"Brain Dead"

Felling a bit better today.  Still a bit anxious but ok.  Maintained my resolve to take it easy and only ran the block.  Tomorrow will be swim only day and then hopefully by Saturday I will be ready to rock again.

I'm a wee bit frustrated by my new bike, as it has still not arrived.  Well actually it did, but when the Fedex guy showed up at the bike shop after hours and found it closed, he had the wisdom to send my bike back to Montreal!!  Moron!

And I got nothing else.

(run 7.3 kms)


"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice."---Albert Einstein

Love

Peter

"Dealing With Addiction"

I think I know a fair bit about many types of addiction but today I learned some more about my own.  I tried desperately to take the day off and eventually settled for a swim.  Even then, I would have done my leg weights at the Y but I forgot my gym clothes so that was a message I think.  On the way home I was still thinking that an easy ride and run would be just the thing, but I could tell that my legs were still rubbery.  I managed to say no!

But!  I had an awful day.  I feel bitchy and irritable and just generally out of sorts.  I have a general sense of anxiety without anything to blame.  I even had some physical symptoms, most notably an irregular heart rate.  That freaked me out a little, but Cory, I am 100 percent sure it was just anxiety!  It is now 10 pm and I still feel all pent up.

I'm quite impressed really as to how significant the sensations are.  I suppose I should get a life.  I did end up going to the liquor store and had 3 drinks, but now I feel like crap on account of that.  It just goes to show you that you can't correct one form of addiction with another.

I'm sure that no one feels the least bit sorry for me, and quite frankly that's the way I want it.  Despite the fact that perhaps I overdo it a little, and indeed do have an exercise addiction, I think it is still irrefutable that its the least harmful of them all.  I will try hard to keep it all in perspective in the coming months.

And on scarier types of addiction I wish to announce to the world that my son Jon has recently celebrated over 3 years of sobriety and in fact just 2 weeks ago has completely weaned himself off of methadone as well. That in itself is a long demanding process but his resolve never wavered. He is here at the moment putting a new floor in the basement for Roo, and I can not possibly describe the pride I take in him.  He is my reminder to never, ever give up on anyone, or anything.  Even though I know he doesn't read this blog I still wish to say, "Way to go son!  I'm damn, damn, DAMN proud of you. "

(swim 1200 metres)


"Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism."---Carl Jung

And this is one of those times I wish to expalin how this quote hit me.  I am often very quick to criticize people who are addicted to religion.  Perhaps it's not so different than my exercise mania?  They are both a form of idealism.

Love

Peter

"Beyond Tired Now"

I'm really trying to back off this week and I'm starting to think it's pretty important.  Tuesday is usually long run day and from the get go I had decided to play it by ear.  If I was at all dragging I would shorten it appropriately.  I knew right away that my tank was empty and in the end I struggled through 15 kms.  I'm not sure yet about tomorrow but maybe I should seriously consider taking a complete day off.

And in the interest of brevity, and because a picture is worth a thousand words I give you this.

He wanted to paint eyes on it!

(run 15 kms, weights)

Love
Peter

"I'm Tired, but proud"---Norman Rockwell

"It's a Bird! It's a Plane!"

No it's Supermoron!  Or is that Moronman?

Yup!  It's my new secret weapon as promised.

And just for the record LG is not the Korean appliance/electronic manufacturer, but rather stands for Louis Garneau, a Canadian cyclist who owns a very successful cycling wear manufacturer.

There is all kinds of speculation about the value of aero helmets, and not a lot of good data.  Certainly in wind tunnel testing it is clear that they help reduce wind turbulence but the controversy takes place mostly around how they are used, and how they respond in real conditions.  In the wind tunnel the air is always going the same direction, while in the real world you can be faced with cross winds and tail winds.

The other consideration that is critical is head position.  A lot of time trial cyclists tend to look at the ground because it is easier on the neck, but for the helmet to be truly defective you need to keep your head up like supermoron in the first picture.  Actually, other than the hands sticking out front, that is almost exactly the way your head and torso should be positioned on the bike.

And last but not least is the issue of comfort.  They are generally a bit heavier than a conventional helmet, and of course there is the concern of heat buildup as they have very little ventilation.

I had been considering buying one, and had even looked at this exact model when 'lo and behold' the guy that fixed my tire at the race had them on sale for half price.  It was such a pretty blue that I could not resist.

As to why my wife can't stop laughing it's probably because for years now both of us made fun of people who wore them.  I'm pretty sure she originally thought it was a waste of her money but she's having much fun teasing me that she now thinks it's worth it.

She told me that from the front I look like Super Dave Osborne, thinking of course to insult me.  Little does she know that Super Dave was the greatest stunt man to ever dwell on this earth, and a personal favorite of mine.

Anyway, I bought it and I'm gonna give it a go.  At the very least I will wear it for my 2 races in Welland next month and then will decide if it is gonna be an Ironman thing.

I wore it for 60 kms today and it felt quite good.  It was an extremely warm day and yet I had no over-temp problems. Actually I didn't have any kind of discomfort issues despite a fairly stiff wind that I experienced from all directions.  Unlike some people who struggle staying down in the aero position I actually prefer it to sitting more upright, and as such this helmet could actually help me.  Or maybe not!

Who knows?
Who cares?
It's pretty and I like it!

And now everyone except for Elly knows all about it

(swim 500 metres, weights, ride 60 kms)


'He played football too long without a helmet."---Jerome Cavenaugh.


Love
Peter

"Interesting Day"

I arrived at the race site at about 7:20 am.  Pulled my bike out of the back only to discover that my tire was flat again.  No way!  I must be stupid!  I have been changing tires for years and never experienced anything like this.  Of course as I mentioned I had no spare and so my first reaction was to put the bike back in the car and head home.

But...I knew there was a possibility that one of the exhibitors would have a spare and after the second try I found one.

Back to the car where I completely removed the tire from the rim.  I inspected every millimetre of the rim and the inside of the tire but could not find any problems.  Sometimes if there is a jagged edge or a piece of debris lodged somewhere it can cause this repetitive problem.  But I could not find a single irregularity anywhere and so I installed my new tube and headed off to rack my bike in the transition area.

