Coffee Drinker & Collie Sighting

I forgot to tell you, gentle readers, of today's sighting of Coffee Drinker and Collie. It was ever so brief and but so rewarding. You do remember gentle reader, our goal is to make coffee Drinker spill his coffee?

Let me take you back to the 2nd and last loop of our 25 mile morning ride. It was there, coming down from our turn-around on Coffee Drinker's street, when who should appear? None other than Coffee Drinker and Collie! We did see Coffee Drinker alone the other day causing some to speculate on the demise of Collie (see you killed Collie. # posted by tracy : 2:45 PM) But alas Collie is ALIVE AND WELL!

Today I believe they were putting something in the re-cycling bin (today is collection day for recycling). Coffee Drink had his coffee and Collie spotted us as Coffee Drinker, not seeing us, was bending over the recycling bin. Coffee in one hand Collie's leash in the other when, yup, Collie lunged forward barking almost pulling Coffee Drinker over! kewl. I think, though not verified, Coffee Drinker spilled his coffee! Double kewl! We did hear damn! Can life get any better?

Fluid Weekend

My fluid weekend started with party a the golf club. No particular theme other than it was Friday...of the usual fluids, Guinness, were consumed along with dinner. I did meet few new people. No single females however... it is hard in a couples community.

My fluid weekend continues into Saturday morning. I pushed the fluids, gatorade, to start my LSD run well hydrated. When I left the house at 6:30 if was already 76* and going to 91*, so I knew I would be in need of fluids. I did my long course which takes me thru the woods and along the golf course, I stopped to refill my bottles at the fitness center and age at the potty house...but the last 3 miles were HOT. I finished up my 15 miles at 8:45 just before the sun really got hot. I have be working on using the shade as much as possible.

After my shower and breakfast, Oldman's homemade banana nut-apricot muffins, I went to Bonita Beach. I had to get my propane tank refilled then over to the beach. The Red Tide, an algae that kills the fish and causes lung irritation in humans, was gone. So I swam at Doc's Beach House for 1:30 minutes. I go into the current for 45 minutes then swim back. Since I was hungry again I ate lunch at Doc's , Philly Cheese Steak and Fries and a pitcher of beer. I spent the rest of the afternoon lazing at home around the pool. I did make a wonderful dinner of grilled chicken and broccoli over pasta in a basil cream sauce with Oldman's homemade bread.

Sunday was my long ride with Tony. Once again I tried to push the fluids to keep well hydrated. We did the Coconut Point ride. There were no dolphins at Coconut Point. On the way back there was quite a headwind which made for an interesting ride. We sprinted several times into the wind doing 1 minute sprints until my legs ached. I couldn't wait to get out of the wind! At the 45 mile mark I went past my house and that was it...I didn't want to go on so I dropped out. In the afternoon I walked 9 holes of golf, I broke 50 (48) but maybe if I played more I would score better. I made a meatloaf for dinner and now have enough leftovers to have for several days!

Weakly Totals

Swim 6,000 yards plus 1:30 open water
Run 32 miles
Bike 120 miles
9 holes of golf (is that really a sport?)

Rita-less Day with Coffee Drinker & Collie Update

Finally we aren't getting any of Rita's feeder bands of rain. Last nite was a perhaps the last thunderstorm and heavy rain. What a big storm! Rita rains on Naples and New Orleans at the same time!

This morning was my first ride with Tony in 3 weeks. Our schedules didn't mesh. So we did the normal loop around our community for 25 miles. Not much to say, he's still fast out of the corners and I could only get to 27 mph on the straight-a-way due to the headwind (from RITA?).

COFFEE DRINKER and COLLIE Update!

As we do our second loop Tony is pulling. Our speed is about 21 mph when ahead I see Coffee Drinker! He's at the bend in the road so we can't see the road ahead. Collie is now where to be found! ...no coffee or Collie. How can this be? As we approach , of course not slowing down, he gives us a WIDE berth! Wonder what happened to Collie?

Weakend Plans

So I plan to swim at lunch today. Tonight is a party at the club, but lately I'm on the wagon because I want to be able to get up early. Saturday is a 15 mile run and an afternoon swim at the beach. However we've had red tide so I may be at the pool. Sunday Tony and I are planning a 4 hr ride...what ever that equals in miles. Sunday afternoon I'm playing cow pasture billiards with .... Sunday nite I'm taking my golf partner to dinner downtown.

Product Review Yankz

Boys and girls, I want to tell you about Yankz! I have been using these in my running shoes for a year. They are simple and they work!

Yankz replace your current laces and allow you to slip your shoes on in the transition area or the garage, lock in place and go. No knots to fumble with or tie.

When you first get Yankz it takes 10 minutes or so to get them right. (READ THE DIRECTIONS) I had to fiddle with them until I was comfortable. But once done you don't have to touch them again. I recommend these for tris and everyday use. Out of a possible 5 bikes I give it 5 Bikes!

Today SW Florida is still feeling the effects of Rita. It's overcast, breezy and rain shower, well actually drizzle. So when I left the house for my Tennis Ball run this morning it was cooler than usual and drizzling. I did my 7 mile loop and had a ball.

Wednesday Brick - in the rain

Today's schedule called for a brick. For those boys an girls just joining us, that is a bike and a run back to back. So the schedule called for a 20 mile bike followed by a three mile run. Since Rita is still hanging around off our coast, there was a slight drizzle when I left the house. It felt nice to have a breeze and the cooler temps this morning even with the high humidity.

The ride was a nice easy spin. I tried to stay in aero position as much as possible and keep the cadence at 90 rpms. My legs felt surprisingly good. I tried to ave 18 mph. As I returned home I thought about practicing taking my feet out of my shoes while riding, but that has never worked for me. So I just unclipped as usual.

I was surprised how good my legs felt for the run. Most of the time I feel a little woggity but today they just felt like a normal run. Since I didn't have my heart rate monitor and GPS on I just timed everything from my landmarks trying to maintain a good pace. The first mile was 9 minutes the second 9:10 and the 3rd 8:45. Not great but I'll work on it.

Once again it's raining and there is some thunder of in the distance so I assume the pool is closed. Maybe I can swim tonight after work.

Tri-Training Tips

I always struggle with setting my own training goals and since I can't afford a coach I read everything I can find on training.. So when I found this artcle on Resistance Training I knew I wanted to share it with you , boys and girls. This artcle comes from Australian Triathlete Magazine (used by permission).


Resistance Training
By Bruce thomas | Photography by Delly Carr
As you come to the first hill on the bike in the triathlon you are competing in, you dig deep and pass the athlete in front of you. Feeling good, you continue up the hill, giving it everything to get to the top of the rise. As you punish yourself, another rider comes past at a significantly faster pace, appearing to deal with the hill effortlessly. Your initial reaction is to think, “Wow, that person is strong on the bike.” If “strong” is the right word, the question is: How do you get strong? The best way to improve your strength is through overload.

to read the rest of the story click here

Rita

Hurricane Rita is not far away. This morning she is suppose to pass over the key then into the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We have been getting bans of squalls from Rita. So this morning when I left my house at 6:30 it was 79* and 79% humidity and cloudy. There was an erie silence in the air inspite of the strong breeze. It was the same kind of silence I experienced the morning of Hurricane Charlie.

Today was a run day and on the schedule was an easy seven mile run thru the woods. I'm still recovering from my long run on Sunday, no problems, no pain, just a little tired. So I decided to just maintain an easy 9 min mile pace then the last two mile pick up the pace a little. I stopped at the fitness center at the 5 mile mark to get a drink of water. I started feeling good so the next two miles I did 8:30 and 8 even to finish up my run.

After I showered and dressed and was ready to leave for work the heavens opened up and it started to rain with lightening and thunder. So I guess the lunch time swim is out today. I hope Rita doesn't come to close we still have people living in FEMA housing and others with blue traps on their roofs from Hurricane Charlie.

Weekend Report

I got up early Saturday to beat the heat. To my surprise it was not as humid only about 60% relative humidity and 80* with a slight breeze from the east. Perhaps its the Tropical Storm in the Atlantic?

On the schedule was a 14 mile LSD run. I took the double fuel belt and 1 bottle of gel. I started out real slow and planned to walk thru each water stop, approx. every 2 miles.
So the first mile was 9 mins then I increased to 8:30 for the 2nd mile thru the woods and then to 8 mins thereafter. At the 6 mile mark I stopped to refill the water bottles at the fitness center and then was off again for the lonely section where I rarely see anyone (actually it's the famous straight-a-way). At mile 12 I stopped at one of the potty houses on the golf course to refill the water bottles and I took some gel. The last 2 miles I did at a 7:30 pace, so all in all it was a pretty good run!

In the afternoon I went to the beach for a swim, but ugh RED TIDE! It was horrible on the beach with dead fish and the smell. So no swim at the beach! Sunday was the LSD Bike ride alone! I did the Florida Gulf Coast University loop which allows me to stop at the pool at the 20 mile mark to refill my water bottles, only to find it closed! So I had to stop at the tennis courts for water which was hot! Only the way home I stopped at MickieD's for a cold coke and some water. It was a rather uneventful 50 mile ride. Sunday afternoon I went my community pool which is not the best for laps but I swam anyway. I did balance drills, 3x50 zipper drill, 4x50 underswitch and 2x100, 3x100 4x100 3x100 2x100.

