"I Did It!"

I couldn't find a quilting bee that was in my age group so instead I settled for the Hamilton Road2Hope marathon on November 4th.  I have 8 weeks to get ready which should give me enough time to ramp up, and then back down.  Right now my intent is just to go and run it with fun being the primary motivator.....and yes of course, my mental and physical health as well.

You may also choose to visit "Encore" to see what else I am up to  :)

Love
Peter

"Sign Me Up"

For something!  Triathlon, marathon, bike race, quilting bee....anything!

Yes, I need to tend to my addiction pretty soon.  Sometimes it frightens me a little.  I can feel my body slowly but steadily starting to slow down.  Do you think it means that I will have to continue this stuff for as long as I live?  Despite my severely reduced activity level my appetite seems to be as hearty as ever, and now after a gradual 4 week taper in preparation for the race, and the subsequent 2 weeks of doing almost nothing, I am starting to gain weight!!

Whoa!  This is not what I expected.  It probably has something to do with age.  I know I am genetically inclined to be heavy but somehow I thought that with my new diet awareness I could get away with just a 'normal' amount of exercise.   Now I'm not so sure.  I still like to eat!

So what to do?  I find that the only way to keep my exercise levels up to my appetite levels is to be training for something.  That however makes me a feel a little bit like I am a prisoner to my own addictions.

Then again it just occurs to me that I could train for something without it being an all consuming thing like Ironman.  Even if I signed up for a marathon it would not have to be with the intention of lowering the world record.  When I frame it in that perspective it seems a little easier to swallow.  I really only feel imprisoned by my training when it is driven by a time goal, rather than just completion.

So there ya go.  I just talked myself into permission to go do something.  I'll let you know what I choose.

On another note I want to keep this blog going but I could use some help.  If you are interested in posting a guest blog let me know at pwrooyakkers@gmail.com.  I will try the volunteer approach first!!  Only if necessary I will hand out assignments!!

And as a special treat since I don't normally do this anymore, I choose to dedicate today's post to a very special guy.  I happen to know that he reads this thing at least occasionally, so this one's for you Bill.  Love you brother!

(ride 37 kms)

"Great effort is required to arrest decay and restore vigor. One must exercise proper deliberation, plan carefully before making a move, and be alert in guarding against relapse following a renaissance."---Horace

Love

Peter

"Look Ma!"

NO WIRES!!

But why so many pictures you may ask?  Well it's just because I gain so much satisfaction out of an accomplishment like this.  It really turns my crank!

Another little joy I got along the way was figuring out the heat shrink problem.  My wife has a very powerful hair dryer that will give you a serious burn if you're not careful.  However the problem with trying to use something like that is that the output is not focused enough.  All you end up doing is heating up the whole bike.  I taped a small funnel over the business end....and voila....hotter than hell and easy to point!! It worked like a charm.

And speaking of turning my crank I came across this picture when I was posting my others.

This is on our way back from Penticton.  She really is only 6 years younger than me believe it or not!!

On a totally different note I had the opportunity to participate in a Catholic Funeral Mass today.  The whole affair reminded me of all that is beautiful, and all that is absurd about the religion of my youth.  Just to prove how mature I am I will give you two examples of the beauty.  The hymns, and the part where you offer each other a sign of peace.  I get to kiss my wife in church.  And as further proof of my fairness I give you only one moronic thing.  The part where the priest encourages you to "buy" a mass for the dearly departed so as to help him get to heaven!!  As if Doug, a shining example of all that is good about humanity, didn't arrive there the minute he departed this world!!

There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction."---Salvador Dali

We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals, and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve."---Maxwell Maltz

Love
Peter

"Patience"

It is probably one of my greatest weaknesses.  Time after time during my life I have screwed things up by trying to go too fast.

Ever so slowly I am learning.  Even today as I work on my bike, I constantly need to admonish myself to do it right, and do it once.  I really am quite capable when I work methodically and don't try to take shortcuts.

I'm not completely happy with my work so far but it is coming together.

