Continuing Saga of the Cold

Weakend Update

This weakend I...

Friday I had drinks and dinner with my neighbors at the Country Club
Go up late Saturday morning
Ran 15 miles
did my taxes...I owe, I owe, so it's of to work I got.....
went to Maxwells with J for dinner
did a long COLD ride with Tony on Sunday 53 miles...43*
made it to church on time
skipped the beach for swimming
went to the wait room
had beers at the River Clb
put the robot in the pool
sat in the hot tub and watched the robot

Weakly totals
Bike 128
Run 29
Swim 6,000
Waits x2
Pilates Nada

Monday it was cold again ....38* and today we had frost with a morning temp of 31*. I turned my heater on last night for the first time in 2 years. No lunch time swims so far this week even though the temp at lunch time was 62*.

Cold Spell Continues

I'm sure your tired of hearing me say it, however it was another cold morning. This week Southwest Florida has had some really cold mornings and some areas reported frost. I'm not used to riding/running in 38* weather! I don't have the right clothes nor do I want to buy them for just one week out of the year. So today was a ride day. I wore my warmest cotton longsleeve shirt, tights, a windbreaker and wool gloves and I was still cold for the first 10 miles. But I got it done and finished my 25 miles.

Tony is recovering from his back injury. He wore a back brace and disguised his appearance by wearing a terrorist ski cap under his helmet. I almost didn't know who he was..... a short skinny balding Englishman with a funny accent!

I have some running around to do at lunch for the Firm so no swimming today. This weekend looks promising so here are my plans. Maybe if I tell you in advance it will help me to keep them!

Tonight
Cocktails at the Country Club
Dinner with the Icelandic neighbors
Tomorrow
Long Slow Run 15 miles
Work on my taxes
Sit in the Hot Tub
Wait Room work out for upper body
Dinner at Maxwells on the Bay with J
Sunday
Long Ride with Tony 60 miles
Go to Church
Clean my pool
Sit in the Hot Tub
Long Swim at beach if warm 1.5 hour
Afternoon beer(s) at Doc's Beach House
Passout from exhaustion at 8:30 pm

COMING SOON

I just realized I'm off on Monday Feb 20th for Presidents Day. Anybody want to do a long ride around the Island to Sanibell and back?

Road Rage Gone Wrong

Ok here is road rage in Toronto gone wrong against a bike messenger, Lisa. See the whole photo shoot and read about it here. The basic story is the guy threw trash out of his car window. The messenger not liking liter picked it up and threw it back thru the car window. The guy now mad threw hot coffee at the messenger. The messenger then keyed the guys car. The guy stopped to stomp on the messengers bike which then started this fight. The photographer took these pics plus a pic of the license plate at which time the car's drive chase him with a baseball bat.

The Long Cold Lonely ride

OK it wasn't as cold as Jill faces Up inAlaska faces but for me 43* was cold given the fact that I don't really have cold weather riding gear. So cold is relative to where you live and since I'm use to 70* in the early morning it was cold.

Also Tony (pictured left on his old bike not his new Trek Madone) has missed three rides with a bad back. It seems he "put it out" loading his van with boxes. YEA sure. OK so I'll just continue on getting stronger while he gets uglier.

Today I did my regular loops through the community to get my 25 COLD COLD miles. Not to many people around today. I did see Smilie and the Thin Lady and her husband. No Coffee Drinker and Collie, no Bull Dog and Bull Dog Walker.

I'm not sure about today's swim because even now it is only 56* so we shall see at lunch time. Tonight I plan on going to the wait room on the way home to work on my negelcted upper body.

Lunch Time Swim

This morning was the regular Tuesday recovery run thru the woods and past the fitness center. Other than it was cool, about 55*, there is not much to say. Hardly any one around because it was "cold". Didn't see Coffee Drinker and Collie but I did see Bull Dog and his large Bull Dog. He walks the dog off the leash even though we have a leash rule in our community. When he sees me coming he grabs the dog. Yesterday when I passed on my bike he was a little late grabbing the dog.... it's just a matter of time before you will be reading about a runnner or cyclist who punted a large bull dog thru the goal posts. (Something the Sea Hawks field goal kicker couldn't do Sunday).

At lunch I met up with my former swim Coach, Carrie. Coach Carrie taught me to swim the Total Immersion way or fish like swimming. I have her come and check me out from time to time to see if I'm balanced, roll enough and have good overall form. She will suggest drills and such for me to work on so my swims are not jsut about doing laps. It is amazing how my stroke count has come down with her help and insight. So I have a whole set of drills to do for about the next month since I'm not rolling enough AGAIN when I breath on right side. Hey I'm a lefty most of the time except in baseball and eating and writing.

Unfortunately I was a little late, well a lot late, gettting back to work (1/2 hour late). So I'll have to leave 1/2 hour early to make it up.

Tonight is weight nite but it might have to wait since I'm tired already and hungry.

Strange Weakend

OK it was a strange, weird, weakend....

Saturday I got up early hearing it raining off and on during the night. A cold front came down from up North (thanks Shelly) which cause severe thunderstorms and a few tornados. At 7:00am , when I finally got ready to leave the house for my run, there was a pause in the action, so I thot I could squeeze between the rain drops and not get wet. But it was not to be boys and girls! At the 6 mile mark the sky looked almost as dark as night so I headed home. The last mile the thunder and lightening started then the heavens opened for a Florida car wash (that when it rains so hard it's like going thru a car wash and you can't see a thing). My watch said I ran the last mile in 7:19....I'm not so sure but I did push really hard to get home. So my 15 mile run got shortened to 7 miles. It rain the rest of the day which is unusual for this time of year. This is our dry season so it was good to get an all day soaker.

Sunday morning the cold front had pushed thru and now it was cold with a northeast wind blowing cold dry air. I did the first 2 miles of my bike with long pants but I stopped at the house to switch to bike shorts with a long sleeve jersey. When I got to the spot where I meet Tony there was no Tony. (I found out he slept in since it was too cold and he was tired.) The wind made it a tough go but I did get 50 miles in but several times it felt like I was gong to get blown off the bike.

Sunday afternoons I usually go to the beach or pool for some swim time but since the wind was blowing and it was cool and it was Super Bowl Sunday I chose to go to my neighbors to watch the Steelers beat the Sea Hawks. (GO STEELERS).

WEAKLY TOTALS

RUN - 21 miles
Bike - 125 miles
Swim - 9,000 yards
Weights - 2x's
Pilates - NADA

Finally Friday

It's casual day at the office today. Our regualr dress is business casual but today we can wear shorts.... so, yes Joe, I'm wearing shorts today.

Above is a picture of Olivia Orchid. She just started blooming so I thot I would post a pic of her first the blooms. When she is in full bloom she will have about 60 blooms. She sits on my coffee table on the lania.

Today was a ride morning. I did my usual 25 miles with Tony. Hopefully a swim at lunch time. I was thinking about going to the beach to swim but it is threatening rain and the air temp is 76* so it looks like I'll be going to the heated pool.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Let me be the first to wish all of my friends HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY! For you who missed Phil's awaking from his long winters slumber to make his forecast you can go here to watch the festivities. To be sure since Phil did see his shadow there will be SIX MORE WEEKS of winter! Which is ok with me since I'm not looking forward to the hot weather.

For my friends Loubob and Cliff here is a picture of the hibiscus in full bloom in front of my house.



Today was a tennis ball run day. There was a nice breeze from the east with the temp at 68* when I left the house. I did my usual thru the wood and tried to add an extra mile since I felt pretty good. But as I started on the 8th mile one of my neighbors stopped me to ask me a few questions so I was a little late and I could only add a half of a mile. O well. I'm planning on swimming at lunch time and hopefully get to the weight room tonight.

Tomorrow is the Day!!!!

That's right boys and girls! I know you are excited and can hardly sleep at night. Tomorrow is the big day! I'm sure all of you boys and girls are going to watch the festivities on the webcam.
Tomorrow live from Gobbler's Knob your waiting will be over. Will we have six more weeks of winter? So this is your reminder to set your alarm clocks boys and girls to 5:15 so you can see Punxsutawney Phil crawl out of his borrow at 5:30 and tell us how much long we have to put up with winter.



Remember to tell every one you heard it here on Tri-Oldman's blog.

How Fast is Fast?

So you think you're fast? Did you see the times for the P.F. Chang's Rock'n'Roll Arizona Marathon? Yup boys and girls a NEW WORLD RECORD by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia for the half marathon, 58:55. That is a pace of right around 4 min 40 seconds per mile! That is pick 'em up and put'em down quick like. The winner of the marathon, Shimelis Mola also of Ethiopia did it in 2:13:08....also pretty fast!

