DoxA

The Last Song that Never Ends

The news hit the street like a meteor falling to earth. While some see its bright streak cross through the sky before it quickly fades and is gone others miss it and act as though it never happened. “Jessie who?” Someone would ask while another replied stressing...  “You know, t h e guy.” People listening in would nod and sounds of sudden remembrance would barely rise above the inaudible.  Of course no one could ignore that weird afternoon just the other day when the power went out through the entire city and a bill was literally ripped in two along party lines at the capital. But since then, Washington DC had been relatively quiet.

There were a few street performers along the mall playing lackluster renditions of Jessie’s tunes but there was no life in those songs. No one quite knew where the band was yet several of Jessie’s groupies had been preparing a tribute to memorialize his life work. Meanwhile, at night, members of congress and influential lobbyists where celebrating moratoriums against new music groups while singing karaoke songs from The Bangles, Hall and Oates and Toby Keith. However embarrassing, as it was, they were the only songs they could find and they sang them loud and proud.

In the morning several of the girls, who religiously followed the song artist, went to the spot where they left his entire broken collection. Knowing there would no longer be any live performances, they felt some comfort having at least a reminder of what once was. However, when they arrived their hearts melted and a greater sense of panic and dismay overwhelmed them…  standing there in silence, all they could do was look into the empty box where all that which had remained of his music… was gone.

One of the girls knew where a couple of the band members where hanging out so she ran to tell them Jessie’s broken collection was gone. Soon Jessie’s lead guitarist and favorite background vocalist arrived at the place in disbelief as they too found an empty box. With nothing left to do they decided to go back home but the young girl just stood there crying.

As she looked up and through her tear swept eyes she attempted to focus on the empty box, which was now being held up by two children who asked her, why she was crying. Not seeing them clearly she answered them, “Because they have taken away our songs and I don’t know where they have taken them.” As she turned to go she saw met another body standing behind her. At first she thought it was the custodian who took care of all the boxes. “What are you looking for?” He asked.  “Please sir, if you’ve taken his collection and placed it somewhere else, could you tell me where I can go find it?” Then he hummed her favorite melody. Instantly she recognized the tune and flung herself into his arms. “It’s you!” she screamed. “You’ve got your voice back!”

Getting her to let go was no easy chore. But he gave her the task of finding the band and telling them in spite of what happened his songs hit the charts and he was headed to Number ONE. So, she found the band and told them, “I’ve seen Jessie!” and gave them his message.

That night, still afraid of the legislators who silenced Jessie’s voice, as most of the band was meeting in a secret place rehearsing some of the unfinished songs, Jessie suddenly appeared at the mic and showed them his new chords, which miraculously completed the songs they could not seem to finish on their own. Then he spoke up, “Until now you have had the music with you… but from now on, the music will be IN you.” Then he told them they were about to go on a worldwide tour that would run indefinitely. However, one of the band members wasn’t there when Jessie told them all of this so, being the drummer, he refused to believe it unless he could feel Jessie’s groove himself. It wasn't until eight days later as the band was having difficulty rehearsing because they just couldn't find the rhythm, Jessie walked in and all of a sudden the whole band found the pocket. Jessie, firm but with compassion, looked at the drummer and asked… “Do you feel me now?”  Embarrassed the drummer clicked off the next tune and kept perfect time from then on even after Jessie left.

Several days later having returned home, when the band was alone, they decided to go up to the lounge where most of them hung out as kids and play some video games; it was something they used to do a lot before getting the band together. “What’s your score?” Someone yelled from below outside the window. They just kept their heads focused on the screen and grumbled as they hadn’t been doing well and had only managed to score a few points. Again, the voice from beyond the Xbox could be faintly heard… “Try playing from the right side of the screen.” It seemed like an odd suggestion but sure enough as soon as they repositioned themselves the points started rolling in… so much so they hit an all time high. The background vocalist who was Jessie’s favorite said, “It’s him!” and instantly the lead guitarist handed his controller to the drummer and ran down the flight of stairs.

When the rest of the band made their way down to the lobby they noticed all their equipment was set up and ready for them to jam. Jessie and the lead guitarist were deep in conversation. “Do you love me more than this?” Jessie asked him. “You know that I love your songs.” Was his reply to which Jessie followed... “Then take the mic.” Again, Jessie asked, “Do you love me?” and again the lead guitarist replied, “Like I said, I love your songs.”

