From CNN
ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) -- Thirteen members of a high school lacrosse team have been disciplined for dropping their pants to send a prom invitation from one player to a girl.
The lacrosse players at Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan displayed the question, "Will You Go To The Prom With Me? Yes or No?" on their bottoms, which they bared during a junior varsity game last Thursday.
Officials suspended 13 players for an undetermined number of games and ordered them to perform 20 hours of community service. They also were suspended from school for one day.
The girl accepted the prom invitation.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Happy Ascension Thursday
I hope everyone is enjoying this great Holy Day. Enjoy Mass tonight.
Um, Rob today is not Ascension Thursday.
Sure it is. Today is 40 days after Easter Sunday.
Rob they have moved this Holy Day to Sunday.
Excuse me; Ascension Thursday is no longer on Thursday?
Right it’s on Sunday now.
Ascension Sunday, sounds funny. So some biblical scholars at the Vatican figured out that the Lord really ascended to heaven on a Sunday? Well that’s cool. It will be great to celebrate it on the correct day. But the Lord ascended 40 days after Easter Sunday. I wonder how we counted the days wrong for 2000 years…
No, Jesus ascended on a Thursday. That’s not why they moved it.
I see, they had to make room on the church calendar for another great feast of our Lord, right?
Not exactly.
So why was it moved?
They felt it was a hardship on the American people to have to get to church during the week. So they moved it to Sunday since people go to church anyway on that day…well some still do. 32% in the latest poll.
Let me get this straight. It was moved to Sunday so the 32% of the people that still go to Sunday Mass could fulfill their Holy Day of obligation on Sunday. So we are putting Jesus on ice for 3 days. And we now are celebrating Ascension Sunday because we are too lazy to spare 45-60 minutes during the week. I guess that makes sense. We wouldn’t want to interfere with soccer practice, Karate lessons or spending our IRS Tax Rebate checks at Wal-Mart. Got to keep the Chinese economy going.
Sort of but they aren’t calling it Ascension Sunday. It’s the Ascension of our Lord.
Who is this ‘they’ you keep mentioning?
The US bishops.
Oh, I see. Why didn’t you say so in the first place? That’s a horse of a different color. We could have saved a lot of time.
Happy Former Ascension Thursday everyone.
Um, Rob today is not Ascension Thursday.
Sure it is. Today is 40 days after Easter Sunday.
Rob they have moved this Holy Day to Sunday.
Excuse me; Ascension Thursday is no longer on Thursday?
Right it’s on Sunday now.
Ascension Sunday, sounds funny. So some biblical scholars at the Vatican figured out that the Lord really ascended to heaven on a Sunday? Well that’s cool. It will be great to celebrate it on the correct day. But the Lord ascended 40 days after Easter Sunday. I wonder how we counted the days wrong for 2000 years…
No, Jesus ascended on a Thursday. That’s not why they moved it.
I see, they had to make room on the church calendar for another great feast of our Lord, right?
Not exactly.
So why was it moved?
They felt it was a hardship on the American people to have to get to church during the week. So they moved it to Sunday since people go to church anyway on that day…well some still do. 32% in the latest poll.
Let me get this straight. It was moved to Sunday so the 32% of the people that still go to Sunday Mass could fulfill their Holy Day of obligation on Sunday. So we are putting Jesus on ice for 3 days. And we now are celebrating Ascension Sunday because we are too lazy to spare 45-60 minutes during the week. I guess that makes sense. We wouldn’t want to interfere with soccer practice, Karate lessons or spending our IRS Tax Rebate checks at Wal-Mart. Got to keep the Chinese economy going.
Sort of but they aren’t calling it Ascension Sunday. It’s the Ascension of our Lord.
Who is this ‘they’ you keep mentioning?
The US bishops.
Oh, I see. Why didn’t you say so in the first place? That’s a horse of a different color. We could have saved a lot of time.
Happy Former Ascension Thursday everyone.
A Quick Recap of Idol's Results Show
Typed the following last night while watching the show. Pardon the spelling and grammar issues.
So we start off with a group song/medley thingy. It may be the worst group sing-along this season. Brooke looks nice but I think she is wearing colored-contacts to compete with Jason for the title of ‘Idol With the Prettiest Eyes’. David Cooke has the strongest voice and overshadows the others.
Oh goodie a chat with some people in the audience who have some lame sounding reality show…what a shock…a commercial for another FOX show within the show. And then a promo for an Idol Stamp, ugh. That’s a horrible picture of Carrie Underwood.
Now a recap of the last night’s horror-fest. And then The Seacrest offers some babbling defense of Paula’s crazy antics last night and then Simon tries to French Kiss her.
Natty Dread is brought out first. He seems worried. The Seacrest strings him along and then sends him to the Sofa of Safety. Well that pretty much tells us that the two chicks are going to be in the bottom two, barring some shocker. Next out is David ‘Baby Elmo’ Archuleta. Like he’s going home already…please…The Seacrest sends him to safety too. Baby Elmo tries to act shocked/relieved. Maybe he hopes to act someday and get a part on the ‘New Saved by The Bell’. Now we get a seemingly endless promo for another FOX show. Some dancing show thing. David C is brought out and is sent to safety. No surprise there. So that leaves the ladies in the bottom two. Just as predicted here on this blog. Oh yeah baby! Who’s your daddy?
They chat with The Seacrest a bit about their performances from the night before. And then he puts them on ice for awhile.
Now Natasha Bedingfield is singing some song about having a pocket of sunshine or a locket of fun lime…I’m not really sure. Ok The Seacrest confirms it a Pocket full of Sunshine. I don’t like ‘flavor of the week’ pop music at all but she does a good job. Natasha goes over to couch and starts slobbering allover Baby Elmo…Paula’s not going to like this…Baby-E is her man um I mean boy. Come on Natasha you can do better than him.
Now the lame caller’s questions segment. We get to listen to Paula attempt to answer a question…what stimulating TV. Oh no, another question for Paula. Someone wants her to do another video… Some childhood sweetheart of Simon calls up to find out who kisses better, herself or Paula. Awwww Simons first kiss…this show gets sappier and more disturbing by the minute. I don’t want to hear about a 9 year-olds first kiss.
Now the obligatory hawking of Fords by the Idolettes. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s the show and what’s promo/advertising.
Now Neil Diamond is signing a song from his new album. Sounds like he rewrote Amazing Graze. It’s not horrible but he has some scary middle-age backup singers and dancers. For 67 Neil can still sing. Now we get to meet his mom and chat about whether he should retire or not. And then Neil tells us he thinks the kids did great last night…very insightful. You can’t make this stuff up people.
And now the moment we have all been waiting for…no Paula isn’t being taken away…be nice people. It’s time to say goodbye to one of the ladies. Drum roll please. It’s Brooke. My daughters are ticked. They voted for Brooke like 20 times last night. Brooke is crying more than Tom Hanks did when he lost Wilson the Volleyball in Castaway. She will attempt to sing one last time. Not sure how she will be able to. She messes up the words but that’s understandable. At least she gets to go home now instead of hanging out with the other Idolaters. Well I had the bottom two right but I thought Brooke would hang around 1 more week. Jason is definitely the prettiest one left now.
Donk I love you. This one is for you. Rock on!
So we start off with a group song/medley thingy. It may be the worst group sing-along this season. Brooke looks nice but I think she is wearing colored-contacts to compete with Jason for the title of ‘Idol With the Prettiest Eyes’. David Cooke has the strongest voice and overshadows the others.
Oh goodie a chat with some people in the audience who have some lame sounding reality show…what a shock…a commercial for another FOX show within the show. And then a promo for an Idol Stamp, ugh. That’s a horrible picture of Carrie Underwood.
Now a recap of the last night’s horror-fest. And then The Seacrest offers some babbling defense of Paula’s crazy antics last night and then Simon tries to French Kiss her.
Natty Dread is brought out first. He seems worried. The Seacrest strings him along and then sends him to the Sofa of Safety. Well that pretty much tells us that the two chicks are going to be in the bottom two, barring some shocker. Next out is David ‘Baby Elmo’ Archuleta. Like he’s going home already…please…The Seacrest sends him to safety too. Baby Elmo tries to act shocked/relieved. Maybe he hopes to act someday and get a part on the ‘New Saved by The Bell’. Now we get a seemingly endless promo for another FOX show. Some dancing show thing. David C is brought out and is sent to safety. No surprise there. So that leaves the ladies in the bottom two. Just as predicted here on this blog. Oh yeah baby! Who’s your daddy?
They chat with The Seacrest a bit about their performances from the night before. And then he puts them on ice for awhile.
Now Natasha Bedingfield is singing some song about having a pocket of sunshine or a locket of fun lime…I’m not really sure. Ok The Seacrest confirms it a Pocket full of Sunshine. I don’t like ‘flavor of the week’ pop music at all but she does a good job. Natasha goes over to couch and starts slobbering allover Baby Elmo…Paula’s not going to like this…Baby-E is her man um I mean boy. Come on Natasha you can do better than him.