I spent several hours today with wire ties and fishing line, just threading the wires through the bars.  Believe me it is very painstaking.  The interior space is already crowded with the brake cables and because the wires are quite fine you can not yank at all.  So far so good.  I still have the aero bar part to do, but that will be easier.  Then, once they are all connected I have to put heat shrink tubing over all the connectors.  That will be another challenge as I don't have just the right heating tool for constricted spaces.  I don't want to burn the wires or the paint.  I still have to think this out.  Maybe Old John has some advice.

I took the day off again today as I have decided to move back into a routine very slowly.  I am feeling quite good and I want to make sure it stays that way.  I'm pretty sure that "patience" is the right attitude.

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love
Peter

"Off Season Surgery"

When a major bicycle component manufacturer comes up with any new technology, the bike manufacturers are always scrambling to keep up.  When it is a significant leap like Shimano's electronic  shifting the issue can be doubly problematic as the bike guys are trying hard to adapt their machines for the new technology, while at the same time maintaining the flexibility to accommodate the tried and true older versions.

In the case of my Argon 18 the situation is further complicated by the fact that it is a brand new model, with a very unique handlebar setup.

The net result of all this sophistication?  The wiring on the front end is very complicated and very messy.  When I first received the bike I was totally disappointed by the appearance of the front end, but I have since made significant improvements over the way the bike shop wired it.  I have developed a plan to improve it further by actually modifying the wiring harness and rerouting some of the cables.  I was prepared to do this, but then thought better of doing it just before my race as it had some risk involved.

I'm glad now that I didn't do it as I have since come up with a much better plan yet.

The downside is that it means drilling extra holes and completely rerouting the wires.  It will take me some time yet but I have great confidence that it will look and work great when I'm done.  I decided that I'm not gonna ride again until I have it complete.  I promise that the apparent disaster you see above will be turned into a thing of beauty.  I will of course provide the evidence.

I also spent some time today repairing the wobble in my back wheel and I'm generally satisfied with that.

I had my first post race workout today, and it felt great just to be out there doing something.  I was still a bit tired but I'm glad to say that nothing hurt.

(run 7.3 kms)

"The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do."---B F Skinner

Love

Peter

"It Must Be Sunday!"

I feel like resting.  Colby and I rode to Port Stanley today, and tomorrow I think I'm actually gonna try a little run....after all it is Labour Day.

Besides being Sunday it was also the first day of this world without a very fine man.  Doug Peltier left us yesterday morning, and he will be sadly missed.  Rest well Doug.  You deserve it.

Doug's passing reminds me one more time of the passing of the days.  Live like there's no tomorrow!

"If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve."---Lao Tzu

Love

Peter

"It's In The Genes"

Today my amazing niece Samantha smoked the Try-a Tri course at Guelph Lake in a time of 1:04:36.  I was privileged to be a witness to her first ever triathlon.

Sammie I was so immensely proud of you.  It still brings tears to my eyes several hours later.  Game on girl!!

Old John and Garmpa Brett also completed the longer race but unfortunately I can not give you official times because the listings seem to be incomplete.

Here they are discussing strategy.....in the food tent!!

"Okay Brett.  You distract the volunteer, and I'll grab an extra handful of cookies and drop them in my bag.  I promise to give you your share later."

"Fat chance buddy!  Just cause you're blind, doesn't make me dumb.  The cookies go in my bag!!"

On a personal note I thought I was completely recovered from my race until I tried follwoing these guys around with a camera today.  Maybe I'll just take a few more days off.

...and I don't know what you think of when you read this quote but for me it touched something inside...

"Of what shall a man be proud, if he is not proud of his friends?"---Robert Louis Stevenson

Love
Peter

"Been There, Done That, Got The Shirt"

But that makes it sound very hum-drum.  In actual fact the day had many special moments.

Here in no specific order are a few of them.

 Most affirming…standing in the second row at the swim start with no real nerves or feeling out of place.