I almost got there before it blew again!!  I said "fuck" out loud!  Time to go home for sure!

But...I knew the bike shop guy a little bit, as we bought Roos bike from him years ago and I remember him as a a good guy.  I went and explained my problem and he agreed to help me out.  He coached me through good tube changing process, and then as we were pumping the tire again he suddenly said....wait, wait, wait!  He had spotted something.  Thankfully just before it blew again because we were now on the last tube available.

Personally I think he got a bit lucky to find this, but I can assure you that I never would have. This is the inside of the tire, where perhaps you can make a out a wee little cut maybe 3 mm long.

So now I was going home for sure.  No more tubes left, and for sure if we put any amount of pressure in it that would be the end.

But.....maybe he had a new tire?  Lets look.  Yup!  So after a bunch more farting around I had a tube and tire which would probably work but of course no spare again.

I now had to hustle cause it was getting close to race time and all my stuff was still in my car back in the parking lot.  So I got my bike racked and headed back to the car for the rest of my gear and to start getting changed.

And then it started raining.  That was the last straw.  I left my stuff in the car and started back to transition to get my bike back.  It was just not meant to be and since this was only a training race there was no harm done.

But...what was I gonna feel like later?

Back to the car, got my stuff, got it all set up in transition and put my wetsuit on.  Game on!

And with this positive attitude things started to go better.

I was thinking that maybe I could do this race in 1:50.  Based on my recent experience I should be able to do the swim in 15 mins, the bike in 60 mins, and then the run in 35.  That of course left no time for transition but I figured I could make it up on my bike ride.

Sure enough, I stood up out of the water at 14:45.  After 2 transitions and the bike I had indeed made up the extra 2:30 that my transition took and I headed out on the run at 1:14:54.  Perfect!

Now all I had to do was run my planned 5 min kms for the 7k run and I would have achieved my goal.

But....was this a 7k run like I considered when doing my math, or was it actually 7.5?  Whoops!

Oh well.  Game on!  I ran the 7.5 kms in a very respectable 33:30 and finished with an overall time of 1:48:12.  Very satisfying.  Here is the official if you care.

I was 54th out of 180 overall and 3rd out of 8 in my age group.

I did my best Elly....even though I almost didn't!

To compensate myself for all the grief I experienced with the tire situation I allowed myself to but a new secret weapon that the bike guy had.  I am gonna save that for tomorrows post however but I can tell you now that on top of making me faster, this secret weapn has the added advantage of making Claudette laugh.  Stay tuned!

(swim 750, ride 30, run 7.5)

"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change."---Earl Nightingale

Love

Peter

"The Bitch"

She knows somethings up!

There is a lengthy old joke comparing the merits of owning a bicycle to being married.  According to the joke one of the many advantages to the bicycle is that it does not care if you are about to get rid of it, nor does it care if you have more than one bike.

I beg to differ.  My bitch bike knows.  First the debacle with the flat tire the other day.  Today the freakin seat fell off after 87 kms of my 10 km ride!  Poor maintenance I know, but when it fell off I lost an important part and was unable to get back home.  Roo drove the 35 kms to pick me up.

So off to the bike shop this afternoon to try to find a part.  No such luck!  Apparently my bitch bike is too particular to accept just any part and I will have to try to order one somewhere.

So I spent several hours with the wrong materials and cobbed something up to make it work.  Not fancy but my seat is at least stuck on.

So I get everything back together, do a little testing, and as I finished packing up my tools the unmistakable noise of a tire blowing reached me from the other side of the garage.  Again? WTF!  Yah I know it was a very old tube that I found in the basement but it lasted for 87 kms and that's it?

Okay!  So I repaired that but now I am without a spare, and come hell or high water I am going to the races tomorrow.  I hope I can buy one at the race but I am doubtful since I need this super long stem one because of my wheels.

The bitch knows there's something up!

It is now 10:15 pm and I need to be up and out by 6 am to head for Woodstock.  It is gonna be fun!  I am less tired than I planned on being.

(ride 87 kms)

"The journey of life is like a man riding a bicycle. We know he got on the bicycle and started to move. We know that at some point he will stop and get off. We know that if he stops moving and does not get off he will fall off. "---William G. Golding

Love

Peter

"It's The Weekend"

And no lawn cutting or garage cleaning for me!  I'm gonna be busy!

Tomorrow is of course my long workout and as always I look forward to it.  It looks like I'm gonna get lucky with the weather again with the temperature dropping to a more reasonable level and little chance of rain.  I also have my bike fixed up to allow me to carry enough fluids with stopping back home which I prefer not to do.  I will do the same as last week, 120 kms followed by a run.

Then on Sunday I have my first race of the year and I am not the least bit nervous.  That despite not having done a triathlon since my Ironman.  I suppose that the fact that I am treating it as just another workout helps.

I was hoping maybe to try out my new bike either tomorrow or Sunday, but alas that was not meant to be.  There was a delay in getting the wheels and then strangely enough the wheels showed up ahead of the bike.  They assure me however that it left Montreal today, and should arrive in London at the first of the week.

You know what I was thinking today?  I was considering how everything has changed since I was a kid.  I remember buying my first 10 speed bike when I was about 16 years old.  It cost me 100 bucks.  Today a 10 speed actually means 20 speed!  Yup!  Now there are 10 cogs on the back instead of the 5.

And you know who causes all the change in the world.  Young people. Young people with new thoughts, new ideas, new trends etc.  No where can you see that more than in the way young people express themselves through their clothes.  I thought I had seen it all when the style was to wear pants that hung so far below the hips that belts were useless...only suspenders would keep them from landing at your feet.  Or how about the little fad period where young ladies got all dolled up in black makeup....I think they called it goth?

Like I said, I thought I seen it all, but as I drove my nephew to his high school this morning I noticed not for the first time an alarming new idea that some juveniles have discovered...particularly the young ladies.  Believe it or not they have taken to completely cutting the legs off of perfectly good jeans and wearing them as shorts!   Some of them are so short that the pockets actually hang below the cutoff point, and where they have been scissored has just been left to get all frayed and ratty looking. What will they think of next??!!