WEAKLY Totals

Swim 7,750 yards
Bike 125 miles
Run 28 miles

Thoughts.

I'm looking for balance in my training. I don;t want to favor any one discipline but I would like to concentrate on one each week or month. So I'm looking into that. Maybe I need a coach?

I'm also looking at doing the Boca Bop Tri in November if my docs will approve. Although I feel fine so I might just do it.

Friday Feature

This weeks Friday Feature is about Naples triathelete Joe Bonness. Joe, age 49, is a very sucessful paving contractor here in Naples. Yet in the world of triathalon Joe is known for 25 age group wins in iron distance races out of 36 trys! He is perhaps best known for the Bonness Triple: In 2003 Joe finished Kona in fourth place for AG 45-49 in 9:45:51. The following WEEK he WON (OVERALL WINNER) the Great Florida Iron-distance Race in Clermont, FL in a time of 9:42:06, and TWO WEEKS later won his AG 45-49 and finished fourth OVERALL in Ironman Florida with a PR of 9:09:18. Boys and girls, that's three Iron-distance races in (count them) four weeks!.

During the week Joe can be seen riding with the NATS (Naples Area Triatheletes). He rides from his home to Clint's Bikeshop (my LBS) and takes part in a easy 45 miles bike down Gulf Shore Blvd to Gordon Drive and back at a 25 mph pace. Joe and the gang have breakfast at the coffee shop next to Clint's and then they do a second ride of 50 miles at 25 mph. Joe says its better to stop and eat so you don't bonk and your muscles don't feel as sore.

You can also find Joe swimming in the Gulf at Laudermilk Park or at his rock quarry with the gators. But the best thing about Joe, where ever you meet him he is really a nice guy! I met him at the LBS. I was there to pick up Roo after she was serviced. Joe was there to pick up a new helmet for Kona. I wanted to hear about his training ideas but he wanted to know about me and how I was feeling, my training, etc. He truely is a great guy. Joe is a dedicated family man, married to his high school sweetheart. Joe also races sailboats.

So boys and girls for our first Friday Feature I wanted to write about a local hero and nice guy.

Product Review

OK boys and girls, I tried a new product on my 7 mile tennis ball run this morning. It's the Halo Protex Head Band. The Halo is designed to keep sweat out of your eyes while exercising. It can be worn under your helmet or worn instead of a cap. Since I sweat heavily, I thought I'd give it a try.

The Halo work great for the first 20 minutes of my run. But of course I had broken into a full sweat only 20 minutes out. Then I noticed I had a flow of sweat running just to the right side of my eyes as well as gathering on my right eyebrow. I wiped the sweat away with my hand only to have it come back. I wiped with my shirt only to have it come back. It began to get bothersome! ANNOYING! I pushed the Halo back on my forehead and that seemed to help somewhat.

Well boys and girls, it cost $12.95 from REI. Would I buy another? NOPE. Would I use it rather than a meshing running hat? MAYBE. How would I rate it? One a scale of 1 to 5 Bikes I give it 2 Bikes.

Bad Weekend Leads to Worse Week

OK I had to go to Philly Sunday for a meeting on Monday. Have I told you, Gentle Reader, how much I HATE TRAVELING FOR BUSINESS! So my long ride was missed on Sunday in exchange for a hot ride on an un-air conditioned US Air flight. To top that off Philly doesn't have air conditioning like those of us in Florida, so I suffered until I got to my hotel. I cranked up the AC in the car and then the hotel until I was cool. UGH.

Monday I did manage to run for about an hour but without electronics, so I don't know distance or speed but I did have tunes to run by. (Garth, Sarah, Randy, etc.) The meeting was long and boring and the flight back was delayed by US Air (no wonder they are in trouble).

So J called, you remember her? She returned my engagement ring because she didn't want to married someone with cancer and a brain tumor. She called to argue...leave me alone when I'm tired of traveling... so Tuesdays run was less than good. I'm convinced I'm just going to be a bachelor from now on. (Unless Tracy has some good martinis).

I have an audit of our numbers (returns of the portfolios) underway, so I'm not happy at work either. Two auditors asking me questions and giving me work to do. Just one of those weeks. Have I told you I hate auditors too!

LAST WEAKS NUMBERS

Bike - 75 miles No long ride
Run - 29 miles
Swim 4,000 yards

BTW - Did you read Chris' race report from IM Moo? Click HERE you will not be disappointed he did a great job in the race, but then I'll let him tell you.

Bee Attack Again!

Can you believe it another bee sting! This makes three in just a couple of months. Last Monday I while riding I got sting in the corner of my eye, the flesh part not the eyeball. So I thot Hey dummy wear your riding glasses that could have been a rock! So today, Tony saw a bug on my leg. Of course I tried to brush it away but it got between my glove and my fore finger and you OWEEEEEE. Now my right hand is swollen and I have ice that I use off and on. It's hard to work the mouse.

Ok brief note. Ride today 25 miles, ave 18.7 mph, 27.8 mph on the straight, one bee sting. Swim at lunch and cocktail party at the club tonight.

Salad

Ok I confess, I eat salad almost everyday for lunch and with my dinner. You know you just can't have enough greens. My mother, before she lost her mind to Alzheimer's, said eat your green vegetables they are good for you. So who am I to argue with my Mother even if she was out her mind!

I fix my salad every morning before I leave to exercise because God knows when I get home from riding or running or swimming I don't have time to do anything but take a shower and hit the road towork. So I have resorted to pre-sliced and diced salads to which I add a few things. While it depends on my early morning mood what I add, usually it is those little grape tomatoes, whole, some baby carrots, also whole and sometimes some cucumber and a red or green pepper, anything to liven up the pre-sliced and diced salad.

I've said all that about salad to tell you, my dear gentle reader, that I went to the store Monday to buy a bag of my pre-sliced and diced salad only to find my stand-by field greens wasn't on sale. Nor was the Italian or the spring mix, all fav's. No the Asian Salad was on sale. Now it's the first time I've seen Asian Salad so I thot hey it's on sale. My Mother always taught me to appreciate a bargain.. I think it was right after she asked me who that man was living with her. I said that's Dad. No she replied, that's not your Dad, he doesn't even look like your Dad. I don't know who he is but I feel sorry for him and let him live with me. You know he doesn't have any family. But I digress to another sorry about the big A. I guess I was left on the door step by the Indians, like my Mother told me when I was little.

So I've been eating Asian salad for two days now. But what made it Asian you ask. Good question O gentle reader. It is nothing more than iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, a little shreded purple cabbage and OH I FOUND IT TODAY! ONE count them ONE sugar snap pea. Asian my a$$. Well Mr. Dole I ain't going to buy it again. Nope it's back to Publix Salad Mixes.

So today was the tennis ball run day...fartlek for those techies out there. Seven grueling miles in 50:32 . UGH.... Oh yea, I went swimming before I ate my ASIAN SALAD.... No tennis ball just swimming 3,200 yards.

Now about my Father.....

Sore Quads

This morning was a bike day. The weather was warm as usual but not as humid. The next tropical storm is in the Atlantic causing the weather to be wacky.

I did my regular warm up this time remembering how I felt after I jumped in with out warming up. Well it made a difference this time. Tony joined me after the first 5 miles and we were off and running. Since Tony has a road bike, it is hard for me to keep up with him in the turns. So lately I've gone to sprinting out of the turns to gain speed and thus keep up. On our first pass thru the straight-a-way Tony passed me while I was pulling at 24 mph to go on to reach 30.7 mph. (Guess I've got to move the goal to 35 mph now). On the second loop I was determined to keep up with him so as he passed me I dropped a gear and then a second gear one he was in front on me. I was able to get on his wheel and read 27.8 mph.

So as I sit at my desk today not only am I hungry but I have sore quads from sprinting. I hope that's good?

I'm planning on swimming at lunch time and tonight hit the weight room.

Got anything to eat? I'm hungry!

He's Back!

OK I'm back from vacation but I'm swamped at work with catch-up stuff. I feel so behind in my work now. I hate coming back from vaca!

I will post some pics of Alexander when I get a free minutes. Let me just say he is wonderful. He is bi-lingual so we had a lot of fun with word games. Pretty good for a three year old! Also Disney was awesome with a three year old.

My training suffered a little. But Sunday and today I was able to get some regular training in with a long ride of 40 miles and a 7 mile run this morning.

WEAKLY TOTALS

Bike 50 miles
Run 15 miles
Swim 3,000 yards

Hurricane Ride

Hurricane Katrina hit across the state last night and then scooted south of us in Naples. We have been experiencing heavy winds and a little rain. Now, as the morning moves on, the winds have been picking up and are quite heavy.

So today was a ride day. Tthe roads were dry but there was a nice breeze, about 20 mph with guest and I thought this might be a fun ride. Well it was fun! As Tony said it was refreshing! Several times during the ride the wind pushed my bike sideways. I thought Hey this is good training for Kona. We were able to maintain an ave speed of 18 mph for 25 miles but it was hard into the wind.