So it makes my little run thru the woods seem like I'm going real slow, which I did today a slow 7 mile recovery run. I'm hoping to swim at lunch time.

Weakly Update

Here is a quick review of what went on this past week:

Monday - 25 mi bike normal loops
Tuesday - 7 mile run thru the woods
Wednesday - NADA - went to NYC
Thursday - NADA went to Philly and the on to home
Friday - 25 mi bike normal loops
Saturday 14 mile run, 45 mi swim at Doc's beach
Sunday - 60 mi bike Pelican Landing to RSW Airport and home

Totals:

Bike 110 mi
Run 21 mi
Swim 45 min
Pilates - NADA
Weights - NADA

I had to go to NYC and Philly this past week on business which messed up my training schedule. So I'll count this week as a rest week. Neat way of planning, anounce a rest week after the fact!


EAGLE update

Tony and I went to Pelican Landing so we could see the eagle's nest. Much to our surprise the eaglet was standing on the edge of the nest while mom or dad stood in a branch watching. Later in the day I took J to see the nest and brought alone my field glasses. At first I thought the eaglet had flown away since it appeared that the nest was empty. But waiting around a little we saw a wing stretch up. Then the next thing that happened was Mom flew in to the tree and sat on her branch above the nest. Baby showed no signs of appearing when Dad eagle flew in with food in his talons ( a large rat or small rabbit). Dad proceeded to eat the food then baby woke up an began to feed as well. What a sight! Then mom eagle joined in the nest to get a snack. Mother Father and Baby all sitting in the nest!

Weekend Eagle update

Ok this mornings crash has me all befuddled! But I did mean to tell everyone that my weekend training went well. I chose not to do the Naples Half Marathon in order to keep on track with my training schedule. If the winner of my age group (55-59) is any indication I had no chance of placing in my AG... Joe Bonness finished 5th in my AG at 1:34 so I had no hope!

Saturday I did 17 miles - two loops of my through the woods course (14 miles) plus up to the River Club and back to add 3 miles for a total of 17. It was a rather warm day 78* and sunny. Even though I used SPF 50 sun block I got burned on my neck. I did see Coffee Drinkers Daughter walking Collie but nothing to report. She even smiled at me! Collie looked at me with evil eyes though.

Sunday was our long ride. Tony and I did the Pelican Landing course so we could see the eagle's nest. We decided to take turns pulling switching every half mile. This work pretty good and we got to the eagle's nest very quickly...ave 19.5 mph. The eagle was sitting on the nest but as we watched he/she got up, stood on a branch then flew over us and out to the fields near by.

Tony and I proceeded on to the boat launch area and ate our breakfast, for me a Peanut Butter Crunch Cliff Bar and Tony a rapsberry PowerBar. We looked for dolphins but I guess it is not the right time for them to be in the bay. We did see a lot of pelicans.

On the way back we stopped again at the eagles nest and once again he/she was in the nest but this time obviously feeding the eaglets! What a neat sight to see. We are hoping to see the eaglets fly in a few weeks.

On the ride back home it was windy as the morning winds shifted to the northeast. It made for a tough pull all the way home but we got it done..... 40 miles.

Another Accident

During todays ride I had a collision with my cycling partner, Tony. I feel really stupid because I felt it coming on or I knew it was about to happen. It happened at an intersection that we go thru 4 times in our normal loop, twice we turn right and twice we turn left. Tony was talking about his new puppy and had lost track of where we were. I shouted LEFT LEFT but he was turning right and down I went, he stayed up. Fortunately I just scraped my arm and knee and I finished our ride.

Cycling TV

I found a streaming TV channel on the web dedicated to Cycling... Cycling TV...check it out I'm currently watching a time trail that includes Team Discovery Channel.

A Frigid Morning

I did not want to get out of bed this morning. It was cold and I haven't turned on my heater since .... well last year sometime, so it was cold in the house and it was 48* outside! Last week when I visited my LBS, I bought a pair of gloves to go under my bike gloves. Well they work for running also I found out this morning.

My run was the normal Tuesday Thursday loop through the woods. I did find with it being cold, well cold for me, that it was more difficult to get my muscles loose. At the two mile mark I had shin splints. I pushed thru th e pain for the next two miles when finally the pain subsided. What is that a sign for,new shoes? I'm hoping it was just the cold.

I'm going to try to swim today at lunch time it is supose to be 76* by noon. Then I'll hit the weights at the fitness center tonight.

Still Alive and Kicking

Just a quickie.... no Bolder not that.... A quickie update to let everyone know I'm OK. I have been very busy at work, this is our busy time reconciling accounts, sending out statements and bills so I have been swamped!

Quickie Highlights:

Friday - I road 25 miles in the morning, swam at lunch and went to the club for cocktails (yes the feathers do get caught in my teeth) then home for early bed.

Saturday - Tour de Cape century - I awoke to wind and rain but went to Cape Coral anyway for the Tour. By the time I got there it was no longer raining just windy. It was a brutal day riding into the wind etc... I thought about doing the 62 miler but hung in there for the 100 miles 5 hrs 32 min...of pure torture. (yes I had one stop for fuel and pottie). It was a well supported ride but alot of people didn't show due to the wind. What are you going to do in the wind at Kona not show up?

Sunday - rest day I did have J over for dinner - Carrot Ginger Soup, Oldman Bread, Spinach Quiche, Salad and Cream Brulee all of which I served with some Stagg's Leap chardonnay. Hey I can still cook.

Monday - of course MLK Day so I worked like a slave around my house washing windows and doing winter house cleanning. I did manage a 15 mile ride.

Tuesday - run day before work and it was a great run of 7 miles. I went to the weight room afterwork. Couldn't swim had to work thru lunch.

Today - rain and cold and rain but I rode anyway in the rain 20 miles, I just couldn't do the last 5 since I was wet and cold. I'm hoping that it is warm enough to swim at lunch time (open air pools in FL).

Lunch and LBS

Ok I had a lunch meeting with our Firm's accountant regarding our taxes. Yes it is that time of year again. So after my lunch meeting at Aqua Grill, I stopped by my LBS, Clint's Bicycle Shoppe. After Flatman's wife purchased him a new bike, I thot maybe I'd find some one to buy me a new bike. So here's is the bike I looked at:



Trek Madone SSLx. A Boron frame weights 14 lbs and comes in my size! What do you think?

So I bought a pair of wool gloves to go under my bike gloves to keep my fingers nice and toastie. The bike was $12,500, a little more than I want to spend on a bike.

Tennis Ball Run Again

Today was the Thursday Tennis Ball run along my regular route. Half way home Eileen jumped in to run with me. It's nice to have a younger pretty woman who can run faster than me join in the tennis ball games. She runs in the 7's so it pushes me, which is what I need at this point.

For those interested, the dead rat is gone from the road but the dead snake is still there.

Wednesday Random Thots

Today was a ride day, while it was warmer than yesterday I still wore my arm warmers. Yesterday I told you about the people I usually see. Today I thought I would tell you about the sights that I see. As I left my house it was light enough I didn't need a headlamp or my rear blinky but still a little foggy or maybe it is mist. I noticed that the re-cycling truck that picks up glass, plastic and newspapers had dropped some glass on the road. You have to be careful of these since my tires are more slicks with no tread and I ride with 100 lbs of air in my tires. These little shards of glass will cause a major flat.

As I left my circle I noticed the road here was wet. Not from rain because it is now dry season and we get little or no rain until June when it rains every afternoon at 4 pm. No it was wet from the irrigation. With my slick tires I have to be careful taking the next corner to fast.... anything over 20 mph.

As we turn onto Southern Hills Drive Tony stands in the saddle to sprint, he is trying to sprint more to get in shape for the straight-a-way where he wants to get to 35 mph. This sprinting causes me to speed up, the only problem is Southern Hills Drive has speed bumps which jars everything my speedometer and cadence stop working and the road ends in a cul-de-sac where we turn around. I have a tri bike, Quintana Roo, which doesn't handle as well as Tony's Trek Madone roadbike. So at the turn-around I fall behind yet again. Since I'm trying to train for triathlons I remain in the saddle most of the time and just try to spin faster to catch up. Some times it works.

A golf cart pulls out in front of us as we head back and this is a signal for Tony and I to go faster to try to catch the cart and pass it. I change gears to 5 down and off we go and yes we catch and pass it nicely saying "Good Morning" to a startled golf cart driver. We are doing 23 mph the cart is doing about 19 mph.

As we head up Tony's street we watch for Coffee Drinker and Collie. I am convinced that since I haven't seen them in a month they are planning a sneak attack. At the end of Tony's street, another cul-de-sac, we turn around and it is catch-up time to me. We come down his street to he back gate blow thru the stop sign and head up to the Fitness Center.