On the training front, as usual Friday was long swim in my wetsuit day.  It's very strange that although I am slower in the pool than in 2009 I am quite confident that I will be faster come race day.  It's just a feeling and hopefully I'm not deluding myself but we will see.  Even though I will be very tired for my race on Sunday maybe the 750 metres will give me a better indication.

(swim 3100 metres, 1hr, 2 mins)

"Always strive to excel, but only on weekends."---Richard Rorty

" Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."---Bill Watterson

Love
Peter

"Where Do The Days Go?"

This one just disappeared somehow.

(run intervals 6 X 600, weights)

"Four-fifths of all our troubles would disappear, if we would only sit down and keep still."---Calvin Coolidge

Love

Peter

"Moron!"

That's a pretty derogatory sounding word that I seldom use, but today I met the guy that deserved the label.  He was at the end of our driveway when I was heading out for my bike ride.  Normally I would have called him an idiot but as that term has developed some positive undertones I chose to think of this guy as a moron!  What did this guy do to deserve my attention?  Well he happened to notice that my rear tire had a big bare spot where the tread was actually showing through, and after pointing it out he went on to assure me that it would last out todays 30 kms.  Moron!!

Yes the moron was your's truly!  I was totally surprised by the state of my tire and I briefly considered heading back up the driveway to replace it.  But that was gonna be a hassle as I would first have to find a replacement and then would probably end up getting all greasy replacing it.  So I headed out.  Moron!

And at 9 kms.  Pop!  Not pssssst, like you would hear with a normal flat but a distinct blow-out that told me right away that the tube had blown a hole right out through the tire.  And of course I carry a spare tube....but not a tire.  Moron!

Hmmm?  Who to call.?  Roo was in London, Adrian and Mark at work, and Miguette sleeping.  I started walking but knew that 9 kms in cycling shoes was not gonna work very well.  Moron!

But I solved it.  I put the replacement tube in and just pressurised it enough to carry my weight and still keep the rim off the ground.  Believe me that was not easy considering I don't carry a pump, but only an instant fill CO2 cartridge.

And I rode very gently and slowly, and made it safely home.

By the way, in my curiosity I needed to look up moron and at dictionary.com I found "notably stupid or lacking in good judgement"...sounds about right!

But in my research I found out a few other interesting things.  The word moron is actually a proper psychological term previously used to describe a level of mental retardation.  Of course it is not used any more because it has developed such a negative connotation and thereby is a little politically incorrect.  I also learned that there is an actual expression to describe how "nice" words can eventually become "nasty" words just out of usage.  The term is euphemism treadmill.

But that's not the most interesting thing I learned.  I also learned that a moron is one step up from an imbecile, which is one step up from......wait for it....wait for it...yup...one step up from an idiot!!!

Wow!

Anyway, when my tire went 'pop', my workout went 'pssssssttt', and despite my best intentions when I got back and headed out for my run it lasted all of 3 minutes.  I am definitely a little ahead of myself right now, and I already knew it while doing my weights this morning.  However the next few days are my easier days and I expect to be recovered in time for my long ride on saturday.

(swim 2000 metres, weights, ride 18 kms)

"Scientists say the universe is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. They forgot to mention morons."---Anon

Love

Peter

"Can I Get One of These?

"After dropping Colby off at school Ky and I had a few errands to run.  First we had to stop at the equipment place to pick up an oil filter for the lawn mower, and then to the drug store for....you guessed it...some Biotene mouthwash.

Claudette had given her $3.00 to spend at Shoppers but she understood that she could spend it on anything she liked.

Grampa?  Can I get one of these?

No you may not!  You don't have enough money.  Even though Grampa would dearly love to have one!

Well what about one of these then?  

Sorry you're still too little.

If I had one of these I could help Roo cut the grass?  Nope!  Roo is much too lazy as it is and we don't want to make her any worse.

We settled on a butterfly net at the drug store.  Truly I think she was as Happy with it as she may have been with the other stuff.

For me it was one of those bitter sweet moments.  If I chose to do so I could have spent the entire day with her instead of dropping her at the day care.  But alas, it was long run day and I made the hard choice.  I don't know if the hard choice was the wise choice.

Perhaps because of my ambivalence I had a tough workout.  I knew I would be slower today and thank goodness for my foresight.  I struggled with the last 10 kms of my 30.  I didn't drink near enough and by the time I got home I was a bit wobbly.  As I mentioned a few times this past week I am definitely living on the edge.

I will try to get through this week and then dial it back for the entire following week.  Sunday is my first race of the year and I want to do it in a near exhausted state so that I can practice pacing with a high fatigue level.  It will also give me a chance to tryout my new wetsuit for the first time, and to practice my transition.  It is a fairly short race...750/30/7.5.  Normally a walk in the park but it will be interesting to see how it goes the day after my long bike and run.

(run 30 kms, weights)


....and another one of those brilliant ones...


"To become a grandparent is to enjoy one of the few pleasures in life for which the consequences have already been paid."---Robert Brault


Love
Peter

"The Problem With Knowing Everything"

Is that no one ever tells you anything!

Oh they try.  For a while.  But after the repeated experience of you reminding them that you already knew that bit of wisdom, or more often knew something even better, then they tend to stop telling you stuff altogether.  And no one even really notices that they stopped!

That becomes a  bit of a problem after a while for a guy like me.  A guy that once knew everything there was to know, but now for some reason doesn't anymore.

Case in point this morning.  I asked my wife to stop at the store while she was going out anyway, and pick me up some Biotene mouthwash.  I used to use it way back when I was going through treatment and considered that maybe it would help my sore mouth feel a bit better.  Claudette's response to my request.

"Oh yeah.  Biotene.  Sally uses that and she says it really helps with her mouth sores"!!!!!   Well did my jaw drop!  Both of these ladies love me I'm sure.  Both of them know that I suffer from mouth sores.  Neither of them are sadistic bitches (well not all the time).  And yet neither of them thought for a minute to tell me that Biotene mouthwash would help me feel better......the problem with knowing everything....

What must life be like for Old John?

But everything is relative I figure.  Thank god I learned so much from Cory over the years as she never really cared what I knew or didn't know, and would tell me all about it anyway.  Because of her I know enough to get by, even if no one tells me anything!!