Most gratifying….when another cyclist pulled up beside me and said, "wow, even your drink matches your bike"

Coolest...Every time an anonymous spectator called me by my first name....of course it was on my bib.

Warmest….peeing my pants during the bike---twice!

Coldest…on the run when one of the ice cubes I had dumped in my suit slid gently down the crack of my ass.

Most frightening…going 75 kms/hr downhill on a very crappy road

Most sobering…seeing a cyclist laying in the middle of the road at the bottom of the same hill

Most annoying…listening to the asshole that thought it was funny to offer beer and cigarettes to exhausted runners

Most disgusting…taking an unexpected mouthful of chocolate flavoured gel

Most discouraging…at about 5 kms into the run when I realized there was not going to be any race day magic today

Sweetest…hearing Roos voice near the finish line even though I could not see her.

Most satisfying…when Roo said yes to my marriage proposal before I headed out on the run.

Most thankful….when a volunteer helped me pack up my wetsuit after the swim.

Most surprising…when I stood up in Lake Okanagan after 1 hour, 18 minutes.

Most encouraging…the pushup including a hand clap that I did immediately after finishing.

Funniest…when a guy wearing a dress and carrying a purse passed me on the run.

Most exhilarating…heading out on the bike course with the wind behind me.

Most alarming…when with one kilometre to go on the bike a water bottle fell into my back wheel and got stuck. I thought my wheel blew up.---big wobble in it now.

Most disappointing…when with about 5 kms to go I realized I was not going to beat my previous time.

Most disorienting…during the bike to run transition when they sent us everywhere expect for what made logical sense.

Toughest moment….at the run turnaround when 21 kms seemed like the end of the world.

….and the absolutely very best moment of the entire day….

Later that day when I was puking my guts out back at the motorhome. I knew for sure then, that I had given everything I had to give….no regrets, no apologies…

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."---Martin Luther King Jr

"Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing."---Wayne Dyer

"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments."---Rose Kennedy

Love 
Peter

"Tired"

Three days and 3000 kms.  But we'll be home tomorrow, and then I can rest.

I know when I get back on my feet I'm gonna need some new challenge so I'm thinking of running a marathon somewhere within the next 2 months.  Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara are potentials.  Brett, want to join me....or anyone else for that matter?

Speaking of feet, mine have been quite swollen for the last couple of days.  Roo says it's from travelling soon after the race....could well be.

Big day coming up on Saturday.  Old John, Grampa Brett, and niece Sammie will all be doing triathlons at Guelph Lake.  Good luck to all 3 idiots!

Race day thoughts still to come...probably after I'm home for a day or so.  I want to share the highlights of the day, but I also want to give you an honest "post mortem" of a day that did not go according to plan!!

"All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again."---Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Love
Peter

"Placeholder"

Kind of suspected that we may not have Internet today so I posted this in advance.

If they had given me this cool red hat before the race I'm sure I would have gone faster...after all, red is the fastest colour...whoops...color!  

"You otta go back to Canada!"----anon

Love

Peter

"You Otta Go Back To Canada!"

Said the nice American lady somewhere in Washington State.  Apparently she was not happy with my driving etiquette.  She believed that if her light happened to be green that she should be able to make any decision she wanted, even if it meant turning left when I was turning right, also with a green light.  I have been in a lot of countries around the world, and I do not know of one in which I would not have had the right of way.  I tried to explain this to her politely but she quickly put me in my place with her "Canuck go home" comment.

Oh well.  There is just no explaining some things to some people, especially if they happen to be stupid, miserable, ugly, old, bitch, whores!  There!  Now I feel better!

And she's not a typical American.  Even though I admit that I've bitched about our southern neighbours at times I know it is because I have had lots of exposure to the most unpleasant of them....mostly at airports and border crossings, and usually wearing some kind of uniform.  Today when we crossed into the US we were treated very respectfully despite undergoing something I have never experienced before.  As a matter of fact I didn't even know this process existed.

Can you figure out what it is?