At the Fitness Center is a large parking lot where we cruise around the perimeter get a drink and start back the way we came but making a right to go to the famous straight-a-way. I usually pull from the Fitness Center around Island Circle then jump the sidewalk up a slight incline to the straight-a-way. I get a sip of drink get into aero position again and I try to pull Tony as fast as I can. Here on the straight-a-way we usually have to announce the "BIKES COMING" to move the Groupies (6 ladies walking in the road side-by-side). At about half way we are doing 28, Tony goes around me, I try to get on his wheel but usually since he is 8 years younger than me (I'm the better looking one) he drops me.

As we make the lefthand turn and head to the Boat Yard we jump onto the trail/bike path that passes the "Pottie House" then on to the road again heading back toward my house. Here we saw a LARGE DEAD RAT. No the little ones like we saw last winter. And not the Palmetto Rats that I killed in my attic last year. No, a real RAT.

When we make the turn to my street, we spot a dead snake. He's nicely coiled but dead. Tony and I do my street as fast as possible then back to Southern Hills to start our second loop hoping to find another golf cart to pass along the way. Those two loops make 20 miles. Sometimes I go to Tony's house and back another 5 miles to cool off.

Tagged

OK Susan passed on this meme to me. I'm not sure why but here goes:

Four jobs you've had in your life:
telephone tech, electrician, minister, adminstrator
Four movies you could watch over and over:
Gettysburg, Christmas Vacation, Master and Commander, Star Wars or Star Trek
Four places you've lived: New Jersey, Texas, Florida no place else...
Four TV shows you love to watch:
Imus in the Morning, CNBC During the day in my office, News (MSNBC ,Fox or CNN), Two and a Half Men
Four places you've been on vacation:
Rome, Italy; London, England; Paris, France; the Caribbean
Four websites you visit daily:
Gooogle, Slowtwitch, Gmail, Vanguard, Janus
Four of your favorite foods:
anything Italian i.e. pasta, pesto; anything seafood i.e. grouper, shrimp, clams; anything cocolate i.e. cookies, cake, ice cream, pies etc; anything Wine i.e. champagne, chardonay, merlot, Pinor Noir
Four places you'd rather be:
Barefoot Beach near my home; on a sailboat in the Chesapeake; Rome, Italy visiting my grandson; NJ visiting my other 2 grandsons
Four albums you can't live without:
Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles; Andrea Bocelli; Louis Armstrong; Sarah Brightman
Four vehicles I've owned:
VW Bug, Jeep Cherokee, Fiero, Buick Regal Grand Sport

OK so I'll tag the great Goofy Challenge winner Nancy, the great Prarie Dawg Leader, Bolder and Cliff of Canada fame.

Terrific Tuesday

My training seems to be routine doing the same thing over and over again. Sunday is the long ride, Monday is a recovery ride and weights, Tuesday is run and swim, Wednesday is ride and swim Thursday fartlek run and weights, Friday is ride and swim, Saturday is my long run and long swim. Same week in and week out.

Since my schedule is pretty much the same, I don't always know what to post. Take this morning for example. It was a nice morning, almost perfect morning to run. It was cool but not to cold, about 56 no breeze. The sun was just coming up and as I started my run, it was reflecting off the golf course lake causing me to squint. I saw the usually walkers and a few new people because it is season now and the snowbirds are here.

AS I leave my block and turn left on the main street I see the usual people. I name the "usual" people that I see. No I don't "know" them but I do say good morning to them. There is the Smiley Guy, he is always smiling. At the corner is Pajama Girl, she walks two dogs wearing a sweatshirt and pajama bottoms, she looks like she just got done with a shower since her hair is wet. Then I see the Skinny Lady and Skinny Ladies Husband. She is so skinny if she turns sideways and sticks out her tongue she would be a zipper. Next up is Fast Walker, she walks really fast. As I round the curve at the first mile mark is Cigar Guy, always smoking a cigar picking up stuff in his yard or sweeping his driveway. I then head up Tony's street to the now famous Coffee Drinker and Collie, whom I haven't seen in a while but you know about them probably planning a secret attack on Tony and me.

As I continue on my run at the 2 mile mark I enter the woods. It's a trail that follows the Estero River and is very popular with canoeist and kayakers. I have only seen one person on the trail in all the years that I have been using it. But I have seen some great wildlife. Birds of course, and rabbits. One morning I startled a panther. This year I rounded the corner at the end of the trail as it crosses a bridge over a little creek when I startled a mother Otter and three babies playing. I don't know who was more excited me or the otters!

After leaving the woods I come to the Fitness Center and Pool for our community. It is along the river, next to the dock masters office for our boat lunch and dock. There is also the River Club next to the Fitness Center and Pool. I usually stop inside the Fitness center to get a drink of water and on Tuesdays get weighted. As I leave the Fitness Center I run now on the road that leads back to the community thru some preserve areas that the State of Florida will not allow to be developed. That is what attracted me to this community the natural areas and large open spaces, unlike some community builders who use up every available space.

As I go along the preserve area there is a small trail that leads to a grave site that was used by the Koreseans. The Koreseans were a cult in the late 1800's lead by Cyrus Tweed. In the cemetery are the graves of several of this cult that died. One is a Confederate soldier and another is a Union soldier from the Spanish American War. I think of them and how no one visits their grave. This past Memorial Day I got a small American Flag and a small Confederate Flag to place on their graves to remember their sacrifice for America.

Usually along in here I will see Two Dog Walker, he walks two small dogs. I then round a corner and go up a small incline to an abandoned road that goes under a high tension line. The road follows the fence border of our community that separates us from a very ritzy community with multi-million dollar homes on the right and three holes of the golf course on the left, including two lakes. This road is our famous straight-a-way.

On the straight-a-way I see Bottle Guy, he's riding a bike with a bottle holder on his handle bar with a large large bottle of water. I also see Dog Rider, he's riding a bike with his dog on a leash. Also I see Dog with No Leash, a lady walking her dog with no leash even though it is a major rule to have your dog on a leash. Then I see several people that I haven't named yet. A group (6) of ladies all walking together, Groupies. I guy in a yellow shirt, the same yellow shirt every day. Sometimes the workers from the golf course or our community are on the road with gas powered golf carts.

The road makes a 90* turn to the left then ends at the back of our boat storage yard.
It is here that you have to get on the sidewalk that paralls the boat yard and the golf course. There is a "Pottie House" half way along the sidewalk where I can get another drink of water, or in case of runners emergencies, well you know.

Then it is back to the community roads and on the homeward stretch of my 7 miles. I see Smiley Guy again, Fast Walker, and then Poodle Lady, yup two poodles. Sometimes Bob-on-a-moutain-bike, a guy from my circle will pass by on his mountain bike, or Icelandic Man, my neighbor from Iceland. Eileen is usually around in here on the days she runs. She does 9 miles at about a 8 min. pace. She wears a great bikini tops and running short shorts, but she is married.

The course then makes a right turn and short stretch then another right turn and I'm on my street. I hear the bell in my head indicating 1 mile to go! I see Frank the Priest going to work, Annie sweeping her driveway, and the Norwegian Lady taking the kids to school. Sometimes my neighbor across the street is getting his newspaper when I finish.

So today was like so many days running. Uneventful unless you count the people.

Freezing Friday

Freezing....well not quite that cold but to me it felt cold. Last night I was awakened by howling winds blowing from the north. That usually means a cold front is pushing its way here from up north bringing with it cooler weather. As you may know it has been a beautiful week here in Southwest Florida with daytime highs around 78* with bright sunshine and night time lows about 70*. So the howling winds meant change was in the air.

When I got ready for my ride this morning I expected a bitter cold morning but to my surprise the wind had subsided and the temp was 56*. So it was cold going into the wind but not so cold going down wind. Tony had to drop our after the first loop so I rode the last 12 miles alone. But hey it was a good ride, I even pasted Tony on the straight-a-way at 29 mph...but he did jump on my wheel so I didn't drop him...next time. I got my 25 miles in.

I have started going back to the weight room at the fitness center. Wednesday night a I did 2 miles on the dreadmill and then an upper body workout. I was a little sore for my run yesterday but I guess my little Christmas rest help because I felt real strong on my 7 mile jaunt.

Tonight is the famous cocktails at the club night with some friends and tomorrow I'm going to attempt a long run of 15 miles. Sunday Tony and I are doing the Cocnut Point Ride to see the eagles nest and perhaps get a look at the babies. (What is a baby eagle called a hatchling?)

Here's a pic of the beach from yesterday....I didn't swim at the beach because I didn't have a wetsuit. The water temp is 65*. I just had lunch watching the water rather than staying in the office and eating at my desk.