Now the lame caller’s questions segment. We get to listen to Paula attempt to answer a question…what stimulating TV. Oh no, another question for Paula. Someone wants her to do another video… Some childhood sweetheart of Simon calls up to find out who kisses better, herself or Paula. Awwww Simons first kiss…this show gets sappier and more disturbing by the minute. I don’t want to hear about a 9 year-olds first kiss.
Now the obligatory hawking of Fords by the Idolettes. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s the show and what’s promo/advertising.
Now Neil Diamond is signing a song from his new album. Sounds like he rewrote Amazing Graze. It’s not horrible but he has some scary middle-age backup singers and dancers. For 67 Neil can still sing. Now we get to meet his mom and chat about whether he should retire or not. And then Neil tells us he thinks the kids did great last night…very insightful. You can’t make this stuff up people.
And now the moment we have all been waiting for…no Paula isn’t being taken away…be nice people. It’s time to say goodbye to one of the ladies. Drum roll please. It’s Brooke. My daughters are ticked. They voted for Brooke like 20 times last night. Brooke is crying more than Tom Hanks did when he lost Wilson the Volleyball in Castaway. She will attempt to sing one last time. Not sure how she will be able to. She messes up the words but that’s understandable. At least she gets to go home now instead of hanging out with the other Idolaters. Well I had the bottom two right but I thought Brooke would hang around 1 more week. Jason is definitely the prettiest one left now.
Donk I love you. This one is for you. Rock on!
Today's Workouts
15 mile run for breakfast. Overall pace 8:35...a little off but not too bad for an old guy.
First 12 miles 8:40 pace - blah
Last 3 miles 8:19 pace. So at least I was getting stronger at the end.
Knee felt twingy but ok
First 12 miles 8:40 pace - blah
Last 3 miles 8:19 pace. So at least I was getting stronger at the end.
Knee felt twingy but ok
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Today's Workouts
The 4.3 mile work loop.
I left the office at 11am. A mile into my run, so around 11:10am or so, I see an older retired guy sitting on his front porch watching a small 12 inch TV and drinking a can of Budweiser. Probably was watching The Price is Right. That's on at 11:00 around here.
That should let you know what kind of redneck town I work in. I was kinda tired on this run. I should have stopped and joined him.
I left the office at 11am. A mile into my run, so around 11:10am or so, I see an older retired guy sitting on his front porch watching a small 12 inch TV and drinking a can of Budweiser. Probably was watching The Price is Right. That's on at 11:00 around here.
That should let you know what kind of redneck town I work in. I was kinda tired on this run. I should have stopped and joined him.
Neil Diamond Night on American Idol
Neil Diamond is still alive…who knew
He is actually only 67. It sure seems like he should be older. I spent a good part of the 70’s listening to Neil Diamond on 8-track in my dad’s car or at home. Dad also played a bunch John Denver and Olivia Newton-John 8-tracks. But through lots of therapy I’m now pretty much ok. Although on occasion I will have a Tourette's like episode where I burst into a medley of ‘Physical’, ‘Sweet Caroline’ and ‘Thank God I’m a Country Boy’. The kids just throw cold water on me and I’m good as new.
I also accompanied my dad to a few of Mr. Diamond’s concerts when I was a young lad. There is one memory that stands out most from these shows. One no amount of lsd can get rid of. Near the front of the stage were two, how shall I put this, um…upper middle-aged plus-sized women. Each had on a glittery t-shirt. One with the word ‘Neil’ on it the other with the word ‘Diamond’ on it. Ok, pathetic but not horrible. Then the lights went down and the two ladies must have flipped a switch on the back of their shirts, because the words ‘Neil’ and ‘Diamond’ lit up and started blinking. I don’t even want to know where the batteries for the shirts were. Thankfully for my 12 year-old mind, neither woman threw their underwear up on the stage. I don’t think even Sigmund Freud could have helped me recover from that.
Unlike last week when I didn’t know the songs, I’m embarrassed to admit that I know all of these songs. Why couldn’t it be Neil young? Never mind I wouldn’t want these people butchering the real Neil’s songs.
A brief recap of the performances and random thoughts about the performers and judges:
Jason Castro – The prettiest one left. No apparent talent but the tarts down in the mosh-pit aren’t going to let him go this early in the contest. He sang ‘Forever in Blue Jeans’ first. Boring but not painful. He’s wearing blue jeans…might have been more original to sing it in a tux. He’s signing ‘September Morn’ second. He sits on a stool with a guitar and sings to the young girls of America who keep him on the show week after week. Not as bad as the first song but other than tween girls, does anyone like his singing? I’d pick him to get voted off if the chicks didn’t love his pretty eyes so much.
David Cook – smug, arrogant and lousy hair (my 15 year-old son likes his hair) but the only one left who can perform. Now he’s acting like he’s in charge of the show…what a tool. He’s singing two little known songs of Neil’s. But of course I know them. He does a rocking version of ‘I’m Alive’. Not half-bad for what he has to work with. But that means it was only half good. His second song choice is ‘All I Really Need is You’. The mosh-pit girls are doing the wave (see me rolling my eyes). Lame performance. Hideous Jacket and hairdo. Of course the judges like it because he’s one of the ‘Chosen Ones’ (him and the other David). Whatever.
Brooke White aka The Virgin Nanny – Curly or Straight hair…make up your mind already. She’s doing ‘I’m a Believer’ and ‘I am I said’. First ‘I’m a Believer’. Predictable. Interesting pants…looks like a gray mermaid. She could easily be gone next week. Next she is going to sing ‘I am I said’. I don’t think this is a good choice for her. It’s a guy song. Let’s see. Here she goes. Wow not the train wreck I thought it would be. Not great but it’s ok. She may have saved herself for one more week.
David Archuleta – fake, not a sincere bone in his little body. ‘Psycho Stage Dad’ for a father. He’s going to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ first. He might have a pretty little voice but he doesn’t have the pipes for this. Sounds like he’s singing at a beach party or around the camp fire. Now he’s going to sing ‘Coming to America’. I can’t stand this song. Go ahead and play the patriotic card. Oh the horror. Someone vote this phony off. I think I just threw-up in my mouth. He just proved he can’t sing upbeat songs. Enough of this ballad singing pansy already. Why am I watching this show? It just makes me mean. Oh yeah, I have teenage daughters that’s why I’m watching it. Of course the judges (the borderline pedophile Paula in particular) love it because he’s the other Chosen One.
Syesha – Perky and fun at times. Would make a good Broadway actress or maybe cruise director on the love boat. She’s singing ‘Hello Again’ first. Woah! What happened to the hair? Is that real? Makes her look old…and not in a good way. It appears someone has stolen her shoes. I fell asleep. Is the song over? Rather boring. Next she’s singing ‘Thank the Lord for the Nighttime’. This one’s a little better. More upbeat. Kinda fun. At least I stayed awake this time. My daughters like her dress and want it. She’s pretty but fix the hair. That’s about all the nice things I can think of to say. Simon thinks she might be in trouble tonight.
Ryan Seacrest – fix the hair already. How does this guy make so much money? What a country.
Randy – get some new material. We know everyone is your ‘dawg’ and every singer is ‘pitchy’.
Paula – what’s in that cup? Sober up already. Do you have to dance every song? It’s a long time from your Laker Girl day’s honey. You’re my age. What the heck is she wearing? Oh my! After round 1, Paula thinks Jason has sung twice already?! She needs to go to rehab.
Simon – rude and obnoxious at times but at least he tells it like it is. Quick and to the point. But please get a new shirt and button it up for the love that all is holy.
My bottom two:
Syesha and Brooke
With Syesha going home.
We shall find out tonight.
I can hardly wait.
I’m all a quiver with anticipation.
This show has officially Jumped the Shark.
Ok Donk have fun making fun of me.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Today's Workouts
7 mile tempo run in sunny 60 degree weather...near perfect. Right knee twingy. Probably from running in light-weight racing shoes on Saturday. Or because I haven't taken my joint supplements in a few months.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Ironman Race Report from Last Fall
Sam thought I should post my Ironman write up from last year. And since I have nothing else to say today here it is...Apologies to those you have had to see this already on running and triathlon forums.
ChesapeakeMan Ironman 9/29/2007
Cambridge MD
2.4 miles swimming
112 miles cycling
26.2 miles running
140.6 miles total
Surgeon Generals Warning: this is one long race report. Block off an hour or two, go get some coffee and maybe a lobotomy before reading.
Rambling pre-race stuff:
Where to start? 30 years ago when I first started running? 3 and half years ago when I started biking? 3 years when I learned to swim? Maybe back in June after EagleMan when I had a good race and decided to do ChesapeakeMan for sure? I’m not really sure where to start. This journey had many influences that worked together to make this day possible. Most people who will read this already know a lot of the process it took to get to race day. The 3:30am wake-ups on weekdays, the long bike rides on Saturdays, the seemingly endless laps at lunch in the pool (not that they seemed to help much – see swim time below), or maybe the support of the world’s best wife and kids, without whose support none of this would have been possible.