I'm taking next week off from work. My my Italian grandson, Alexander, is bringing his parents to visit me. They live in Rome, Italy and this is the first time in 2 years that I've seen 3 year old Alexander. It should be fun since I have to speak English to Alexander. He speaks Italian but understands English. We are trying to get Alexander to speak more English. Pictures will follow. Especially since I am taking him up to Disney World on Wednesday.

TODAY IS THE DAY

Tony on his old bike

What a GREAT ride this morning! Woohoo! It was one of those days when everything felt just right. Tony picked me up at my house and we jumped right in riding at 17 mph. So much for slow easy warm up. But I felt good and kept up. At the turns I would sprint to try to keep up with Tony (he is much faster in the turns due to his bike, a Trek Madone).

One the first straight-a-way, remember we are trying to get to 30 mph on the straight-a-way, I was pulling as usual and we were doing 24 mph. Tony was content to sit on my wheel. We went for our second loop knowing that today might be the day.

Coming down Coffee Drinker and Collie's street, we were riding at 23 mph and took the cobblestone turn at our fastest yet, 22 mph! As we went up the next section Tony was pulling at 24 mph until the turn around. At the turn-around d we sip water and switch positions I pull around Island Circle then on to the straight-a-way. Once there I pulled trying to keep a steadily increasing speed. At the half way mark (two red poles) Tony came around me. I had to work hard to get on his wheel. At 27.8 he dropped me, pulling away. Finally at the end we go around a curve and then have to get on a bike path. It was there that Tony announced, and I verified via his Polar speedometer, he hit a max speed of 30.7 mph. A new record!

When we got all done we had gone 25.2 miles at an average sped of 19.7 mph. I felt pretty good. The only thing that would have made it better was if I had hit the 30 mph.

Tennis Ball Run

The schedule called for a fartlek run which means I took my tennis ball. You bounce the ball ahead of you and run to get it. So you have bursts of speed then back to normal pace. After my 1 mile warm up, it was fun for about 2 miles after that it became work. But I finished my hot run of 7 miles.
Perhaps you saw President George Bush and 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong riding mountain bikes around the Texas White House. Notice in the picture that Lance has a Discovery Channel jersey and shorts just like mine. Check out the mountain bikes.

Hot Hot Hot

It was yet another HOT HOT HOT weakend here in Southwest Florida. It seems we are in the clutches of a hot summer. It was 92 and 94 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. I read the blogs of people up north like Susan (Finally Running) and Shelly (Ironm4n) and get jealous of the cooler weather. But then I'll make up for it when they have snow.

Saturdays' run was horrible. I found it difficult to maintain my normal pace after the first couple of miles. I did my long route thru the woods hoping the shade from the trees would help. It didn't. At the five mile mark I had to stop and fill both of my water bottles and I took a Cliff shot. After the water stop I have a long section that has no shade and so I got even slower. I stopped again at a golf course bathroom/waterhole and refilled again. I finally gave in at the 14 mile mark. It was just to hot and besides I was close to my house. Maybe I should plan not to pass close to the house until I get to my goal?

Sunday I guess I was still dehydrated from Saturdays run. Tony and I went to Coconut Point to look for dolphins. Once again it was hot. there were no dolphins! I was doing all right until the 30 mile mark. Then the dehydration hit me and I was out of water/gaterade. Tony and I took a short cut home and I logged 36 miles. Tony went on to do 50. So all in all it was not a good weakend.


WEAKLY TOTALS

Bike - 111
Run 28
Swim 4,300 yards

Frogs and Warts

Nancy Toby wrote an interesting piece on Fears and Phobias on her blog. It's made me think about my own fears and phobias.

I'm no long afraid of swimming with the alligators since I did that in the Publix Family Fitness Tri last summer. I also swam in the strong tide at the Escape Ft. DeSoto tri (both tris had warning signs at the start line...Danger No Swimming Alligators in Lake! and Dangerous Currents NO SWIMMING). Since I swim regularly in the Gulf of Mexico, I'm not afraid of a shark attack! So I guess swimming is out.

I'm no longer afraid of hitting the wall..I've hit it so much I bounce off now.

My mother used to say at least you 've got your health, that was before she lost her mind to Alzheimer's. So my one kidney is working fine, I've been cancer free for 6 months, my brain tumor is not growing, and the new tumor on my back is a lyphomia. So yea I'm not afraid of losing my health. I think it's already gone!

So this morning during my 7 mile run, I found my fear. FROGS. Yup a FROG attacked me! As I was running thru the woods on my regular running loop a FROG jump out of the bushes and attacked me. He landed on my shirt and tried to wrestle me to the ground. However, I prevailed and got him off of my shirt. But now I'm afraid I'll get warts. I've washed my shirt and my hands then I took a shower...but warts people. Saturday I'm going to be very careful when I go thru the woods. I want to make sure I don't get mugged again.

No Excuses

So my Timex Body Links watch crapped out.... so yesterday I took it to a watch repair shop along with the printed instructions on how to change the battery. The Master Watch Mechanic said no problem and changed the battery, set and tested the watch and handed it back to me in 5 minutes. So now I can get my Heart Rate, Speed, Distance and various other thingies... So I have no excuses for not improving!

Today was a ride and swim day. I rode with Tony this morning. We did our normal two loop course for 25 miles. On the second loop a panel truck pulled out in front of us, so Tony used it as an opportunity to draft. I dropped off at 27 mph but Tony hung on to record 31 mph...but it doesn't count drafting a truck!

Since I'm swamped at work (I'm looking to hire an administrative assistant if anyone needs a job in beautiful Naples) I'll swim after work.

Weakly Review

The Weakly Totals

Bike - 125 miles
Swim 3520 yards
Run 30 miles

It was a good weekend weather wise. It rained Friday night but somehow the weather gods forgot to have it rain on Saturday and Sunday. I did my long run Saturday morning. Tony and I were able to get our long ride of 50 miles in on Sunday morning. Along the way we saw several other cyclists but no one wanted to join up with us. This morning we did our usual 2 loops for 25 miles at an ave of 18.1 mph.

Sunday on the way back we cross over a golf course by way of an overpass. The only two hills on our route are golf course over passes. I pulled up the hill at steady 23 mph. On the down hill side Tony and I got going pretty good when he went around me and recorded a 32.7 mph. But it doesn't count since he had the down hill to help.

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG WITH A COFFEE DRINKER AND COLLIE UPDATE

Yes folks it has been a few days that we have seen Coffee Drinker and Collie, but alas they have been spotted toady and are alive and well. You might remember Coffee Drinker walks Collie on a long leash in the middle of the road while drinking his morning cup of java. Tony and I have made it a game to try to get Coffee Drinker to spills his coffee. Our spilling average is .333. Pretty good average.

Today was like most summer mornings in Southwest Florida. The air was heavy laden with moisture. The temp was 79*. The sun was just making it's appearance in the cloudless sky. The birds were just beginning their morning song. The day had all the promises of a wonderful summer morn!

Tony met me as usual at my home. I had just finished putting air in my tires for the days ride. As we started off we both commented on what a humid but nice summer morn it was, little did we know what lay ahead of us.

We started our ride as usual, just warming up riding at 17 mph for the first 3 miles, riding side by side. No one was around at that hour. Most people in our community are still asleep. We increased our speed and took our usual turns pulling each other. As we pass Coffee Drinkers house on our first loop, there we no signs of life. Not even a light in the window. Tony was pulling as we went by so I could look. As usual we switched and I pulled until the great straight-a-way where Tony passes me to attempt 30 mph...but to no avail today 28.8 mph. We now work our way back thru our first loop and begin our second loop. Now warmed up we are doing 22-24 mph on the straights but slow for turns and stop signs (no we don't stop, there is no one around).

For some reason we got out of our usual pulling routine mixed up and Tony was pulling up the street toward Coffee Drinkers. Usually he pulls on the first loop, I on the second, when as we round the bend in the road who do we spy? None other than Coffee Drinker and Collie in the middle of the road. Tony on his Trek Madone is more agile then me on my Roo at 23 mph gracefully goes into the oncoming traffic lane and I brake and follow falling off his wheel. Collie goes nuts and barks as we pass. AH but there is more!

This street is a cul-de-sac so we must turn around and pass Coffee Drinker and Collie again. Another chance! As we come back towards the duo I notice that Coffee Drinker with cup in one hand and baggie in the other has his foot on Collie's leash while trying to pick-up Collie's doggie poop ( we have a strict rule in the community that dog owners must clean up their dogs poo... good rule). As we pass Collie again Collie goes nuts, tugs on the lease Coffee Drinker in mid poopy pick up moves and drops poopy as Collie starts after us and...... SPILLS HIS COFFEE! Amid the barking we hear DAMN! Was it Coffee or Poop?

So there you have it gentle readers. Just another ride of 25 miles at and average speed of 18.7 mph and one spilled coffee!

Remember the old days....