Anyway....we drove about 1000 kms today and are currently in Bozeman, Montana, just over 1/4 of the way home. I am a bit tired, and expect to be so for a couple more days as we try to get home by Friday evening.  Neither Roo or I really say it out loud, but we both know that it is our grandchildren that beckon us back.  That's a good thing I think.  It's nice to go on a vacation because of the adventure, but even nicer to know that you have reasons to go back home.

One Ironman question I can answer for you.  Someone asked me how I was gonna celebrate my success.  Well, I'm a simple guy.

"We'll explain the appeal of curling to you if you explain the appeal of the National Rifle Association to us."--- Andy Barrie

Love

Peter

"Wow!"

I feel like a million bucks this morning.  I was up and had breakfast before 6 am, even though I never went to bed til after midnite.  It confirms for me that I'm pretty healthy.  I had to recover a bit of course, but I managed to get food into me before I went to bed, and again this morning.  I was doing some puking last night but I actually think it was primarily from having too much fluid in my gut.  Because I don't (can't) consume any solids while working out it becomes a special challenge to keep the balance just right.

As to my race experience I will tell you more about it over the next couple of days.  We will be heading   out early tomorrow morning, and hopefully arrive back home Friday evening.  It will mean some pretty long days, but we are both ready to get back to our loved ones.

I received an interesting e-mail this morning from Ironman.com.  That's the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) that owns the Ironman Canada name, and the organization that Penticton has decided to replace.  The interesting thing is that WTC has decided they are not giving up, and intend to run Ironman Canada 2013 somewhere else.  As a lure to get things rolling they have offered priority registration to all of the 2012 participants.  They do not have a location yet, and apparently that will take a month to finalize.  To get on this list you have to submit your name now and then wait for the final decisions about date and location.  I suspect there is a very good chance that it will be in Ontario somewhere, probably in the Muskoka region.  Would that be cool??  I submitted my name!!

And I'm probably gonna talk some more about this in the coming days but I want to briefly share how I feel mentally this morning, because it has kind of taken me by surprise.  When I set a goal and then don't achieve it I normally fall into a bit of a depressive state.  I think that's natural.  It kind of goes with the territory of an Ironman driven personality.  Not so this time.  Instead of being down I have a great sense of pride for staying on my feet when all I wanted to do was sit by the side of the road.  The overwhelming sense of despair that comes to you when you figure out that it's still gonna hurt for a long, long, time is very powerful.  Also deep down inside I still believe that on a different day the 11 hours was within my potential, and now I have an opportunity to prove it in the future.

 And for today's quote I give you my second favorite race sign from yesterday.

"You aren't cool unless you peed your pants"

Love
Peter

"That Was Hard!"

I am very proud of my day.  I had to battle harder than ever in my life.   I figure that 3 years older, and only 3 minutes slower is pretty good!  I finished in a time of 11:39:55 which was good for 18th out of 150 in my age group.
Mentally I feel great.  Physically, sick as a dog.

And for today's quote I give you my favorite race course sign.

"Smile if you masturbate."

  By the time I reasoned it out it was too late.  I had already grinned and got caught!

Love forever to all of you.  How immeasurably blessed I am.  I get emotional sitting here thinking about it.

Peter

"One Last Moment"

Idiot moment that is!

I was leisurely riding my bike down to the transition to check it in.  You have to do this today, along with all your transition stuff.  I was pretty sure it was ready to go since I've been playing with it for the last week.

Imagine my surprise then when half way there I switched gear....and switched gear...and switched gear...all to no avail!!  wtf???

Oh!  No battery!

Idiot!

Anyway, I think I'm about ready.  The hardest part of the day tomorrow will be getting out of bed at 4 am.  After that it needs to be just another day.  I can not let the success or failure of an entire years work hinge on one day.

If you care to keep track of my progress you should be able to here.   Just type my name or number (1904) in the appropriate spot.

"Game on"---Peter R

Love
Peter

"Ironman"

...according to Wikipedia...

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break.