And speaking of everything being relative, it literally applies to everything.  Both your mind and your body will adjust to things that may have seemed extreme at a different place and time.  That's why my 60 km bike ride today seemed like a short workout.

It also applies to children.  While they may not be making you do handsprings today, if you look long and hard enough, and compare to a different time, they may actually be doing okay.

Where relative does not apply is to my grandchildren.  They always were, are still today, and always will be perfect!!  That's why I spent the second half of the day opening the pool....because they wished it...

Of course genetics being what they are my grandson already knows all of this!!!

(swim 1500 metres, leg weights, ride 60 kms)


True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing."---Socrates

"The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing."---Isaac Asimov

Love

Peter

"Forgot My Lifesaver!"

This morning I went directly from the pool to the trails and only when I got there did I realize that I didn't have my little candy.  I decided to go without and have regretted it all day.  What the lifesaver does is coat my mouth with it's gooey sugar and somehow makes up for saliva.   Well it doesn't make up for it, but it at least serves the purpose of preventing my membranes from drying out, which lessens the  discomfort both during the run and afterwards.  By the time I finished I was desperately in need of my water bottle.

The trails is definitely the right workout for the day after my long one.  When I started out I considered walking right away but somehow the rolling terrain keeps me going, and I finished the loop.  For the 3rd successive week it has taken me longer, but I actually consider that a good thing.  It means I am putting good energy into my more critical sessions such as the long ride.

But alas I survived, and I don't think the lifesaver would have given me any extra energy, and in that I have been sadly lacking all day.  We'll see what the morrow brings but right now I feel like I'm a little over the edge.  I may have to back off for a couple of days.  You never know though.  Sometimes it is surprising the difference 24 hours can make.

Time is flying like mad though.  I realized that my taper starts in 10 weeks from today!!! Holy shit!!!  But that reality won't change the fact that I am about to fall asleep.  Good night my loved ones.

Good night John boy.
Good night Mary Ellen.
Good night Grampa!

What did the Waltons call their athletic son?
Jim bag!!

(swim 1000 metres, 6 km trail run)


"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"---John Wooden


Love
Peter

"Life is Good"

It was a very busy, but very gratifying day.  We finished it off with fireworks, and I even had a beer.  It is now almost midnight.  Sometimes the days are just too short.

Training went well again today.  My ass is sore but only when I sit on a chair.  On my bike it continues to get better as hoped.  My achilles is also still a bit tender but the metatarsal problem is a thing of the past.

(ride 120 kms-3:58,  run 7.3 kms-36 mins)

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."---Joihn Burroughs

...and here's a good one...

"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it."---Hernry David Thoreau

Love

Peter

"It's all Coming Together"

Slowly but surely.  Yes the confidence level seems to go up and down a  little depending on the strength of recent workouts, and yet generally I think the trend is upwards.  What's really encouraging is that despite the fact that few workouts are done at a faster pace than in 2009, I believe that I will be faster come race day.  Today's swim is a good example.  I did 3000 metres in 58 minutes, whereas last time I would have been 2 to 4 minutes quicker.

I believe the difference will be in overall fitness.  I am definitely stronger, leaner and better nourished than perhaps any time in my life.  For an all day race this has to make a difference don't you think?

I can also still make some technical improvements with the biggest opportunity still being the swim.  The place I bought my bike from is actually a triathlon coaching centre as well.  I get a few hours of free coaching with my bike purchase and the guy swears he can help me.  They have a very high-tech endless pool with underwater video and I may take him up on his offer to give it a try.  I would just have to get over my self consciousness....I'm working on that...

Speaking of it all coming together, 2 of the worlds great women approved my bike purchase so I'm good there as well.  Thanks ladies!   Of course in doing so Sally had to go and remind me that I'm gonna die!!  Do you suppose she's right?  Also please note that neither Cathy nor Sally knew me before I was 30 and so when they say I deserve it they are unaware of all the evil I put into the world prior to that.

This past week I swam 7.5 kms, rode 190, ran 54 and spent 4 hours in the weight room.  Tomorrow it starts all over again, but the Saturday ride ratchets up to 120 kms, followed of course by a run  Wish me luck.  It looks like it's shaping up to be a hot early summer day.

(swim 3000 metres) 

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear."---Buddha

Love

Peter

"Bike Envy"

If I were me, I would be jealous of myself.  Crazy as that seems it is kinda how I think.  First off I have a terrible tendency to be envious of others who have something I want, and secondly I have a terrible tendency to feel guilty about the things I have that someone else may want.  Put those 2 weaknesses together and you may have a guy who could be jealous of himself.

I bought a new bike today and it is a test for me of the aforementioned perverted attitudes.  So far I'm doing okay.  I just try to remind myself that I have worked hard, and that I've had my share of pain.  Maybe it's okay that I bought this thing?

 Even though it cost quite a bit of money, it was still a lot less than I paid for my last vehicle, and I am way more excited about it than any car I have 'ever' bought!

I'll tell you all about it when I get it (hopefully by end of next week), but in the meantime consider that it has something called Di2, short for Digital Integrated Intelligence.  You can find out what that means here if you care to check it out.  This bike may be smarter than me!

(upper body weights, track intervals 6 kms)

"Envy comes from people's ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts."---Jean Vanier



Love
Peter

"Busy, Busy"

But good busy.  I never stopped all day.  Between working out, bike shopping, and grandchildren enjoying the day is over....oh and eating!

And I especially busted my ass in training.  I had this all done by lunch time.

(swim 2000 metres, leg weights, ride 30 kms, run 5 kms)


"The busy man is troubled with but one devil, the idle man with a thousand"---Anon

Love
Peter

"Gettin in Shape-

I'm really starting to feel fit.  I had a another great workout today, namely a 30 km run.  It was only the second time that I ran that distance in under 2 1/2 hours, the previous time being before my hyperbaric therapy.  That was back in early february and although it would seem natural that if I could do it then, that I  could do it now, the big difference is the workouts on the previous days.  I should have been tired today based on the last few days and indeed I was.  That's why I think I'm starting to round into shape.  I just ran without heed to time and that was the result.