... when men were real men and women were women? Well my Ironman watch that controls my heartrate monitor, speed and distance and my training life needs a battery. So today I ran my 7 mile run thru the woods without my watch, just like the olden days when people ran without heart rate monitors. It was fun but I feel like I was blind... no time.

It was just like back in the old days ...1978 when I trained with Earl to run the Penn Relays Marathon. We just ran... 20 mile training runs on Sat... total 70 miles a week for 12 weeks...hey I lost a lot of weight...at work people asked me if I was sick.... Now I can't run without watch, heart rate monitor, speed and distance, MP3 player, hat, sun glasses, fuel belt, and a cliff shot or two, or three.... I didn't even have running shorts or a singlet...nope cotton shorts, underwear, cotton t-shirt....and the old Brooks Vantage Supreme shoes.

Earl and I ran in all kinds of weather rain, heat, snow and cool weather. I remember having ice form in my cotton skull cap and slipping and sliding on the ice. Earl was knocked down by a St. Bernard that couldn't stop on the ice and slid into Earl.

The first time I wore a pair of racing shorts and singlet was for the Penn Relays Marathon. It's the oldest track and field games in the US put on by the University of Pennsylvania at old Franklin Field. But the Marathon was Sunday before the opening of the games at Fairmont Park in Philly.

It was the first time I experienced leg cramps... at the 22 mile mark..I guess they call it hitting the wall. A friend of my Larry jumped in the race to pace me to the finish at the 20 mile mark... I cramped and started walking... they ran out of water on the course...no gatorade back then... Larry would say "Look at the old guy ahead, or the girl ahead...ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM BEAT YOU?" Larry was a Navy pilot waco.

Maybe I'll look for some cotton shorts, I got some cotton tees, and not get my watch fixed!

I DON"T THINK SO>>>>

This Weak in Review

So it wasn't the best week of training. My back still gives me little spasms to let me know I still have a pain in my back! It's also been hot highs about 93* most days with the usual afternoon thunderstorm. This weekend I ran at the fitness center just to get into some cooler air. Sunday's ride was hot, hot, and hot. When we stoped at the golf course bathroom/waterhole to fill our bottles a golfer being smart looked at us and said you guy ride 50 miles or something? Nope I said just coming up on 41 miles at a 19.1 mph pace... he was shocked thinking we just went a few miles. So we finished out at 50 miles.

Weakly totals

Bike .....125 miles
Run......19 miles
Swim.... 2,200 yards
No Plilates/Weights

Death Notice

Panhandle sports fan gets death for killing wife after sex

PANAMA CITY, Fla. A man who said he was angry with his wife because she nagged him to cuddle after sex while he wanted to watch sports on television has been sentenced to death for killing her with a claw hammer.

Christopher Offord, 30 received the sentence Wednesday from Circuit Judge Dedee Costello, who said the brutality of the killing outweighed any mental health issues.

"The defendant struck his wife approximately 70 individual blows after spending a happy interlude with her," Costello said. "Her desire to cuddle after sex does not justify the extremely violent, brutal response of the defendant."

Offord pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the July 31, 2004, death of Dana Noser, 40, at his Panama City apartment.

He initially confessed to a bartender at a sports bar before being arrested. He told investigators, in a taped interview played to the jury, that he got annoyed when he wanted to watch a sports program and Noser continued to ask him to return to bed with her.

Offord did not speak in court Wednesday but in the past has repeatedly said he wanted a death sentence.

"Prison isn't the issue," he said in June during a jailhouse interview with The News Herald of Panama City. "I figured I killed her so I deserve to die."

All death sentences are automatically appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.

A 12-member jury unanimously had recommended death. The only other option was life in prison without parole.

At that June hearing, Offord claimed he had a history of mental illness since he was 6 years old. He also told arresting officers that a voice in his head told him to kill Noser.

At a second sentencing hearing last month, however, he denied having any mental impairment, saying he had fooled doctors all his life. He said he "just lost it" when he killed Noser and had been thinking about murdering her for weeks.

Costello said his main problem probably was substance abuse. She nevertheless considered his history of diagnosed mental disorders but said it was outweighed by the "especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" way Noser was killed.

"This was not an instantaneous death and it was obviously extremely painful and unnecessarily brutal," Costello said.

---

Information from: The News Herald,

You heard it here on Oldman!

Oldman's Public Service Announcement

In just a few days telemarketers will be given a directory of cell phone numbers that have not registered with the National Do Not Call Registry. This means you will get calls to remortgage your house on your cell phone if you haven't registered! To register go to

National Do Not Call Registry

and register your cell phone number. It is as easy as that!

This was a Public Service Announcement from Oldman's Blog. We now return you to our regular blogs. Had this been an actual emergency we would have instructed you how to kiss your a** good bye.

Melanoma Strikes Again

Perhaps you read or heard about the woman who gave birth to a daughter while in a coma from cancer? Susan Torres age 27 was diagnosed with Melanoma, a very aggressive form of skin cancer. May 7th Susan suffered a stroke , the melanoma spread to her brain, and was placed on life support.

READ the Full Story Here

So maybe now you'll remember your sun screen? Skin cancer is no joke.

WARNING Rant Ahead!

Ok you were warned!

I had a business meeting and lunch across town yesterday. The guy I met with was my age or younger but GROSSLY overweight, by about 200 lbs.! The first thing he said when we met was where do you want to go to lunch? I'd like to go swim but if I can get something that fits my diet I'll go with you... DIET! whats that? he says. But hey I guess each to his own. If you want to eat yourself to death be my guest.

So after lunch I swing by the LBS (Local Bike Shop where I bought my bike 2 years ago, have it services and regularly buy stuff). OK I'm looking to spend some of my bonus you know jersey, shorts, helmet, etc. So I'm greeted by a Hispanic guy who says I'll be with you in a moment...he's talking spanish to a guy try to explain why he needs to buy a carbon fiber Trek and the guy has no F'ing clue what a carbon fiber bike is and prob doesn't need a carbon fiber bike....

So I walk past the beach cruisers... surprised one has gears... and the guy says I can give you a great deal on one of those... I can't contain myself and say DO I LOOK LIKE I RIDE A BEACH CRUISER? and the guy says YES!!!!! WTF? Hey I know I'm old but a beach cruiser?

So I wonder around look at jersey...none my size (GRANDE). I look at shorts none my size (GRANDE). Ok finally the guy comes over to me what can I help you with? I need tubes...presta vales, medium stem with the locking nut please...700cc x 18-24. DUH... the guy looks can't fine them. Looks around some more, can't fined them...then comes up with Schrader valves...nope I need preseta.... don't have them... where's the owner? I asked...Out sick is his reply.

OK one last try... I have Speedplay's that the bushing has come out. do you had a re-build kit for the Speedplays? DUH>>>> You'll have to come back Friday and ask Clint! I didn't even want to ask if I could get my rim trued...

So I drove back to my office and stopped at a competing chain bike shop... 2 tubes, CO2 canisters and check their jerseys, shorts and helmets...NADA. So I called it a day.... now it's surf the web time and forget supporting local businesses.

OK RANT OFF

This morning my timex Ironman watch died...I guess it needs a battery. So I ran blind. But due to my back issues I just did a light 3 mile run....plus it was humid. I'm going to swim at lunch.

O My Aching Back

Some random Thots:

Why can I ride but not run or walk without pain? So I rode this morning 25 miles.

I bought a Bike rack for my garage:



On sale this week at Target for $39.99. Kinda neat and gives me a little more floor space.

I got a bonus this week. Here is what I want buy. Let me know what you think!

1. A new jersey. My Quintanna Roo jersey is torn from my fall in November but I wear it anyway so it needs replacing. I like the Discovery Channel last day of the Tour jersey but I don't want to be a poseur.

2. New cycling shorts. I would like a really comfortable pair with a good pad. What kind do you use?

3. A new helmet - my helmet is scraped from my fall in Nov. So a new Giros is in order.

4. A media PC by HP for my big screen HD TV. It would replace the DVD, CD Changer, VCR and give me TIVO type of recording ability and I can put all my cds on the hard drive. It also decodes Dolby 6.1 for my sound system. It has two tuners so I can use my PIP features too.

5. A new digital camera. Cannon or Nikon. I like both but I have an old Cannon already so maybe my lens would fit the Cannon EOS?

6. Nice dinner at a fancy restaurant. Sign of the Vine or Chardonnay but I've gotta find someone to go with since I don't want to eat alone.

7. A weekend get-a-way over Labor Day weekend. But I don't know where to go... Mexico? Italy? ---that's a week but I have a place to stay in Rome and a car to use plus a scooter.

A penny for your thots!

Weakend Update

Salty Sam's Marina




OK thanks for all the "bee sting' and fat lip jokes. Yes my lip has gone back to it's normal size.

So what else could happen you ask? Well I'm glad you asked because Saturday when I got up I felt pretty good. I did my normal stretch routine and suddenly I felt that all to familiar feeling of a muscle pull in my back. It became so painful I had trouble walking. So no long run..hey I could hardly walk!

My neighbor bought a new power boat, yea know it's not a real boat unless it has sails. He wanted me to go out with he and his wife for a ride. It was a great day for a boat ride, we stopped at Salty Sam's for lunch, toured the boat grave yard and then out ran a rain storm on the way back home. I still have my navigation skills.