The operative part of that definition lies in the blue words.  When used in reference to any sporting events the word "Ironman" is a copyrighted corporate logo owned by the aforementioned organization.  

That's why these will be coming down after this years race.

And these will be going up.

It has been an eventful week in Penticton with a mix of sports, politics and corporate interests.  The bottom line is that this will be the last year for Subaru Ironman Canada, and 2013 will see the advent of the "Challenge Penticton Iron Distance Triathlon".

I think it's probably a good thing because the WTC has been building an international monopoly on Ironman races.  This other organization seems more aggressive, and more supportive of athletes and the host communities.  The local city council voted unanimously to dump WTC and go with these guys.  This will be the first Challenge race in North America.  They have about a dozen other races worldwide, including the biggest of them all in Roth Germany. 

It doesn't really matter to me one way or another however as I don't expect to be back here.  Any future races for me will be either closer to home, or further away.  Interestingly enough though I think my next one will probably be in Mont Tremblant Quebec....a brand new "Ironman" race!

What does matter to me is this year, particularly the weather.  If the race had been today it would have been ugly for me.  It was cold with a mean north wind.  

As you can see.

We went for a walk and I was not gonna freeze today.

The north wind means it is coming off the lake and causes this.

But I'm sure it won't be like that on Sunday.  After all.  My life is charmed!

(managing the anxiety....just)

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."---Anthony J. D'Angelo

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."---John Ruskin

Love

Peter

"Labelled and Identified"

And these guys seemed to know my colour scheme.  Wow!  Yes, today was official sign-in, and race kit pickup. The only part they got wrong was the silly blue swim cap which you have to wear.  I won't even show you a picture of it because it is so ugly!  But check this all out!!

My nice glittery, holographic ID bracelet with my official number.

My helmet number which, against the rules, I "cropped" a bit to avoid covering the vents in my helmet.

My small bike number which is supposed to go on your stem but I put it on my aero water bottle instead.

 My primary bike number which was tricky to get on just right but I did okay.

My beautiful personalized bib.  Last time I was here they gave you one with your first name and one with your surname, and you could choose to wear either, or both.  The reason they provide 2 is because you need one on the back for your bike, and then on the front for the run.  Necessary if you pin them on, but I just wear a belt and slide it around...most people do.  Also this year, both bibs had only first name...strange?

But the most special little surprise of all.  The 30 year commemorative, red, white, and black timing chip, ankle strap.  You could give them 5 bucks for it, or choose to use your own.  Five bucks it is!!

I think it's all very hilarious.  It's like the gods are watching over me.  Either that or it's Mary and her angels again.?  Whatever the cause I'll take it!  Game on!

And all that pretty colored stuff is just fluff anyway isn't it?  What does it all matter in the big picture?  Squat!!

But I'll tell you what does matter.  I had a revelation this morning.  I figured out why I do this!!

I was brushing my teeth at the sink when it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks.  We had just come back from the race site after going through the whole sign-in process.  I was feeling pretty pumped about being part of a pretty elite group of people.  Despite some continuing nerves I am extremely excited to be here.  I am proud to be healthy and proud of my efforts to get myself that way.  Just generally feeling pretty damn good!

But guess what?

I never woke up that way.

And guess what?

I often wake up not feeling that way.

But guess what?

Almost every day I get out of bed at a reasonable time.

And guess what?

 Usually within a half hour I get that way!

Yes my friends.  I do this to fight the everlasting battle with the big demon!!

Depression!!

And guess what?

It works!  I win almost all of the battles, and I am definitely winning  the war.

And that's why I do this.

And until I discover another strategy, and I very well may, I will continue to do this.  Perhaps only every 2 or 3 years but I will continue.   I think it's worth it, don't you?

(workout today,  ate a giant waffle with fresh fruit and lots of whipped cream)

....this one is hard to buy when you are in the midst of depression but I think it's true...

"You largely constructed your depression. It wasn't given to you. Therefore, you can deconstruct it."---Albert Ellis

...and perhaps I'm not an idiot after all...