Bolder , the girl walking the water line has a nice bikini, just for you! this is 4 blocks from my office.

Time for Reflection

It was this time last year that I began experiencing severe headaches and was still recovering from my various treatments and surgeries for cancer. I had discovered a new "growth" on my back on the same site as my first surgery and went to see my oncologist. She ask me it I had any symptoms and of course I mentioned my headaches, dizzy spells, blurry vision and ringing in my ears...so this started a series of chest and head mri then a brain mra then re-tests then a pet scan and finally the report from the onoclogist. It went something like this: You have something in your brain. I think it is a tumor. I'm sending you to a brain surgeon and he is reserving an operating room for Tuesday. Always good news to hear. The brain surgeon met me on a Saturday morning in his office. His words were I canceled the operating room after looking at your brain study because it we remove it you would spend the rest of your life smiling a lot ...like the Kennedy girl. People don't function well with a quarter of their brain removed.

Well since that stressful month I've had two growths removed from my back, multiple brain tests and more tests. I still have the headaches, dizzy spells, blurry vision and this ringing in my ears...some days worse than others. I thank God that my surgeon was not out to just do surgery and after seeing 3 "second" opinions I've been told that Dr. Lusk has probably saved my ability to think and function normally. He and other surgeons have told me that no ethical brain surgeon would attempt my surgery unless I have a bleed or other complication and then, according to Dr. Lusk, there is no one qualified in Florida to do the surgery.

Now one year later, life is less stressful. I've been given the ok to do races, hey they didn't even want me to train for a while! So what have I learned? What has God taught me thru this all?

1. YA GOTTA BELIEVE!
When I lived in Philly a few years ago that was the rally cry for the Philadelphia Phillies started by I think Tug McGraw. Well I've found that no matter what YA GOTTA BELIEVE! Like a tri or a marathon even when the pain becomes unbearable YA GOTTA BELIEVE you are going to beat this thing.

While I was a hospital chaplain I worked with many dying patients and saw the five stages of death that Elizabeth Kubler Ross talked about in her book On Death and Dying; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I want to get to that acceptance stage...YA GOTTA BELIEVE while this was happening I'm going to do what ever I have to do to survive....win...finish the course.

2. Have Fun in Life
Lance Armstrong while undergoing chemo for his cancer and brain surgery said about his blood count:

"Those numbers became the highlight of each day; they were my motivation....I would concentrate on that number, as if I could make the counts by mentally willing it."

Lance made it a game. Life is to short to not laugh, love and play along the way. So yes sometimes my humor is a little "sick" but if I can't laugh at what is going on I'd go nuts. I like to have fun and even make fun of myself. So kickoff your shoes, have a beer or two and laugh!

3. Help others along the way
I had learned this a while back but I have gotten away from it. During my time as a pastor, I took on five people at a time, not members of my church, who were dying. I would help them thru the death process. To this day I still keep in touch with families who have lost a loved one.

I decided to do that with cancer/brain tumor, to encourage others facing the same thing I was facing. Thru notes, conversations, phone calls etc I've tried to help several people I know that are facing what I faced.

It you haven't read it I suggest you do, Laurence Gonzales book Deep Survival. Gonzales suggests Survivors are always doing what they do for someone else, even if that someone is thousands of miles away. I decided to do that with cancer/brain tumor patients.

4. Quitting is Quitters

Growing up I had great parents. They taught me so much about life. My mother would say to me: There is no such thing as I can't. This was from a woman who at the age of seven her father died during the Great Depression leaving a wife and five children, three of whom would not live to see age 13 due to a crippling childhood disease.

My hometown of Burlington NJ is the birth place of Captain James Lawrence who in the mist of a great naval battle, his ship almost destroyed and sinking said "Don't give up the ship!"

A race or cancer or a brain tumor I've decided to never, never, never give up! Quitting is for quitters!

5. Contentment
We live in a culture that is never content. More is the cry. More money, more toys, bigger house, faster car.... I'm learning contentment. Do I need a new bike? No just lose a few pounds and I'll go faster. My car a 1991 that is worth less than my bike. Do I need a new car? No, it would be nice but why? Could I make more money? Yes I could move back t New York City work from 7:30 to 6:30 have an hour commute each way and make big bucks. However, I'm content working for a small firm from 9:30 to 5:00, I can train in the morning, swim at lunch, and be home in time to work out in the fitness center plus there is the beach to do open water swimming.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians said:

I'm not saying that because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me. (Phil 4:11)

I've learned to be content no matter what happens to me.

He's Back!!!!!

OK quick update...

flew to Newark NJ on Dec. 23
saw some family and friends for Christmas Eve, ate & drank to much
went to church for midnight Christmas Eve
has an awesome Christmas Day, ate to much
ran on Monday 7 miles, went to dinner (see pic below)
rode a mountain bike 20 miles on Tuesday _ cold< ugh
went to the City Wednesday
ran 10 miles Thursday
flew home Friday -- good to be back to warm weather!
Sat rode 25 miles ran 8 miles
Sun rode 60 miles with Tony
Mon rode 30 miles (counts on next weaks report), took down my Christmas decorations, ugh!

Weakly Totals
Run 25 miles
Bike 105 miles
Swim NADA

Thanks everyone for the notes and emails...

Here's a pic of my grandson. We went out to dinner on Dec. 26.

It is really cold here. I can't wait to get back to Fl.

P C Christmas?

On krisalis blog she wrote about the Human Resources PC correct greetings. Here it is:

• Please accept without obligation, express or implied, these best wishes for an environmentally safe, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, and gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday as practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice (but with respect for the religious or secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or for their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all) and further for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated onset of the generally accepted calendar year (including, but not limited to, the Christian calendar, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures).

• The preceding wishes are extended without regard to the race, creed, age, physical ability, religious faith or lack thereof, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee(s).

Perhaps the above is a sign of the time. I guess I don't understand all the fight about Christmas and saying Merry Christmas. Why are people offended? If you are a Christian you are celebrating Jesus' birth, it's a historical fact he was born, lived and died according to a Roman historian Flavius Josephus. If your not a Christian, then why would celebrating a baby's birth be so offensive to you? I've been wished Happy Chanukkah or Happy Ramadan and even Happy Qwuanza . But why are people upset about a little baby in a manager? Perhaps the better questions is who is this Jesus?

You must admit Jesus changed the course of the then know world and continues to divide peoples. He is the dividing point. Who is he? C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity answer that question by saying we have three choices. #1. Jesus was a liar. Would a liar do the things Jesus did? Say the things that He said like the Sermon on the Mount? #2. Jesus was a lunatic. Only a mad man would claim to be God (remember the Jews wanted to stone him and in the end He was crucified for blasphemy, claiming to be God). But would a lunatic heal the sick, raise the dead, and bring sight to the blind? 3. Jesus is Lord. Here is the dividing point! If he is not a liar or a lunatic then He must be Lord. That's the divide. While a baby in a manager puts no demands on our life, the teachings, the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus does put demands upon us. He calls for our worship and commitment. He calls for our ALL.

So when I see people get upset when I say Merry Christmas or I here of the forced pc as above I remind myself it's because of Jesus.... His Birth, His Life, His Teachings, His Death and His Resurrection. When some one gets upset about the saying Merry Christmas I just remind myself they are not willing to bow before the manger like the lowly shepherds and say Hossanna. He is Lord.

I'll be taking a blog break. I'm leaving warm sunny Florida to go to New Jersey to celebrate Christmas with my family. I will be running and riding a mountain bike to keep up my training. I want to wish all of my blog family and friends:

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I pray that you and your family will know the joy and peace of worshiping the new born King.

Tagged and a brief word from our sponsor

Linda over at Loping LouBob tagged me. It's a challenge tag, I have to describe my upcoming 2006 training season in one word. Single-minded (that's one word just because it has a hyphen doesn't make it two words). I still have a single goal of Kona.... To get me there I have some steps along the way. In January is the Tour de Cape a century ride the local tri club here turns into a race. Also in January the Naples Half Marathon a great race thru a very wealth neighborhood. February brings the Chill Willy Duathlon and March is the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim across Tampa Bay or the Redhills Triathlon. April is another busy month with the Escape Ft. DeSoto Triathlon and St. Anthony's. May is an "A" race the Florida 1/2 Ironman at Disney. June is the Madeira Beach Triathlon. July, August, September is the Publix Family Fitness Triathlon series also in August is the Top Gun Triathlon. October is the Steamtown Marathon where I hope to qualify for the Boston Marathon since Steamtown is all down hill and the fastest marathon around. November is the "A" race the Florida Ironman. The closes out of the year with the Safety Harbor Duathlon in December and January 1st the St. Pete Mad Dog Triathlon. Along the way, rather than buy a new bike I want to lose weight, 25-30 lbs.