            “Then sing the melody.”

Once again, Jessie looked at him and asked, “Do you love my songs?” By this time the lead guitarist was offended that he hadn’t made himself clear enough to have to answer three times so he looked at his front man and said, “You know everything about me. Of course I love your songs.” To which Jessie replied, “Then lead the band.”

There was a moment of silence between them as the rest of the band looked on. Jessie continued. “When I discovered you, you were just a kid playing the guitar and video games or whatever you liked but I told you that you were gonna rock… and now you’ll play my chords, sing my melodies but people will do to you what they did to me… so, make it your song.”

            “What about him?” the lead guitarist asked while pointing at the background vocalist. “Don’t worry about him.” Jessie replied, “You just worry about you." Then turning to the rest of the band he said, "You will have greater hits than I ever had and you will play for audiences I could never stand before… In just a few days you’re going to receive a new song, unlike one ever heard before and when you sing it you’ll sing it as a power ballad and it will move those who hear it... It’s a Hallelujah chorus. The melody is from me. But the song is yours. Therefore take this song on the road and teach it, making new bands and reminding people everywhere it’s a song of the past, for the present and to change the future…

It is the song that never ends… and it goes on and on my friends."

then Jessie left the building.

 

 

 

The Last Song

Have you heard the story of Jessie, a man from Merced, California who some people have seen on YouTube? He had an underground indie band with a huge following. He was known for doing incredible things like fixing cars for single moms, providing food for the homeless and for actually finding a cure for the common cold (however no doctor would ever believe his claim and the FDA wouldn’t allow him to submit his findings because he experimented on humans first and not lab animals).  Although many things have been documented about the Jessie and his band, which volumes could tell, right now let’s just focus on what happened during the last week of his music career.

At the end of a three year tour, Jessie and his band flew to Washington DC on a borrowed, Cessna twin engine plane at the same time the president flew in on Air Force One just a few days before Jessie’s final performance scheduled for Independence Day.

Because they were an unsigned band and couldn’t afford a hotel near the capital, they had to stay at a friend’s house in Bethesda and commuted each day to rehearse at the capital.

On the first day when they were walking toward the steps there was a beautiful cherry tree that had no cherries on it which seemed to tick Jessie off! His band couldn’t understand why he cussed at it because it was too early to pick cherries. Anyway, once they arrived at the capital they went into the House of Representatives and found a huge stage with a band playing really bad renditions of someone else’s songs like, “Stayin Alive,” “Celebrate” and “Brick House.” So, once again, Jessie got really upset and jumped on stage and unplugged all the amps and tossed the guitars and drums off the stage yelling at the top of his lungs… “This house… THIS house! is a place to play the classics… For EVERYONE to hear!”

Some of the legislators heard this and wanted to arrest Jessie because they liked the BeeGees.

The next day Jessie and His band returned to the capital. Along the way (I can not tell a lie…) they noticed the cherry tree had been chopped down. Inside the rotunda, several congressmen and senators tried to trick him on issues of the law like, taxation, retirement and welfare. As they were leaving the capital heading back to Bethesda someone in the band pointed out how marvelous all the monuments looked. Jessie, then started to explain how these memorials are relicts from our past we like to visit over and over again, like playing the Beatles’ “Yesterday” or Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction,” and how, in the future, people will be playing his songs claiming to be Jessie himself… but stating when it’s time for him to make a comeback… everybody will know it’s truly him!

The next day, as they were kicking back at their host home, a woman came up behind Jessie and cracked open a bottle of 1945 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild. Most of the band were shocked that she did this as the bottle was worth about $60,000 and could have been sold at auction and the money used for clean water projects in Kenya! But mostly they were upset because she didn’t offer them a glass.

Later that night one of the band members, who took care of all the ticket and concession sales from their tour still couldn’t get over the wine incident so he took the rights of all of Jessie’s songs and went to the big publishing house and sold them!

The next day was the 4^th and it was time for Jessie to sing but the band had no idea where they were going to play but a man showed them the stage that was prepared for them. It was quite an intimate setting in Georgetown with only a few seats but comfortable enough for their gig which had two sets. First, Jessie played back up to the rest of the band, and then he dismissed the one band member because Jessie knew he had sold his songs. After their break Jessie sang a new song and told the band that they were to memorize this song and every time they sang it they were to remember him by lighting a candle!

