The Half way point.

As I sit here writing this I'm at LAX I'm surrounded by a lot of business travelers, cell phone talking teeny boppers and screaming kids...man they'll let anyone into the Admiral's Club nowadays...like scruffy looking triathletes from the East Coast that fly economy...seriously what is the world coming to.

Well my travels to JFK and Beyond were uneventful except I left the key to the bike box in my car. Luckily it's a simple lock and a regular screw driver will do the trick...or TSA will have added another scar to this well traveled case ( note: starting an active giving site for the buy Bjoern and Bob a new bike case fund.) Oh there was no extra charge for the case...two years in a row I am the Ben Gordon of baggage check! ( I would have mentioned Thabeet but he is nowhere near the prowess of Ben Gordon in his UConn hayday...ok random mentioning of UConn Basketball in a travel post done.)

Flight wasn't too bad granted I think I might have started spitting Lil' John's "Role Call" in my sleep. Also there was this 2 year old on the flight who was screaming every 5 minutes. Thankfully I had the i-pod on high.

It is a beautiful day 80F (26C) in LA and if it wouldn't be a comedy of errors getting through airport security or just general fear of having my carry-ons stolen I would be tempted to get out and run...instead I'll just sit here and take advantage of the complimentary internet and beverage service.

My flight leaves in 4 hours so my next post will be from the Land of the Hobbitts, and as Pants once stated " Nothing native can kill you." Now I've got to recharge everything and prep for 12 hours over the Pacific.

The Riff-raff that somehow sneaks into fine establishments.
R.D.

That coaching gig in July....yeah...uh ..well...& Packing adventures...

Well I lost the coaching gig in July and August as there was not enough interest in the tri camp...stupid economy....the plus side from this is I can reclaim my vacation days...

Last night I decided to pack the bike myself...read Al was out of town and Dave was going to charge me to pack it. so after a late night of classes and budget crunching with Bjoern and Erik...Erik being the new President of the Central Tri Club, I got home at about 11PM and decided to pack the Stomper.

I managed to tackle the tricky business of getting the handlebars off, the front brakes, the seat post, derailleur hanger ( Dan told me to take this sucker off last year unless I wanted to risk cracking the frame.) But I almost had a Speedy Claire moment with the pedals. ( note this is an old post...she has since mastered the art of bike packing.) I managed to get one off relatively easy, the other took some torque. Turned it one way wouldn't budge, tried the other barely moved, finally contorted myself over the bike and got a cloth to grip my bike tool and after about five minutes of battle my pedal and crank parted company. Total bike dis assembly and packaging took about 15-20 minutes. Then began the 2 hour, epic of how do I make my pump, nutrition, water bottles, and spare parts, fit in the case and not go over the 25kg/ 50lbs. weight limit, as well as wrap and protect crucial exposed moving parts. Hence it was 2 hours of taping, wrapping, compressing, adjusting, and weighing by feel.

I also packed my carry-on. I remember the fiasco that awaited one poor guy last year when his luggage ended up on a different flight and his bike and wetsuit didn't show up until day of check in...hence everything I need to race but the bike ends up in my carry on...shoes, helmet, wetsuit, tri suit. If anything goes wrong it's a hell of a lot cheaper and relatively easier to have to try to rent/ borrow just a bike at the expo, than to have to buy/borrow/rent ALL of the necessities. I also bring about 2-3 days clothes, easy in a warm weather environment cargo shorts have atleast a 2 day lifespan, and basic toiletries.

Tonight, I haven't trained in about 3 days, I would like to get a half hour run in this afternoon, but if I can't no biggie...I'm tapering, besides I have 5 days that I can do some light running, and cycling in a warm weather environment. I need to finish packing, and then I'm taking my sister out for her birthday.

Part of me is a little nervous heading into this, my run training is nowhere near where I would like it, but for as weak as I feel there I know my swim and bike are strong, hopefully the racing gods will smile on me and I'll be able to go a tad bit faster than last year. For months this has been a distant thing, and uncertainty, a maybe, as I packed last night the reality set in that this is really happening....I just hope the prep and the sacrifice was worth it.

Hoping re-packing in NZ will easy as it was last night.
R.D.

Ironman New Zealand Update: I'm Freakin', Freakin' Out Man!

Judi commented that I was sitting there with 9 days until my flight and I wasn't freaking out. Which she's right I wasn't ....now here it is 4 days before my flight and now I've hit freakout mode.

