What a Week!!!

Hands down the best week so far this year (and may be tough to beat for quite some time) - Jen is in REMISSION!!!  As the icing on the cake; the winter weather cleared up (I like to think because of my last post of endless bellyaching) enough to get my new bike out on the street.  I also had a very successful week of training, especially considering I was out of town (something I typically struggle mightily with), and oh - look at that...2 new followers - welcome friends.

So let's start at the beginning (actually it was toward the end, but...) - We all know Jen had completed her last round of chemotherapy, and although this is the result we were expecting, the only thing better than saying the word is realizing its meaning.  We met with Dr. Sheehan on Thursday, and I actually must have glazed over when she actually made the "announcement".  I didn't figure it was official until the radiation was over, but nonetheless Jen filled me in that she was indeed in remission.  So there it is - a few weeks of radiation and life gets back to normal (if there is such a thing).  Regardless, we're excited to put this whole ordeal behind us, and one MONUMENTAL step is now complete.

Those of you who didn't have to work on Friday (which didnt' include me) were greeted with a huge treat in the middle of winter - an almost 60 degree day.  The night before, I didn't believe it even as Gary Lezak opened his arms and spouted off the expected high temperature in such glee that one only expects when Gary is forecasting "thunderstorms!".  I waited until 2pm to check the temperature (48).  Now that's a little cold to go biking (especially since I really don't have any cold weather cycling gear), but when you have a new bike burning a hole in your trainer - it may as well have been 75.  I negotiated a 3pm departure time with my carpool, and raced home to beat sundown.  I threw on my cycling gear like the kid from "The night before Christmas" threw up the sash (what does that mean anyways?), pumped up the tires, and headed out the door.  The first thing I notice - this is comfortable, and I can tell my trainer sessions haven't gone un-noticed.  When I get to the first big descent, I figured I'd just coast into it, still trying to get a feel.  Typically I hit around 23-24mph on this hill while riding my roadie - I hit 29mph on my new bike.  Maybe I'm hallucinating, or just misremembering because this isn't my favorite descent, but when approaching a favorite -2% grade, I decided to hit it a little harder.  Typically I'm pushing as HARD as I can on this decline to reach 30mph.  Without completely hammering my pedals as usual, I reached 32mph.  The synopsis - I LOVE this bike, and couldn't be happier with my purchase.  Jen got home and knew I had taken it out, not because it was covered with road grime (I cleaned it off afterwards), but because she said I had a huge smile on my face (I just love smiling - smiling's my favorite).  It was the perfect way to wrap up the work-week.  The weekend has a lot to live up to.

I think I've broken my promise of no long posts, but nonetheless I have to talk about my travelling experience this week.  We went to Chicago for 2 days of work.  I did a fantastic job of ordering soups, salads, and other fare that would not spoil my goals for the week. This was a big victory for me, because I typically hate ordering "healthy" food from restaurants since I know I can do a better job of creating more nutritional dishes.  When we got finished on site we went back to the hotel, and we discussed a 2 hour "break" before dinner.  I decided to cease the opportunity and get on the treadmill in the hotels.  About a mile into my run (I set out for 4), a (I'm not going to say "big") woman climbed aboard the treadmill next to me.  For around 12-14 minutes I didn't notice anything because I was engulfed in Harold and Kumar's light hearted journey to White Castle (was that Neil Patrick Harris?).  Over the numbing hum of the treadmill and Kumar's banter about how KFC just won't do - I hear a  faint "oh god".  Little had I noticed, but the "healthy" woman next to me had cranked up her speed to equal mine causing a heavy pant, and the occasional burst of language typically aimed at her deity.  I know what you're thinking...why were allowing Ms. Fitness 1984 to keep up with you...I'll remind you this is recovery week.  I was hovering around 3 miles when I noticed my plodding friend, and the remaining time on the treadmill I was just willing her to remain on the treadmill with all vitals functioning properly.  I could no longer enjoy the journey to White Castle, because I kept thinking the lady was going to fly off the treadmill "Biggest Loser" style and Ashton Kutcher was going to pop out of the closet to record my horrified reaction.  Alas, she maintained her pace, and backed off to a stop shortly after I did.  Sweet relief.  I finished up my abs routine and headed off to dinner thankful that I had finished my workout without having to explain to the paramedics that "no - I dont' know CPR".

That sums up my week thus far - and it was definitely a good one.  The cherry on top would be a Mizzou win over the evil empire known as Texas...Go Tigers!!!    