Saturday afternoon I decided to get a massage to hlep my back. It was very relaxing but I still had pain when the massuse got done. She suggested some exercises to strenthen that area. By Saturday night my back really felt aweful. I couldn't lie down to sleep and felt uncomfortable sitting. When I finally managed to get to sleep the muscles started to spasm! I woke screaming in pain... So I took so industrial strength ibprofin and had a very horrible night of spasms and screams. I didn't ride Sunday and lazed around the pool. By this morning it was much better so I rode 25 miles but only at an ave pace of 17.8 mph. Hopefully I'm on the way to recovery.

WEAKLY TOTALS

Bike - 100 miles (no long ride on Sunday)
Run - 15 miles ( no long run on Saturday)
Swim - 9,000 yards (no open water swim on Sat)

This is Swell

Yup, it's still swollen! my lip that is.... even Tracy's request to pucker didn't help. So today I took some diphedryl hoping that the lip would go back to normal because when I drink something I drip. Like a baby slobbers... and then I kinda talk funny...and it feels funny... OK enough! The only thing the diphedryl did was make me sleepy at my desk.

Today was an uneventful ride of 25 miles and a swim tonight, I was just to tired to go at lunch.

Bee Attack

It was an eventful ride today with Tony posing as Lance Armstrong in his Discovery Channel jersey and shorts. As you know we try to catch and pass golf carts that are on the way to the golf course. This morning one of the golf course maintenance workers in a gas cart, which is a little faster than an electric cart, was ahead of us. You guessed it, head down, drop a gear and sprint to over take the cart. Only this time just as we went to go around the cart the driver decided to make a u-turn into us! Fortunately I have a loud mouth and yelled YO! which made him stop. Tony went left, I went right and missed an accident.

Then on the final leg of our ride Tony was pulling us along quite nicely at 24.5 when he slowed indicating it was time for me to pull. As I rounded Tony I hit bee or a bee hit me on the lip. So I was trying to maintain speed, control the bike while getting a killer bee off my lip. Well I don't need any collogen in my lower lip. Ouch!



So our 25 mile ride at an ave speed of 18.4 mph ended with a pain in the lip. I'm planning on swimming at lunch and running on the dreadmill tonight at the fitness center.

Food For Thot

Coffee Drinker and Collie Sighting

This morning, after yesterdays brutally hot ride, was suppose to be a light ride of 15 miles. Once again as we went up Tony's street at 19 mph there was Coffee Drinker and Collie walking. This time they were on the side of the road and Coffee Drinker had no coffee! So I guess he learned?

If we don't get a thunderstorm I'm going to swim at lunch and then after work go to the exercise room in the nice cool AC to lift weights.

Weekend Report

HOT HOT HOT....in a humid climate like Florida you expect the heat but not this extreme heat with the heat index above 100*. So Saturday's long run took it's toll on me. I started out with my usual 2 bottle of Powerbar Endurance and stopped at my first water hole at 5 miles I filed up with water. I tried to do just an easy "heat related" pace. At the 7 mile mark I stopped at one of the golf courses "potty houses" and go more water and some ice from the ice machine to put in my hat. That helped for a while but the ice melts to soon! At the 12 mile mark I ate a gel and washed it down with water which gave me a little more energy but I was just doing 9 min miles due tot he heat. I stopped at my final water hole at the 14 mile mark and mixed some PoerBar Endurance with water and drank that down then filed my bottle with water tot he final leg, home at 16 miles. Time 2:45 ugh!

I had a great breakfast and a dip in my pool to cool off but with the pool temp of 90* there is no cooling. So I went to the beach and swam for 45 minute the gulf was 86* so it was a little cooler.

Sunday was the long ride day with Tony. As predicted Tony wore his Discovery Channel jersey and shorts in honor of Lance winnning the Tour for the seventh time! Once again it was a hot morning. We did the Cococnut Road ride and stopped at Pelican Landing to eat a cliff bar and look for dolphins. On the way there I was drafting Tony at 22 mph when BANG I hit a pot hole. Tony never saw it but I found it. We stopped to change my tube and found that I bent my front wheel. We did see two pods of dolphins (2 males and 1 female in a pod). We ended our ride early due to the heat and to watch the end of the Tour. Total miles 45. The wheel is going to the shop on Tuesday...so it looks like I'll be riding the steel monster Wednesday.

WEAKLY TOTALS

RUN 30 miles
BIKE 120 miles
SWIM 9,000 yards, 45 min open water

Friday Fun with Coffee Drinker and Collie

As Tony, now back from his European vacation with his family, and I round the bend in the road who did we meet? None other than coffee drinker and collie standing in the middle of the road talking to pajama man and his dog, mutt. Both mutt and collie are on there long leashes, you know the kind they can be reeled-in or let out. No chance that pajama man and coffee drink would "reel them in" because they are oblivious to us coming at 20 mph. Mutt is moving toward the left side of the road and collie is moving right while pajama man and coffee drinker are standing talking in the middle of the road. Which way to go? Right and tangle with collie whom I'm sure is going to bark and snap. Which way to go? Left and contend with mutt who looks friendly. Tony ever the brave Brit, says in a loud voice with his friendly British accent GOOD MORNING! and begins to move left. This sudden friendliness from the cyclist causes coffee drinker and pajama man to be startled and pajama man begins to reel-in mutt and coffee drinker takes a sip of coffee. But right on cue...Collie goes crazy wraps himself around coffee drinker and then pajama man barking..... as we go by I say MORNING (I'm not British nor am I friendly in the morning) and I noticed coffee drink has again spilled his coffee and I hear DAMN! Mission Accomplished!

As we went to the turn around I couldn't help but wonder what was in store for us as we went by coffee drinker and collie a second time. As we approached the spot of our first meeting both pajama man and coffee drinker were gone...disappeared. Sad no second chances. It was an uneventful ride with the exception of the straight-a-way where Tony on his new Trek Madone once again broke the 30 mph goal.

So today was a 25 mile ride, hopefully I'll swim at lunch and tonight I'm going to a party at the beach. Goals for the weekend are 16 mile run and 1 hour open water swim on Sat and 75 mile ride on Sunday with Mr Discovery Channel Poser, Tony with his Trek Madone and Discovery Channel racing jersey and shorts!

Mango's Last Day

So today is Mango the bunny's last day living at my house, Tony comes back from England this afternoon. Its been a fun time taking care of a rabbit, she loves to run around the liana. BTW some wild bunnies come to the screen and look longingly into the liana at Mango.

Today was a bike day. It was a dryer morning, less humid, than yesterday but less breeze. I did my normal loops around my community. On my second loop, one of my neighbors was driving his golf cart to the country club for Wednesday mens golf. He was quite a far ahead of me when I turned the corner but I thought it would be a good sprint to try to over take him before my next turn. Golf carts go about 16 - 17 mph, so when I passed him doing 26 mph I think they were a little surprised. Well I did say "Mind if I play thru?" So I finished up my 25 mile ride and now I'm looking forward to a swim at lunch and weights tonight. Then Mango goes home.....

BTW No coffee drinker /collie sightings today!

The Otter Day

It was a beautiful morning this monring, although it was still humid! The wind was at 5 kts from the east and the temp was 74*. So it made it a very pleasant morning to run. I did my 7 mile loop through the woods. I'm still a little tired from my weekend so I took it easy just trying to keep my heart rate in zone 3 while maintaining a 8 min pace after my first mile warm up.

The 7 mile course takes me through the woods for about a mile. The developer of our community had an agreement with the state of Florida to maintain as many natural areas or preserves. Our community is bordered by a State Park and protected wetlands. So rather than develop all of the acreage in our community there are many preserves and natural areas. One of these is a mile long path that meanders along the Estero River as a natural buffer and provides an eco system that helps to maintain the fresh water in the river. The trail was a little muddy this morning because of our daily rains but if your careful while running you don't get to muddy.

The path ends with a series of "s" turns to a final bridge over a small babbling brook then up a short flight of stairs to the parking lot of our communities boat launch, fitness center, river club restaurant, and community pool.

It was here as I came around the bends that I stopped short because there were 4 otters playing on the path! Perhaps I made to much noise coming down the path for when they saw me they all slipped quietly into the brook and swam off. I wondered if they could teach me to swim as gracefully as they swim!

I stopped at the fitness center to get some water and continued on to my house thinking of otters!

I plan to swim at lunch time and prehaps hit the weight rom on the way home.

Weekend Update

Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms has been the weather forecast for all of last week. I can sympathize with Wil as she complains about her weather. The humidity is always here iin the summer. Heat and humidity is something you have to get use to training in. I remind myself that Kona is hot and humid in Oct.

BTW thanks for all of the notes about my lunch time beach pics. Yes the beach is 4 blocks from my office. One good thing about living here is the beach access. There are many public parks and parking areas that allow beach access. Florida believes that the beach belongs to the residents and not just a few rich people lucky enough to own beach front property. So you can put your beach chair in front of a $40 million home and have the same view.

