Another new year is upon us but I am glad to get 2007 in the books. More than anything else, it was a time of change. There were many victories, many defeats and some battles that continue on. There is no Ironman on my schedule in 2008. But I will watch Lake Placid in July and sign up again for 2009. That's the plan. This year will be a chance to heal the body parts that have been abused: Knees's and Feet. And add a new injury, broken meta carpal in my left hand, that is still healing.
It will be time to face new challenges. My parents will face their 85th year very differently from the shape they started out from in 2007. Their health issues were stressful for myself and the rest of the family in 2007. I'm praying for them to have a healthier 2008.
My oldest daughter will be leaving the house to attend college in the Fall. It will be a challenge to manage how my wife and I will react to that. We're excited for her but having your first born leave to go away to school will be an emotional roller coaster I'm sure.
I've taken a bit of a hiatus from this Blog but hope to return or more regular posts this year. So far, my training schedule only includes Eagleman and a sprint tri the folowing week. I will look to pick up another few races to enter and report on.
Until then, Happy New Year, Happy Training and Good health to all!
December 31, 2007
December 10, 2007
The Greatest of All Time
Today the greatest rock band of my generation reunited at London's O2 arena. The early reviews that filed in proclaimed that Led Zeppelin still has it. How exciting! I now anxiously await word that a US tour will follow.
When I listen to their music, it lifts me into another dimension. It penetrates my soul. More than any other act, Zeppelin is the soundtrack for my life. Other bands come close, like U2 and Springsteen, but don't touch Zep's intensity.
I saw them live in 1977 at the ripe old age of 16 and remember the concert like it was yesterday. My best friend Steve and I sat in the orchestra section of Madison Square Garden, the envy of our classmates back in Junior High. Back then, we mailed our ticket application in, with a check for $20+ and anxiously awaited the tickets to arrive in the mail. They came, we went and the memory has lasted for 30 plus years. Steve is gone now, God Bless his soul, but that day will live with me forever. Whenever I hear Zeppelin, I think of Steve and many other milestones in my life that were framed by this great catalog of music.
Long Live Robert, Jimmy, John Paul, John and Jason. Long Live Steve S!
All that glitters is Gold.
December 03, 2007
The Off Season
The off season is supposed to be the time when you rest the body and do "fun things". If you don't want to get up at 5 AM to meet for an early ride then you don't. You control the work outs, they don't control you. When my racing season is over, I start riding the trails with my mountain bike. The terrain we ride on is very technical: rocky, single track, steep climbs, steep descents and lots of switch backs. Honestly, it's such a treat after training for 9 months non-stop that I can't wait to get to it. Plus, we ride as long as we can. The cold doesn't slow us down only a foot of snow could.
Unfortunately, on Thanksgiving morning, one of my rides turned into the painful off-season. I was in Pennsylvania riding a very tame trail by myself. It was a beautiful morning when I started out. The temperature was about 60 degrees and sunny. I was in nirvana. The ride wasn't going to be super technical but it would be aerobic, long and fun. Plus, it was a great release to get out of the house. The ride would ease the guilt from all that food and beer that I was about to eat and drink later in the day.
At about 7 minutes into the ride, I came up this slight incline and made a quick right back onto the fire road like trail. This was no typical, gravel fire road but more grass like, so it was easier. As I made the right, I noticed a 2 foot by 2 foot rock in the middle of the trail. At the last second, I decided to lift off the rock like I so often do and with never any trouble. I don't know what happened but the next thing I knew, the handlebars violently whipped to the right and I was heading over the bars towards the ground. I don't even remember having an opportunity to clip out of the pedals in an effort to land on my feet. The ground met my chin and face so fast I was shocked. I hit the ground with a tremendous force, rolling over and landing on my back. I sat there, momentarily dazed, wondering how that could have happened. I mean, this was one easy trail. After a few minutes of shaking the cobwebs out, I righted myself. I had some very sore, bloody scrapes on my left leg which looked like a bear had clawed me. My chin was sore and my left wrist was in pain and started to swell. I tried to ride a little longer but couldn't grip the left handlebar so I reluctantly headed back to my in-laws house.
The wrist really swelled up even with the ice I applied for several hours. Finally, I was taken to a nearby urgent care facility that happened to be open. Lucky for me because x-rays revealed a fracture in one of my meta carpal bones. So, my off season, my easy season was put on hold for 4 or more weeks. I'm in a half cast and watching the calories I take in because my activity level has been less than zero. I'm counting the days to get back on the bike but this time I'll shoot for the hard stuff and leave the easy trails waiting until next year.
Unfortunately, on Thanksgiving morning, one of my rides turned into the painful off-season. I was in Pennsylvania riding a very tame trail by myself. It was a beautiful morning when I started out. The temperature was about 60 degrees and sunny. I was in nirvana. The ride wasn't going to be super technical but it would be aerobic, long and fun. Plus, it was a great release to get out of the house. The ride would ease the guilt from all that food and beer that I was about to eat and drink later in the day.
At about 7 minutes into the ride, I came up this slight incline and made a quick right back onto the fire road like trail. This was no typical, gravel fire road but more grass like, so it was easier. As I made the right, I noticed a 2 foot by 2 foot rock in the middle of the trail. At the last second, I decided to lift off the rock like I so often do and with never any trouble. I don't know what happened but the next thing I knew, the handlebars violently whipped to the right and I was heading over the bars towards the ground. I don't even remember having an opportunity to clip out of the pedals in an effort to land on my feet. The ground met my chin and face so fast I was shocked. I hit the ground with a tremendous force, rolling over and landing on my back. I sat there, momentarily dazed, wondering how that could have happened. I mean, this was one easy trail. After a few minutes of shaking the cobwebs out, I righted myself. I had some very sore, bloody scrapes on my left leg which looked like a bear had clawed me. My chin was sore and my left wrist was in pain and started to swell. I tried to ride a little longer but couldn't grip the left handlebar so I reluctantly headed back to my in-laws house.
The wrist really swelled up even with the ice I applied for several hours. Finally, I was taken to a nearby urgent care facility that happened to be open. Lucky for me because x-rays revealed a fracture in one of my meta carpal bones. So, my off season, my easy season was put on hold for 4 or more weeks. I'm in a half cast and watching the calories I take in because my activity level has been less than zero. I'm counting the days to get back on the bike but this time I'll shoot for the hard stuff and leave the easy trails waiting until next year.
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