 I don't think anybody's continually happy, uh, except idiots, you know. You know, you have to have little moments of depression."---Rube Goldberg

Love

Peter

"Faster Than A Speeding Bullet"

The new look!

My wife's getting pretty good with a camera ah?

Especially when she doesn't have much to work with.

The clothes make the man do they not?  I know they can make you look very, very fast as long as you don't prove otherwise.  Of course I got the suit and the helmet because they matched the bike, but I can tell you honestly that I love both of them.  The best part about the suit is the legs.  On my previous one they had the annoying tendency to hike up over time. These stay exactly where they're supposed to.  I could never quite get comfortable with my blue aero helmet, but this one I actually prefer over my every day helmet.  That's almost unheard of.

So because I look so good, but I'm not really that fast, I have decided that instead of trying to focus on my goal times I am gonna put more effort into finding the photographers out on the course.  The better job I do at anticipating their shots the better I will be able to pose for them.  Sound like a plan?

And if the truth be known I really have no idea what's gonna happen on Sunday.  I'm trying hard not to be afraid but I admit there is a bit of that.  I know that there will be times that it's just gonna hurt.  How does one anticipate pain without some measure of fear? 

For all intents and purposes, aside from the fear, I am ready to go now.  The hardest part is trying to stay seated.  The next few days are all about getting my head screwed on properly, and getting my body fully rested.  Unfortunately those two things are in conflict.  The only thing that seems to help me relax is activity.  

I am however looking forward to tomorrow.  I will do my little race simulation about 7:30 or 8, and then head down for registration which I believe opens at 10.  I know from experience to be there early to avoid a long. long, lineup.  Once I have those 2 things done I can start preparing all my gear which will help keep me occupied.  

All I did today was a 20 minute jog by the river, and a ride to the grocery store with Roo.  We rode our tandem for the first time and I think she would agree that we did pretty good.  Communication is absolutely critical, and after some early learning we got the hang of it.  I can tell you that riding one of these is not something to do with someone you don't like!!

(run 4 kms,  tandem ride to the grocery store)

"God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."---Eric Liddell

"God did not make me fast, but when I run I feel his pleasure"---Peter R

Love

Peter

"Ya Gotta Laugh!"

Ya gotta laugh at yourself.  I can't imagine getting through life without that skill.  My inquisitive nature, combined with my tendency to take risks often leaves me in predicaments that can only be laughed at.  Yesterday I decided that I was gonna take the chain off my bike and clean it.  Of course the only way to remove the chain is to actually separate one of the links.  They make special tools to do that, and since I had left my back in St Thomas I bought another one in Canmore.  I opted for the cheaper of the two available, since they looked of equal quality to me.

So I applied my new (inexpensive) tool and despite a bit of early resistance it did indeed pop the rivet out and as they say 'break' the chain.  Except this time it seemed to literally "break" the chain.  The rivet tool had a nice little piece of circular metal still attached to it once I reversed it out of the chain!!  Oh, Oh!

So down to the bike shop to see what they can teach me, and if necessary buy a new chain.  On the way there on my tandem Sears special I hear that bike starting to squeak....a funny kind of chirping sound as if something was rubbing on the tire.  So I pull over but can't find anything wrong.  Off I go again only to hear it a minute or so later.  I realize this time that it was not coming from my bike at all, and instead seemed to come from overhead.  Then I knew right away what it was, because I often have the experience at home.  Blackbirds in particular seemed to be aggravated by cyclists and can hang over head and chatter away in an effort to protect their territory. Ya gotta laugh!

So I make it to the bike shop and after much explanation and not much advice, I get a new chain but no new tool to install it.  I have to go to the other bike shop down the street but sure enough I manage to get one there and back to the RV I go.  On the way back the blackbird was at me again except this time it sounded like a different bird???  It took me 2 or 3 more intersections to figure it out.  Have you?  The city of Penticton is friendly to the visually impaired .  As well as the usual  pedestrian crosswalk signals they provide a variety of audible tones, some of which sound like birds....or apparently a bike tire rubbing.  Ya gotta laugh!