As to the foot condition and the new shoes everything went as I expected.  My achilles is quite sore and I need to continue to doctor it but I knew that was gonna happen.  As to the problem caused by the footwear it was as if it had never been there.  I'm please that I figured it out and will know better in the future.

I did have a very weird moment after my run.  I had showered, eaten and re-hydrated and I thought it was time to start installing my new garage door openers that I bought 3 or 4 months ago.  I was up on the step ladder removing the old ones when suddenly my left leg felt very strange, as if I was getting an electrical shock.  For a  moment I thought that was exactly what was happening but quickly I realized that I already had the power disconnected.  My leg started to twitch and I knew I had to get off the ladder before I fell off.  I then had a great deal of numbness, not just in my leg but all down my left side, and I had to sit down.  I felt like my leg was not gonna support me.

Despite the fact that it scared the hell out of me I maintained my composure and when Roo arrived home a few minutes later I was under control.  She convinced me to go lay down which I did.  I suspected perhaps an electrolyte shortage as I definitely sweat a great deal today, so I mixed up a strong gatorade solution and took it to bed with me.  It is now about 6 hours later and I feel back to normal.

The other possibility I suppose is some kind of nerve pinch.  I almost called Cory but I was afraid she would send me to emerg so I resisted.  If I was really scared I would have called her anyway so there's your sign that I must be okay.

One risk that I am well aware of when I feel strong is the tendency to over train.  It feels so good to string good workouts together that the urge to keep hammering is a constant nag in the back of your head.  I think I'm okay for the moment and will keep pushing for a while.  Especially because tomorrow is wednesday and that is my new favorite day of the week.  Favorite because it is the day that I do a bit of everything,...swim, weights, bike & run in that order.

(run 30 kms, 2:29)

"A round man cannot be expected to fit in a square hole right away. He must have time to modify his shape."---Mark Twain

Love

Peter

"I'm Gonna Get a Bag of Cheesies"

No not me!  The man at the drug store that I overheard talking to his friend.

Claudette has asked me a few times what I would do if I had the choice to get my saliva. taste, and swallowing function back along with a renewed taste for potato chips.  I've never been certain of the answer.

Right now I may say yes because my mouth has been hurting for a week because of one major sore and several little ones.  They tend to get better or worse depending on what I eat, but they are a constant irritation in my life that probably ain't going away.

But on most days I am okay with my inability to eat potato chips because without that limitation I'm not 100% sure that I would be able to resist.  And for me it was never possible to eat 10 chips....it was always the whole freakin bag!

But today when I heard the man mention cheesies, my knees buckled for a minute.  I also used to love cheesies and I suddenly realized that I have never tried them post cancer.  Maybe I could eat them?  They kind of melt in your mouth if you're patient and certainly they are not as abrasive as chips.  Just for a minute I thought maybe I was gonna get a bag of cheesies.

But I walked away!  I walked to the back of the store, a safe distance away from the junk food, and there I seen my distraction....the blood pressure machine.  It prints out a little ticket

 No messy cheesies for me!  Game on!

Also, another great training day.  I swam in the morning followed by my leg weights, and then a fantastic ride with my honey.  After I dropped her off at home I repeated the 30 kms we had just done.  Man I am blessed.

(swim 1500 metres, leg weights, ride 6o kms)


"Edible substances evoke the secretion of thick, concentrated saliva. Why? The answer, obviously, is that this enables the mass of food to pass smoothly through the tube leading from the mouth into the stomach."---Ivan Pavlov


Love
Peter

"New Shoes"

I should have gotten new feet instead but they are much harder to come by.  Mind you, good shoes are not always easy to find either, and that's why I ended up at the running specialty store in London today.  I don't like going there because you inevitably have to pay more than you do at at the larger chain stores, but if you are after something specific than the choices are limited.

I walked into the store.  Picked these up and asked him if he had them in an 11-2E.

They are a neutral, cushioning shoe made by New Balance, and for me the critical part is the 2E width.  It's also the part that's hard to come by without going to a place like this.

Anyway, I am 90% sure they will solve my problem, and at $169 plus tax they better do so!  I'll let you know how it goes.  They will get their first serious test on Tuesday for long run day.  

These are the shoes I really wanted but unfortunately they would not have solved my problem, even if they may have brightened many a day.  It's just as well that they ended up not available in Canada.  These are the ones I mentioned Mike.  Let me know what you think.

On the training front, I feel quite good.  Very little residual tiredness from a strong effort yesterday and both my swim and trail run were relaxing today.  I look forward to a good week.

(swim 1000 metres, 6 km trail run)


For today's wisdom we refer to the smart people at the running shoe companies.  The last one is my favorite.

1. "Happiness is pushing your limits and watching them back down."
-New Balance

2. "There is no 'Y' in running. Believe in the run."---Nike

3. "Running releases more than just sweat."---Asics

4. "There are clubs you can't belong to, neighborhoods you can't live in, schools you can't get into, but the roads are always open."---Nike

5. "Marathoning. The triumph of desire over reason."---New Balance

6. "Running cleanses the mind and body."---Asics

7. "Runs end. Running doesn't."---Nike

8. "Your place in history is almost secure."---Adidas sign at mile 23 of the Boston Marathon

9. "The marathon. How an average runner becomes more than average."---New Balance

10. "A run begins the moment you forget you are running."---Adidas

11. "First you feel like dying. Then you feel reborn."---Asics (on running marathons)

12. "The clock isn't slower; you're just faster."---Adidas

13. "Nothing hurts more than sitting on a couch."---New Balance

14. "The only one who can tell you 'you can't ' is you. And you don't have to listen."---Nike

Love

Peter

"Don't Smoke, Don't Drink!"

Okay I have the occasional drink but occasional is the operative word.  Anyway, when I had that thought during my 100 km bike ride today it suddenly all came together.  What came together you may well ask?  Well I'm gonna tell you. What came together was my rationalization for a new bicycle.

A pack of cigarettes apparently costs 12 bucks.  If I smoked a pack a day that would have cost me about $15,000 since I bought my last bike.  If I drank a case of beer a week at 40 bucks a case, that would have cost me another $7500 over the same time period.  That's $22,500 that I did not spend since October 2008!

