2 Days without exercise make Bob ....

FAT and LAZY!

yes that's right the unthinkable has happened I have spent the last two days with late nights on the web and in the library, and no yards in the pool or miles on the road. This weekend a book review will be taking up most of my time along with some BS questions for my 200 level Europe class. Today I file for Financial Aid so the Feds can continue to pay for my suffering/education/ hopefully earning that sheet of paper, that says I'm worth more than $15,000 a year. ( the degree is worth it.. has become my mantra, especially on those days where I want to toss my laptop out a window, curl into the fetal postion and cry because its all becoming too much. I have four professors trying to compete for my limited time and resources, I am only one man damn it!) as well as more research, some pool time may eek itself out somewhere, somehow.

Tomorrow, continues my quest for sources, that damned book review ( hint the author is not getting many props.) and (gasp) a run .....



What I have found out from my research so far....I'm glad I live in the 21st century, because the 19th century idea of surgery was just plain brutal. Seriously, our butchers today, are more sanitary than the doctors were then....even Lord Joseph Lister didn't wash his hands between operations until 1868, and Liston, one of surgery's pioneers actually held a knife between his teeth when he was sawing a femur during an amputation...it was no small shock that the patient died of gangrene. Seriously I'm not making this crap up, going for an operation in the 1800's was like entering the little shop of horrors....and recovery well, that let just say docs could've of had a profitable business betting on if you were going to make it.

ok random crap done. Since I was on the note of medical progress Please Donate to Claire's AIDS ride....

Ok post Done
R.D.

Help a sister help others.....

A few months ago Speed Racer helpped me out by putting up a link to My War on ALS fundraising page and I decided to return the favor.
Speed Racer is raising funds for the San Francisco AIDS foundation to partcipate in the 5 day LA to SanFrancisco AIDS ride. Now I know what everyones is saying, " Damn it Bob you're making me reach into my wallet again!" but seriously, unlike the War on ALS where I was already entered into the event and my fundraising just went to the cause, Speedy has to raise $2500 or she can't ride. So far she has raised over $1600 but still needs about $900 to be able to ride. I'm not asking that anyone go crazy and donate $1000 ( if you want to I'm sure she' d appreciate it) but if you could throw a buck or two her way it would help her ride also it would help buy life saving drugs for AIDS patients, as well as fund awareness and prevention programs.

The US drug companies manufacture several of the anti- retrovirals that help combat HIV/AIDS yet Pifzer isn't really putting these treatments in the bargin bin. For third World countries especially sub-sharan Africa this is a major hinderance to combating the pandemic. Despite demands from the WHO (World Health Organization) to make these drugs generically, The US government has decided protecting drug company patents and profits take priority ( I could get into a whole rant on this but won't.) In any case it is non-profit groups such as the San Francisco AIDS foundation that provide testing, care, information and advocacy for lower income AIDS patients. Every donation no matter how small helps.
To make a donation to Speedy's fundraising site click on the link I have posted at the top of the website or click here.

2008 Goals/Objectives

Ok in the business/ military world we have "goals" those warm fuzzy personal little things we want to do better but it won't be the end of the world if we don't achieve them, and then there are objectives...the things you absolutely must do if you value your life/position/ being employed for more than minimum wage. So here are the goals:

1. Get out of debt....( laugh, snicker, it's a nearly impossible dream but maybe I'll have a night where I'm on fire at the Craps table, or pick some lucky lotto numbers, or gasp go pro with this whole tri thing.)
2. Qualify for Kona
3. Win age group in New Zealand
4 Decimate Age Group in New Zealand
5. Win my age group in at least 3 races this year.