The band didn’t really understand the meaning of the new song and when they had played their final tune they asked him if that was all there was? As they left the stage, Jessie said there was an encore to be played but the band was breaking up… and that he was going to do it as a solo. The lead guitarist in the band said there was no way he was going to allow that to happen but Jessie told him before the night was over he was going to deny ever having played a guitar, not once but three times!

As they made their way over to Arlington, Jessie asked the band to stop and let him have a moment to himself because he was feeling really uneasy about his upcoming solo performance… As the band looked on from a distance they could hear him humming some notes now and then but they became increasingly tired and fell asleep. When Jessie, realized he couldn’t get out of doing this performance and it was time to go several National Guardsmen and the dismissed band-mate showed up to arrest Jessie on charges of trespassing… although he had never trespassed!

They put Jessie in a car and whisked him away to a secret place where in the middle of the night several Supreme Court justices were gathered to try Jessie’s case… but he had not been read his Miranda rights and there were no witnesses to confirm or deny the charges against him.  Yet by the morning they found him guilty of trespassing and charged him with “treason.” However, the justices realized they had no authority to punish Jessie, so they sent him to the President who thought Jessie was a pretty decent singer and actually “thumbs up-ed” a couple of his tunes on Pandora. The president asked the people if they were sure about the charges? When they assured the president they were, he still was uneasy about it. So, remembering he could pardon one person per year for a bad performance he brought out Barry Manilow and asked, “Whom do you want me to pardon?” And the justices and legislators yelled out, “We want Barry!” So, ordering that all of Jessie’s songs be given to Kanye West to never be performed, the president put on his noise cancelling headphones and walked back into the oval office… leaving Jessie to have his voice silenced!

What happened next is where this story takes a bizarre twist and comes to an unbelievable ending as several of the National Guard grabbed Jesse and marched over to the gothic looking Smithsonian Institute to be put on display… there Jessie was mocked. They yelled things like, “you call yourself a indie artist?” and while stripping him to his underwear they put on him a satin cape and a glove made of broken glass; calling him “king of the undies.”

Next they put him between Fabrice Morvan of Milli Vanilli and Ashlee Simpson and told them all to sing for their lives… While Fab and Ashlee struggled without their soundtracks, Jessie began to sing an old hymn. Some ridiculed him for being out of style while others marveled at his pitch, his tone but mostly… his delivery. So emotional and heart wrenching his song’s crescendo left him breathless when it was finished.

Now with the music over, some of the people who loved Jessie and watched this horrible spectacle unfold, took him to a place where people rock on forever but never in their wildest imaginations would they realize that in just a few days… the rock… would roll.

 

Media Emasculation

Take a look at this and imagine if the roles were reversed... would it be as acceptable? Funny?

 

You may think I am a bit sensitive and a closet lover of the McRib Sandwich (btw... I do really like that saucy little thing) but I believe there continues to be a deepening divide between what we have known manhood to be and what it is simply becoming in the eyes of a more "tolerant" society. 

William J Bennett has recently released The Book of Man where in he describes the need for greater role models for boys and exposes a historical perspective on what has shaped men throughout the ages. However, as you can see by the media what is shaping men today... or better asked, Into WHAT are they being shaped?

Is everyone happy about this? No. Ironically, some of the most disappointed are the least expected. Bennett in a current CNN OpEd piece states...

Most feminists are not celebrating the decline of men and shouting it from the rooftops. Certainly, the far-left feminist movement has sought to diminish the role of men, but a majority of women want able, competent men of their equal. Strong men make stronger women (and vice versa) and stronger families, and women want that. Many men today aren't sure what they want.

So, we need a few good men to step up and realize their roles for modeling proper manhood. You may agree with that but not as to how it manifests itself... pun completely intended! 

What is a strong, male role model to you?

 

Coming Apart was Never this Cool

It's Wednesday and that usually meant a post about something Artsy... So, here is a recent video I stumbled upon created by Eric Epstein for the artist Memory Tapes (AKA Davye Hawk). The post production is absolutely amazing and the song beautifully done... My question is, where (key word there) is this going? What's the art?