Anyway I spent the past 3 months training 15-20+ hours per week to get to race day. Countless hours were spent biking and running in the dark mornings. At first these were very easy to get up for but then the mental and physical drag started to take their toll. By September 1st I was ready for the darn thing to be here already. Had pre-race goals of 1) finishing in a semi-vertical position and 2) maybe breaking 12 hours.
A friend of Sam and me was signed-up to do this race with me, but she died over the summer. So I did this race in her honor. I put her initials (S.P.) on my front wheel in red duct tape. Thanks for watching over me hon and getting me through this. We miss you!
Friday before the race:
I worked half of the day and left work around noon to come home and load up the car. My bags were already packed and my list of stuff to bring had been checked and double-checked and then re-checked just to make sure. I was almost as OCD with this as I was with checking the weather. Got the car packed and was on the road by 1pm or so for the 1.5 hour drive over to Cambridge, the site of the race. The ride over was uneventful and I pulled into the Hyatt resort complex, the race headquarters, at 2:30. Check-in took all of 5 minutes or so. This is a very small race, a little over 200 participants and that includes the swim-only people and the swim-bike people. No expo to speak of. Just a small table with some shirts, hats and other race finisher stuff. I wanted a few things but wasn’t going to jinx the race by buying them before the race. I figured I could buy them after the race but I was wrong they weren’t selling the stuff after the race. Anyway I got all my race numbers, timing chip and 5 gear bags. The gear bags were large drawstring Gatorade bags. The bags are for: warm-up gear, bike gear, bike special needs, run gear and run special needs.
After I got my race packet I drove over to Great Marsh Park, where the swim ends and the bike begins, to rack my bike and drop off my bike gear. I pumped up my tires one last time (gave them a little extra air to account for them sitting over night) and put two frozen bottles of sports drink in my bottle holders. Then I racked my bike and filled up the bike-gear bag. Put everything in the bag that I might need on the bike: shoes, helmet, shades, bike shorts, bag of gummy bears etc…Then I hung the bag on the racks at the swim exit.
With that done I headed over to the house where I was staying. Friends of ours have a summer house outside of Cambridge and we stay there every year for EagleMan. Got there and un-packed all the rest of my gear and organized it. Hung out there until around 5:30 and then went back to the Hyatt Resort for the pre-race meeting at 6pm. The race director, Robert Vigorito – he organizes all the big tri’s around here, went over the logistics and answered questions for awhile. Here is some of the info we got. Jellyfish – they weren’t in the river at this time, they have been and issue in the past. Tides in the river – the tide will be going out with you; everyone should have real fast swims…yeah right. He said 2 years ago the tide was going out at the start of the race and the fastest time was 50 minutes and the slowest was 1:24. I was hoping on getting out of the water in 1:15-1:30 so all this sounded real good to me. Alas it wasn’t true. The swim times were slow.
Anyway I headed back to the house around 7pm and ate a light meal (bananas and a Cliff bar) and drank lots of water and took some salt pills. I packed all my different gear bags and made up some more drinks and froze them. 2 more bike bottles of Infinit sports drink. These bottles were going in my bike special needs bag which we would get at mile 64 of the bike. 4 frozen 7 ounce fuel belt bottles of Infinit for the run bag and 2 frozen 7 ounce fuel belt bottles of flat Coke for the run special needs bag. Then I read for awhile and went to bed at 9pm. I set my alarm for 4am, ok I set 3 alarms for 4am. I actually slept well. Only got up a few times to use the bathroom – all that water I was drinking.
Race Day:
Got up at 4am and had breakfast – 2 bananas and a cliff bar. Took a shower and then I put on my swim jammers and tri-top and threw some warm-up clothes on over top of them since it was chilly outside and real WINDY out. Packed-up the car and locked up the house and headed over to the local High School where the race would end to drop off my bike special needs, run gear and run special needs. I should probably list the race logistics here. The swim starts at the beach at the Hyatt resort. You swim down the river 2.4 miles to the Great Marsh Park and exit the water at the boat ramp. You do a 64 mile bike loop that ends at the High School and then you do a 48 mile loop that ends at the high school. For the run you do 3 out and back 9 mile loops and finish on the HS track. In other words you run down this un-shaded country road for 4.3 miles turn around and run back to the school, then lather rinse and repeat 2 more times.
Left my car at the HS and took a shuttle bus over to the Hyatt to await the start of this thing, Got to the Hyatt around 6am with an hour to kill. There was a pavilion by the beach that they had setup with music and Starbucks coffee. Got myself some coffee and then had my body marked. Race number (45) on each shoulder, age on left calf…oh and they put your number on the top off your hand. This is new to me so I ask about that one. Guy says “that’s so we can identify you if we have to pull you out of the water”. Oh, ok…um thanks…after that I head into one of the ballrooms at the hotel to get out of the darn wind. Lie down on the floor there and rest a little, drink my coffee, chat with other racers and use the potty. It’s nice being able to use real bathrooms before the race instead of waiting in porta-potty lines. I put on my wetsuit and some jelly-fish repellent that The Donk had lent me. (I have to mention The Donk in this report so I don’t cut him deep. Inside joke…don’t ask.) Around 6:45 I head down to the beach for the start of the shebang and chug down a gel. We do the National Anthem, get a few last minute instructions and then we are off. Finally.
The swim:
The start is uneventful. We swim away from the beach out into the river and hang a left and head for some distance point that I can’t see. There are lots of boats, jet skis and kayaks out there to keep and eye on everyone. After the initial “I hate swimming, why am I doing this feeling” I settle into my turtle like pace. Basically I take 24 strokes, raise my head to make sure I’m on course and then do it over and over again. I never get off course by much and I just keep chugging along. Doesn’t seem like there is much current but what do I know, I’m not a real swimmer. There is a lot of surface chop that we are swimming into. This is due to the high winds. Finally see the boat ramp and make my way towards it. Get there and try and stand up and walk up the ramp, feeling a little woozy but I manage to stay on my feet. I check my watch, 1:39:57, you have got to be kidding me (that was 86th out of 113 men). Some current. Hear others complaining about their time and lack of current. Oh well I’m a little bit behind my goal pace now. As we are coming out of the water someone yells out my number so they have my bike-gear bag waiting for us at the top of the boat ramp. They then direct me to the men’s changing tent (they wouldn’t let me in the women’s). Start taking off my wetsuit while a volunteer empties my bike-gear bag for me. He then helps me pull my wetsuit off my feet. I take off the jammers and put on my bike shorts (sorry no pictures of this), get on my socks, bike shoes, shades and helmet etc…The same volunteer puts all my swim junk into my bike-gear bag for me. The bag will magically reappear at the HS after the race. Normally I wear tri-shorts for a race so there is no changing but I figured it would be worth a few extra seconds to throw on my good bike shorts for the ride, I was right. I notice that I have some chaff from the wetsuit under one arm and on my neck. I must have missed a few spots with the Body Glide or it wore off some in the water. I then exit the tent to my bike. Mount my bike and I’m off. Total T1 time is 4:57.
Btw – 2.4 miles is a long way to swim
The Bike:
One word could describe the bike WIND. The bike course is out in the open through farm country and wetlands etc…no shelter. There were strong winds all day long, like around 20mph strong. Which are real nice as tailwinds but not as nice as headwinds. Anyway it’s the same for everyone so I just “suck it up princess” and ride. My plan was to stay in a HR zone of 145-150, which I did. That is my “I can ride a long time and maybe run after” zone. Any time I went below or above that zone I adjusted my effort. I pass a fair amount of people on the bike. That is the benefit of being a lousy swimmer; there are lots of people in front of you to pass on the bike. My bike ride is fairly uneventful. No flats or other mechanical issues. The bike works well. The race wheels are a little squirrelly in the crosswinds but nothing too horrible. I drink one bottle of Infinit each hour and after those two are gone I get a bottle of Gatorade at an aid station. They have aid stations every 10 miles or so with water bottles or Gatorade bottles. After about 64 miles I finish up lap number one at the HS. Pull into the parking lot and go to where the bike-special needs bags are being given out. They have my bag waiting for me!? Very cool. Someone at entrance to the parking lot had radioed ahead my race number so the bag was waiting for me. The race volunteer opens it up and helps me get out what I wanted. I take out 2 more bottles of Infinit sports drink and a zip-lock bag full of gummy bears. Throw my two empty bottles in it and head back out for lap two. Lap two is more of the same except I’m getting a little sore in the caboose and my legs are starting to feel the strain. The way the course is set up you hit head wind the last 12 miles or so of each lap. So we had head wind from miles 52-64 and from 100-112. When riding into the winds my speed would drop to around 16-16.5 mph. Fun times! Throughout the second lap I’m just concentrating on keeping a decent speed and getting as much fuel into me as possible before the run starts. I finish off both bottles of Infinit and part of a bottle of Gatorade. I’m also taking 1 or 2 salt pills per hour. I’m feeling pretty well hydrated since the heat isn’t too bad (it probably went up to around 78). I actually have to stop and pee twice will on the bike. I tried to go on the ‘fly’ while biking but couldn’t pull it off and had to stop on the side of the ride. Thankfully the roads are sparsely populated so I didn’t scandalize anyone. Eventually I see the HS and turn into the parking lot. Pull up to where the transition area is. One volunteer takes my bike for me (such service). I tell her she can keep it; I’ve had enough of it. Another one hands me my run-gear bag…they had it waiting for me…and points me towards the changing tent. My bike time is 5:32:16 (19.3 mph.) 18th fastest out of the 113 male finishers. And zero people passed me on the bike ride. So that was the high point of my race day.