Here are the objectives:
1. Finish IM New Zealand: I am crossing that finish line even if I have to pay a set of Paramedics to carry my ass over it on a stretcher.
2. Qualify for Kona or Clearwater, or another North American Ironman ( don't know if they have slots for other races at Eagleman but it would be cool if they did.)
3. Improve my cycling skills...I am almost getting to the point where I am fearless again on 2 wheels.
4. Another Marathon I want to see how fast I can crank one of these suckers out on full rest.
5 Medal at the Griskus Sprint : Macca had Kona, Earnhardt had the Daytona 500, and I have this little sprint the race I just could not win.... like these two I will breakout and I think this year could be the year.
6. Plan for my 2009 Ironman....don't know if It'll be NZ, Placid, Arizona,Florida, Hawaii or CDA but I fully intend to do another M-dot. And I will actually have a more structured training regiment for this one. other than my hodge podge of long swims, long runs, and riding until I run out of daylight
7. Defend my age group title at the New and Improved Nutmeg State Half Iron. Bjorn will be better prepped and the bike course will be faster......breakout the areo helmet.
8. Get at least one race in the greater Boston and greater NYC metro area done this year. Claire hauled ass down here for a training ride so I sort of owe her. That and I need to meet the infamous cranky runner...maybe I'll volunteer for the NYC tri so I can get a free entry in 09.
9. Avoid injury

Well those are the objectives for 2008. See ya at the races.
R.D.

also tax time is approaching so if anyone is interested please donate to the War on ALS or Claire's AIDS ride...you could get a deduction.

Ironman Update:

Days Until Ironman New Zealand: 77

4000+ Yard Swims completed : 6 ( these were interval workouts not straight swims however.)

10-15 mile Runs completed: At least 6

15-20 mile runs completed : 1 (22 miles)

25-50 mile rides done: 8

50+ mile rides done: 1 (65 miles)

100+mile rides done: 0

2+hour love fests on the trainer: 3

Last Long Brick : October 07 40 mile bike 8 mile run.

Money Raised for War on ALS: $ 503 USD

Exams Left: 2

Term Papers left : 1

Alright that was a quick breakdown by the numbers. Today I got in about an 8-10 mile run ( I haven't mapped it yet but I did it in 1:29). Last night I finished my Anthropology paper...so I won't fail...hopefully....maybe...possibly...

Last night Steph Karas the resident dominatrix of the Waterbury YMCA Masters program gave me a rather impressive 3500 yard workout. ( Main set 5x200 on 2:45 try to descend if you can muhahahahaha!). Tomorrow I have on tap the mother of all indoor bricks...a 4 hour spin session and 2 hour treadmill quad buster...start praying for my mortal soul.

This week sort of sucked for training due to weather and school work but the semester is ending and despite bitter New England cold the rest of the week looks nice and clear after our little nor'easter comes through tomorrow, but these nut cases at the weather channel change their story evey five minutes.

Like I said not too much here except for the little training update....

Also tax season is approaching and what better gift to yourself than a nice deduction by donating to the war on ALS or going over to Claire's site and donating to the battle against AIDS. Because just think about this for every dollar spent researching ALS $400 are spent researching male pattern baldness.....Also for the cost of the Iraq war the US government could subsidize and effective global response to the AIDS pandemic.....like I said just think about those stats for a second...does it piss you off......if it does then do something about it...if it doesn't well I hope those hair plugs can survive the mortar attack in Falujah*.

Like I said enough with my charity pleading I've got some Christmas shopping to do plus I have to stock up for tomorrow's sweaty onslaught.

R.D.

* this comment was meant to prove a point about the fickleness of government spending in this country. If are balding, a veteran, or a balding veteran , these comments were not meant to offend you. I actively support our troops and believe it is a valuable waste of military resources to keep pouring money into Iraq when the real threat to our country is watching cable in Tora Bora.But if you are an Iraq veteran I thank you for your service for answering a call your country never should have made. Like wise if you are balding I have no problem with you throwing cash down on propecia of rogain, but it is kind of montonous if more research dollars go to treating baldness than go to ALS research or Alzheimer's research. You will have a full head of hair but god forbid you get one of these disorders you won't remeber what it's good for, or be able to lift your hair brush to keep it styled.....ok I think I covered my ass.

R.D.