Eagles and it's not a fluke!

Sunday's ride with Tony was awesome! Several weeks ago during our ride thru Raptor Bay and Coconut Plantaion (Hyatt's golf course and time share developement) we discovered a HUGE nest. It is in a large tall pine tree and is as big as the top of a VW bug roof. Since we went to the airport last week we didn't get to see the nest. However this week when we passed the nest there were two bald eagles sitting in it! Awesome! We watched as one eagle got out of the nest and sat on a branch looking down the golf course from his lofty pearch. I guess he was looking for breakfast! I went back later with my camera but the nest is just to far to get a good shot without a telephoto lens. I'm hoping when the eggs hatch I'll get to see the babies.

Today's ride proved that the 31.5 mph record breaking ride was not a fluke, we did 30.5 miles down the straight-a-way. Can 35 mph be in the near future?

I DID IT! WAHOOOO!

Boys and girls you know how hard I have been trying, it has been ever elusive. But today was the day! I felt good, my bike was running smooth, Tony and I were riding side-by-side and not drafting so it happened! Just like that I looked down and saw

31.5

I broke the 30 mph barrier. But the really good news was that I was able to maintain that speed for more then just a few seconds!

Beers all around!

Tagged

I was tagged by Donald to reveal five random facts about myself. This is the 21st century version of those old chain letters, right? I'm fearful that something horrible will happen to me if I don't comply.

so here are 5 ahhh random facts about me.


1. I'm a factory defect and there was a recall on me but my parents failed to take me back to the dealership to get fixed.... I was born with one kidney. I'm missing my left kidney but my right kidney is twice as large as a normal persons kidney.

2. My grandparents grew up on the Leni-Lenape Indian reservation in New Jersey (Shamong Township) and were first cousins when they married hence the factory defect in #1.

3. My parents were very disappointed when I didn't go to the Naval Academy like my cousins but it was the Vietnam war and I was a factory defect (see #1) which kept me out of the Academy and the war.

4. To further my parents disappointment, I went to a Bible College and Seminary and was an ordained minister serving as a missionary for 20 years. They never attended any of my graduations, ordination or commissioning as a missionary.

5. My wife, in 1995, of 25 years ran off with her boyfriend. I was divorced on Valentines day of the 25th year of our marriage. After the Judge pronounced us divorced my then ex-wife asked me if I would perform the wedding ceremony for her and her boyfriend since they couldn't find a minister to do the wedding. I told them NO!

6. I moved to Florida after taking care of both of my parents until their deaths (Yup I'm an orphan), Mom with Alzhiemers (see #2 above) and Dad with COPD. I then decided to move to Florida.

7. After moving to Florida I met some one and proposed then I was diagnosed with melanoma (fast growing cancer). My fiance broke of the engagement due to the cancer and then I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in my left frontal lobes. The cancer has been removed (4 surgeries) and I'm cancer free but the tumor is in-operable because of it's location...So I get headaches, dizzy spells, ringing in the ears, blurry vision etc. The docs don't want me to live alone, but if they take it out it would be like a frontal lobotomy.

8. I had a racing sailboat that I loved and still love to this day. So days when I get depressed, I miss her more than my ex-wife or fiance. I think about buying a new boat to sail alone around the world like Joshua Slocum. But I want to see my grandchildren and do Ironman Kona.

9. I love trainning more that races, especially riding my bike. My times open water swimming are some of the best time here in Florida because of the water and the beaches.

10. I can't think of a 10!


Depressing huh? Aren't you glad you asked?

The Virus Continues!

I woke up a half hour before the alarm went off. Even though I fell asleep on the sofa watching Martha Stewart's Apprentice (what's with her robot daughter? can she speak more then one word sentences?) I did not feel rested. So, this morning was slightly warmer than yesterday morning so I decided on my running shorts with a long sleeve t-shirt, but what I did not count on was my stomach again. UGH...two trips to the bathroom before I left the house for my run. Today's schedule is the now infamous tennis ball fartlek run but I place emphasis on the FART part of the run. Then my stomach pain started. I wondered if I was going to keep my fresh Florida OJ down (Raymond James sent us a case of fresh Florida oranges which I used for juice, everyone got a tray of oranges). I had planned on going thru the woods for 7 miles but at the 2 mile mark I knew I better start heading towards the house. It's interesting how distress can cause you to pick up the pace. I got home, 4.5 miles total, (32'43") just in the nick of time!

I went to the pool at lunch time. My stomach still feels odd. I did 2x100, 100 kick and 100 easy as my warm up then I worked on my balance drills (yes Cliff I do balance drills too) then I did 15x100 and a cool down of 2x100. Then I had to make a quick pit stop! UGH will this virus ever go away?

When I got back to the office I ate my turkey wrap and again I feel yucky. Tonight I plan on stopping at our community fitness center to do a light wait workout (you have to wait your turn for the machine or for the weights).

Thanks for all the well wishes....I'm doing the same job just getting a new title and a little more money and larger bonuses... what I really want is more time to train.

The Stomach Virus

OK it started yesterday afternoon.... just before lunch...

I was to have lunch with the Portfolio Manager and a Sales Trader from Philadelphia. It started just about then, it was that upset stomach feeling then I think I need to go AGAIN. Lunch was OK but I couldn't enjoy eating next door at Pier 41 watching the boats go by and the two masted sailboat pull away from the slip because I was worried could I get back to the office in time?

I had to look at some office space since we are probably going to have to move our offices and then I went home. But the thought hit me again, CAN I MAKE IT HOME IN TIME?....

So my evening that I had planned on going to the gym to do some weight training will have to wait. I lazed on the sofa, had some of Oldman's turkey soup and went to bed.

This morning it was again really cold. Yea I know you people in the frozen waste lands have it real cold. Like below freezing, 43* seems freezing to me. I don't have winter riding gear so it was tights, heavy soxes, a long sleeve cotton tee and a bike jersey but I was able to get my 25 miles in. Of course I was alone and was frozen when I got home but I got it done.

Today I'm taking it easy food wise. Yogurt, soup, and decaf tea. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and it will be warmer...Well as I type this it's 74* at 4:30 pm. Sorry LouBob can't send you any warm weather....

O BY THE WAY.....

It was announced yesterday I have been promoted to Vice President of the Firm. (Hail Columbia plays in the background). That and 4 bucks will get you coffee at 4bucks,

Cold Snap

I decorated the pony palm tree in the front of my house with red bows. What do you think of my art work?

Today it was cold, the morning temp when I left for my morning run was 51* but it's going to be 74* today. I wore my long sleeve tee and shorts but I wished I had tights. I did the usual thru the woods run. I didn't see to many people out walking or riding bikes. I guess it was just to cold for them.

Like yesterday I will not be able to swim, so this makes two misses in a row. ugh!

Not a good Monday

Last week I hired a new employee...today I had to let him go! He just could not get things right. He had all the qualifications. He had good previous job experience but he was just awful. How did he get this far?

To top it off, I didn't get to swim today.... and it's a little to cold to go to the pool tonight (65*). Hey it's an open air pool. UGH I hate bad Mondays!

I think I'm going to go home fix a fire in the ourdoor fireplace, roast some hotdogs and drink some beer.

Weakend Report

This weakend I...

sent my italian grandson Christmas presents via fedex international.
went to the club friday nite for cocktails, didn't get any feathers caught in my teeth, saw some friends, drank some guinness, had a blackened grouper salad
got up early saturday ran my 17 mile loop to the college and back.
went Christmas shopping for my grandsons.
cook chicken marsala and rissoto mileanse for diner with J.
J and I went christmas carroling with neighbors
drank some very nice chardonnay.
drank some very very very nice tequila.
drank some good single malt scotch.
got up early sunday, temp 62*, rode with tony 65 miles with an aver pace of 19.7, can't break 20 mph ave. rode to the new airport up the departing flights ramp (a HILL) did we get strange looks from the departing passengers!
lazed around the pool for lunch, had some eggs, was suppose to swim but ran out of time
went to the living Christmas tree at church in the afternoon
made myself some turkey soup
fell asleep at 8:30

weakly totals

run - 24 miles
bike - 135 miles
swim - 2,000 yards

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "WOW what a ride!" S. Hunter Thompson

How Low Can You Go?

This morning was a very quite and peaceful day in my neighborhood. At 6:30, the birds were singing, the sun was coming up and the boys (they are from the other side of the river, the Rio Grande) were cutting the grass on the golf course! There was a light breeze out of the west and the temp was 72* (sorry Ironbenny you know I can't resist).