The Only Thing to Fear Is

Last night 60 Minutes aired a story of a young man who free climbed the face of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. He was the first person to ever do this feat and the entire climb was filmed and observed by 60 Minutes. You can watch the segment HERE. His name is Alex Honnold. Some of his friends call him, Alex: "No big deal." As if, anything he does is really, no big deal to him. After watching his amazing strength, focus, control and fearlessness I'd say his low key persona is not false humility but rather an amazing ability to look at the most terrifying situation he finds himself and ultimately find a way out!

Let me say that again... He has developed an ability to know his surroundings, regardless of how frightening, and calmly makes his way to safety without even the slightest hint of panic!

During the segment, they talked to John Long, an expert mountain climber, who added color commentary to the climb as it occurred letting the viewer know just how remarkable and talented this climb was and the person doing it. At one point the interviewer asked him, what happens if a person begins to let the thought of falling get into their head during a climb. He described that sensation we've all had walking to the edge of a cliff or looking over the ledge of a skyscraper and said when climbing without a rope that sensation can come upon you very quickly and without warning and you have to "dial it in." To which the interviewer asked, "Or else?" Long's response, "Your diaphragm is gonna close, you're not gonna be able to breath. You have no chance. You're gonna die."

We all live with fear. Most fears we don't choose and for the few occasions we do, such as ride a roller coaster or bungee jump we assure ourselves a certain amount of success by asking stuff like, "No one has ever died doing this, right?" Or watching the happy/thrilled faces of those who've gone before, telling ourselves we'll feel the same way once we've tried it. BUT take away those assurances and we would never invite opportunities to be afraid. Why would we? We want the opposite of hanging off a cliff by our fingers. We want a flat, wide, solid and secure foundation under our feet.

Unless... UNLESS, the thing that puts us in harms way is bigger than ourselves. But my guess is we rarely look for such a thing and should we find it argue the merits of such an endeavor simply based on comfort.

Risk is not a board game. Risk is the very genesis of our fears. Before we make any decision we have to come to terms with the levels of risk that will affect the potential outcome and determine whether it's worth attempting. The alternatives may leave one more secure but sterile as well. Fear, however, lets you know you are alive! It's good to have something so large looming before us. It provides perspective and it offers opportunity.

What "Half Dome" stands before you today?

Finally, should you chose to begin the climb there are a couple observations from last night's report that come to mind. First, Alex started in a gym, getting the strength and experience he needed before ever attempting a climb outdoors. Next He learned the trade with the help of coaches, guides, ropes, and the security to miss a grip or two. Lastly, before attempting the climb up Sentinel he tried it a couple times with ropes to chart the course and to know how to handle the difficult places. We would do well to learn from this as taking a risk is one thing while taking a risk with experience, strength and understanding is another. People who blindly attack their fears may be brave but in the end harmed or worse off for having done such a thing. In these cases folks are not taking risks but rather exercising faith. There is a difference and there are times faith is necessary but let's not confuse the two.

The Apostle Paul understood this. Thanking Pricilla and Aquilla for risking their lives he didn't mention it as a result of their faith but rather an act of service to the church (Romans 16:3). Likewise, Jesus didn't rebuke those who were unwilling to take risks just those who had little faith. What's the difference? Risk leads to the results you initiate while faith options for the result established by a Sovereign God. Exercising faith should be fearLESS while taking risks should be fearFULL. It all depends on the one who is in control. My question for you is whether you exercise faith with fear and take risks without it or is it the other way around?

Something to think about... Now go do something.

 

1 in 96 Odds in Vegas: Ironman 70.3 World Championship Race Report

Las Vegas in September... it's usually hot. Our summer here in the San Francisco Bay Area... very mild this year. So, we decided to arrive in Vegas a few days early to acclimate to the heat, somewhat, and try to get a few days breather before the big event. I wish I could say there was success on both efforts but truthfully, I still worked and it was still hot!

It has been several years since my wife Joy and I had taken a trip to Las Vegas. Since our last visit the entire south end of the strip has changed with the addtion of City Center. Notably the most drastic change was the shear size of humanity floating along the streets. It's astounding to imagine each of these hotels/casinos bursting with guests numbering in the thousands! A weekend walk along the strip is now similiar to a stroll through Times Square.

We booked a one bedroom villa at a time share resort off the Strip. Here it's not horrible but you get to see a little of the underbelly of this town. It's like stripping off the makeup of an tired chorus girl... you knew there was beauty there once but the signs of a hard life are evident once seen up close. Contrasting this was the host city for our race; Henderson, Nevada. Henderson is a sprawling suburb filled with parks and lined with wide, freshly paved roads. Here there are plenty of familiar retail and restaurant choices making any visitor feel instantly comfortable.