Reasons:

• Tri Club budget is due I have to get intouch with Jane to see if it's ok if I make Bjoern Treasurer...otherwise I have to use doctrines of executive power..man it's good to be President.
• Get to the shop and pack my bike.
• Pick up shorts from Modells, Sports Authority, or Dicks... any where cheap...I really hope they're running that 2 for $24 sale again....check the website..nope damn you economy!
• Retrieve my suitcase from home, clean it so it doesn't smell like mildew, pack.
• Christina's birthday is on Friday...so a combined birthday/ farewell dinner with her and Melissa.
• Two bills are due while I'm in NZ thank god for online bill pay :)
• 5 page paper due for history of Germany class...thankfully it's only a 5 pager...man in high school that seemed like a lot...
• Shave my legs before flying down or night before the race, that is the question...
• Somehow have to fit two swim sessions, two runs, and a couple of short spin sessions in.
• Jot down all my contacts for this gig.
• Call my bank's ATM department and let them know I'll be out of the country....I wish we had better hold music....alright did as I typed this.. that was easy...
• Price out compression socks... I heard they're good for recovery.
• Flowers for the lady at baggage check...maybe that'll get my bike on for free :) [just kidding on this one.]
• About six billion other things weighing down on me.

I know a lot of these are much ado about nothing but at least spouting them off keeps me from getting even more gray hairs, that and it makes them real to me. It's easy to put off something that's just a thought, it's much harder to put off something you write down on paper.

I've just got to settle down and take care of the list. On a more positive note some of the work that I was going to have to rush in to my professors this week has been pushed back, until after NZ....whew...also my income tax refund will hit any day now... a huge bonus.

I picked up a cold from my Grandfather... I know hell of a going away present...but I've been treating it with cough drops and orange juice...maybe increased vitamin C will compensate for lack of proper sleep and nutrition. ( I'm on the college student diet, where the 5 food groups are caffeine, grinders, pizza, fruit, and whatever's in the vending machine.) Also I don't know why. but I sleep like a baby on airplanes...maybe it's the idea of if the thing explodes/crashes while I'm asleep I won't feel it, maybe it's I'm just an easy going traveler, I don't know but I won't knock it.

So that's all from here

R.D.

Also I have not been put on TSA's DO NOT FLY LIST so apparently Barack Obama does approve of me going to New Zealand ;)

Catching up.

Well today I didn't train. I didn't get on the bike, I didn't cram out another run, didn't panic and run down to the pool for laps. Instead I caught up on some more important things in life.

First I went to Mass for the first time in 3 weeks.

This picture is a little dated they re-did the altar at my Church last Summer and now the wall behind it is pink with a really cool design.

The last couple of weekends I had to hit the road early to get my long rides in. So this weekend I sort of went back to church to try to commune with God so my bases are covered...just in case my plane plunges into the Pacific, I'm in a lot of pain during the Ironman and suddenly find my self in a green field with an old guy at a desk next to a wooden gate. Also contary to popular belief the Holy water did not boil when I stuck my hand in it, or burn my forehead.

After mass I chilled with my brother

This picture is also dated my brother is into skateboarding and has started lifting weights in the past year. Also I lost my old digital camera this summer so I couldn't up load new pics.

Mike has been in older bro withdrawl mode since I moved out so we went to breakfast. It was good catching up with him but at the same time it's almost like looking in the mirror. Mike and I are a decade apart so there is a bit of an age gap, but the personality and especially our senses of humor are very similar. Granted he's in better shape than I was at 14. After breakfast it was a retreat into an ultimate test of will :Halo on the Xbox...Age and cunning overcame youth and skill. Also we cranked out a few rounds of Fifa world cup...I have found out one thing...he's good in penalty kicks. After two 3-0 trouncings at the hands of New Zealand and Pakistan Mike got revenge in a penalty shootout in a New Zealand/ Canada match. I lost by a lucky block. I managed to get revenge for the Kiwis soundly defeating him in a rematch 3-0 granted I scored all my goals in the second half, and two of them were pure luck.

Third thing I did was study for an exam I had to push forward due to my Ironman escapade. I also have to get some homework done in advance because quite frankly I don't know how much I'm really going to accomplish on the plane. so everything is getting in order, but for a little while it was nice to have a day outside of the cycle of work, school and training.

Recharged.

R.D.

Ironman New Zealand Update: My leg survived 18 miles bring on that marathon!

Well today I decided to take advantage of good weather and decide to put a little "insurance policy" in my legs. Stupid, too type A what ever I needed to know how my freshly healed Achilles would handle 15+ miles. I needed to know if I could run that marathon in Taupo or resign myself to walking with a glow stick. So I decided to loop it from home. the first sign of any discomfort on the 2nd loop and I could bail. Loop 1 went well. The pace was easy kept hydrated, and listend to the body. The hips were a little tight and all the pressure seemed to be in the front of my legs instead of the back. The second loop was slower and I decided to bail on to an easier loop( my legs were feeling tight and let's face it 18 miles two weeks out was risky enough.) I managed to complete the run in 2:41.29 or at roughly 8:51 mile pace, roughly the same pace as my marathon from last year. I stretched and iced, and took precautionary anti inflamatories. The ankle is feeling pretty good although after the Ironman I'm not running for a month, figure that will give it plenty of rest to before I tackle the summer season. I'll spend time in the weight room and on the bike post Ironman, getting myself into better shape. But that's for another time.
Right now I've gotten that pesky long run out of the way and now I can taper with piece of mind.

Feeling good.
R.D.