Case closed!!

I went to the bike shop today and scheduled a "fit" for this coming Wednesday.  It is  fairly involved process in which they take about a thousand body measurements and supposedly come up with your ideal bicycle geometry.  Once I have that done I will consider options and potentially place an order.  Right now I am leaning towards this.

Before the bike shop visit I had a decent workout.  100 kms on the bike followed by a brisk little run around the block with no rest breaks.  The ride was a bit tough for some reason but I felt extremely good on my run.

But that ain't nothing compared to my wife's workout today.  She carried 29 cartons of commercial tile at 50 pound per case, down to the basement while I was out riding.  And I you think that sounds easy give it a try!  Apparently I am now supposed to install those tiles??

(ride 100 kms 3:22,  run 7.3 kms 35:20)

"I make it a rule never to smoke while I'm sleeping."---Mark Twain

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day."---Frank Sinatra

Live

Peter

"Horseshoes And Other Important Stuff

I always wanted to have my own horseshoe pits.  What could be better than lazy Saturday afternoons in the summer time, hanging with friends and family, sharing a few beers and a lot of laughs.

So some years ago now I decided to invest the energy in making it so.   We finally had the space and so I spent an entire day doing it just right.  I built regulation size boxes with a raised back wall.  I drilled out two railway ties and inserted the stakes at just the proper angle.  Then I dug out the turf and buried the ties so that the stakes were at the exact correct height, and the correct distance apart.  Then I surrounded them by my prebuilt boxes and staked the boxes to the ground.  Last but not least I drove down to the beach and shovelled up just the nicest sand you can imagine and returned home to fill my pits.  Of course by this time I had already purchased a nice set of regulation shoes.

That was about 6 years ago.  I think I used them twice, and on both occasions it was all by myself, and i wasn't drinking.

Today while I was spraying the lawn and driving around my horseshoe pits I decided it would be for the last time.  As soon as I have the time they're coming out!  The only time I ever think of horseshoes is when I have to steer around the stupid things.  I tell you that I got awful close to just running over them.

How often in life do we hold onto ideas that we thought were important, only to discover that their time had passed.  By the time I had the space and the means to have my own horseshoe pits I was no longer attracted by the mental picture of how I would utilize them.  As much as I still like to have the odd beer, it rarely goes beyond 2, and as to lazy Saturday afternoons, they simply don't hold much appeal for me anymore.

I think there is a lot of other stuff like this in the closet of my mind that I need to de-clutter.  I'm gonna try to think about it.  What do you have that you always thought you wanted/needed, that hasn't proven out like you thought?  Or what idea/ideal are you still holding onto to whose time has passed?

Today was yard maintenance day with no workout.  I had planned to do a long swim but the weather changed that.  It was a perfect "herbicide" day.  Lots of sun and not too much wind.  Tomorrow is long ride day so chances are we have the exact opposite conditions tomorrow.

"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades"---Anon

Love
Peter

"365"

Days in a year.  And this is post number 256!  I find that very frightening.

I can also tell you that writing this blog every damn day gets a bit tedious at times.  I continue to do so because that's what I said I was gonna do, and would find it very difficult stop.

That being said today is one of those days that I really don't have anything useful to say.  Perhaps some of you may think that's a normal day?

What I need is a massage.  Something I used to do fairly regularly.  But since the worlds best massage  therapist decided to retire I am afraid do go to someone else.  Curlena simply spoiled me.  But are you offering Ky?

(run intervals 6 kms)

"I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done."---Steven Wright

"I'm writing an unauthorized autobiography"---Steven Wright

Love

Peter

"Not To Plan"

Nothing went just as planned today.  After I dropped the kids off at school I was on my way to the pool when I realized that I had forgotten workout clothes to be able to do my leg weights afterwards.  So back home to get them.  After a mediocre swim and my weights I rushed off to the sports store to look for shoes only to realize I didn't really have enough time to look properly cause I had to get the car back to Claudette.  Adrian had my truck.

The rest of my training for the day was supposed to consist of a 30 km ride followed immediately by a 5 km run.  I got all geared up and headed out, and 5 minutes in, the rain drops started.  By 10 kms I was totally soaked and that was before the hail!  Since I was now cold and wet anyway I decided I was gonna try to hammer the rest.  When it was time to trun around I realized I was only a few kms from the next corner, so I kept going and ended up doing a 37 km loop in a very respectable 32 kms/hr.

By the time I got back home the weather had let up a bit, so I changed my socks and shoes and headed out for part two.  I swear to God that I was not 2 minutes down the road that a passing hurricane caught me.  A nasty wind, and more hail!  I mentally committed to doing at least 2 kms so that at least I could say I had given it an effort. Come time to turn around and I was in the shelter of the hospital and so I decided I could do 4 kms.  Then 6.  By that time the rain had stopped, and I was at the corner of the block, and so I just kept going.  I ended up with 7.3 kms in 35 minutes....a nice brisk little run!

So not too plan, but a very gratifying workout day.  Particularly considering the weather.

Still working on the foot health!  My achilles is worrying me more today than the other problem.  I know I aggravated it in the trails the other day.  Naproxen and ice right now. Maybe I'll try to dig up a neoprene sleeve to add a little compression.  No time for rest of course!

(swim 1000 metres, leg weights, ride 37 kms, run 7.3kms)

"No battle plan survives contact with the enemy."---Colin Powell

"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth."---Mike Tyson

"You can plan events, but if they go according to your plan they are not events."---Joan Berger

Love

Peter

"Sore and Tired"

I shortened my run from the planned 30 kms to 20.  I need to do something different.  I still think it's a shoe problem, and I'll figure it out.

Big day this coming Saturday.  The Argon18 road show is at the triathlon shop in London.  I'll be checking out the bikes made by this very successful Canadian bike manufacturer.

And that's it for today.

Betty, hopefully within the next couple of weeks.  Mean while if you happen to see Old John he has a couple of saddles and would probably loan you one to test.

And Elly, what makes you think that the aqua-fit ladies request had anything to do with someones hearing ability, or my consideration thereof?  (love you too)

(run 20 kms,  upper body weights)

...and today's quote apparently comes from the bible although I can't prove it...