The Expo is in the Green Valley Ranch area, specifically the Henderson Pavilion. Here there is a fantastic city managed competition pool for getting in a few good pre-race swim efforts. I highly recommend using this very inexpensive and available resource for anyone going in the future.

When I arrived the expo was just getting underway and many exhibitors were still setting up. However, there was no line for registration or to purchase any necessary goods. I visited the folks at KSwiss to acquire a new pair of KWicky Blade Lights as my first pair had worn down and was retirable. Then I pulled out my brand new Specialized Transition which had been delivered to me just two day prior, the evening before we left San Jose. At this point I had only ridden the bike 15 miles and was about to put on another 15 or 20. Now donned up in my Team Compassion Kit riding my custom painted Team Compassion bike I rolled out of the parking lot feeling like a pro. However, I had no clue of where I was going! Kinda, all dressed up with no where to go. So, I pulled out my trusty iPhone and retraced the final 9 miles of the bike course and rode it out and back. It was a fast and furious ride out of town and a slow, hot and breezy ride back up to the expo. On a side note: One of the most notable differences about the World Championship races, whether here or in Kona is the presence of many international athletes. On my practice ride I was nearly taken down by an Italian woman screaming at me for directions. There were eight of them and completely lost. I'm afraid to think what would have happened to me should I had kept on going.

So, the bike feels good, the swim feels good... the run feels okay. But what will it be like on race day. I have my concerns. As many now know, back in early August I was nearing the end of a training ride along the Mendocino coast when road construction conditions caused me to crash at 30 mph. This crash destroyed my bike and significantly hindered my ability to train having severe neck and shoulder pain. And though I had been able to race well just weeks ago, it was due to shear base, plenty of rest and the short distance of the race. Here not having been able to do the crucial training for a half Ironman distance was causing me to doubt my ability to compete on Sunday. I told my wife, "We'll just see how it goes."

So, this is how it went.

Pre Race:

Having stayed after the banquet and getting the usual briefing at the athlete's meeting there was nothing unusual to prepare. Saturday, the day prior to the race they opened up the lake for a swim practice consisting of a one loop, 650 meter swim. Here you had to prove your were in the race by not only wearing your wrist band but putting on your timing chip as well. So, it September and it's the desert. I knew before they declared it during the briefing there would be no wetsuits for this swim. Sure enough the water temps were 80 degrees. PERFECT for a non wetsuit swim. When I got in the water it was instantly enjoyable and I began to look forward to the start of the race. After the swim, I put on my shoes and ran 3 miles just to get the legs loose. The sky had clouded over and the temperature stayed relatively mild and we were told the weather pattern would repeat itself the next day. Well, not quite.

Later that day we checked in the bike, bike and run gear bags, check out the expo one more time then went to church. Yep, Central Christian Church where former colleagues now work is a great church with vibrant Saturday evening services. It was great seeing our friends Aaron and Allison on stage sharing their amazing talent and it was good to chat with them briefly as we were leaving getting us back to our place just before 7pm; time for dinner, final preparations such as shower, cloths laid out, alarms set... good night!

RACE DAY:

Alarm pings at 4:05am. I'm already up with a couple of minutes to spare and a very calm and restful sleep. Both Joy and I are up and actually prepacked to check out race day and not return as we decided to check into the Green Valley Resort after the race. I was able to get a killer rate allowing us to stay close for a shower, post race meal and easy access back to Lake Las Vegas for the Awards Banquet.

We left right at 4:30 and made a quick stop into the 24hour Starbuck drive through (only in Vegas)! The next 25 minutes out to the lake was dark and calm. We found good parking right away and I strolled into T1 at 5:10. After checking my bike, going to my bike gear bag I prepared everthing for a faster transition. I put on my sunscreen at the first break of dawn around 5:30 and then at 5:46 the race announcer called for a moment of silence to reflect on the moment the first jet hit the twin towers of the World Trade Center as this day was September 11, 2011, marking the tenth anniversary of that tragic, life changing event that affected us all.