Btw – 112 miles is a long way to bike.
The Run:
I head into the changing tent and strip down to my birthday suit…well I had socks on (no pictures were taken here either). Another volunteer has already emptied my run-gear bag for me and is putting all my bike stuff into the bag. The volunteers at this race were incredible. Put on my CW-X running shorts. Once again I figured it was worth the extra time to be comfortable. Lace up the shoes, grab my 4 small bottles of Infinit and stuff them in my tri-top pockets. Also grab some more salt pills and gummy bears (the gummies were the closest thing to solid food I ate during the race). Leave the tent for a T2 time of 2:32 – not too bad for me. Now comes the fun part; 26.2 miles of running on an un-shaded 4.3 mile out and back course. There are some benefits to this lay out at small races. You get to see all the racers a lot as you are going back and worth (on the later part of the bike ride I would go miles without seeing another rider). Also since at IM’s they have aid stations every mile, the race director only had to have four setup. This was actually kinda cool since you got to ‘know’ the aid station volunteers a little bit. And they got to know us since our names were printed on our race numbers. So we went through each aid station 6 times. So I start out running. I really have no Idea what kinda pace I can run so I just stay in my HR zone of 145-150. At the start that is around 9:45-10:10 miles. Which are fine with me. The first lap (9 miles or so) is not too painful. I get back to the school and head out for lap two. That is one of the negatives of this run layout, you can see the finish line but still have a long way to go. It was even more annoying after lap two. On lap two it starts to get a little tough (to say the least). My stomach is sick of sports drink so I’m taking in a little water at each aid station, some gummies, the occasional salt pill and I’m putting ice in my running hat to stay cool. It’s only in the upper 70’s put without the shade it is pretty warm out. Towards the end of lap 2, around mile 16 or so the legs start getting really sore and tired and I’m afraid I’m going to have to walk the last 10 miles which would shoot the sub 12 hour finish all to hell. The soreness and pain are bearable though so it basically becomes a metal game. Am I tough enough to suck it up and run 10 miles in pain while being really tired?
I finish Lap #2 and they have my run special needs bag waiting for me. These people are so cool. This time it’s a 5 year-old boy (with his mom supervising) you hands me bag and helps me get some stuff out of it (2 small bottles of coke, gummies and salt pills). I high-five my new friend and head back out. Thanks little buddy for your help. At this point it really stinks to be able to see the finish line over on the track and have almost 9 more miles to run. On the plus side I’m on my last lap and there are still people just finishing up their bike so it could be worse. Run by some spectators ringing a cowbell and shout for “more cowbell”. Now it basically is a total mental game. The pain is constant and my stomach is rebelling. I’m able to sip a little coke and water at times and eat one or two gummies but that’s about it. I stop at one porta-potty to pee so at least I’m not too dehydrated. All I’m doing now is trying to run from one aid station to the next. I know I’ll be able to finish the race (unless something really bad happens) but I want to do it with out walking. Note: I did walk for 10-20 seconds through each aid station so I could get fuel into me. So I run to the first aid station (Hawaiian themed), run to the second (a guy is heating up a big pot of chicken soup on a camping stove), run to the third get some more coke, run to the fourth (which is being run by the HS cross-county team). I try and talk some of the kids at the station into running the last 4.5 miles for me…no luck. I get to the final turn around (4.3 miles or so to go). I’m in the home stretch so to speak. I continue my kinda slow running (probably around 11 minute miles at this point but I’m not keeping track anymore) and my strategy of just run the 1 mile to the next aid station. I get to the 23 mile mark and realize with only a little over 5k to go I can probably break 12 hours if I can keep up my shuffling type of run. I finally get to the final aid station (mile 25). This is the Hawaiian themed one and these guys/gals have been great the whole race. They are having one big party. They have a grill going and are cooking burgers for themselves and they have a cooler full of beer! The guys are wearing Hawaiian shirts and the ladies have on grass skirts and coconut bras! I slow down to thank them for all their help. The main guy running see’s me and says “this is your last lap right?’ Yes sir it is! Then he yells out “last lap, this guy needs to get laid”. One of the girls puts a leis around by neck. I can see the HS in the distance and the lights are on at the stadium and track. I have around 12 or 13 minutes to get in under 12 hours. I pick up the pace a bit just to make sure I make it. I turn off the road into the school parking lot. I see Sam and the kids (they came down for the end – all except for Josh who is in NH at school) and my mom, my dad and his wife. I slow down enough to kiss Sam. I had told Sam since this was such a small race that they had told us our kids could run across the finish line with us. She had told the 3 little boys to run alongside me down to the track and the rest of the family took a short cut down to it. By this time I’m feeling really good (weird) and running at a nice pace. Joey, Robert and Dominic cut across the field to the finish line and decide to just watch me finish. I see Dominic (5) off to the side and kinda grab him and the two off us run the last 20 yards together. The race director announces my name and hometown and then says “and get this, he and his wife just had their 11th child. Can you believe that?” Sam had told him about that before I came into the finish. I break through the tape and its official “I’m an Ironman”. Run time 4:37:13.
Btw – 26.2 miles is a long way to run
They wrap a Mylar blanket around me and put my medal around my neck and give me my finishers shirt. Lots of hugs and kisses from the family. We get some pictures taken and then head up to the gymnasium for post-race food. I put my Finishers shirt on Robert and my Medal on Sam since she is the real Ironman of the family. I’m not real hungry at this point but I see that the massage tables are not real busy. I’ve never had a massage in my life so I head over there and get about a 20-30 minute massage. Almost fall asleep during it, it felt so good. After that I have a piece of pizza, some chicken soup, a coke and some water. Then it’s time to pack-up and get the kids home to bed. All of my gear bags are either in the Gym or with my bike. This race is very well organized. The kids help me gather up everything and we put my bike on the back of my car. Alex (17) is my designated driver and she drives me and Caleb home in my car while the rest of the brood went home with Sam in the van. I check the cell phone that was in my car and there are 18 missed calls…all from the afore mentioned Donk, now that’s love. We get back to Bowie around 9:30. I have Alex pull into a McDonalds (haven’t been to one in years) and I get 2 double-cheeseburgers off the dollar menu and scarf them down. Then we head to the house and un-pack my stuff and put the kids to bed.
Final stats:
Swim 1:39:57 86th out of 113 male finishers
T1 4:57 48th out of 113
Bike 5:32:16 18th out of 113
T2 2:32 20th out of 113
Run 4:37:13 52nd out of 113
Total Time 11:56:52
38th overall out of 113
Age-group 6th out of 24
Will I do another one? Maybe, I really enjoyed the day. It’s the training hours that are a physical and mental strain after awhile. Not to mention the strain it puts on the family. They had to put up with a whole lot this summer. They are the real champions. This was a wonderful experience and we shall have to see what the future brings. I am doing EagleMan again next June. No I need to stop typing and go work on my swimming and holding a faster run pace after biking.
Much thanks to everyone else who made this possible. My training buddies, my forum friends, all the great volunteers at the race – you guys/gals were the best and Robert Vigorito for putting on another well run race. And anyone else my tired brain has forgotten.
So that’s my story thanks for reading if you are still awake and sane.
SP – this one was for you. Peace Out.
ChesapeakeMan Ironman 9/29/2007
Cambridge MD
2.4 miles swimming
112 miles cycling
26.2 miles running
140.6 miles total
Surgeon Generals Warning: this is one long race report. Block off an hour or two, go get some coffee and maybe a lobotomy before reading.
Rambling pre-race stuff:
Where to start? 30 years ago when I first started running? 3 and half years ago when I started biking? 3 years when I learned to swim? Maybe back in June after EagleMan when I had a good race and decided to do ChesapeakeMan for sure? I’m not really sure where to start. This journey had many influences that worked together to make this day possible. Most people who will read this already know a lot of the process it took to get to race day. The 3:30am wake-ups on weekdays, the long bike rides on Saturdays, the seemingly endless laps at lunch in the pool (not that they seemed to help much – see swim time below), or maybe the support of the world’s best wife and kids, without whose support none of this would have been possible.
Anyway I spent the past 3 months training 15-20+ hours per week to get to race day. Countless hours were spent biking and running in the dark mornings. At first these were very easy to get up for but then the mental and physical drag started to take their toll. By September 1st I was ready for the darn thing to be here already. Had pre-race goals of 1) finishing in a semi-vertical position and 2) maybe breaking 12 hours.
A friend of Sam and me was signed-up to do this race with me, but she died over the summer. So I did this race in her honor. I put her initials (S.P.) on my front wheel in red duct tape. Thanks for watching over me hon and getting me through this. We miss you!