"The Lord hath chastened me sore; but he hath not given me over unto death".

Love
Peter

"Shhhhh"

When I got to the pool this morning my triathlon buddy was there and we hadn't connected for about 2 weeks.  Of course we acted like 2 kids chattering about our latest adventures in training and racing, as well as our usual gear discussion.

He's more than 10 years younger than me and accordingly faster but he's a really good guy and I love shooting the breeze with him.  The first order of business was a review of my marathon, the results of which he already knew from checking them out on line.

I guess we must have demonstrated the exuberance we have for our sport because after 5 minutes of our end of pool discussion the lifeguard sheepishly approached us with a request form the aqua-fit instructor at the other end of the pool.  "Could we keep our voices down a little?"

I demonstrated my incredible maturity by laughing out loud and then explaining to the lifeguard that as sorry as I was that she had to come and ask us that, I had absolutely no intention of keeping my voice down.  She apologized but felt she had to humor the bitch.  I say maturity in my case because what I really wanted to do was yell across the pool to the instructor and tell her to shove it right up her tight fuckin ass!!

There are places that call for a certain amount of solemnity, or reverence.  Maybe in church?  Maybe at a yoga class?  Maybe in a funeral home?  Maybe during a public speaking engagement?  Maybe in your own home if you so choose.

But now ever in, at, or near a freaking swimming pool!  Absurd!

Despite this very small annoyance I had a nice encouraging swim (very noisy, lots of splashing) and then rode in the basement this afternoon as the weatherman was uncooperative today.

On the injury front I think my feet are getting a wee bit better but I will know better after tomorrows long run.  Unfortunately in my inherent idiocy I both stabbed and crushed my left hand while working on my bike last night.  It is swollen and quite sore right now so we'll see how that turns out as well.

Speaking of my bike I found a few little problems with it yesterday which are easily solved but it got me thinking one more time about maybe a new one.  I asked my partner for her candid thoughts but despite my request to think it over before she answered she insisted on an immediate exuberant "damn sure!"  I don't even know how serious I am yet but it just feels so good to know that my wife thinks I'm important enough, or rather maybe that she thinks I deserve it.  I'm not so sure myself but who am I to question her on such an important topic.  :)  I'll let you know where I go with it.

(swim 2000 metres, leg weights,  computrainer 1hr, 40 mins)

"A solemn, unsmiling, sanctimonious old iceberg who looked like (s)he was waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity."---Mark Twain

...and please note in the quote below that I capitalize God which I am not always want to do so.  My reason?  Because this is the God I believe in...

"From the solemn gloom of the temple children run out to sit in the dust, God watches them play and forgets the priest"---Rabindranath Tagore

Love
Peter

"Ice Cream For Breakfast?"

This morning I had my usual 2 bagelfuls (190 cals, 3 gms fat each) and a banana, along with my coffee.  I was still hungry so I ate one of Colbys toaster strudels (180 cals, 8gms fat). I was still hungry, and not relishing another bagelful, and not wanting the fairly high fat in the strudel what was I gonna have?  I could have had another banana but I usually  eat 3 or 4 every day as it is and they do tend to cause a little constipation when I eat too many.

So what to do, what to do?

And then it came to me!

Ice Cream!

Yup!  Ice Cream!

I have made an exciting new discovery.  Remember me complaining that I couldn't find a cookie that didn't have at least 10 grams of fat in it?  I was looking for something that I could enjoy with my evening coffee. I found something better and I'm gonna eat it every day for the rest of my life.  And today that started at breakfast time

Check out a product from Nestle company called Skinny Cow, Cookies and Cream sandwich.  It ain't really ice cream since it is made with skim milk but I found them to be absolutely delicious.  And here's the best part.   They contain 140 calories and have a shocking 2 grams of fat!  I since had another one with my lunch and it will also be my bedtime snack.  I can't wait to let Colb try them out because he will be the ultimate judge.  Oh and in contrast.  A Haagen Dazs Ice Cream bar comes in at 310 calories and 23  grams of fat!  Holy shit!!  That would be about 1/4 of my daily fat allowance.  By the way, Roo's rule of thumb for fat is 3 grams per every 100 calories.

Ice cream for breakfast!  Who would have thought it?

Today was a bit of a recovery day in the training world and rightfully so after my long one yesterday.  I went to the pool and then to the trails.  There is something very healthy about off road running from both the physical and mental perspectives.  The ups and downs,  the roots and rocks, and the mud and the trees all serve to harden your body all the way from your feet to your head.  And speaking of your head, running is just so much more relaxing in the absence of cars, pavement and man made noise.  I even stopped a couple of time to try to figure out what was making the splashes in the lake.  Although I never actually seen anything I believe it was the carp further out, and the turtles along the shore.

Life is good!  Game on!

(swim 1500 metres, 6 km trail run)


"Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time."---Charles M Schulz

"Life is like ice cream enjoy it before it melts"---Anon

Love

Peter

"Seventy-Thirty"

I have decided that this is the best ratio for marital happiness.  You should spend 30% of your time together and 70% on your own.  We tested that theory today and it seemed to prove out.  We rode together for 30 kms and then I went on my own for another 70 while she went off and did whatever she did.  Actually I think she went back to the house and baked something!!!  Holy shit!!  Of course it wasn't for me!

Anyway it was indeed very nice riding together.  As I suspected I had to work hard to keep up and although she dropped me a few times I managed to catch her on the hills....that's cause I'm so skinny!  And riding behind her reminded me again of one of the things I admire most about her.   Made me fall in love all over again.   Oh baby that's-a what I like!

From a weather perspective it started out a bit chilly but warmed up nicely over time.  The wind kinda sucked mind you....well actually it blew, not sucked, but then again in some connotations I suppose that's  the same thing??

One of the drawbacks to living and riding near the lake is the inconsistency in the wind direction.  You can never be assured that just because you headed out against the wind that you would have it at your back the whole way home.  Sure enough I got cheated out of about 15 kms of tail wind down by the lake.

