Snowpocalypse Now!

"You smell that salty smell, that smell smells like wet salt, that's brine, I love that smell, it smells like , like victory."

Ok before I start writing a 2 hour epic based on plow drivers stuck in the Northeast, loosely based on Conrad's The Heart of Darkness, I'll explain the title. The weather guys in the Northeast have been calling our continual storms Snowmagedon and Snowpocalypse. This week blizzard/ winter storm number 7 or 8 in a row is scheduled to hit Tuesday, Wenesday and Thursday, really throwing a crimp in my workout plans. ( Looks like no run or swim for Bobby, breakout the bike trainer.) Seriously this weather is starting to get old...in fact it's more than old I'm getting tired or cleaning my car every week and hearing how much over our annual average snowfall we are. I'm tired of my drive way being covered in a thick layer of ice. I'm tired of not being able to run on the streets because the snow drifts have clogged the far right lanes and shoulders I normally run in. I'm tired of snowmounds that are nearly double my size. I'm done with weathermen smiling with glee at their doppler radars and doomsday forecasts. I'm tired of this cold icy mess sucking my soul into a cold icy pit of despair. (Ok I went a little overboard on the last part.) Ok meltdown over. Last week was productive on the run front as I was able to gut out a couple of 4 mile speed session and a 10 miler on the treadmill. I did two pool sessions and hit the trainer. It looks like this week is going to be spent on the trainer, with my dvd collection. Likewise my income tax refund comes rolling in so I'll be able to throw down for my Ironman if there are still spots. Things are looking ok but there has been some personal/ family drama and like the snow it's more than old. I don't know why but my natural defense mechanism is to withdrawl and isolate myself, maybe I feel shitty if I go over in the corner and feel shitty by myself, it'll pass faster or make less people feel shitty but regardless that's besides the point, right now I just want to get my ass entered in some races and possible have a mid winter thaw show up so I can run outdoors again.

R.D.

Less than 24 Hours to go....

"My Heart's beating...My Heart's beatin and my hand's a shakin....."

That can best describe how I felt a race briefing this morning....the nerves are hitting, the distance is becoming real, and the fact that they're expecting rain and a 21 mph head wind isn't really helping. Since I've arrived they've been predicting rain and wind so at this point I'm chalking it up to their full of shit like all forecasters, I still put plastic bags on my bike just to be safe. An interesting thing happened on the way to the Expo I bumped into 6 time Women's Champ Jo Lawn as she was giving an interview so I have a nice candid photo .Yes I feel like a big shot on this trip!

Also included are pics of the staff at Taupo times

The girl on the left is Catherine (NZ's hottest photographer) the girl in the middle is Danielle, and the man on the right is Simon, sports writer and beer and Rugby Connoisseur ( To the guys at HEAT if at all possible we need to ship these guys some Hooker Ale!) Today will be spent not worrying about the race, special needs bag, cramming down more gels, sports drink and Bonita products as possible, the weather or how I might be cussing out rain and wind tomorrow Lt. Dan style from Forest Gump. I plan on sitting on the beach and meditating or forking over some coin at the local arcade to relieve the pre -race jitters. Tomorrow I feel ready to go....hopefully mother nature will co-operate. That's all for today...I need to go put my feet up.

Also anyone wishing to follow the race live
go to the official Ironman New Zealand site and it will direct you to Ironman live .
Like I said I just need to go and take a preverbal cold shower...when I get back home I'll have a nice month long rest before getting ready for the summer season and an epic duel in the land of the crabcake. Also anyone looking for a good "Kona-esque atmosphere without having to worry about Lotto slots or being hell on wheels Taupo is a really good pick.

The Soon to be Ironman
R.D.

I should seriously write a book about this....