Saturday was a long run day. I started out early, 6:30 to beat the heat and I took with plenty of water. I set my watch alarm to sound off every 10 minutes to remind me to drink my water. So between the heart rate monitor alarm and the water alarm I was beeping all the time. At the four mile mark my first bottle was empty and at 7 miles I stopped at the golf course halfway house to refill my bottles and I bought a regular coke. At the 10 mile mark I t thought about stopping. Good thing was I wasn't near my house or I would have stopped. I had a gel and pressed on. I continued to push the liquids and finished at 15 miles, hot, tired but not thirsty!

Sunday was a LSD bike alone.
Tony is still in Europe. So once again it was an early start 6:30 am to beat the heat. I bought some gaterade in disposable bottles so I put two in my jersey and took two water bottles on my bike. Maybe I need a bottle launcher on the seat? My goal for the day was to maintain a nice steady pace not getting my heart rate out of zone 2...hr 120 or there about. I did my Coconut Road ride which takes me past the Coconut Hyatt and the Hyatt timeshare then a breif stop a the boat dock on Estero Bay to eat a Clif bar and look for dolphins. I retraced my route to go back north then took Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to Florida Gulf Coast University taking a loop around the campus only to stop at the pool to refill my water bottles. At the 50 mile mark I was beginning to get tired and I noticed my heaat rate going up a little...so I took a gel and downed another bottle of water. I spotted at Mickey D (Drive in Window) and got a large regular coke to put in my water bottle. I drank some coke and I headed south and on to home. I got back to the house at 11:45 and 80 miles later...once again hot, tired but not thristy. I pushed the PowerBar Recovery drink and went into my pool to cool off but with the water temp of 88* so it did little cooling!

I took a nap in the afternoon..imagine that! I was a little tired. I had planned to go to the Boat House to swim but I was just too tired so I went to our commuity pool at 3:00 just before the afternoon storm and did some laps...about 45 minutes.

WEAKLY TOTALS

Run - 29 miles
Bike - 155 miles
Swim - 3k yards plus 1hr 45 min.
Weights - 1x
Pilates - none

Goals for next weak

Plan my swims better to get it done before the rain
Wedenesday brick day with temp swim and bike
Do pilates 2 xs this week


NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH

I saw coffee drinker and collie this morning. Yes he was drinking his coffee and yes the collie went after me again. I came up behind them and the dog went nuts. Then coming back coffee drinker tried to get a tight grip on the collie...so I think more fun is yet to come!

Lunch Time Beach

I went to Lake Street to swim today. Here are a couple of pics.

Friday Fun

It was cooler this morning or maybe it was just less humidity and it felt cooler. When I left the house for my ride this morning it felt good. It was my regular route, 25 miles around my community or two loops and a little to get to 25 miles. Along the way I met couple on mountain bikes, I slowed down to ride with them for about two miles but then it was back to my regular pace. I tried to concentrate on heart rate and pace today.

Since I have a lighter schedule at work today, I'm planning to go to the beach at lunch to swim. Hopefully I can get away for a 1,5 hours!

Goals for the weekend:

Saturday
Run 15 miles
Weight Room upper body

Sunday
LSD ride 80 miles
Swim 1 hr at the beach (DocsBeach House)

Doc's Beach House

Yet More Rain!

Here in Southwest Florida we have seasons just like you guys in the north. Snowbird season when the tourist (snowbirds) come, dry season when it doesn't rain for months and then, you guessed it, rainy season. Right now it's rainy seson! ugh! It rains every day usually at 4:00 pm for about an hour or so. Count on it, plan on it...don't leave your umbrella in the car!

Along with rain comes thunder caused by lightening. SWFL has the most lightening strokes per square mile than any other place in the country. Which means this year alone I've replaced my big screen projection TV, my 32 in bedroomTV, my coffee pot, the dimmer control in my china cabinet, and various other little things like light bulbs. Yes, I have a surge protector for the entire house and I've installed GFI outlets on the TVs and computers.

Here is the forcast from the National Weather Service:

• Now
  Through 500 PM...scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to develop along the East Coast sea breeze as it marches westward through the inland sections of Palm Beach...Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Other showers and storms will continue to develop along the West Coast sea breeze and affect the west coastal sections from Naples to Everglades City. Expect locally heavy downpours...frequent lightning strikes...and wind gusts to 40 mph with this activity. If you see lightning or hear thunder move inside until the storms have passed.

So as much as I want to swim after work, I can't because the pool closes for lightening. Any lightening in a 20 mile radius of the pool. So no swim today becuase I didn't swim at lunch time. ugh!

Today was a run day in the morning before work. Other than hot and humid from the previous days rain, it was an uneventful 7 mile run. I did go past the coffee drinker/collie's house on my way to the path through the woods. But no sign of them.

Coffee, Collies and Cyclists

Since I live in a gated golf and river community, most of my neighbors are either retired or play at work. I'm perhaps the only person out of 1,200 homes that actually works for a living. So for most people its just play time. So I'm not surprised when I ride my bike in the morning to find people casually walking their dogs. You know what casual walking means? The person on one side of road with coffee cup in hand while dog on the leash is on the other side of the road so cyclist can't get by unless he runs over the leash! This happens all to often. Sometimes, when Tony is riding with me, I say in a loud voice to Tony "NOW DON'T GET THE DOG CAUGHT IN YOUR SPOKES THIS TIME!"

So I'm alone this morning doing my ride, cruising along in aero position at 20 mph when I see a guy drinking his coffee walking his collie on a long leash. Its a piece of road that ends in a cul-de-sac or as Tony the Brit would say a round-about. I turn around and come back down the street, but since the street is just over a mile long its a good ride.

So I pass collie and coffee drinker from behind giving them a wide berth. So as I turn around and head back the collie is now in the middle of the road and coffee drinker is on the side. They both see me coming. Coffee drinker starts to cross the road! Now where do I go? Do I stay on the right side of the road...that's where they are headed or do I go left into traffic, which there is rarely any but can happen and since there is a bend in the road I can't see oncoming traffic.

As I approach coffee drinker he is now in the middle of the road with the collie in the right gutter. Good I think, I'll go left pretty much in the middle in case a car is coming but now I'm doing 18 mph. YUP, just as I pass coffee drink he raises his cup to take a sip, I say GOOD MORNING, the collie sees me, he starts after my wheel, I zip passed only to have the collie wrap around coffee drinkers legs and spill the coffee all over coffee drinker! DAMN YOU is all I hear from coffee drinker.

So it was an uneventful ride this morning of 25 miles. I'm going to swim at lunch and go to the weight room tonight.

Today is my youngest sons birthday! Happy Birth Day Josh.

More Random Funk Thots

OK, yes I've been in a bit of a funk lately. I'm tired of hurricanes and rainy weekends. It messes up training (swimming and biking). I hate running on dreadmills. So my training has suffered in this funk.

The hurricane (Dennis) caused alot of wind and rain Friday nite, Sat and Sun. I managed to get a short ride in Sunday but with the wind it was hard. Several times I felt like I was going to fall off the bike...or maybe it was just me and not the wind. Who knows?

Speaking of funks, Friday I finally spoke with Dr. Lusk, the funky brain surgeon. I've had 3 appointments canceled by his office due to his court appearance. I think a failed surgery is suing him...well at least the family of the failed surgery. Here's the short version. My brain tumor is still there. Doesn't appear to have grown. No we can't operate because of the risk involved. No we can't biopsy, again to dangerous ( you want a needle stuck into your brain?) I'll just have learn to cope with the headaches, dizziness, blurry vision. NO, no one in Florida can perform the surgery because of the risk. Perhaps Emory University or Johns Hopkins or Sloan.... but no surgeon in his right mind would try it right now. Would you like some anti seizure meds? Have you thot about getting a housemate? perhaps you shouldn't live alone. (yea I have a list of people I want to live with me...)

So then my cancer doctor called Friday late afternoon with my results of my recent visit and tests. Dr. Cocktail Mixer (CM). OK this is the short version: No the cancer hasn't spread, your nodes are clean. (HEY I GOT CLEAN NODES). We want to do a round of interferon for 6 months. The new growth on your back is another tumor. (with 6 do I get eggroll?) You should see your regular surgeon not the brain surgeon. (I think I'm going to let it grow after all its small and I want to get my moneys worth when I have surgery) We want you to see an eye doc....you know an MD not an opto guy...for blurry vision. You ned to get another colonoscopy done. Maybe you shouldn't ride your bike....(no way). Have your thot about anti-seizure meds? (You too?) Have you thot about getting some one to live with you? Perhaps you should live alone (ok I'll take applications for housemates)

If you have a seizure and no one is there to see it how do you know you had a seizure? Does a tree make a sound in the forrest when it falls if no one is there to hear it? What's the sound of one hand clapping? OK so now you understand my funk and the rain hasn't helped...nor the beer, wine, tequila and scotch not in that order.

So I rode yesterday 25 miles and ran 7 miles today with a hangover. Hopefully I can swim after work.

O random thots..... did you read Tracy's great post about a party she and H went to? Here's the link.... When Millionaires Get Bored but why are you hanging with H and not me? She even has pics to prove she was there and it wasn' a fever dream like Dorothy.