But overall I was happy with my 102 kms, and I managed to get off and run afterwards.  This is my first bike/run workout of what now becomes a bi-weekly event.  I had forgotten just how hard it is to do.  I had told myself in advance that for this first time some walking was okay, and so I allowed myself two 5 minute breaks in my trip around the block.  The good thing is that I felt better as I went along.

And on my favorite topic I wish to tell you that the search for a better saddle is officially over, at least for this year.  Every time out I feel a wee bit better, and although it is still a long ways from comfortable I can say with confidence that this is the best it's ever been.  I'm glad that the search is over, cause being unemployed I now can't afford any more!!  Plus I'm eyeing a few other things I may need  :)

(ride 102 kms, run 7.3 kms)

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."---Mignon McLaughlin

...and this one hit me between the eyes...probably because I don't do my part...I'm gonna try harder

"Marriage should be a duet - when one sings, the other claps."---Joe Murray

Love

Peter

"HA!"

My dear Roo inspired today's post as she has many others.  Most of the time because she says or does something brilliant, but today just cause she was being dumb!

She told me I was getting too skinny!  What a lark!  When I truly was too fat she never complained, so now when I am totally fit and healthy does she have something to say? I think she just loves me and is worried about my obsession tendencies....will the idiot know when to quit?  I also think she conditioned herself a bit back in 07/08, when she did indeed have to worry about me.

Well guess what?  before Christmas I weighed 170 lbs and I told you that my goal was 160.  On Jan 27th I complained that I was not making any progress but was resolved to keep working at it.  Then on Feb 26th I proclaimed "half way" day with a weigh-in of 165 lbs, and I expressed confidence that I would be at my goal by race day.  Which of course brings us to today.


Here you go!!

My feet still look kinda fat, don't you think?

It's been a long journey back to what I weighed in high school.  Eight years ago I weighed 240 lbs and while I have bounced up and down a bit since then, the trend has gradually been downward.  Of course that little episode I mentioned in 07/08 helped the trend a little, but the big change was really reducing the stress in my life. 

What I am most happy about however is not the weight, but the sense of accomplishment that comes as a result of maintaining the discipline necessary to get there.  When you're hungry all the time it is tough to make good choices but I have made them.  I truly believe that I have conquered a lifelong problem.

The biggest a-hah for me has been something that Claudette has been telling me for years but I needed to learn for myself.  Very simply.  "To lose weight, lift weight".  There is no doubt in my mind that for a middle aged man muscle mass is the key.  What it seems to do to my metabolism is quite amazing, much more than all the running/cycling/swimming I do.  Which is the reason I will still go down stairs and do my weights tonite even though I sure as hell don't want to!

On a other note, tomorrow is a big day at my house.  For the first time in probably 8-9 years my wife and I are going riding together.  I am very excited. She has been riding inside all winter so I expect to have to bust my butt to keep up.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Meanwhile here's a look at her machine.  All ready to kick ass!

(swim 1000 metres)

"I don't know who decided that skinny was more appealing than not skinny. It seems arbitrary."---Gwyneth Paltrow

"If nature had intended our skeletons to be visible it would have put them on the outside of our bodies."---Elmer Rice

Love

Peter

"Some People"

Have no consideration what so ever!
While I don't like to do it, I go to the weight room at the YMCA to do my leg workout twice a week.  The major reason is that they have good machines to do squats.  Trying to do them by myself at home with free weights is a bit dangerous.  Since I have to go there anyway I choose to do the rest of my legs at the same time.  My routine calls for me to start with leg extensions, and since they only have one machine to do this exercise I am always aware of when the machine is in use.  Today another guy just beat me to it.  No problem.  I need to remain flexible so I decide to do leg curls first.  When I finish my first set there the man is still on the extension machine, and it looks like he hasn't even started!  So I change my strategy and decide that I will do both of my two sets back to back, instead of rotating to the next exercise.  After all, though it is not that uncommon for people to hog a machine for some time, I try not to let it get to me.  Anyway I move off to the other end of the gym and do my squats and then check back again.  Would you believe he is still there and although he has now started to do something, it appears that he has little or no weight set up, and he is barely moving his legs....perhaps 5 degrees of extension.  What the??  Deep breath Peter and I go do my hip flexors.  By this time I am starting to think I may have to say something but since I didn't have the energy for any conflict I proceeded to do my back extensions and my abs, all the time watching this guy out of the corner of my eye.  He just seemed totally oblivious to the possibility that someone else may need that piece of equipment as he clearly spent most of his time just sitting there, occasionally making some small effort to put the thing in motion.

Finally, when I was just about ready to say screw it and go home,  he dragged his lazy ass off the seat and back into his wheelchair!

Okay so maybe I embellished my story a bit.  But only in that I knew he was handicapped all along.  He had almost no use of his legs and yet was making some effort to exercise them.  Dear God, I am so blessed to have the use of all of my limbs.  I promise to always put them to good use and to try not too whine too much when they are a bit sore from the use I put them to.  Or failing that, I at least wish to beg forgiveness in advance for when I do whine.

So if you got 2 legs that work today....use them today!!!

Along with my weights I had a decent ride in beautiful warm weather.  As far as I'm concerned it can never be too hot to ride. Bring on summer!!

(leg weights, ride 70 kms 2:16)

...and this ones for you Mikey.  I hope you like it....

"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward."---Franklin D Roosevelt

Love

Peter

"Thanks Elly!"

You made it okay for me to post that picture.  I was struggling with the fear that it would come off as arrogant.  Somehow I want to be an inspiration to others, but it is tough to know how when my intent gets all mixed up with my own insecurities, and my own arrogance.  I don't know if anyone can understand that and I struggle to explain it.  I am proud of my accomplishments and I want to tell the world what can be done, but at the same time I know that the best way to inspire is quietly, through action, not words....and/or pictures.  But from the insecurities side, I still look for validation of my own worth.  And all that sounds totally contradictory to me!

(swim 1000 metres,  6 km trail run)

"First find the man in yourself if you will inspire manliness in others."---Amos Branson Alcott

"Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be."---Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Peace"

(swim 2000 metres, ride 40 kms, upper body weights)

"Every goal, every action, every thought, every feeling one experiences, whether it be consciously or unconsciously known, is an attempt to increase one's level of peace of mind."---Sidney Madwed

Love

Peter