Friday before the race:
I worked half of the day and left work around noon to come home and load up the car. My bags were already packed and my list of stuff to bring had been checked and double-checked and then re-checked just to make sure. I was almost as OCD with this as I was with checking the weather. Got the car packed and was on the road by 1pm or so for the 1.5 hour drive over to Cambridge, the site of the race. The ride over was uneventful and I pulled into the Hyatt resort complex, the race headquarters, at 2:30. Check-in took all of 5 minutes or so. This is a very small race, a little over 200 participants and that includes the swim-only people and the swim-bike people. No expo to speak of. Just a small table with some shirts, hats and other race finisher stuff. I wanted a few things but wasn’t going to jinx the race by buying them before the race. I figured I could buy them after the race but I was wrong they weren’t selling the stuff after the race. Anyway I got all my race numbers, timing chip and 5 gear bags. The gear bags were large drawstring Gatorade bags. The bags are for: warm-up gear, bike gear, bike special needs, run gear and run special needs.
After I got my race packet I drove over to Great Marsh Park, where the swim ends and the bike begins, to rack my bike and drop off my bike gear. I pumped up my tires one last time (gave them a little extra air to account for them sitting over night) and put two frozen bottles of sports drink in my bottle holders. Then I racked my bike and filled up the bike-gear bag. Put everything in the bag that I might need on the bike: shoes, helmet, shades, bike shorts, bag of gummy bears etc…Then I hung the bag on the racks at the swim exit.
With that done I headed over to the house where I was staying. Friends of ours have a summer house outside of Cambridge and we stay there every year for EagleMan. Got there and un-packed all the rest of my gear and organized it. Hung out there until around 5:30 and then went back to the Hyatt Resort for the pre-race meeting at 6pm. The race director, Robert Vigorito – he organizes all the big tri’s around here, went over the logistics and answered questions for awhile. Here is some of the info we got. Jellyfish – they weren’t in the river at this time, they have been and issue in the past. Tides in the river – the tide will be going out with you; everyone should have real fast swims…yeah right. He said 2 years ago the tide was going out at the start of the race and the fastest time was 50 minutes and the slowest was 1:24. I was hoping on getting out of the water in 1:15-1:30 so all this sounded real good to me. Alas it wasn’t true. The swim times were slow.
Anyway I headed back to the house around 7pm and ate a light meal (bananas and a Cliff bar) and drank lots of water and took some salt pills. I packed all my different gear bags and made up some more drinks and froze them. 2 more bike bottles of Infinit sports drink. These bottles were going in my bike special needs bag which we would get at mile 64 of the bike. 4 frozen 7 ounce fuel belt bottles of Infinit for the run bag and 2 frozen 7 ounce fuel belt bottles of flat Coke for the run special needs bag. Then I read for awhile and went to bed at 9pm. I set my alarm for 4am, ok I set 3 alarms for 4am. I actually slept well. Only got up a few times to use the bathroom – all that water I was drinking.
Race Day:
Got up at 4am and had breakfast – 2 bananas and a cliff bar. Took a shower and then I put on my swim jammers and tri-top and threw some warm-up clothes on over top of them since it was chilly outside and real WINDY out. Packed-up the car and locked up the house and headed over to the local High School where the race would end to drop off my bike special needs, run gear and run special needs. I should probably list the race logistics here. The swim starts at the beach at the Hyatt resort. You swim down the river 2.4 miles to the Great Marsh Park and exit the water at the boat ramp. You do a 64 mile bike loop that ends at the High School and then you do a 48 mile loop that ends at the high school. For the run you do 3 out and back 9 mile loops and finish on the HS track. In other words you run down this un-shaded country road for 4.3 miles turn around and run back to the school, then lather rinse and repeat 2 more times.
Left my car at the HS and took a shuttle bus over to the Hyatt to await the start of this thing, Got to the Hyatt around 6am with an hour to kill. There was a pavilion by the beach that they had setup with music and Starbucks coffee. Got myself some coffee and then had my body marked. Race number (45) on each shoulder, age on left calf…oh and they put your number on the top off your hand. This is new to me so I ask about that one. Guy says “that’s so we can identify you if we have to pull you out of the water”. Oh, ok…um thanks…after that I head into one of the ballrooms at the hotel to get out of the darn wind. Lie down on the floor there and rest a little, drink my coffee, chat with other racers and use the potty. It’s nice being able to use real bathrooms before the race instead of waiting in porta-potty lines. I put on my wetsuit and some jelly-fish repellent that The Donk had lent me. (I have to mention The Donk in this report so I don’t cut him deep. Inside joke…don’t ask.) Around 6:45 I head down to the beach for the start of the shebang and chug down a gel. We do the National Anthem, get a few last minute instructions and then we are off. Finally.
The swim:
The start is uneventful. We swim away from the beach out into the river and hang a left and head for some distance point that I can’t see. There are lots of boats, jet skis and kayaks out there to keep and eye on everyone. After the initial “I hate swimming, why am I doing this feeling” I settle into my turtle like pace. Basically I take 24 strokes, raise my head to make sure I’m on course and then do it over and over again. I never get off course by much and I just keep chugging along. Doesn’t seem like there is much current but what do I know, I’m not a real swimmer. There is a lot of surface chop that we are swimming into. This is due to the high winds. Finally see the boat ramp and make my way towards it. Get there and try and stand up and walk up the ramp, feeling a little woozy but I manage to stay on my feet. I check my watch, 1:39:57, you have got to be kidding me (that was 86th out of 113 men). Some current. Hear others complaining about their time and lack of current. Oh well I’m a little bit behind my goal pace now. As we are coming out of the water someone yells out my number so they have my bike-gear bag waiting for us at the top of the boat ramp. They then direct me to the men’s changing tent (they wouldn’t let me in the women’s). Start taking off my wetsuit while a volunteer empties my bike-gear bag for me. He then helps me pull my wetsuit off my feet. I take off the jammers and put on my bike shorts (sorry no pictures of this), get on my socks, bike shoes, shades and helmet etc…The same volunteer puts all my swim junk into my bike-gear bag for me. The bag will magically reappear at the HS after the race. Normally I wear tri-shorts for a race so there is no changing but I figured it would be worth a few extra seconds to throw on my good bike shorts for the ride, I was right. I notice that I have some chaff from the wetsuit under one arm and on my neck. I must have missed a few spots with the Body Glide or it wore off some in the water. I then exit the tent to my bike. Mount my bike and I’m off. Total T1 time is 4:57.
Btw – 2.4 miles is a long way to swim
The Bike:
One word could describe the bike WIND. The bike course is out in the open through farm country and wetlands etc…no shelter. There were strong winds all day long, like around 20mph strong. Which are real nice as tailwinds but not as nice as headwinds. Anyway it’s the same for everyone so I just “suck it up princess” and ride. My plan was to stay in a HR zone of 145-150, which I did. That is my “I can ride a long time and maybe run after” zone. Any time I went below or above that zone I adjusted my effort. I pass a fair amount of people on the bike. That is the benefit of being a lousy swimmer; there are lots of people in front of you to pass on the bike. My bike ride is fairly uneventful. No flats or other mechanical issues. The bike works well. The race wheels are a little squirrelly in the crosswinds but nothing too horrible. I drink one bottle of Infinit each hour and after those two are gone I get a bottle of Gatorade at an aid station. They have aid stations every 10 miles or so with water bottles or Gatorade bottles. After about 64 miles I finish up lap number one at the HS. Pull into the parking lot and go to where the bike-special needs bags are being given out. They have my bag waiting for me!? Very cool. Someone at entrance to the parking lot had radioed ahead my race number so the bag was waiting for me. The race volunteer opens it up and helps me get out what I wanted. I take out 2 more bottles of Infinit sports drink and a zip-lock bag full of gummy bears. Throw my two empty bottles in it and head back out for lap two. Lap two is more of the same except I’m getting a little sore in the caboose and my legs are starting to feel the strain. The way the course is set up you hit head wind the last 12 miles or so of each lap. So we had head wind from miles 52-64 and from 100-112. When riding into the winds my speed would drop to around 16-16.5 mph. Fun times! Throughout the second lap I’m just concentrating on keeping a decent speed and getting as much fuel into me as possible before the run starts. I finish off both bottles of Infinit and part of a bottle of Gatorade. I’m also taking 1 or 2 salt pills per hour. I’m feeling pretty well hydrated since the heat isn’t too bad (it probably went up to around 78). I actually have to stop and pee twice will on the bike. I tried to go on the ‘fly’ while biking but couldn’t pull it off and had to stop on the side of the ride. Thankfully the roads are sparsely populated so I didn’t scandalize anyone. Eventually I see the HS and turn into the parking lot. Pull up to where the transition area is. One volunteer takes my bike for me (such service). I tell her she can keep it; I’ve had enough of it. Another one hands me my run-gear bag…they had it waiting for me…and points me towards the changing tent. My bike time is 5:32:16 (19.3 mph.) 18th fastest out of the 113 male finishers. And zero people passed me on the bike ride. So that was the high point of my race day.
