Pallas Athena

Half-Fast, his wife, Mike and Dave last year rode the Sugar River, Badger and Jane Adams trails in one day with a shuttle between trail ends. I missed out, due to a very bad night out on call. I recall dialyzing a lithium overdose for 10 hours. It was someone who had done this before, and my attitude sucked to say the least. We had all been talking about it, and I really wanted to go. That was not to be. This year, we have been talking about doing the whole thing "minus the sissy shuttle". Mike thought a clover-leaf pattern route would be cool. I really liked the idea. So much that I decided Wednesday night I would spend Thursday doing it. Start time was supposed to be 7 am. I ate a huge breakfast with plenty of protein and fat. It was 7:50 when I finally got loaded and moving. There is nothing worse than a good bonk when you don't have anyone to call. So packing was important. There were a couple of mountain dews, pb&cheese sandwiches, gatorade and a bag ...

That was the predominant thought bouncing off the inside of my skull out putting in another 70 for this fall’s IM. As I hammered through town doing 26 mph + and caught a glimpse of myself in the store windows, I thought “geese, you look like a cyclist”. Next thought? What the heck is that? What is a “real cyclist”. Well, search that one and find a ton of ideas that quantify your cycling worth. Running is much easier to figure out. There are plenty of dorks out there that are ready to tell you if you cannot run 8 minute miles that you aren’t really running. Straight, to the point quantifiable bull right there in your face. Hell, even some misinformed folks at Pearl Izumi bought into this idea for their “run like an animal” campaign. Where are these wiseguys when I’m trying to figure out if I can cycle? Many of the tests I found online involve cycling in Europe (who cares), biking to work frozen (no distance set, which nullifies this as an important qualifier), ridden a recumb...

Plenty of time to think today. 16 miles on the treadmill, another long run. The difference between the romance of the IM and the reality. I was there running long enough to see many people come and go. I'm sure many other IM participants have countless stories of how lonely training can be. The worst is biking to work when I leave at 4:30 in the morning. Your just out there in the dark. Just you and your long, slow grind to your goal. There is always the obvious question of "IF" for the first round. I worked hard for that, 18 months of training, with that hounding question just out there in the back of all of my thoughts. But I wanted it. I got it, on a miserable cold raining day. And after finishing the first IM, it was a hell of a rush. Nothing like it. Nothing. Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment Would you capture it or just let it slip? -Eminem If you are a first-timer and find yourself reading t...

Nubbs has applied to go to a summer camp for kids who have proven they have writing talent. It’s like completely crazy. Her teachers have been raving about her ability since about the fourth grade; and seem to always feel the talent must have come from somewhere. Mike and I look at each other and shake our heads. We really don’t even know anyone in our families that can write. Up until last year, it was simply always put out there at conference. “Your daughter is really a very good writer.” “She has an amazing ability to put her thoughts into words.” She has been writing at college level for a few years now. Maxing out those standardized tests seems to come easy for her. She is a freshman in high school. The problem has been that in our small district, there is no help for the gifted/talented in writing. Now, say your gift is in math-you’re set. This is what has had her looking for some help. She joined Mibba.com awhile back, and has been posting her attempt at a novel t...

Shad Ireland has posted his upcoming tour across America and is looking for people to support and ride with him. His web site will be up and running December 11 th . The tour starts in May. Shad was the first dialysis patient to ever compete in and complete an Ironman . I heard him speak last year at our NKF conference. I was very inspired by him and his story. He has written books, and details his history of dysfunctional family dynamics and inability to accept his renal failure as a child. Twice he failed transplantation, mostly because his body will not tolerate the anti rejection regimen required to keep the transplanted organs. His story is powerful and really hits home to the renal failure population. The message is simple. Take charge of your own health to the best of your ability, and any activity that you can do is better than doing nothing. He wants people to feel the best they can, no matter what sort of health problems they have going on. After completing the ...

I don't do well with down time. Have been reading up on this whole recovery subject and seen a wide spectrum of recommendations. One sourse says 2-6 months of recovery (absurd, unless you broke your leg). One says 2-8 weeks. I'm thinking more along the lines of 4 weeks. Mike was talking about a reverse taper, and that sounds exactly like what would work out for me. I feel run down right now, can tell I need to build back up. Building up plan: make sure to take vitamins and make healthy food choices. I was ravaged by the Ironman. I will eat and nap when I can for the next week. My metabolism is cranked right at the moment, I'm a walking furnace. I cleaned in a sports bra and shorts and turned the furnace down to 60 yesterday. Proof that my body is not back to normal. By next week, I will have to cut back on total calories because exercise will still be reduced. Swimming will start back in on Friday. Easy, no records here. The point is to get my blood moving...

Yesterday was the Gatorade Practice Swim #1. The wind was pretty wild at Tempe Lake and lots of chop. Surprisingly, the wind managed to kick up some current as well. Water was chilly as well, but not a long-johns swim like the SORT this past summer. I was out there for about 20 minutes, freaking out as usual in those conditions. The water was rougher under the bridges, which was a surprise to me. Swimming back to the shore, the water was in your face or over your head. Pick which way to turn your head, it sucks either way. Wind-induced current pulls you back towards the start. Gatorade has bleacher style steps out of the water but you cannot see the first steps. It is a grab the rail and pull yourself out situation. Mike taped my swim-technique was poor; arm entry position looked a bit flat. Last night was the Banquet. Some guy who has had 2 heart attacks and is only 38 years old got an award for community challenge. Some guy lost 88 pounds training for Ironman. They gave...