Interview

Well I browsed over to Judi's Blog and she had been tagged for an interview..so I decided eh what the hell I'll do one.

Here are her 5 questions and in interview style with my smart ass answers.

1. if you could have any bike in the world, what would it be?

I was going to make a comment on cervelo seeking missiles, but I'll be serious...
Two contenders for this one.

Road: Specialized S-works Tarmac.
I love Specialized bicycles that and their ridden by some of the fastest sprinters in the tour. I'd probably equip it with shimano ultegra because even through I heard SRAM Red's the shit and Dura Ace is lighter Ultegra has longevity, plus I don't want to be one of the cool kids drinking the kool aid as they test out their Newtons and ride their Cervelo's, granted eventually I do want to give SRAM a go. Figure Look Keo Carbon pedals, and Zipp 404 Clinchers I don't do the tubular thing, plus $100/ per flat is a little expensive especially on the roads I ride.

Tri/ Time Trial: Specialized S-Works Transition
I'm a fan of Macca granted I would love this thing decked out in a custom paint job, preferably HEAT colors with a flame job. Components either Ultegra or SRAM Red, preferably Zipp 404 on the Front and a 606 on the back ( clinchers as stated above.) I like deep dish wheels but I like control in cross winds as well. Profile Design carbon base bar and T-2 cobra areo bars, Look Keo carbons a selle itallia saddle, and I'm good to go.


2. what is your fastest 100m in the pool?
Well that's a really good question...I used to compete short course yards so my fastest 100 yd Free was a 56.9 I did as a relay split as a Freshman in college. My fastest 100 m in a long course (50m) pool was a 1:10 ( roughly a 1:03 100 yd time) in practice.

3. what is the farthest distance you have ever swam?
In competition 2.4 miles. In a straight shot in practice 4700 Yards. Broken up in a single Practice 12,000 yards. In a single day 20,000 yards....college was rough.

4. what keeps you up at night?

Other than the 5 cups of coffee I drink in a single day...um have to say my sister Iming me from Newport and class work, although bills and life stresses play a roll too. A big thing has been a feeling of selfishness, part of me feels like I'm too critical of others and myself and that maybe I don't do enough to help other people out.


5. if you were to get a tattoo, what would it be and why?

This one is a good one... I'm getting a Tat on my ankle if I qualify for Kona and it will NOT be an m-dot. Initially I was thinking a symbol from the race I qualified from ie if I qualified in Arizona a cactus, New Zealand, a silver fern or Maori band, Kentucky...well a Fleur d' lily might work... figure if it's permanent it should be small yet meaningful. Another thing I was thinking was maybe a classic New England Symbol of a snake in the grass with the words "Don't Tread on Me!" to embrace my attitude of trying to not let life or what others think I should do get to me. Picked the ankle/ back of the leg because it's a spot that I can keep covered in the work place especially since I'm looking at going into Medicine and I don't want a 75 year old patient getting freaked out by a tatooed sleeve as I'm consulting them about titanium knee joints. Plus it gets less of a sag factor in old age.

Well those were Judi's five questions...anyone wish to become victim/ volunteer of the Blogger Inquistion?

R.D.

Ironman New Zealand Update: 9 days until I fly out.

And I still have a lot of training on tap. The weather sucked yesterday and I slept through my alarm so I didn't run. Today I'm thinking about foregoing my swim session to get some miles in on pavement, and the trainer. Saturday I have either a long run or a long brick on tap. Sunday depending on the weather will be my last long ride, then next week turns into swim /run focus maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday pre-bike pack trainer session. I'm hoping to get at least a 15-18 mile run in before the Ironman...I'm hoping it's not over doing it as I've only been at about 10 miles since the injury. Tonight will be about 6 miles maybe more if I feel like it...although one part of me is thinking the track or treadmill might be a smarter option...but I hate the treadmill for long distance. Saturday is going to be my long run...go until I feel confident. Figure a 40-50 mile ride at the lake and a 15 mile run....but it depends on time. Sunday a long ride hopefully 6 hours on the road or a 6 hour trainer if the road sucks. Then clean the Stomper and get it ready to pack. Next week they're talking rain/ snow and 40F highs Just scoped out the forecast for Taupo, rain this weekend then 70's and sunny...perfect racing weather.




For the first time in a while I'm actually feeling excited to race.


I went down to the Bike Rack in Waterbury yesterday, and Al fixed my bike. My brake cable was shot so we changed it out along with the rear deraileur cable and made some adjustments to the front deraileur. He spouted a litnany of explictives and how internal cable routing has him to the point of commiting cycling ki supu: Riding a fixed gear down hill on to a highway at rush hour.( I know I spelled ki supu wrong and now some samauri warrior is going to make me perform it to save the honor of my grammar school teachers.) Regardless the Stomper is in tip top shape and should fly in NZ.



As seen by the pictures in my previous post I got a haircut, personally I think I went a little too short on this go round but maybe it will aid in aerodynamics.
Now I've just got to start packing....

R.D.