As I placed my heart rate monitor on I always check to see what is my resting heart rate. Well not resting as in bed resting but resting as it is first thing in the morning and after I have gone.....well you know. This morning I did a double take! I even took off my monitor and made sure the leads were wet (a little licky lick) and put it back on. Sure enough my resting Heart Rate was 38!.... I've seen it as low as 44 at the doctors but never below 40! WOW!

I did the woods course but I forgot my tennis ball for a fartlek run. I guess I was so befuddled by my heart rate I just forgot my ball. So I did hard easy half miles with the first mile as a warm up then hard for a half and easy for the next half and so on... My heart rate got to 155 btw! So 7 miles in 57'48".

I have to take the Portfolio Manager to the hospital today at lunch time, he's having some minor (?) surgery that requires some one to drive him home, so no swim at lunch today. Maybe on the way home.

So how low can you go?

Santa's visit!

This arrived at our office. Santa is three boxes filled with goodies, candy, cookies and caramel corn. But now Santa is making various visits to people work areas or cubes. Here is Santa in the kitchen looking out the windows longing to take off those northern clothes and go to the beach for a swim....the gulf water temp is 70* and the air temp is 78*.

Today was the usual ride day. Once again I was able to get to 28.5 on the straight-a-way but no faster. I had to cut my ride shot so I was onl able to do 2o miles. I'm swiming at lunch, no Santa not at the beach but at the Aquatics Center.

Monday Monday...no good for me!

What a great weakend but not for training. It was our Firm's Partners Meeting weekend which included golf matches and several lunches and dinners. Pictured on the left is the Naples National Golf club where Saturday's dinner was held. I played golf Friday afternoon, shot 87 and lost $10. Friday evening was dinner at one of our Partners home on the beach in Naples. Just a lovely night dining "al fresco" until the stars. Of course there was no ride on Friday and Saturday I couldn't get out of bed until 10:30 am so no run. I played golf again shooting 84 and lost another $20. Saturday night was a wonderful dinner at the Naples National Golf Club. Sunday I did manage to get a brief ride in of 30 miles.

December is my usual goal setting time so let me bore you with some of my goals. Since today is my BIRTHDAY!!!


January 14 - Tour de Cape, Cape Coral Fl 100 mile ride
January 22 - Naples Half Marathon, Naples, Fl
February 5 - Chilly Willy Duathlon, Ft. DeSoto, Fl
March 25 - Red Hills Triathlon
April 16- Escape Ft. DeSoto
May 21 - Florida Half Ironman

This weaks goals:

To get back on track with training:

Bike 150 miles
Run 20 miles
Swim 12,000 yards including 1 open water swim

Last weaks accomplishments?

Bike 80 miles
Run 14 miles
Swim 3,000 yards

Not a good weak at all.

Today I can offically join AARP, but I think I'll pass...

Sub Tropical Weather?

Yes it is COOOOOLLLD! It was 48* this morning. But have no fear, I didn't ride! I had to be in the office early for partners meeting. Then we have lunch at a country club followed by golf. Then tonight is dinner and dancing at the beach. Tomorrow we are playing golf again followed by dinner at a very private golf club. Now if Loubob, Tracy or SOMEBODY would be my date for these dinners I wouldn't have to go alone. It looks like I will not get to train until Sunday. There goes my weakly total.

Bitter Cold

This morning it was bitter cold. I even thought about turning on the heater! It was 52* when I left the house for my morning run. I wore a long sleeve cotton shirt...

I put the new pedals on my bike. I found that Clint did not sell me the Speedplay Zeros X1 but when I was installing them I found that he sold me the X2 which were even more money ($200). Kewl! so I really saved about $65! It pays to go to your LBS rather than buying stuff online.

Sunset

Since I showed you yesterday's sunrise I thot I would show you yesterday's sunset captured while driving home on the interstate, I think I was doing 80 mph when the pic was taken.
Several years ago, I purchased the Timex Bodylinks System and I have used it just about everyday. The watch died and I replaced the battery. But then it crapped out comletely, so I have been sans watch. So for my birthday (Dec. 5), I bought myself a new replacement watch. It came yesterday so I no longer feel nekid.My pedals also broke. I have Speedplay Zeros the basic crome moly that the bearing and bushing have been worn away...to many miles? not enough grease! So I went Clint's Bike Shoppe and bought myself another birthday present NEW PEDALS. Clint was nice enough to sell me the x/1 Titanium pedals for the same price as the crome pedals about a$30 savings. So look out I'll be fast with pedals that actually work and don't squeak!

20 answers

1. What was for breakfast?
First breakfast - decaf coffee, 8 oz Florida OJ, banana, and 12 oz h2o. Plus 12 oz of gaterade endurance formula on the ride.
Second breakfast - 8 oz h2o, bagel with peanut butter
Third breakfast - decaf coffee, Oldman's banana-nut muffin

2. Do you read a newspaper daily?
Wall Street Journal

3. What do you do when you can't sleep?
Read the book of Numbers or Judges in the Bible

4. Say a word that sums up your mood.
Content

5. Do you remember dreams?
No, I don't think I dream

6. Name something from your dream last night.
Darkness, I don't dream...I'm to tired to dream.

7. Name a food that describes you.
fine wine --- aged to perfection and strong enough to get the job done

8. Today your wearing?
Tan docker slacks, green polo golf shirt, loafers with no soxes.

9. What is in your pockets?

$450 in cash in my money clip, 53 cents in coins, keys, and a wallet with $150

10. Did you sing in the shower?
Nope

11. What was the last song you heard?
Frosty the Snowman

12. Looking forward to the holidays?
Yes I'm going home to see my grandsons in New Jersey.

13. What's for lunch?
First lunch- roast turkey on whole wheat with romaine and mustard. 8 oz of h2o.
Second lunch - tossed salad with roast turkey and balsamic vinegar. 8oz of h2o.
Third lunch - handful of almonds, banana, and h2o.

14. Where do you want to be this instant?
At the beach swimming.

15. What's something you would like to do soon?
the Tampa Bay Marathon Swim 26.2 miles across Tampa Bay or the Canadian Death Race.

16. Reading anything now?
The Camel Club by David Baldacci (fiction), Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (non-fiction) Sara's Secrets for Weeknight Meals by Sara Moulton (cooking) and The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (business discussion group)

17. What's for dinner?
Poached salmon, brown rice, steamed broccoli and tossed salad. White wine probably a chardonnay. Desert frozen fruit pop.

18. A favorite part of the day is?
running, biking or swimming.

19. Are you happy?
Of course I live in paradise, have a great job, and can train year-round.

20. What will your friends do this meme?
nope.

[stolen from krisalis]

Weird Sunrise This Morning

RED SKY IN MORNING SAILORS TAKE WARNING! Was the sky every red. I tried to take a pic of it looking east but it didn't show how weird the sky looked. But it was a warning as the old saying warns.

I started out on my morning run with that warning in mind but looking east it did look like rain just some clouds. Today's schedule called for an easy seven miles thru the woods with a stop half way at the fitness center for water.

The first 2 miles were uneventful just trying to relax and not push. Then at the 3 mile mark I entered the path that goes along the river and thru the woods (but not to grandmother's house). Then the lightening alarms on the golf course went off with a LOUD BLAST that caused me to jump even with my MP3 player playing Garth Brooks.

As I exited the woods to the fitness center I wondered if I could get hit by lightening. I have rubber soles on my shoes so I'm not grounded. Then the lightening and rain started. Red sky remember? The last 4 miles I picked up the pace just to get home out of the lightening and rain. My time on the clock was 52'34".

I was hoping to swim at lunch today but it's raining so the pool is closed (outdoor pools in SW Florida) but the good news is a got a nice bonus check ($5,000) for finishing a project so I think I'll go to the bank to cash my check!

Turkey Weakend Update

Inquiring minds want to know, What Happened on Thanksgiving with the Cracker Barrel Dinner?

Thursday called for my regular 7 mile tennis ball run thru the woods. Since I didn't have to go to work, I slept in a little longer run anyway. I managed to stretch the 7 miles into 9 since I felt good and had the time. After a shower and breakfast I power washed my pavers so I have a clean driveway! I made a loaf of bread to take with me along with 2 bottles of 2002 Coppola chardonnay. The dinner was what you would expect, dry dry and dry with dry cornbread stuffing and dry cornbread rolls. So everyone sat around and drank a lot of wine!

Friday was the usual 25 mile ride with Tony sans Tony. I was one of the unfortunate ones that had to work. The market was open so we had to be at work. I swam at lunch and on my way home I bought a turkey from the Target Superstore with a coupon and instant saving the 10 lb bird cost $4.54.