Winter Blues

It's happened, again.  Old fart winter (yes there is some disdain...keep reading) has reared his ugly head with ample snow, frigid temperatures, and oh-so wonderful driving conditions to/from work.  As a result, the winter training blues have grabbed hold and are doing their best to thwart my training efforts by enticing me with a warm bed, a comfy recliner, and re-runs of Family Guy.  As difficult as the training process is, it is further complicated (especially for me) by the fact that the first 2 months of the new year (for the most part) force training indoors.  Something you'll learn about me - I can't stand indoor training.  The rack (treadmill), and the torture wheel (trainer) have never been kind.  Even the fancy ones at the gym with a TV (where I can watch Family Guy) make me seasick to the point that I'd rather run into the nothingness with only my thoughts (OK thought). 

These facts give that little devil on my shoulder a little more pull than usual.  Come on - take the day off, sleep in, you've earned it, is that a cupcake??.  Alas, it seems every time 5am seems a little too early, my bike seat looks a little too hard, or I realize the treadmill hasn't magically been "misplaced" yet - I get that little e-mail notification that another kind soul has donated their hard earned $ to this cause.  I'm continually humbled by the generosity of others, and it keeps driving me on.  Thank you again to all who have donated thus far - I'm a little over 30% of my goal, and the season hasn't even "officially" kicked-off yet!!!

My training plan at this point is week-to-week, but nonetheless I haven't missed a session.  I'm now about 8lb down (which includes all of my holiday weight), I can finish P90x plyometrics without seeing spots, and I'm noticeably less winded during the workout warm-ups.

I did decide on Saturday that I (and more importantly Truman) had endured enough treadmill and deserved a break (no...not that stray cupcake).  We ventured outside to run the snow covered streets Rocky IV style.  Da-da dana-da-dana-da-dana-da...I was hoping to get chased by a Russian in a Mercedes (though I did almost get hit by an explorer - the driver looked French).  I threw on my hoodie, 2 pairs of socks, and shoes that have NO business being used as running shoes and hit the "mean" streets of Wildwood West.  Truman certainly shares my sentiment about indoor training, because he was smiling at me almost the entire time, I wish I had a camera.  Running in the snow is hard and probably a little dangerous, but sometimes unorthodox measures are the best means.  We got in about 4 miles that included a dead sprint up the steepest hill in the land to get a baseline of my maximum heart rate - 200bpm (Truman's pant rate got to 187 ppm...I still maintain I'm in better shape, but he has 4-wheel drive).

On another positive note - Jen has completed her last chemotherapy session, and survived both the "this SUCKS" phase and "no immune system" phase.  She's feeling better, and energy levels are continually rising.  She  had her follow up scans and we should get the results this week - expecting to hear no more cancer, and the radiation is just to "ZAP" any last traces.

It's week 4, which will serve as a bit of a recovery week.  I still feel pretty fresh, so I'm not planning to tone it back much, however I am looking forward to a shake-up of my routines.  I also am facing the first challenge of travelling for work - I'll be in Chicago for 2 days, and need to improvise to get my workouts in while avoiding fried food when eating out.  Wish me luck!   

Training has begun

It's official, training and fundraising has both begun in full force.  Maybe not in FULL force for training - you don't realize how far you fall off until you try to get back on - they should include that as a disclaimer to the age old saying that if  you fall off you just have to get back on (is there a way I can brand that?). 

Anyways, I've started doing some swimming, biking, and running combined with p90x for strength training.  Couldn't maintain my normal pace while running, had trouble in drills on the bike, and swimming was BRUTAL.  I swam at the YMCA late on Wednesday, and it was just me and the lifeguard.  I could tell he was annoyed (what - are you going to close early???).  I could feel him roll his eyes while I churned my arms futilely propelling myself clumsily through the water.  To be honest, I was a little relieved he was there, but luckily he wasn't needed.  P90x has been the real eye opener.  For those who have done it - you know you have to track your progress on things like push-ups, pull-ups, and heavy pants (seriously...that's what it's called) from week-to-week.  I keep looking at my week 12 recordings from last year and shaking my head, because I can't even do half of what I was once able to.  I'm confident I'll get there though the difficult part is being patient.  Tomorrow I get up for plyometrics at 5:00am - YAY!