At 6am they were hustling folks out of transition lining everyone up in their respective waves. I was in wave 4, meaning the earlier the better! At 6:25 another moment of silence and then the National Anthem. At 6:30 the pro men were off... then the pro ladies, then 40+ women then us... 50+ guys.

Swim: Again the water was just perfect when I jumped off the ramp. The sun was just starting to glow at about 2 o'clock. Soon it would be fully above the mountain ridge and glaring down... there was no cloud cover as there was the day before and telling us to get ready for some heat! As we gathered it was getting a bit aggressive at the front... oh yeah, this is the World Championships. "Watch the kicking!" "Hey arms in buddy!" I could hear it all around.

Then the horn. and surprisingly we didn't bunch up or start slugging for position. In fact it was almost too mild of swim and I started to look for a pair of feet I could draft off. At the turn around again I expected a wild bunching of swimmers, especially since we were now swimming into many of the women who launched 5 minutes prior to us, but no, there was again no contact. Now heading back to the swim exit the sun was behind me and it was easy to sight however, because of the practice swim I thought the exit would be under the first arch of the resort bridge and used that as my mark only to find as I approached the bridge it was actually the middle arch. Doh! I should have looked before hand. As I crossed underneath the bridge I began to think how nice the water temp was and calm and smooth the swim had been. I told myself, "Enjoy this now while it lasts. It's gonna get warm out there!" Next thing I'm swimming up to the exit ramp, grabbing the handrail, I pull myself up and run along the backside of the lake edge to the other side where T1 lies and look at my watch which tells my my swim was 36 minutes... Ooh, I didn't realize it was THAT calm. Oh, well. Here we go!

T1: my bag was in perfect line upon the entrance into T1. Here you grab a bag stuffed with all the gear you need for the bike. Since I didn't wear a wetsuit and didn't purchase a swim skin I had to put my singlet on in transition... I hate doing this as your wet torso always makes it impossible to put the darn thing on! I need to practice this! Now with bike in hand you have to run it up a moderate, steep little path before you can mount... The climbing begins.

Bike: The first two miles is a steady 4 to 5% grade. It's best to just settle in and let the work happen later. When you turn on Lake Mead Parkway you first head down into town about a mile before you turn onto a little chicane putting you on the other side of the road now heading out into the Lake Mead National Park. Again climbing then descending, then climbing then descending and so on and so on and... They pride themselves in having NO flat sections in this race other than the swim and they event try to claim that goes up hill too! Now remembering this is my first real ride on my bike and with very little fitness for such a new fit and feel I had a inkling I wasn't going to display the type of power I'm used to but wanted to stay conservative on the bike due to the difficulty of the run course. It became evident to me by the rate of those passing me I was off my game. So, I just kept telling myself, race to your comfort and hold it steady then push after the turn around. Which is exactly what I did.

Now one of the celebrated aspects of this race being moved was the less "draftable" this course would be. However, as I was approaching a group of riders I noticed they were incredibly close. But I just passed them and thought little of it... sometimes that happens. But 30 seconds later here comes this group all nice and tight coming by me. Since it's an up hill we're not going too fast so I have to drop back then on the down hill I pass em again. and this went on for over 15 miles and I was getting pretty upset. "Just ride your own race Daniel... let them do their thing." But I got to tell you, it is so discouraging to see blatant cheating and disregard for the rules when you know all of these athletes know better! Enough said and you know who you are!

Once you head out of the park and past Lake Las Vegas it starts out as a false flat that had a moderate amount of cross headwind. Then you start a steady climb up into T2 that isn't difficult but you're not gonna make big gains here! Stay seated and keep those legs relaxed because the run is just around the corner... no literally, just around the corner!

T2: They have bike catchers here! a bit unusual for a 70.3 race but it's nice, except I was later told how many bikes the volunteers were just dropping. Oh, my. I'm glad I didn't know that at the time. Fortunately, I had an experienced adult swooping my ride away. Again T2 lay out is smooth and easy to navigate. As I place my shoes on something isn't right... I try to reach in but to no avail... What is that? I pull off my shoe and inside are stuck a couple packets of Endurolytes... ugh, bad transition design. Gotta work on that later too!

Run: As you come out of the change tent the first thing you notice is the heat! It's now officially hot! Low 90's and as you exit you have a short dirt path up to the pass through of the Library and then a turn to the left and a one mile downhill. It's fast and not a good stretch to determine run pace for your feel or heart rate. Once at the first turn you run a short section to the official turn around where sponges are staged on one side and the Aid Station on the other. My legs were already feeling a bit crampy for the bike effort and lack of fitness so I know the next two miles up hill was not going to be fun at all!