Btw – 112 miles is a long way to bike.
The Run:
I head into the changing tent and strip down to my birthday suit…well I had socks on (no pictures were taken here either). Another volunteer has already emptied my run-gear bag for me and is putting all my bike stuff into the bag. The volunteers at this race were incredible. Put on my CW-X running shorts. Once again I figured it was worth the extra time to be comfortable. Lace up the shoes, grab my 4 small bottles of Infinit and stuff them in my tri-top pockets. Also grab some more salt pills and gummy bears (the gummies were the closest thing to solid food I ate during the race). Leave the tent for a T2 time of 2:32 – not too bad for me. Now comes the fun part; 26.2 miles of running on an un-shaded 4.3 mile out and back course. There are some benefits to this lay out at small races. You get to see all the racers a lot as you are going back and worth (on the later part of the bike ride I would go miles without seeing another rider). Also since at IM’s they have aid stations every mile, the race director only had to have four setup. This was actually kinda cool since you got to ‘know’ the aid station volunteers a little bit. And they got to know us since our names were printed on our race numbers. So we went through each aid station 6 times. So I start out running. I really have no Idea what kinda pace I can run so I just stay in my HR zone of 145-150. At the start that is around 9:45-10:10 miles. Which are fine with me. The first lap (9 miles or so) is not too painful. I get back to the school and head out for lap two. That is one of the negatives of this run layout, you can see the finish line but still have a long way to go. It was even more annoying after lap two. On lap two it starts to get a little tough (to say the least). My stomach is sick of sports drink so I’m taking in a little water at each aid station, some gummies, the occasional salt pill and I’m putting ice in my running hat to stay cool. It’s only in the upper 70’s put without the shade it is pretty warm out. Towards the end of lap 2, around mile 16 or so the legs start getting really sore and tired and I’m afraid I’m going to have to walk the last 10 miles which would shoot the sub 12 hour finish all to hell. The soreness and pain are bearable though so it basically becomes a metal game. Am I tough enough to suck it up and run 10 miles in pain while being really tired?
I finish Lap #2 and they have my run special needs bag waiting for me. These people are so cool. This time it’s a 5 year-old boy (with his mom supervising) you hands me bag and helps me get some stuff out of it (2 small bottles of coke, gummies and salt pills). I high-five my new friend and head back out. Thanks little buddy for your help. At this point it really stinks to be able to see the finish line over on the track and have almost 9 more miles to run. On the plus side I’m on my last lap and there are still people just finishing up their bike so it could be worse. Run by some spectators ringing a cowbell and shout for “more cowbell”. Now it basically is a total mental game. The pain is constant and my stomach is rebelling. I’m able to sip a little coke and water at times and eat one or two gummies but that’s about it. I stop at one porta-potty to pee so at least I’m not too dehydrated. All I’m doing now is trying to run from one aid station to the next. I know I’ll be able to finish the race (unless something really bad happens) but I want to do it with out walking. Note: I did walk for 10-20 seconds through each aid station so I could get fuel into me. So I run to the first aid station (Hawaiian themed), run to the second (a guy is heating up a big pot of chicken soup on a camping stove), run to the third get some more coke, run to the fourth (which is being run by the HS cross-county team). I try and talk some of the kids at the station into running the last 4.5 miles for me…no luck. I get to the final turn around (4.3 miles or so to go). I’m in the home stretch so to speak. I continue my kinda slow running (probably around 11 minute miles at this point but I’m not keeping track anymore) and my strategy of just run the 1 mile to the next aid station. I get to the 23 mile mark and realize with only a little over 5k to go I can probably break 12 hours if I can keep up my shuffling type of run. I finally get to the final aid station (mile 25). This is the Hawaiian themed one and these guys/gals have been great the whole race. They are having one big party. They have a grill going and are cooking burgers for themselves and they have a cooler full of beer! The guys are wearing Hawaiian shirts and the ladies have on grass skirts and coconut bras! I slow down to thank them for all their help. The main guy running see’s me and says “this is your last lap right?’ Yes sir it is! Then he yells out “last lap, this guy needs to get laid”. One of the girls puts a leis around by neck. I can see the HS in the distance and the lights are on at the stadium and track. I have around 12 or 13 minutes to get in under 12 hours. I pick up the pace a bit just to make sure I make it. I turn off the road into the school parking lot. I see Sam and the kids (they came down for the end – all except for Josh who is in NH at school) and my mom, my dad and his wife. I slow down enough to kiss Sam. I had told Sam since this was such a small race that they had told us our kids could run across the finish line with us. She had told the 3 little boys to run alongside me down to the track and the rest of the family took a short cut down to it. By this time I’m feeling really good (weird) and running at a nice pace. Joey, Robert and Dominic cut across the field to the finish line and decide to just watch me finish. I see Dominic (5) off to the side and kinda grab him and the two off us run the last 20 yards together. The race director announces my name and hometown and then says “and get this, he and his wife just had their 11th child. Can you believe that?” Sam had told him about that before I came into the finish. I break through the tape and its official “I’m an Ironman”. Run time 4:37:13.
Btw – 26.2 miles is a long way to run
They wrap a Mylar blanket around me and put my medal around my neck and give me my finishers shirt. Lots of hugs and kisses from the family. We get some pictures taken and then head up to the gymnasium for post-race food. I put my Finishers shirt on Robert and my Medal on Sam since she is the real Ironman of the family. I’m not real hungry at this point but I see that the massage tables are not real busy. I’ve never had a massage in my life so I head over there and get about a 20-30 minute massage. Almost fall asleep during it, it felt so good. After that I have a piece of pizza, some chicken soup, a coke and some water. Then it’s time to pack-up and get the kids home to bed. All of my gear bags are either in the Gym or with my bike. This race is very well organized. The kids help me gather up everything and we put my bike on the back of my car. Alex (17) is my designated driver and she drives me and Caleb home in my car while the rest of the brood went home with Sam in the van. I check the cell phone that was in my car and there are 18 missed calls…all from the afore mentioned Donk, now that’s love. We get back to Bowie around 9:30. I have Alex pull into a McDonalds (haven’t been to one in years) and I get 2 double-cheeseburgers off the dollar menu and scarf them down. Then we head to the house and un-pack my stuff and put the kids to bed.
Final stats:
Swim 1:39:57 86th out of 113 male finishers
T1 4:57 48th out of 113
Bike 5:32:16 18th out of 113
T2 2:32 20th out of 113
Run 4:37:13 52nd out of 113
Total Time 11:56:52
38th overall out of 113
Age-group 6th out of 24
Will I do another one? Maybe, I really enjoyed the day. It’s the training hours that are a physical and mental strain after awhile. Not to mention the strain it puts on the family. They had to put up with a whole lot this summer. They are the real champions. This was a wonderful experience and we shall have to see what the future brings. I am doing EagleMan again next June. No I need to stop typing and go work on my swimming and holding a faster run pace after biking.
Much thanks to everyone else who made this possible. My training buddies, my forum friends, all the great volunteers at the race – you guys/gals were the best and Robert Vigorito for putting on another well run race. And anyone else my tired brain has forgotten.
So that’s my story thanks for reading if you are still awake and sane.
SP – this one was for you. Peace Out.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Halfway to 80 Babe and Looking Great
Today is my beloved bride Sam’s 40th birthday.
I’ve decided to keep her after all and not trade her in for two 20 years-olds (twins…girls), like I’ve been saying for years that I would do when she turned 40. Her response was always “If you think you can handle them dear, go right ahead”. That always shut me up.
For your 40th – 40 things I Love About You.
1. I love your soul
2. I love your face
3. I love your faith
4. I love your mind
5. I love being married to you
6. I love you body
7. I love your optimistic personality…even if it annoys me at times
8. I love that you homeshool our kids
9. I love that you have faith in me
10. I love the taste of the salt on your skin
11. I love waking up in the morning with your hair in my face
12. I love your smile
13. I love your hair…even though you cut it short
14. I love you during labor
15. I love how hot you look when pregnant
16. I love that you stay home with the kids
17. I love that you support my working out
18. I love that you feel safe in my arms
19. I love how you cuddle up next to me in the winter for warmth
20. I love your laugh, the nice one, not the cackle
21. I love that you don’t like to go shopping
22. I love when you wear blue jeans and diamond stud earrings
23. I love you when you cry
24. I love that you can’t balance a checkbook and might not even know where we bank – that’s trust
25. I love to watch you sleep
26. I love that you don’t call me at work 20 times a day
27. I love how you can nurse a baby and coach a soccer game at the same time
28. I love when you make my lunch for work and put notes in it
29. I love when you rub my shoulders
30. I love when you hug me from behind
31. I love that you are the pick of the litter
32. I love when we pray together
33. I love that we are BFF’s
34. I love your eyebrows
35. I love your warmth
36. I love when you try and do new things on the computer
37. I love that you are more beautiful at 40 then you were at 16 when we met
38. I love how you are selfless
39. I love that I love your more today than the day we were married
40. I love TTN
I’ve decided to keep her after all and not trade her in for two 20 years-olds (twins…girls), like I’ve been saying for years that I would do when she turned 40. Her response was always “If you think you can handle them dear, go right ahead”. That always shut me up.