If I haven't faced enough adversity in trying to train, fundraise, and get to Ironman New Zealand, Mother Nature is deciding to bust my balls at the last second. This morining as I got into work I was immediately hit with one of my co-workers saying she was coming in in a full snow suit tomorrow. I looked at NBC 30.com and checked Bob Maxon's forecast ( I could no longer take the antics of Scott Hiney...I mean Hanney, who is probably doing a snow dance at this moment.) Friday night into Saturday they are expecting "A Traditional New England Nor'Easter." 6-8 inches of snow and sleet muhahaha! Now seriously anytime there is the incling of a flurry these guys are breaking out the deathtoll meter, early warning system , and crazy religious wackos saying " Repent the end is Here!"Now I don't have much faith in their forecast, I think we'll get some white...(hopefully not) but I'm thinking 3-4 inches, I mean these guys have been prediciting the next ice age since September...it gets tiring...fast. Ok weather rant done!

If the roads are absolutely horrible on Saturday I'll take the Metro North in, figure the rails will be clear, and I can grab a cab to JFK or do the Connecticut Limo thing.



I got a later more commuter friendly flight back to NYC from LA So I won't be sitting at JFK For 3 hours waiting on the CT Limo Shuttle. That's always good right?



Well regardless, it seems like things have been popping up all along the way to try to stop me from doing this, which means one of three things will happen in Taupo

1. I will finish against all odds,At the stroke of midnight after enduring terrible hardship, winning the Hearts and minds of athletes everywhere.

2. I will have one of those " Greatest Game Ever Played" Moments. Being an unknown amateur and suddenly stun the tri world more than Chrissie Wellington's Kona Win, either beating Cam Brown and Luke Bell in a Duel Down under or coming damn close.

3. I will have the greatest race of my life, Qualify for Kona, get massive sponsorship and turn pro.

Or at least that's how it would turn out in a novel.

Regardless of what happens I will finish even if, in the words of Jon Blais, " They have to roll me off the course."

Ok mush gushy emotional part of the post over.

Praying For Clear Skies and a Tailwind.

RD.

Even the grandest cathedral was built from one small brick.

Ok my workout today was not that impressive a 15 mile bike with a 7.5 mile (1:09) run. The run was at slower than normal pace I ended up picking up a high school aged jogger and shot the shit to make the middle 2 miles go by faster. Also the fact that I was running in the dark with only my little red flasher made things interesting...the only light I had on my way back to where I parked were the highbeams of oncoming traffic. Nashville is back in Tennessee and the reason my brick was cut shorter than planned was because I was shooting the shit with him before he caught his flight...but 15 miles in under and hour isn't that bad ...is it? Tomorrow I have a long ride on tap...I must do at least 12 loops of Lake Waramaug...I need to know if my abused body can handle a century ride. The fact another Nor'Easter could be making land fall ( although I doubt it) means I will probably shoot for an early morning excursion to the lake...hopefully there will be no ice. so yes its do or die time. If I can get in at least 1 100+ mile ride then I know I can tackle the Iron bike with confidence...instead of Massive Cajones and foolish pride. So that's the plan for tomorrow.

The Road Warrior
R.D.

Flurries with a chance of Ice age.....

Well today was a rare oddity in CT and I was unable to enjoy it. For the first time in 2 weeks the temperature hit the high 40's low 50's, yet I spent the day serving customers. As soon as I get out I have an hour pool workout scheduled and then its off to CCSU for a study session/ paper writing plaooza, ( the last 8 pages of my ALS report...the hardest part is citing...and the first 3 of twelve on my mid east political analysis...damn it Israel and Palestine...just get along and play nice.) tonight forecasters are beginning their usual fear mongering about snow and cold. according to them the forecast looks like this:

Thursday: If you work until 5PM think about getting a hotel room as it is supposed to snow like the day after tomorrow, roads will be covered in up to half a foot of the white stuff and if you even dare try to go out without a sled team you will die a bloody gory death in your motor vehicle.

Friday: More White stuff and temperatures hitting the lower 40's causing some melt age which will refreeze and turn into lovely black ice....trade in your car for a team of sled dogs and begin to burn furniture for warmth.