Saturday was the long run day of the weak, this weak I took a new route. I ran out to Florida Gulf Coast University, around the campus and back home, 16 miles. After shower and breakfast I made some more bread and an apple pie. In the afternoon I invited J over for tree trimming and dinner (steaks, salad, bake potatoes, and Oldman's apple pie). Pics to follow. The tree looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Sunday saw the return of Florida humidity. I did the long ride of the weak to Coconut Point (no dolphins this weak), back then up to the new airport and back home, 65 miles. When I got home I started my turkey for my own thanksgiving dinner. Yes I had the stuffing, mashed garlic potatoes, carrots, gravy, cranberry sauce (whole cranberries) and of course leftover apple pie with ice cream. So it might have been late but it was tasty! Now I have leftovers!!!! Hurray!

WEAKLY Totals

Run 32 miles
Bike 135
Swim 3,000 meters

Next weak I'll try to get my regular swim routine, now that the gulf water is colder I will have to go to the pools more rather than the beach unless I breakout the wet suit.

Snowbird Season

Well it's started early this year. It gets earlier and earlier each year. I thought because of Wilma maybe it would be delayed but nooooooo, it has been confirmed Snowbird Season has started! Yup, it you live in Southwest Florida you find it is a great placed to live. But during Snowbird Season don't plan on driving anywhere, going to a restaurant without a reservation 1 month in advance or finding a parking spot at the beach!

Take Friday night for example of Snowbird Season. Usually on Friday's I try to leave the office a little early to get to the country club for happy hour and maybe dinner. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes. So keeping to my schedule I took the interstate home to go 21 miles to my house. It was bumper to bumper crawling ! UGH 1 hr 32 min to get home. Had I stuck to the Tamiami Trail it would have taken 2 hours!

What makes Snowbird Season worst for me is the wackies on the road Sunday's during my long ride. This Sunday was not an exception, I was almost hit by an SUV, had an old lady pull out in front of me, have to dodge walkers in the road, runners, dogs on long leashes (in the road) and recreation bike riders on the wrong side of the road and that's all with in my community!

OK Snowbirds here's the deal if your going to visit Oldman's paradise there are a few rule that you must abide by:

1. No travel to early bird dinner specials between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30 STAY OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE DINNER AT A NORMAL TIME LIKE 8:00pm.

2. No travel in the morning between 7:30 and 9:00 to get to Perkins for breakfast or an early tee time . YOU HAVE ALL DAY! SLEEP IN! GO TO BREAKFAST AT 9:30 am.

3. Snowbirds must walk on the sidewalks and keep their dogs on a short leash. YOUR NOT IN MICHIGAN OR INDIANA OR ILLINOIS WHERE THEY DON"T HAVE SIDEWALKS YOUR IN FLORIDA WALK ON THE SIDEWALK!

4. Keep out of the laps lanes at the pool. THEY ARE FOR SWIMMING NOT STANDING TALKING TO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN WHO JUMP INTO THE LAP LANES.

OK RANT OFF

Saturday was the usual long run. I did the woods course for 14 miles. Sunday was a long bike dodging people dogs and things for 55 miles and Sunday afternoon I went to the pool but got so frustrated I quit after 1500 meters.

Today it was raining so I didn't have to dodge anyone just the rain drops. I got my 25 miles in but I was soaked to the bone.

Weakly Report

Bike 122 miles
Run 22 miles
Swim 1,500 meters

I'll try to do better coach hasn't been my bestest weak. I kow I missed my fartlek run and my bike sprints with stomps but next weak!


DAVID UPDATE

David's surgery went well. He started PT on Satuday and comes home from the hospital today. The pain is quite intense but atl eas the pt has started.

THANKSGIVING UPDATE

I still plan on attending my neighbor's home for dinner but I took Susan's advice and told them I was bringing a few of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Crab and cheese dip, yam yums, homemade bread, apple pie, pumpkin pie and a couple of bottles of Stag's Leap chardonnay.

QUESTION

If it is Snowbird season can we shoot them?

Somebody Invite ME PLEASE!

OK it happened while I was at a Halloween get together on, of all days Halloween. It all started innocently. I went to my mail box after work when my Irish neighbor two houses down also getting his mail said Hey Oldman, stop over for some trick or treat beer. So I can't pass up free beer, so I walked over. There we are standing in his driveway drinking some Irish beer ( and I thot they were famous for single malt) watching for the 8 kids who live on our block.

Finally the 8 kids and there parents stop for the kids candy and at which time Irish neighbor gets all the adults a round of beer. KEWL another free beer! My Icelandic neighbor is here with his Chilean wife and announces that he, Chilean wife, and the Norwegian couple are hosting a Halloween snack and drink party in his driveway for me to come over. FREE FOOD AND BEER!

So on the walk back to my house and then on to my neighbor Icelandic guy's house, my Irish neighbor says What are you doing for Thanksgiving. Well nothing really. (Side note I was remembering the time I was invited to their home for dinner where they serve great lamb chops, good wine and a great cheese cake).

OK you got the picture, now Irish guy calls today to firm up Thanksgiving dinner. What time etc. So what can I bring? Irish guy replies Well, we are ordering take out from Cracker Barrel so you can help split the bill and bring some wine.

So I feel stuck, I can cook people and cook very well thank you very much. Last Christmas I hosted an open house where I cooked all the food including appetizers, ham, turkey, soup, deserts, home made bread, etc. I use recipes from Food and Wine, Julie Child, LaCucinna and old family recipes hand down. I even make my own salad dressings! I make just about everything from scratch. I can duplicate any resturant meal after one tasting. Yes I can cook so I don't want take out. I NEVER HAVE TAKE OUT! NOT EVEN MICKIE D'S.

Well so I don't want Cracker Barrel take out. I can cook my own turkey thank you! Got any thought of how to get out of this one?

Just Another Day

Live is moving at a frantic pace! I have been extremely busy not only at work but in my personal life as well. Why is it when things happen so that your personal life gets busy your work life gets busy also to make matters worse? I have a good relationship with the Firm I work for and a flexible schedule but right now there is no flex. Here's a quick update on what is happening.

David

Every morning it's been phone calls to Italy. Early in the week it looked like David was going to be flown to Milan for surgery. This would have cost approx. 50,000 euros! A specialist there would take his case and do surgery on Friday. However Carolina and her father (David's wife and father-in-law) were able to locate a sports medicine surgeon. He works on football (soccer) stars and has worked on musician as well. So today is the surgery. I looked for flights but when I thought he was going to Milan I didn't book anything and because it is busy at work I feel I can't get away. I spoke with David just a few minutes ago before he went into surgery. So I just wait for news.

Work

I have been working on a major project regarding our mutual fund. I'm changing the trust to a new trust which means a new bored of directors, back office, custodian, etc. Today is the shareholders meeting and until 5:00 pm yesterday I did have enough proxy votes to pass the change, 4% short! But after some scrambling I got it done and now have 55.6% FOR! Now its on to the actual move of the pieces. UGH! I'm also preparing for our partners meeting, which is an extremely stressful time, plus I'm finishing two audits of the Firm and the payroll failed on the 15th, not that we didn't have money in the bank our payroll company just didn't put thru the payroll then yesterday they forgot 1 employee who is going to Europe today! GASP! UGH! So it's been late nights this week.

Training

Swimming at lunch has been out all week in favor of eating at my desk. I did get my rides in Monday (25 miles) and yesterday (17 miles) along with my runs Tuesday(4 miles) and today (4 miles). But all workouts are shortened due to time constraints due to work and phoning David, Carolina, doctors, and etc. I feel like all I do is train, work, and sleep. Hopefully this will be all over by Dec. 10th.

Signs of life after Wilma

This past weekend there were no rental cars available at Ft. Myers airport. All 9 rental car companies were out of cars. Plus the 3 rental car companies in Naples had no cars. So if your coming to Naples or Ft. Myers and need a car, check ahead there may not be anything available.

Good News Bad News

The Good News

Friday I left work early and played a little golf. I shot 42 on the River Course. The last hole it was a little dark and I had trouble seeing but I got 9 holes in.

Saturday was my long run of 12 miles in the afternoon I worked around the house cleaning up the mess the painters made painting the house. Yes, my house is only 4 years old but the paint had faded and the association is painting all the houses on my circle.

Sunday was my long ride which turned out to be just around the community for 40 miles. It was quite windy so we cut it short.

The Bad News

I went to a late lunch at the country club and while eating lunch I got a cell phone call from David. He is a concert violist and lives with his wife and my grandson in Rome, Italy. It seems he was going home on his motorbike when he lost control of the bike on a curve. Fortunately he was wearing a helmet, but the bad news is he broke his left arm. They are going to operate to set it on Friday.

This couldn't have come at a worse time for him. His concert schedule was very busy thru Christmas and then January to May he was to be the principle violist in a symphony. On top of that they are having a house built and will be moving in soon. Roman medicine being what it is, he's in the hospital waiting for his surgery but there are no beds available so he is on a gurney in the hall. I spoke with him this morning and he is very uncomfortable.