I'm real busy at work..the PM is in Canada. I have been given tons of work by our mutual funds. I need a vacation.

So I think I'll work on a list of requirement for a housemate... she has to be blonde or brunett or redhead...she must have her own tri bike...can't run faster than me... she must like beer wine tequila scotch (not in that order)...must like my cooking (italian of course)....dance...two-step, triple two step, swing, waltz (across texas) and el paso, sweetheart, wooden nickel, and hourseshoe suffle... like classical, country, and jazz music and some pop...

tomorrow is my son's birthday...29 i think...at least he is not in iraq this year...hwe's in ga...but they want him to go back to iraq ugh! how can that be im only 37?

Tagged

Ok durteemartin tagged me, payback is a bitch, to list my favorite songs. Funny because I don't know one of the songs on her list!

Actually here's what's in the changer now. now the MP3 player that's a different list.

Violin concerto op. 35 Peter Tchaikovsky - of course I love the Russian composers

Mambo Sinuendo, Ry Cooder anything on this album including Patrica, Bodas de oro

Harem, Sara Brightman...she could visit my Harem any time. She does What a Wonderful World but not like Louis!

Any cut on Common Thread: The Eagles Tribute by Various artist particularly Take it Easy, by Travis Tritt, Desperado Clint Black, Lyin' Eyes, Diamond Rio....

Louis Armstrong - the early years i.e Rocking Chair Blues, You Rasscal You, Heebie Jeebies or anything from Hot Fives & Sevens

Neon Moon - Brooks and Dunn


So here is my chance to TAG some one:

Wil - she has pleanty of time now that she can train all day

Holly - she need to relax for here weekly dose of interfuron

Jeff - he's tapering for the big race

Annalisa - still remodeling her kitchen after all this time

Nancy - other than chase twins she has nothing else to do

Shelly - becuase she is going to Kona and I'm not

Rain Rain Go Away!

Here in Southwest Florida we have seen enough rain! We have had over 20 inches of rain in the month of June. So today being the 1st of July, when I got up this morning it was RAINING! But the rain stopped just long enough to get my morning ride in.

My ride was quite nice since the air was clean from the rain. I did my regular two loops and a little extra to make it 25 miles. It was suppose to be a nice easy spin in the small ring cadence of 80-90 RPM so I can do my long run tomorrow.

I hope to get done work early today and stop at the beach on the way home. I can troll for sharks at Doc's Beach House. If not I'll go to the University pool, unless it's RAINING!

OK....make-up day

Yesterday was a ride and swim day. Since I had to have an MRI and MRA of the brain I had to cut everything short. So my ride was just 15 miles or one loop and a little extra. It was uneventful and no animals to rescue along the way!

I had to be at the MRI office by 8:15 only to sit in their waiting room for an hour. I could have ridden a little longer. When I finally got into the MRI I explained again that I have severe headaches from the dye used. They called my neurosurgeon and again I was told that's not possible.

So again, I had and still have a headache. After the tests I thought I was going to pass-out
( but it's not the test it's all in my head), I drove to the Florida Cancer Specialist office only to sit and wait another hour and a half to see my oncologist. So after a physical, drawing of blood (4 vials) and a discussion about my type of cancer and brain tumors and lymphoma and my new tumor on my back, I drove myself home and spent the rest afternoon with an ice pack on my head. Finally at 7 pm I decided to take something for my headache. I found a great pain reliever, BEER! So after two Yuengling Black and Tans I felt a little better. Needless to say I didn't swim and I don't know anything more about my health....so why go thru all this testing?

Today was a run day. It was thundering and lightening when I got up but cleared just enough to get in my run. I ran 5 miles hoping my now slight headache would stop....but no! I did see a mommy and daddy Whipperwil with two babies!

Hopefully I'll get to swim at lunch but I'm playing catch-up today at work!

Gopher Turtle Day

Since I have already done my good deed for the day, don’t expect any more today! While leaving my street on the way to work the above turtle was crossing the road so I pick him up and moved him to safer ground.

This is the end of turtle nesting season here in Southwest Florida. Many of the gopher turtles try to cross the streets and become road kill for us to watch on the bike. This is also the Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting season. The sea turtles come back to their birthplace to lay eggs. Some turtles come back after 30 years of being whereever they go. Here in Southwest Florida you will see nests marked by stakes and yellow “crime scene” tape to keep people from stepping on the eggs or disturbing the nest. During hatching season volunteers help the newly hatched baby turtles “find” the gulf.

Today was a run day, so I ran 7 miles in the humid morning air, ugh! I did the woods course without going out to the University and back. Good thing I brought water, because I needed it!

Safe Turtle

Mango the Bunny

Monday Stress/non-Stress

Here the stress / non stress report

Stress:

i have a major presentation regarding the mutual fund today with the fund's bored of directors -not sure the PM cares. hey they moved the date up by 2 days so that added stress. i wore slacks and a golf shirt to work (no soxes) rather than my usual shorts and teeshirt..to feel more profession on my conference call.

having an MRI and MVA of my brain tumor on Wed...need time off from work but still get everything done...who can drive and bring me home? is driving under the influence of valium an offense?

finding some one to drive me...last time they did this I had a severe headache for 2 days, doc says it was all in my head... the IV contrast shouldn't give me a headaches, but it does..its not in my head...so stop trying to play head games

after the tests i get to go to Florida Cancer Specialist...my oncologist...always a fun time...what cocktails are you mixing? Why don't we do some more tests...bloodwork anyone? How's you nodes huh? do you think the nurse can do my weight/bp and temp right this time?

i think the thingie on my back is getting bigger, but i can't really see it...well at least its not like the hump from last time (nurf football size)...at least i think its not that big

i'm bunny sitting Tony's rabbit while he is in Europe for 3 weeks. i wanta get stronger while he's away since he is faster on his new bike....maybe i need a new bike?

gotta figure out how to swim tonight and tomorrow, and can i ride on wednesday before my mri/mva?

NON-Stress

i walked to fourbucks for lunch today, sat and watched people go by...toursists had a white mocha grande.

i bought myself the sopranos season 5 on dvd... i'm going to start watching it wednesday since I'll have to lie on the sofa for 2 days.

im going to lose weight this week, want to lose about 20 pounds any way, i'll not be able to eat wed thru sat... but i want be strong enough to run and swim sat and ride 5o miles on sunday



why is my stress list bigger than my non-stress list?

Weekend Update

Saturday was a run and swim day...... Since I am having trouble swimming in the afternoon I thot it would be good to get it done early. So I ran the long course out to the University and back through the woods. at the 12 mile mark I ran out of water so the last 3 miles were a little difficult.

At lunch time I went to the beach a at Doc's Beach House and swam for 45 minutes (trolling for sharks). Then had lunch and a couple of beer at the beach.

Saturday night J came over for some nice Del Montico steaks, baked potatoes and tossed salad with a very nice bottle of Red wine. It was wine I forgot I had. I had bought a case a year ago and left it in the cellar. It is very nice with a good steak.

Sunday was a long ride day. Tony and I decided to do the Bay loop and then back to the University for a total of 50 miles. However, I was feeling pretty good until the 25 mile mark when all of the sudden I felt like sh$%. That was after eating m,y first Cliff Bar and drinking two bottle of Endurance. I couldn't wait to get home and get off my bike. The only thing I can think happened was I was dehydrated from Saturday nite (I think it was the beers and red wine) and I failed to rehydrate enough in the morning. It was hot and humid 78* and since I sweat heavy I think was dehydration. Today I felt my normal self and rode 25 miles without a problem.

Totals for The Weak

Bike 145 miles
Run 27 miles
Swim 6 k yards , 45 minutes open water

Coffee and More TGIF

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.... Well it's not raining yet!

I usually wake up to the TV turning on and the coffee pot making it's brewing noises. Neither of which happened this morning. One, the TV broke as you read previously on Oldman and second the coffee pot died this morning. No Starbucks coffee waiting me when I haul myself out of bed. So it was up to the attic to get my old Braun pot and get it cooking. I guess it's a good thing that I saved the old pot?

When I got home last night I did my run. I had to make up the run since I goofed in the morning and rode instead of running and the university pool was closed. It was just an easy run thru the woods. Fortunately the approaching storm, seen below, didn't get to my house until much later. So 56 minutes of fun before dinner (cheese ravioli, turkey sausage, and tossed salad with Oldman's vinergrette). I guess I need to try to beat the rain more often. This morning, I rode alone again. It did my 25 mile morning loops. Hopefully I'll get to swim at lunch time.

Approaching Storm 

One of those days

So it continues....

Yes as I look out my office window towards the Everglades, I can see this afternoon's thunderstorm heading in towards Naples. The front looks dark an ominous complete with bolts of lightening. So I called the pool and up they are closing because yup lightening in the area!

I got a call from the Oncologist. Yea they don't call to say how's your cancer doing? Hey, still got the brain tumor, huh? When are you going to let us shoot you with chemo and radiation, huh? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They call to tell me I missed an appointment with the Oncologist! What F>>>>>>> Appointment? O, I guess we forgot to call you. UGH>>>> it's one of those days!