For your 40th – 40 things I Love About You.
1. I love your soul
2. I love your face
3. I love your faith
4. I love your mind
5. I love being married to you
6. I love you body
7. I love your optimistic personality…even if it annoys me at times
8. I love that you homeshool our kids
9. I love that you have faith in me
10. I love the taste of the salt on your skin
11. I love waking up in the morning with your hair in my face
12. I love your smile
13. I love your hair…even though you cut it short
14. I love you during labor
15. I love how hot you look when pregnant
16. I love that you stay home with the kids
17. I love that you support my working out
18. I love that you feel safe in my arms
19. I love how you cuddle up next to me in the winter for warmth
20. I love your laugh, the nice one, not the cackle
21. I love that you don’t like to go shopping
22. I love when you wear blue jeans and diamond stud earrings
23. I love you when you cry
24. I love that you can’t balance a checkbook and might not even know where we bank – that’s trust
25. I love to watch you sleep
26. I love that you don’t call me at work 20 times a day
27. I love how you can nurse a baby and coach a soccer game at the same time
28. I love when you make my lunch for work and put notes in it
29. I love when you rub my shoulders
30. I love when you hug me from behind
31. I love that you are the pick of the litter
32. I love when we pray together
33. I love that we are BFF’s
34. I love your eyebrows
35. I love your warmth
36. I love when you try and do new things on the computer
37. I love that you are more beautiful at 40 then you were at 16 when we met
38. I love how you are selfless
39. I love that I love your more today than the day we were married
40. I love TTN
Friday, April 25, 2008
Today's Workouts
Ran 13 miles at lunch. Did my 4.3 mile loop 3 times and then ran around the office building to round it up to an even 13. Picked up a Gatorade or water bottle after each loop. It's warm out today. The run felt good though and the pace was even throughout the run
The Good, The Bad and Now
The Ugly
12 noon – this Mass is dead or at least on life support. This one seriously needs the plug pulled on it. It makes The Lawrence Welk Show and crochet night at the local Senior Center look lively.
This Mass is sparsely filled with the people who didn’t make it to one of the other three Masses. This is their last chance to get to Mass for the weekend. It has the hung-over people who didn’t plan ahead and went and got plastered Saturday night. The families whose kids had early morning sports games and the parents, like the afore mentioned drunks, didn’t plan ahead. It has the parents of kids who woke-up sick that morning, so mom and dad had to divide and conquer and go to separate Masses. The parent at this mass obviously drew the short-straw or screwed-up really big time during the week and owed one to the other. It also has the occasional old person who probably already went to Mass that weekend but has forgotten that they already went and came again. Even my teens who like to sleep in don’t want to go to this dog (is it a sin to call a mass a dog? It’s got to be venial at the worst – someone Google that for me).
Usually there is no music at this Mass. But once in awhile there is a lone Cantor (is that the right word? or is that something a horse does?) accompanied by an organist. He/she is doing a fine job trying to lead the congregation in some hymns. But they are having none of it. Probably because most of them are asleep. There might be a few brave souls trying to sing along. But for the most part everyone is silent. It’s similar to a Fourth of July sing-a-long at veteran’s retirement home. It can be quite pathetic.
The only time this Mass shows any life is after communion when people make a mad rush for the door. Doing the old ‘dine and dash’ or the ‘Judas shuffle’ as we like to call it around these parts. The way people stream out the doors after communion, you’d think half the congregation had beans for breakfast. The parking lot can be just as bad. People are racing like Jeff Gordon to get out of the parking lot. Better watch out if you are leaving early, Granny Jenkins will run you down with her big old Buick.
Plus during football season you won’t make it home for the kickoff of the one o’clock games. Nuff said.
12 noon – this Mass is dead or at least on life support. This one seriously needs the plug pulled on it. It makes The Lawrence Welk Show and crochet night at the local Senior Center look lively.
This Mass is sparsely filled with the people who didn’t make it to one of the other three Masses. This is their last chance to get to Mass for the weekend. It has the hung-over people who didn’t plan ahead and went and got plastered Saturday night. The families whose kids had early morning sports games and the parents, like the afore mentioned drunks, didn’t plan ahead. It has the parents of kids who woke-up sick that morning, so mom and dad had to divide and conquer and go to separate Masses. The parent at this mass obviously drew the short-straw or screwed-up really big time during the week and owed one to the other. It also has the occasional old person who probably already went to Mass that weekend but has forgotten that they already went and came again. Even my teens who like to sleep in don’t want to go to this dog (is it a sin to call a mass a dog? It’s got to be venial at the worst – someone Google that for me).
Usually there is no music at this Mass. But once in awhile there is a lone Cantor (is that the right word? or is that something a horse does?) accompanied by an organist. He/she is doing a fine job trying to lead the congregation in some hymns. But they are having none of it. Probably because most of them are asleep. There might be a few brave souls trying to sing along. But for the most part everyone is silent. It’s similar to a Fourth of July sing-a-long at veteran’s retirement home. It can be quite pathetic.
The only time this Mass shows any life is after communion when people make a mad rush for the door. Doing the old ‘dine and dash’ or the ‘Judas shuffle’ as we like to call it around these parts. The way people stream out the doors after communion, you’d think half the congregation had beans for breakfast. The parking lot can be just as bad. People are racing like Jeff Gordon to get out of the parking lot. Better watch out if you are leaving early, Granny Jenkins will run you down with her big old Buick.
Plus during football season you won’t make it home for the kickoff of the one o’clock games. Nuff said.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I’ve Been Tagged
by The Mom over at Shoved to Them
She’s another Imelda Marcos of Running Shoes, and she better be running in them.
I should be better at this. I was great at tag when I was a kid. Being short and able to run fast was a big help.
1. The rules of the game get posted on the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about himself.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read their blog.
What I was doing ten years ago:
Running a Christian bookstore. But not doing any running. I had hurt my knee years ago and stopped. I was also 40 pounds every than now. And I only had 6 kids.
Five things on my To-Do list today:
1. Run
2. Cut my dad’s grass
3. Make meatballs for dinner tomorrow night
4. Hug and Kiss my wife
5. Go to Elizabeth’s Confirmation
Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Buy new running shoes
2. Take my wife on a shopping spree to Victoria Secrets – ok to somewhere she would appreciate more.
3. Buy a beach house in the Caribbean – maybe Barbados
4. Hire a maid and cook for my wife
5. Oh and buy some more running shoes
Three of my bad habits/qualities:
1. My wife says I have none
2. I’m overly functional. I have to be early to everything
3. I get real cranky if I don’t get to run, bike or swim each day
Five places I’ve lived:
1. Alexandria, VA
2. Marion, AL - college
3. Harrisonburg, VA - college
4. Crofton, MD
5. Bowie, MD most of my time has been here
Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Gas Station Attendant – I’m old enough to have worked back when gas stations were full service. For you young people, that’s when you sat in your car and someone pumped the gas for you.
2. Liquor Store Clerk – while in college. Still my favorite job
3. Banker – various jobs from teller on up
4. Owed and ran (along with my bride) a Christian Bookstore for 10 years
5. Software Tester – current job
Five books I’ve recently read:
1. The Thanatos Syndrome by Walker Percy
2. Biography of Albert Camus
3. Runaway jury by Grisham
4. Sports Illustrated
5. Three Little Javelinos to the kids
Five people or communities I’m going to tag:
Sam aka My Lovely Bride
A Wink and a Smile aka The Swimmer
Welcome to my brain aka The Pastor's Wife. Who is probably wondering who the heck I am
Catherine aka The Only Pereson I Know in France
KayleighJeanne aka Oh Rats
She’s another Imelda Marcos of Running Shoes, and she better be running in them.
I should be better at this. I was great at tag when I was a kid. Being short and able to run fast was a big help.
1. The rules of the game get posted on the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about himself.
3. At the end of the post, the player tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read their blog.
What I was doing ten years ago:
Running a Christian bookstore. But not doing any running. I had hurt my knee years ago and stopped. I was also 40 pounds every than now. And I only had 6 kids.
Five things on my To-Do list today:
1. Run
2. Cut my dad’s grass
3. Make meatballs for dinner tomorrow night
4. Hug and Kiss my wife
5. Go to Elizabeth’s Confirmation
Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1. Buy new running shoes
2. Take my wife on a shopping spree to Victoria Secrets – ok to somewhere she would appreciate more.
3. Buy a beach house in the Caribbean – maybe Barbados
4. Hire a maid and cook for my wife
5. Oh and buy some more running shoes
Three of my bad habits/qualities:
1. My wife says I have none
2. I’m overly functional. I have to be early to everything
3. I get real cranky if I don’t get to run, bike or swim each day
Five places I’ve lived:
1. Alexandria, VA
2. Marion, AL - college
3. Harrisonburg, VA - college
4. Crofton, MD
5. Bowie, MD most of my time has been here
Five jobs I’ve had:
1. Gas Station Attendant – I’m old enough to have worked back when gas stations were full service. For you young people, that’s when you sat in your car and someone pumped the gas for you.