Hurricane Wilma Aftermath

Well it has been almost three weeks since Wilma hit Southwest Florida and there are still signs of her visit. The town of Naples has a site to take the debris but there are still piles of "stuff" along the roadside. FEMA just had Operation Blue Roof where you can get a contractor to put a blue tarp over your damaged roof. So now as you drive around you see homes with beautiful bright blue roofs. Now that power is back on in most of the area Florida Power and Light has asked for a rate hike of $15 per user to pay for the storm damage.

This morning was a cooler morning than the past few days. As the sun came up there was a slight fog and the temp was 65*. I was going to ride in a sleeveless top but decided to wear a short-sleeve jersey because of the cool temp.

COFFEE DRIKER AND COLLIE SIGHTING

Yup, today as we went up Coffee Drinker and Collies street on the first loop they were out in the driveway. But I think they have recruited their neighbor across the street to get us. You see as I came to up the street the neighbor in his black Caddy SUV backed out of his driveway in front of me! I had no where to go, so it was a full emergency stop and unclip to put my foot down! Then black Caddy drove in the middle of the road and suddenly started a "K-Turn" type of maneuver to back into his neighbors driveway, again causing me to stop because he had the road blocked. All the while Coffee Drinker and Collie were watching and enjoying me being held up. Score one for them.


So I did complete my 25 mile ride this morning, inspite of being held up! I will not be swimming today at lunch because I'm going home early today (1:00) to go play 9 holes of golf, walking of course.

This weekend is of course my LSD run tomorrow. I have a light schedule this week so it's only 12 miles. Sunday's LSD ride is 45 miles.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Terrific Tuesday

This morning I woke up at 5:30 am for a nature call and to my amazement my headache was gone. It hung on for a couple of days so I'm always happy that I don't have to take any more aspirin. When I went outside to check the temp I found that a cool front had gone thru over night and the temp was now down to 68*, almost cold.

Today was a light easy run thru the woods and I decided that's exactly what I would do and not push myself. Once again I am amazed at how long it takes me to get loose. Even though I go thru a stretching routine prior to running it still takes about 2 miles before I feel "loose". That's just about when I'm passing my house and since I feel good at that point I continue on. My Timex Ironman watch broke so I don't know my pace or heartrate. When I went past Coffee Drinker and Collies house the garage door was open so I was on the look out for them but alas...no sightings!

I stopped at the five mile mark to get some water from one of the golf course "potty-houses", they have an ice machine and cold water along with cups at each potty house. I friend from the community stopped to tell me that some people were complaining about my bike riding that I was going to fast. He asked them how fast was I going and they replied 30 mph. Kewl I didn't know I was that fast! The last two miles was just a cool down mode just loping along and enjoying the cool breeze and the nice weather.

When I got to work today I realized I forgot my lunch/snack bag so my lunch time swim may be cut short so I can grab something to eat.

Weakend Report

Today is my grandson's 5th birthday. Happy Birthday Max. Here is a pic of Max and his brother, Justin getting ready to trick or treat. Max is of course Batman.


The weakend went by all to fast and today I woke up with a headache from my tumor so I sit in my office with the lights off. I did manage to get a 15 mile bike in today but I'm skipping swimming.

Saturday's run was uneventful I left the house just as the sun was coming up and did my long route thru the woods. The first two miles I consider warm up since it takes me that long to get loose. I then tried to maintain an even pace to my water stop at 6 miles. I was there at 50' 41. The next 6 are along the golf course and thru the woods and I guess the longing for water got me because I was at the next stop at 49'45". The final 4 included my 2 mile cool down finishing at 35'51". Not back I guess.

Some one asked what is a lania. My lania is the outdoor area of my house including a sitting area, sun deck and pool all covered by a screened cage to keep the bugs out. Here's a pic take when the kids were visiting me hence the baby furniture.
















Here's another pic of the outside looking in. My lania faces due south so the pool is always in the sun but the sitting area is in the shade which is important with those sunny Florida afternoons.

Sunday I did my lsd bike with Tony down to the point (no dolphins this week kids) and back then out to Mirromar Lake and back to get our 60 miles. Once again it was windy on the way back and we had a strong head wind to contend.

In the afternoon did manage to get to the beach for a brief swim...45 minutes and a few beers at Doc's. Maybe that's why I have a headache?

WEAKLY Totals

Bike 135 miles
Run 30 miles
Swim 150 minutes?

Some one suggested that you keep track of workouts by time rather than mileage, so you take into account headwinds, rain, good weather and bad weather. What do you think?

Beautiful Day

OK I had to mention it! It is a BEAUTIFUL DAY here today. The air temp is just right 81* and the water temp in the Gulf is 80*. It's cool enough to swim without over heating and warm enough to feel good.

The pic above is the beach down the street from my office (8th Street Naples). Not many people at the beach today, just a few sunbathers trying to get melanoma. I swam for 45 minutes. (Hey it's lunch hour) I then rinsed off in the cold water at the beach crossing. Wow that was cold! It was great to swim without a lot of people around.

This morning I did my regular 25 mile ride. It was cool and I felt good. One the straight-a-way I did 28.5 mph...just can't get to 30 mph!

COFFEE DRINKER AND COLLIE SIGHTING

That's right boys and girls as I was coming up Tony's street on my first loop, Coffee Drinker was walking Collie and yes he was drinking a cup of coffee but they were walking up his driveway and not in the street (ratz). Collie turned and looked longingly in my direction. I offered a "Good Morning" in the most cheerful voice I could muster to which I got a glaring look from Coffee Drinker. HUMMMM I wonder why?


Weakend Agenda

Tonight I'm going to the club for drinks but with a couple and I've made it plain not to set me up with any one (thing). I'm not really interested.

Tomorrow is the 16 miler LSD followed by some pool cleaning and washing the liana. I'm grilling some lamb and having my neighbors over for dinner.

Sunday is of course the LSD Bike. I have a 60 mile bike is on the schedule and hopefully down to Doc's in the afternoon for another swim in the Gulf at Bonita Beach.

Have a greak weakend everyone. Good luck to those at PCB doing IMFL and those at NYC doing the ING Marathon.

Tagged

Linda of Loping LouBob fame tagged me to post my fifth sentence of my 23rd post, which was on Aug 5, 2004 titled Lunch at LBS.

He explained the fine art of degreasing the chain and relubing it.

That was back when I had a problem with my chain..... I've since had it replaced and now I'm considering a Wipperman stainless steel chain. Florida weather is murder on chains.

So whom shall I tag? Hummm everyone has had this one already so if I pick some one who has already done it forgive me. I've gotta think of five.....

CorporateMediaWhore.... live from Portland

Cliff....Looking thru the eyes of

Tales of Slow Brave Athena...... riding Pinky


Health + Fitness Blog.... funny moods


Cloudy, Chance of Showers .....just engaged!

Date Application

Tri-mama suggested that I develop an application to give to my friends for use with prospective blind dates. My friends feel it necessary to find a suitable woman for me. They feel it's not natural for a 50's something guy to live alone. Hey even my docs tell me I shouldn't live alone. But I have my training schedule that usually gets in the way of dating and I just broke off a long-tern once engaged relationship, I did however get the ring back and I'm thinking about using it to buy a new car. But I digress!

Ok so Oldman's Date Application...this way my friends could have the "prospect" fill out Oldman's Date Application, I could review it and give a YEA or nay. This would solve any disappointment on the "prospects" part and save me time and emotional energy. It would allow me to set standards of care early, my care and standards. Yes it is all about the bike, the run and the swim!

So here are a few quick thots:

1. Which do your prefer? Wine, beer or gaterade or all three while sitting in the hot tub after a long (50 miles plus) bike ride?

2. After a long run of 12 miles or more do you prefer A. hot shower B. massage or C. cold beer followed by a quick 1 mile open water swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

3. What movie would you prefer to see during a quiet evening? A. Chariots of Fire B. 2004 Tour de France Special Edition (5 hours) C. Breaking Away D. Ironman Kona 2004 (NBC Special)

4. Include a picture of your bike. Extra points for a tri-bike. Extra Extra Points for a pic of you holding a tri-bike over your head while wearing a two piece tri-suit.

5. What's more important? A. Setting a PR in a triathlon? B. Setting a PR during a training run? C. Qualifying for Kona? D. All of the above.


Ok give me your suggestions for Oldman's Date Application.

TRAINING

Today was an easy recovery run and a swim at lunch. I might stop at the gym for some weights and then a pizza for dinner (veggie pizza it's Tuesday and I'm Buddhist on Tuesdays).