But it gets even better......

I'm scheduled for an MRI and MVA of the brain to see if my turmor has grown in the past month. June 29th followed by a visit with the brain surgeon who reviews the results with me. They just called and the visit with the surgeon has to be rescheduled from July 6 to who in the hell knows when. it's one of those days! Hey lady, if you had a brain tumor would you like to know the results ASAF'ingP? have a happy day..right!

So the doc is being sued by one of his FORMER patients and he's in court!

Confusion Rules

It was one of those morning, you know you've had them. Nothing seems to go right. It really started when I go home from work last night. I couldn't swim because of lightening, so that made my day. Then after I made some nice homemade chicken noodle soup from some left over poached chicken (for a beach picnic that didn't happen because I was to tired on Sunday), I fell asleep on the sofa watching TV. I woke myself from my stupor and went to bed . Thinking I fell asleep in from of the TV I'll turn on the bedroom TV. Just as I got comfortable the bedroom TV DIED! No warning just a heart attack and died. So after fiddling with the TV I went to bed. SO that made my night!

My restful night wasn't very restful, since I was awakened by thunder, of all things, at 2:30. Which made me think about the TV. Was it a lightening surge? Hey I have a surge protector on the whole house and a separate one on the TV. But the AC goes in and out with the storms so maybe... I saw 4:00 am..Then the alarm at 5:30 but no TV so I couldn't watch IMUS. ugh! Made my morning!

I got ready to ride putting on my bike shorts and jersey, after coffee I went out to the garage to pump my tires. Would you believe on the front tire I broke the little stem that screws down after you pump the air into the tire? Snapped right off! Well it holds air so put that on the list to do, change the tube. So that helped make my morning!

As I left the house, I was watching for Tony. He usually meets me after the first 3 miles or so. I get a chance to get loose and warm up. But no Tony. So I continue on my route, past Tony's house. Still no Tony. Then I think oops today is Thursday not Friday. I was suppose to run today. Confusion! So I rode on by myself and finished the 25 mile ride ALONE. Oh yea the straight-a-way I did 26.5 so I've got work more to get to 30.

Well the way things are going today, the pool will be closed at lunch for cleaning. That will really make my day!

Wednesday Random Thots

Ok so it's just a few things that have come to my attention. Like Brennan Hawkins, the 11 year old Boy Scout who was lost in the mountains for 4 days. He walked up the mountain rather than down like searchers thought he would. Brennan was miles outside of the search grid. So how did he survive? No food no water and 11 years old. Way to go Brennan.

How about Natalee Holloway? What happened to her? To much party? Or did some one slip her a mickey? Perhaps she was sold into slavery and is now with the Sultan of Burni.

The Solar Sail probe never made it to space. The booster rock failed. So we will have to spend some more money to see if it works.

Today was a ride and swim day. I rode with Tony but we had to be careful because just after the 5 mile warm up it started to rain. So we just tried to keep a steady pace at 20 mph. At one point I was a little to careful and almost rode off the road going around a curve. The rain did make it a little cooler today. So all in all it was a good 25 mile ride.

I called the pool to see if it would be open at lunch time. Since there is no lightening it is open. So hopefully I'll get my swim in.

Tuesday Brick

Since it continued to rain from yesterday I wasn't sure I would be able to do my brick. But when I got up this morning the rain had stopped and the streets looked some what dry. So it was on!

The bike portion of the brick was good. The air was cool and just a slight breeze out of the east. I did my normal loop around the community but I didn't try for 30 mph on the straight-a-way, rather I tried to maintain an even pace and remain in aero position as much as possible. The only problem I have is that there are to many turns where I have to get out of aero. I got back top the house at the 16 mile mark.

Next was the run. Again I decided to do my normal 5 mile course thru the woods. I like to go thru the woods since it's quite and you can see some great birds and animals. Just as I as I started my run the rain started up again. My legs felt like mush but I got it done.

I hope to swim at lunch today, since the pool was closed yesterday. If not at lunch then I'll stop at the University pool on the way home.

Monday, Monday no good for me

Monday has come and I went to work to get some rest! I've worked all weekend getting the Master Bedroom done and by 6:30 pm Sunday I put the last piece of furniture back in the room. It looks great but I'm exhausted! So I came to work to get some rest.

I did manage to get some training in this weekend inspite of "the room". I swam for 40 minutes at the beach house and did my Sunday LSD, 42 miles. Working in "the room" has hurt my energy level, I felt like I was going to fall down on Sunday afternoon I was so tired. I struggled just to put one foot in front of the other but I reminded myself of my goal of being finished by Sunday afternoon come hell or high water.

Today it was overcast when I left the house and I thought I would get wet on my ride around the regular loops. The wind even picked up a little. But fortunately it held of raining until I left for work. I guess the pool will be closed at lunch time due to the rain!

Once again, Tony is killing me with his speed. His bike being a regular road bike, he is faster around the corners and turn arounds (2 each loop). Then I read about Lance's average speed of 32 mph and I realize how slow I am at my 20 to 22 mph.

Weakly Totals

Bike 117 miles - missed Monday's 25 miles
Run 26 miles
Swim 6k yards plus 45 open water swim
Weights None
Pilates none

Goals

No more misses.
17 weeks to Steamtown increase running mileage 10% per week to 60 miles per week in 10 weeks then running 60 mile per for 7 weeks prior to Steamtown.

Friday FUN

I have now banned Tony's bike from weekly training rides. He can only ride his Trek on Sunday's, that our long ride day. He's killing me with the speed! We started this morning jumping right in, without warm up, at 18 mph and went up from there. Hey I'm not used to 22 to 24 on the roads! But I did notice we got done a little quicker than usual! On the straight-a-way I was dropped at 28 mph...yes he did 30 again! All in all it was a good ride this morning! Dr. Steve jumped in for the second loop.

Update of the bedroom

I'm half way through installing the wood floor. Looking good! But did my legs and back hurt this morning! UGH. MEMO TO SELF next time hire some one! Hopefully I can get done by Saturday noon and start putting the room back together!

WEEKEND TGIF

I'm hoping to go to the Beach House for a swim late Saturday afternoon then perhaps a few beers. The gulf has cooled down to 83 from the rain but I think I can do it without my wet suit. My goal is to swim 1 hr and not to see any sharks.

Sunday will be a long ride hopefully 60 miles. My plan is to do the University loop and then down to the bay for breakfast and then home. Since it's so hot I plan on leaving at 6:30 if anyone want to go.

FATHERS DAY

My son sent a DVD of his concert in Osaka Japan with the Riverside Symphony Ensemble produced by Panasonic. I must say it was very good! But why do the Japanese not have the orchestra stand? Is it all about the soloist?

Alive Update

Yes I'm still alive! Work has been very hectic these days. My latest project is to find a new home for our mutual fund. The current Trust for the Fund is going out of business so I'm interviewing possible trust for the Fund. This past Monday I did a due diligence inspection of a possible candidate in Richmond, VA. So long with my regular hectic work schedule a new project and then a road trip ugh!

I'm also remodeling my master bedroom which is taking longer than planned. The faux painting I did of the crown modeling sounded simple but ended up taking 2 full days. This week in the evening's I'm laying the wood floor. My goal (come hell or high water) is to get the entire room put back together by Sunday afternoon.

Due to my schedule and the recent heavy rains, my training has been lighter than usual. Several days the pool has been closed due to lightening and some sections of the roads in my community are flooded so it has made riding difficult.

The good news is Tony bought a new bike, a Trek Madone 5.9. It's a nice bike but no Quintanna Roo. Of course the goal is to break 30 mph on the straight-a-way. So on the second ride with Tony's new bike I noticed a real different in Tony's speed...taking our route around the community at 20-22 mph when we reach the straight-a-way Tony passed me as usually at 26 mph when..... finally..... he did it 30.9 mph! I saw 27... sorry. Hey I'm older and better looking. See what a lot of money spent on a bike will do for your speed? Pics to follow. New goal 35 mph.


Weakly totals for last week:

Bike - 109 miles - a wash out
Run - 26 miles another wash out
Swim - 3,000 yards - a lightening out

This week doesn't look much better since I did train on Mon so that will be my rest day for the month.

... Tornado Watch number 370 is cancelled for Lee.. Highlands... Charlotte

Wow what a night of lightening and thunder...then early this morning rain. Not just your nice gentle soaking rain. No this was car wash rain! Blinding rain. We even had tornado warnings! Well I guess it is a preparation test for Hurricane season. At least I don't have to add water to my pool!

So since it was still lightening when I went to ride this morning I chose not to ride. I'm sure the rubber tires will insulate me enough that I will not attract lightening but I didn't want to test my theory. Hey I know old Ben flew a kite in the lightening and survived but just barely. Ben didn't live in the lightening capital of the world.

So it was raining at lunch time ...the pool was closed due to lightening in the area... so no swimming today. My game plan is to leave work a little early to ride. I came in late so I have to leave early to make up for it. I'll have tot ride alone since Tony has to work. So 25 miles tonight after work.