As far as fundraising - my e-mail campaign has really produced so far, Thank you so much to those who have donated - it's really cool to feel the support.  I'm at 25% of my goal, which is AWESOME according to my fundraising mentor - especially since I haven't even attended the summer TNT season kick-off yet.  I still have a long way to go, and will be nervous about this thing up until I hit my goal, but if I have to go blue blocking (a more PC name for pan-handling) on Barry Road, I will - or maybe I'll sell pixy stix and 5-hour energies at high school track meets (is that legal)?   

My New Chariot

 After months (OK years) of toying with the notion of getting a triathlon specific bike, the opportunity was finally presented to me, and thanks to a shove in the right direction by my wonderful wife - I finally pulled the trigger.  After the whole purchasing process (believe me it was a process), and my fitting, I brought it home today.  Not only is it MY new hotness, this bike is THE new hotness.  Trek's new Speed Concept 7.2.  So this bike has been 2 years in the making, and during its development only guys like Chris Lieto (famous triathlete), and Lance Armstrong (if you don't know who he is...stop reading my blog - j/k) were allowed access to it.  OK, it's not exactly the bike those dignitaries rode (that would be the 9.9 series), but it's as close as I can get, and I'm excited.  

Now new bikes have a kind of sticky grease layer on their transmission which usually works its way off and you replace with a more slick grease to keep it running smoothly.  However, usually you don't bring it home in the back of a truck with sandbags that have a little (hidden) leak. 

You know the feeling you have after playing sand volleyball?  Well that's what my bike had to feel like.  You can imagine - sand EVERYWHERE!!!  As awful as it was and as mad as I was at myself, after some time with a toothbrush, some WD-40, and the garden hose (yes it is 24 degrees outside), I was able to get it back to its new condition (at far as I can tell).

So there it is - the bike that will take me from T1 to T2 in Philadelphia.  I can't wait until I get to ride it outside (Damn you winter!!!), but until then it will live here in our living room on the trainer where its engine will continue to tune up.

Happy New Year! (Introduction to the Blog)

Well, I decided to start this blog to document this whole journey, and although I officially have no followers at this point (is that sad?) I figured I better go ahead and throw up a post today. What better time to get started than on the first day of the new year, right?

Since this is my first "official" post, and am new to the whole blogger thing, perhaps this is as good a time/place as any to explain the point of this particular endeavour (I promise future posts won't be this long):

I started endurance racing (and I use the term racing loosely, because I'm NOT fast) a few years ago. Through the natural progression I established that my sport of choice was triathlon (swimming is boring, there aren't a ton of cycling events in the mid-west, and running seems so "everyday", but when you combine them somehow it all seems a little more tolerable). Realizing that more can come of these events than personal gains, I started to explore racing for a cause which lead me to LLS - Team in Training (TNT), check out the link up top. Ironically while contemplating whether or not I wanted to commit to doing the fundraising required by this program (which is really not my bag), my wife (Jen) was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although no one wants to be diagnosed with cancer, (a startling statistic exists that 1 in 3 people will realize "I have cancer" at one point in their life) if you're going to get one - this is the one to wish for. She is currently undergoing the successful treatment of the disease, and we expect a full recovery after a few more crappy months (occasionally I'll include updates to her journey) After the emotion of dealing with that realization, and also the conclusion that everything was going to be alright, I concluded that working with TNT was a small way to give back. It really made the previous decision I was waffling over easy - and here we are! I'm hoping to use this blog as a way to share my thoughts on triathlon training, fundraising, dealing with cancer, etc. in hopes to connect with those who are gracious enough to donate to this cause. Full disclosure - it may not last, because I'm not sure how much time/energy it's worth and really if anyone cares all that much to read about it.

Anyways - this is supposed to be about current happenings, right? Well, Jen isn't feeling well today (3rd day removed from her 7th chemo treatment) which is pretty standard operating procedure. Mostly tired, but a little nauseous (this is the worst part of this whole thing for me - the inability to really make anything better). Although I don't officially have a training plan established yet, Truman (the dog) seemed to be looking at me like "we're doing no good here", so I took him out for a quick run. No goals, just to get out of the house. It was a nice day besides being a little cold, and the run went well. I usually run across dog walkers, walkers, runners, kids, squirrels, etc. in our neighborhood, but being national hangover day - there was absolutely no one - I mean vacant streets. So, unfortunately, relatively uneventful today, but I feel like as I begin to write these I'll start looking for/noticing those little idiosyncrasies that are typically overlooked to describe.

That all for now - until next time (if there is a next time:))

Happy New Year!