Saturday: Snow, ice, freezing rain.....Snow god angry at us sacrifice the youngest member of the household to the snow god so he will end his wrath.

Sunday: Ugh Snow, cold...perfect weather for hunting mammoth, or typing a 12 page history paper.

Monday-Rest of next week bitter cold single digits...Neanderthals making a comeback......next up recipes for preparing mastodon.

ok I tried to enter an element of backward human evolution into this post...but it didn't work. If you want a story to help you feel like you can conquer the world read the Stephen Hawking post below. Other wise leave a comment a my cynical approach to New England meteorology

R.D.

Apocolyptic Weathermen Part II:

does anyone else notice the look of glee on a forecaster's face as he is about to deliver bad news? Seriously Scott Haney at Channel 3 in Hartford is probably one of the worst. The way his eyes light up, that sappy smile, and that lifted tone in his voice as he predicts a cold front that will hover itself above New England bring snow, ice, and temperatures that make Siberia seem like Jamaica...and this will last forevermore...hahahaha! Seriously I'm beginning to wonder if there is some conspiracy between New England's meteorologists, the local dairies, Wonder bread, and big oil, because as soon as the dreaded "s" word is uttered every person withinn broadcast range is rushing out to buy gas, milk, bread and putting in an emergency call to their fuel delivery service, which inturn leads to an increase in the price of fuel by our good friends at OPEC ,

which in turn leads to an increase in the price of bread and milk, which leads to an increase in price of consumer goods, which leads to an increase in wages but devaluation of currency and this whole wonderful inflation garbage in which the US dollar becomes Worth less than the paper it's printed on leading to a complete breakdown of the world economic system...and mass unemployment....etc....etc...etc...and eventually form this whole chain of command leads to wars and nukes, and then nuclear winter and the end of life on this planet....so in essence the weather people are predicting the Apocalypse by fear mongering the consumer and increasing the profits of OPEC. Ok that rant/comic relief /schizophrenic outburst aside I'm going to get a run in on this frosty Saturday Afternoon before sitting my ass in fornt of the TV to watch the Ironman Highlight show. Peace.

The Cold Conspiracy Theorist

R.D.

I think I could call this a rest week...kinda...sorta....

So far my workout stats this week have benn well unimpressive. Here's the run down.

Sunday: 22 mile run ( See Death March Post.)

Monday: worked and guraded let my aching hip recover.

Tuesday: Swam 4000 yards ( main set 4x500 on 7:00) I kept making it with like 5 seconds rest so I felt badass, despite my lack of pool time.

Wednesday: Worked, Ran 5 miles in 40:35, went to class, had dinner with a hot young lass...yea I said that.....

Today: had planned on getting a trainer workout or early morning run in. Snooze button wrecked that. Classes and work aren't leaving time for anything else..so Today might become rest day part duex....maybe I might be able to sneak in a 4 miler or some pool time, we'll see.

Friday: Definitely getting on the trainer for at least an hour and a half. Masters Swimming: So at least 3000 yards of pool time.

Saturday: Ride and run...hopefully a 50/16 brick....but we'll see. I'll be up at the lake. So hopefully it will be more than 50 but like I said it depends on day light and cold....I might take a heater break in the middle. But I need the run.

Sunday: A swim workout either before or after Mass. A run if the weathermen in New Englan keep following their current track....predicting the end of the world and we get squat..which always makes me happy. (They're talking snow, ice, sleet, the coming of the Apocalypse, dogs and cats living together as one..... so the outdoor rides will probably be at an end, but hopefully not.)

Monday: Their talking the mother of all Ice storms, I may blow off class if it isn't cancelled, and just park on the trainer....but hopefully we'll get nothing and I'll get in an early morning trainer session .

So that's the wrap up and preview. In all this I still have to eek out Christmas Shopping (ugg! shiver!) read up on the Middle East, amd get a Prjoect ready to go for Anthropology.

The Smasher of the Snowmen
R.D.