that I go to Gainesville, Florida to see a team of doctors. But he doesn't work like I do and I have limited resources to chase down docs. So what to do. Maybe tomorrow will be the answer when I have my second opinion visit.

Would you believe???? DEARS!

Another FLAT! Yup I rode yesterday pumping up the tire as usual when I got home from work last night the tire (of course the read tire) was FLAT. What's with this? So...Tonight it's inspect the tire, rim etc....

When I went to run this morning, as I walked out the garage I notice the trash can that put out last night was GONE. The lid was there but the trash can full of trash was gone. I called our crack security team that patrols the neighborhood to report a missing trash can and I was told it was animals...Yea what bear takes the whole trash can with him?

So it turns out it was the little DEARS...You know "Oh not my little dear grandchild on spring break would take your trash can and drag it 8 houses down the street. Not my little dear he wouldn't pick-up said trash can full of garbage and throw it into the brand new Lincoln Continental sitting in the driveway. Not my dear!"

Animals!

The "little dears" also ripped up signs and destroyed some other property as well in the community. Maybe not dear on spring break but somebody's "little dears".

Weekend Update

I went to ride on Friday and had another flat. What's with the flats? I'm wondering if I'm doing something with the flor pump when I add air before each ride. It seems I can't get air into the tube. Perhaps I've bent or damaged the stem?

Saturday was a very nice day. I was suppose to run 10-12 miles. However, at the 5 mile mark I felt a little out of sorts. I took Cliff Shot which helped for the next 2 miles but then at 8 miles I decided to stop. Why push and get hurt?

Sunday was a ride day. Of course Saturday night was our dinner for eight so I got to bed late plus I had some wine with dinner! So Sunday I didn't want to get up as I had planned at 6:oo am. I slept late until 7:04 ! Tony was no able to ride so it was an LSD ride alone. Since I was alone and a little tireed from partying the night before I did 30 miles and stopped.

Good Week Training

It has been a good week here in Lake... Oh that's another story. I've had a good week training, which usually means a bad week is coming. Monday was a ride day with Tony, he was back from sin city. We did our Monday 25 miles. I felt pretty good at the end.

On Tuesday, a run day, I ran in a light rain. Of course I wore long tights, long shirt, a jacket and hat...It was one of those cold Florida mornings (42*). I was able to do 8 miles at a 10 minute per mile pace.

Wednesday, a ride day, it was raining cats and dogs! It was raining to hard to take the "Steel Monster" with her fat tires for a spin soooo it was off to the fitness center for a ride on the stationary bike. I rode for 50 minutes, that's all of the mindless spinning I could do. Since it is different that a real bike, my muscles were a little sore. I guess it's good to use those different muscles from time to time.

Thursday, another run day, it was clear and cool so with long sleeve shirt and shorts I ran 7 miles in 74 minutes. I guess I need the colder weather to go 8 miles. Tony called me on my cell on the way to the office to tell me he was sick and wouldn't be out on Friday and Sunday's LSD ride was up in the air.

Friday I found a flat tire on Roo. This is the 4th flat since Jan 1! I couldn't get air into the tube so I'm wondering if I'm doing something with the pump when I pump up the tires each day. So I changed the tube and was out the door for a 20 mile ride. I wanted to do 25 but I would have been late to the office.

The weekend plans are 12 mile run on Saturday should be about 2 hours. On Sunday I'm planning on a 60 mile ride, hopefully Tony will be able to ride. ]

Next week I'm going to start swimming again! Whoahooo! My suregery site on my back is healed enough that I think I can start swimming. I wonder how long it will take to be able to do 1/2 mile with out stopping.

Good News vs. Bad News

I had another MRI done on Monday. the Brain Surgeon wanted it done on the same machine as I had my first MRI, however somehow that got screwed up I spent Friday and most of early Monday morning trying to get it corrected. After much effort, I got the MRI done.

Wednesday I saw the Brain Surgeon. His news was mixed...I've got good news and I've got bad news. The good news is the tumor/cyst is not growing. It is still the size of a golf ball and apparently has no blood supply therefore not growing!

So on to the bad news! We spoke about removing it. I have had a lot of people that have wanted me to go to a major hospital or a teaching university hospita i.e. University of Penn in Philly or Emory Hospital in Atalnta. The Brain Surgeon reminded me that surgeons make money by operating...he said if you go to a university or teaching hospital the first thing the will do is operate. Since it is in the frontal lobes of the brain when your done you will be like a lobotomy patient "smiling a lot more". He said there is no reason to operate at the present time and there is no ethical surgeon who would attempt to remove it locally since it is in a difficult area of the brain.

The other bad news is that we can't rule out that it is a glioma. Glioma is a fast growing cancer! However since it didn't show up on the PET Scan it is a 20% chance that is is a glioma. So 80% chance that it is a cyst, 20% chance that it is a glioma. I'll bet on the 80!

So on to more testing....that's the other way doctors in Florida make money.... I'm scheduled for an EEG Brain Wave test and another MRI both at the end of the month. Then another meeting with the Brain Surgeon.

Late breaking update!

I have been a little remiss in update the blog for the past month. I guess because I don't have a lot of good numbers to post. My training was off due to my health and the weather. However this week I have feel like I've been running much better. I ran 7.5 miles yesterday and I'm planning a 12 miler for tomorrow.

The other day while running a tractor towing a trailer pasted me. On the trailer was a large vacuum cleaner labeled HPV... High Power Vacuum! Now tell me why do we have to use initials for everything these days? I'm using the HPV to clean the PWW (Pedestrian Walk Way) or use the HPV to clean out the SUV?

Well the sun has finally come out and it will warm up a little for the weekend.

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

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