Anyway, to make a long story short I had not really damaged my chain at all.  I had to learn through trial and error but now I think I understand.  The factory rivets on the type of chain I have actually have a very fine flange on each end which shears off when you push the rivet out.  That is why they supply a special connection rivet with new chains.  Anyway, all is well and I learned something.  It only cost me 80 bucks!!   Ya gotta laugh!

And that was just yesterday.

Today....I finished the reassembly of my bike including a complete clean and polish, and headed out for the obligatory combination, test and final bike workout.  Since I had replaced my little seat bag with an even "littler" seat bag for race day I did not take my phone with me as I usually do.  I did make sure to bring a spare of course, a spare that I happened to buy in Canmore.

Well everything went well except of course for the fact that I felt sluggish and out of shape.  I say of course because that seems to be the norm for me before big races .  Fortunately it is usually my head that is the culprit, not my legs.

Everything went well until.... I got back to town when guess what?  Holy shit!  I got a flat!  No way!  I just put new tubes on, and even a new rim tape on the back, which coincidentally is the one that went flat.  I must have done something wrong.  No worries though, since I had a spare.  And how convenient...right near a sidewalk bench.  So I pull out the tools and the spare, removed the old one, found a nice little metal sliver in my tire that caused the problem, and proceeded to install my new 700C X 18-23 mm tube with the 60 mm stem.  Oh No!!  Apparently 60 mm means something different in Alberta since the stem was too short for me to get any air into it once I had it installed.  Ya gotta laugh!

But what the hell am I gonna do?  Start walking I guess.  Fortunately I knew I was only about 2 kms from the RV so I began.  But wait!  Where exactly am I?  Yaaaah...isn't this about where the bike shop is? Ha Ha!  Fifty metres down the street!  Ya gotta laugh!

Of course I don't have any money but the guy decided to trust me and after installing my new tube (80 mm stem)  I headed back to the RV. Apparently 60 mm's means different things to different manufacturers and the only way to be safe is to go with the longer ones.

One more quick trip back to pay the bike shop guy and then back 'home' again to finish my tuneup.

And here she is... in living colour!  Ain't she a beaut!

Speaking of colour, and of laughs, check this out.  This is next door to our RV site.  When do you suppose this sign was last updated?  Ya gotta laugh!

Despite some nerves I fell pretty decent.  I do have bouts of wondering what the hell this is all about, but they generally pass.  I am determined to have fun damn it!!!

Run day tomorrow.  Thursday is registration as well the day I will do my last little transition practice with every bit of race gear.  Then Friday is the banquet and pre-race meeting, and Saturday bike check-in.  The big day will be here before I know it.

(ride 37 kms)

To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it!"---Charlie Chaplin

Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.---W. H. Auden

Love

Peter

"Pensive Today"

Or perhaps a little antisocial.  I'm not sure why, but I'm not gonna stress over it.  Bottom line is that I have no idiocy for you today.  I'm gonna watch television.  

(swim 35 minutes, Lake Okanagan)

"My guiding principles in life are to be honest, genuine, thoughtful and caring."---Prince William

Love

Peter

"I'm Baa-ack!"

I am deliciously, delectably, deliriously, perhaps even dementedly, delighted to be here.  We arrived just after 8 pm after a non-stop, 7 hour, 560 km drive from Canmore.

I am happy to tell you that as well as being delighted, I also feel whole again.

She looks happy to see me as well eh?  That's part of her mountaineering group in the background.

We had to scramble once she got back at 2 pm,  because we had to be here by 9 to get into our RV park tonite.  We needed the extra hour that Pacific time gave us.

After we got settled in and had some supper I took a walk down to the lake.  Did I mention that I am happy to be here?  It is gonna be a glorious week come what may.

More tomorrow.

(no workout)

"To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice."---Khalil Gibran

Love

Peter