As I passed through the expo area to turn left up Green Valley Parkway I was getting dizzy. My heart rate was 158 and I knew I would sustain that so I slowed but that seemed fruitless the HR wasn't dropping so I slowed to a walk for a hundred yards and started running again and the HR bounced back up so I began a series of walk/runs to moderate my heart rate and give me relief. I knew this strategy wasn't going to bring me great pride on the day's effort but would keep me in it and hopefully the reconvery on the down hills would be quick enough to not drop too far off. Primarily my motivation was to at least keep up in not slightly ahead of my friends on course Dan and Lori. I saw where they were on the first loop and only a moment of time would tell me if my walk run strategy was enough to hold them at bay. So, far in loop two, it was working... next lap... the same. At the top of the final loop with only a one mile downhill run my legs were cramping so bad I was worried I'd have to roll down the hill but I shortened my stride and kept my feet low and made it to the bottom of the hill... now the only goal left was to try and break 5:30. So, my relief was had when I came across the finish with 5:29 still showing on my watch. It was over... my 2011 triathlon season too, is officially over.

It's been a good year. Lot's of podium finishes, great experiences with friends, memorable training days, a couple significant instant face to face meetings with Terra Firma, encouraging many within the sport to explore and succeed, the ministry from and to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA-Endurance) and most significantly, Working with Compassion International to establish a means by where many of us "A" type, driven, triathletes can actually do something more than a race for themselves but to bring awareness and support to children in poverty around the world. I look forward to next year and telling new stories of triumph and tragedy.

Thanks for your support!

Swim 36:36

Bike 2:51:15

Run 1:55:16

Total 5:29:48

 

I Left My Sweat In San Francisco Part 2

Here is a report from San Francisco's other Escape from Alcatraz...

San Francisco Triathlon at Alcatraz

As everyone knows… Alcatraz was that one prison deemed impossible to escape! But really? There was that one, now infamous escape sending three inmates into the dark San Francisco Bay waters on June 11, 1962. It is said they never made it to shore and the swift currents most likely sent them out into the Pacific Ocean… but I’m not so sure. Why? Because I made it!

And it wasn’t that hard.

Pre Race:

The venue is really just west of Fort Mason on the Marina Green. Here the wind is always present and the usual summer fog cuts through you. Like one person once said, “The coldest winter day they ever experienced was during a summer vacation in San Francisco.”

I am part of a Team for Fellowship of Christians Athletes the Endurance Sports division. Here several teammates from around the country came to race together; four of us as individual age group athletes and three to participate in a relay. Chris Anderson, FCA-E National Director came from South Dakota and we enjoyed his company at our home. The others stayed in the city upon arrival. The day before we manned our both; encouraging athletes, praying with and for folks, asking the question, “Why do you race?” It’s always a fun day getting to know the other athletes and vendors there.

I left heading back to San Jose to speak at our Saturday evening church service and then headed back up to crash that night in a nearby motel for the early 4am wake up call to go set up transition and jump on one of the busses taking those racing to Pier 3 by 5:30 am.

Pier 3: Once off the bus the cool breeze coming off the bay seemed to wake everyone up and the crowd just huddled around using the porta potties before getting into their wetsuits and walking onto the waiting Hornblower Cruise boat that would take us to Alcatraz at 6:40

Once on the boat there are two levels holding the athletes. If you’re over 40 you’re on the top level all else below on deck. Here the atmosphere was warm and collegial. There seemed to be only a small presence of nerves. Someone suggested, “Hey you guys… about half way, just pull up for a few seconds and take a look around. It’s pretty trippy!” Over the loud speaker, the swim director was giving instructions on how to sight your way to shore (there are no buoys out there as in usual races to help direct you).  They said, based on the current, which seemed pretty mild this morning, once off the boat, aim for the Palace of Fine Arts building; an unmistakable landmark in Golden Gate Park. “Less current?” I said, “That’s a good thing right?” the guy next to me shook his head no… “It’s like a tail wind. You want more not less.” I completely understood what he meant.