2. Liquor Store Clerk – while in college. Still my favorite job
3. Banker – various jobs from teller on up
4. Owed and ran (along with my bride) a Christian Bookstore for 10 years
5. Software Tester – current job
Five books I’ve recently read:
1. The Thanatos Syndrome by Walker Percy
2. Biography of Albert Camus
3. Runaway jury by Grisham
4. Sports Illustrated
5. Three Little Javelinos to the kids
Five people or communities I’m going to tag:
Sam aka My Lovely Bride
A Wink and a Smile aka The Swimmer
Welcome to my brain aka The Pastor's Wife. Who is probably wondering who the heck I am
Catherine aka The Only Pereson I Know in France
KayleighJeanne aka Oh Rats
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Famlies Welcome
10am Mass – This is the most popular Mass at our church. It’s the family Mass. There is a nursery for the little ones and 3 & 4 year-old pre-school CCD program. So the munchkins are taken care of. Of course there are always a few people who think THEIR little darlings should stay in the church for Mass no matter what – and then we have to listen to them the whole Mass. You know the ones, the kids that are talking/crying, running around, kicking the pews etc…The parents either don’t want to discipline them or won’t. Or they say things like ‘it’s important for them to be at Mass’ (as if the kids are getting a lot out of it). Of course it’s important for kids to be at Mass. But it’s also important for people to be able to prayerfully hear the Mass. We wouldn’t put up with this kind of behavior at a nice restaurant or the theater. So why do we put up with it at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Are we that afraid that if we politely say something we will be labeled as judgmental? I’m not talking about stoning them or sticking ice-picks between their toes (that's punishment that's more in line for spilt milk), just a gentle comment about appropriate behavior in church.
People, they are little kids, it’s really hard for them to sit quietly for an hour (heck it’s hard for me to sit still for an hour). Do everyone a favor and stick them in the nursery or CCD. My kids won’t beat them up…probably. For this reason, the geezers avoid this Mass like Lindsay Lohan avoids wearing underwear. The only old timers there are ones whose kids and grandkids are there also.
This Mass ALWAYS has music (for better or worse). One week it’s the other folk group and the next it’s High Mass with the Choir. The High Mass is really well done at our church. The Altar Boys do a wonderful job and look very professional. The incense are a cool touch. It’s just a very nice and reverent Mass.
The Folk Group's week…well let’s just say I’d rather go to a Hannah Montana concert than listen to ‘City of God’ one more bloody time. Quick someone get me a grapefruit spoon so I can puncture my eardrums. That song makes me violent. Son of Sam was forced to listen to it as a child - I'm pretty sure that's a known fact. In all fairness to the folkies, it’s the song selection not the singers and musicians. They are actually pretty good.
The third Sunday of the month is ‘Donut Sunday’. Donuts, coffee and juice are served downstairs in the basement after church by the youth group. So you get a couple hundred kids and adults hanging out and getting hopped-up on caffeine and sugar. But even on Sundays without donuts, it is very social after this Mass. Lots of people hangout in front of the church afterwards and yak it up (as in talk it up…not throw it up). It takes an extra 15-30 minutes to get out of there because of this. Some members of my family can be quite chatty at times. I’m not mention any names but they are all of the female persuasion.
Tomorrow we will cover the dreaded High Noon Mass
People, they are little kids, it’s really hard for them to sit quietly for an hour (heck it’s hard for me to sit still for an hour). Do everyone a favor and stick them in the nursery or CCD. My kids won’t beat them up…probably. For this reason, the geezers avoid this Mass like Lindsay Lohan avoids wearing underwear. The only old timers there are ones whose kids and grandkids are there also.
This Mass ALWAYS has music (for better or worse). One week it’s the other folk group and the next it’s High Mass with the Choir. The High Mass is really well done at our church. The Altar Boys do a wonderful job and look very professional. The incense are a cool touch. It’s just a very nice and reverent Mass.
The Folk Group's week…well let’s just say I’d rather go to a Hannah Montana concert than listen to ‘City of God’ one more bloody time. Quick someone get me a grapefruit spoon so I can puncture my eardrums. That song makes me violent. Son of Sam was forced to listen to it as a child - I'm pretty sure that's a known fact. In all fairness to the folkies, it’s the song selection not the singers and musicians. They are actually pretty good.
The third Sunday of the month is ‘Donut Sunday’. Donuts, coffee and juice are served downstairs in the basement after church by the youth group. So you get a couple hundred kids and adults hanging out and getting hopped-up on caffeine and sugar. But even on Sundays without donuts, it is very social after this Mass. Lots of people hangout in front of the church afterwards and yak it up (as in talk it up…not throw it up). It takes an extra 15-30 minutes to get out of there because of this. Some members of my family can be quite chatty at times. I’m not mention any names but they are all of the female persuasion.
Tomorrow we will cover the dreaded High Noon Mass
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
My Favorite Mass
8am – This is far and away my favorite Mass. Not that I get to attend it much. It’s way too hard to get all the kids up and semi-presentable (you know: pants actually zipped up, socks that match, shoes on the right feet, underwear not on the outside of the clothes, maybe hair and teeth brushed – especially important for the ‘commie sign of peace’) by 8am. We do go as a family to this Mass on Christmas and Easter due to family obligations throughout the day. The outcome varies from tolerable to a disaster of Titanic proportions. Otherwise I usually only get to go if the boys are serving, if someone has a sports event too early that day to make it to another Mass, or if we have sick kids and the parents have to go to separate Masses.
So why do I like this Mass so much? What’s not to like? This Mass is short and to the point. 45 minutes tops. No fluff. Not that I’m in a rush. But why have all that extra filler that the other Masses have? Do they really need to sing the announcements? I guess the fact that old lady Magillicutti has gallstones and there will be a soup and salad bible study on Tuesday, sound better when set to music.
But the 8am mass usually has no music. At the most it has opening and closing songs. And the songs are actually Catholic songs…go figure. So you get the Mass, the whole Mass and nothing but the Mass.
It’s also nice to have the whole day open after Mass. You can be home by 9am and make a nice big family breakfast and then plan out the rest of the day. I don’t mean it to sound like I’m saying it’s good to get church over with and out of the way, that’s not really what I’m saying. But you are going to church so why not go early and use the rest of the day for other family activities (or maybe a nap)?
This Mass has a fair number of old people…heck they are up early anyway so why not come. These would be the old people who didn’t make it to the Saturday evening Mass. Maybe they forgot, maybe their nap ran over or maybe that early bird special was too good to pass up. Either way they are there in force. It also has those lucky people who don’t have small children any more. Or those luckier few with little kids who can actually sit still for Mass. Who are these people? I’m sure they drug their kids before church. Some type of Baby Valium. They are like Stepford Kids. They just sit there quietly throughout the Mass.????? Yes I’m jealous. Sue me.
Tomorrow the 10am Mass
So why do I like this Mass so much? What’s not to like? This Mass is short and to the point. 45 minutes tops. No fluff. Not that I’m in a rush. But why have all that extra filler that the other Masses have? Do they really need to sing the announcements? I guess the fact that old lady Magillicutti has gallstones and there will be a soup and salad bible study on Tuesday, sound better when set to music.
But the 8am mass usually has no music. At the most it has opening and closing songs. And the songs are actually Catholic songs…go figure. So you get the Mass, the whole Mass and nothing but the Mass.
It’s also nice to have the whole day open after Mass. You can be home by 9am and make a nice big family breakfast and then plan out the rest of the day. I don’t mean it to sound like I’m saying it’s good to get church over with and out of the way, that’s not really what I’m saying. But you are going to church so why not go early and use the rest of the day for other family activities (or maybe a nap)?
This Mass has a fair number of old people…heck they are up early anyway so why not come. These would be the old people who didn’t make it to the Saturday evening Mass. Maybe they forgot, maybe their nap ran over or maybe that early bird special was too good to pass up. Either way they are there in force. It also has those lucky people who don’t have small children any more. Or those luckier few with little kids who can actually sit still for Mass. Who are these people? I’m sure they drug their kids before church. Some type of Baby Valium. They are like Stepford Kids. They just sit there quietly throughout the Mass.????? Yes I’m jealous. Sue me.
Tomorrow the 10am Mass
In Case Any of Y'all Need This
New book explains to kids why mommy now looks like Pamela Anderson.
Do we really need this book? Have we become this vain and shallow in this country? (that's a rhetorical question) From the looks of the cover they should change the title to My Mommy Now Looks Like Barbie.
One thing I do know, we don't need this book at my house. My wife's pictures are the ones that are used by women considering plastic surgery. I mean, if you are going to get a new face or body you might as well pick from perfection.
Do we really need this book? Have we become this vain and shallow in this country? (that's a rhetorical question) From the looks of the cover they should change the title to My Mommy Now Looks Like Barbie.
One thing I do know, we don't need this book at my house. My wife's pictures are the ones that are used by women considering plastic surgery. I mean, if you are going to get a new face or body you might as well pick from perfection.
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