When the boat pulled up next to the island we were instructed that they would clear the entire boat of it’s over 800 swimmer in less than six minutes! They said, “Don’t think and just jump!” Once the horn blew at 7am sharp the pros and celebrities jumped off the port side causing the boat to actually lilt to the left as everyone rushed to the left side of the boat to take a look out the windows. Then, “Go, go, go!” It was a dash for the two doors.

SWIM: I made it to the door about a minute or more after the horn. I was opting for the forward door that had less traffic. I practically had a straight shot! So, I adjusted my goggles, took a deep breath and ran across the timing mat starting my race and plunged with arm and legs spread wide to keep me from descending deep in the water while one hand stayed on my goggles to keep them in place.

The water was cool but not cold. But then again I’ve been in a lot of cold water this year. Temp was stated to be 58 degrees. As we began to swim it was clear sighting the Palace of Fine Arts was no problem. However, the water was pretty choppy and the further we swum the worse it seemed to get.  At one point I remembered the suggestion about the halfway point… So, I pulled up and slowly took a 360 view of where I was.  In front of me was Golden Gate park and Crissy Field, then the Presidio, rolling to my right an amazing water level view of the Golden Gate Bridge with it’s two towers disappearing into the fog behind me was Angel Island and then Alcatraz. Rolling further I could see Berkley in the distance and then the Bay Bridge, then at 10 o’clock the city of San Francisco starting with the Ferry Building, then it’s iconic Transamerica Building and then Coit Tower… I put my head in the water and just thought, “Who does this stuff?” I guess we do.  As we started to get a little closer to the St. Francis Yacht Club I could tell it was taking a pretty long time… Really? A 1.2 mile swim? It seemed long and the shore just wasn’t getting as close as my effort seemed to dictate. But eventually I made it to the small sandy shore just right of the building with the big red roof.

T1: Exiting the water I was shocked to see 48 something on my watch! There’s no way I was either that slow or the course was 1.2 miles! Come to find out later the course is actually 1.5 miles “as the crow flies” but they call it that for the offset for the current… Well, guess what? The usual 5 knot current was only about 1 knot and everyone had a slow swim time! As I’m getting out of my new Blue Seventy wetsuit (thanks to Wetsuitrentals.com!!! They are the BEST!) I hear someone talking to one of the celebrities there… I would have like to have had a chat too but well, there’s a race to complete now! So, putting on an old pair of shoes for the 1/2mile run back to transition, I start to run but there are people in my way and I’m a bit dizzy and at one point I actually run into a couple spectators… They were okay but they were definitely in the way. Sorry.

Now in transition I look up to see teammate Rich come into transition, I finish getting everything on and look up and there goes Rich! He smoked T1!   He’s actually got a bit of a lead on me. But we’ll chat when I pass him.

BIKE: I’ve been looking forward to this bike just because of the history and scenery of this course and it doesn’t disappoint. I’m riding my road bike since my TT bike is totaled due to a crash a month earlier. So, not as fast a bike but a bit more comfy.

I catch Rich at the bottom of the first climb, say howdy and “good luck” and power on up. Here you go through the historic Presidio, around through Lincoln Park, all the way up to the Legion of Honor down around to the historic Cliff House along the boardwalk to the SF Zoo and back with a little side trip in the park! Along this route I’m just a cruising along and enjoying the views. One guy climbing back to the top at the LofH goes huffing by… Yeah, I’ll see you on the run! Well, I didn’t even have to wait that long… passed him on the descent and never again.

T2: Here I see Kevin and Heidi, the completed legs of the relay from our team… Chris is out on the run and we’d been joking if the relay could keep up with me. It was  friendly smack talk but I wish Chris were a little closer to reel him in but he’s a pretty solid runner, so I knew I’d see him at the finish.

RUN: This may be my favorite run ever in a race! I had no idea how challenging and scenic this would be. First the run out to the warming hut along Crissy Field . You have the Golden Gate Bridge in sight the entire time and the temperature was perfect for a good clip! Then coming around Fort Point you begin a ridiculous climb up to the base of the bridge running directly underneath its roadway and around the abandoned Battery grounds, which are a maze of steps and trails. At one point you have to duck your way through a tunnel where you lose all sight in the pitch darkness! Once up to Lincoln Blvd. you head down to Baker Beach (what some say is a nude beach… but wisely there was no one out that day, just us crazy triathletes. AS you descend onto the beach there is a quarter mile stretch you run in the soft sand. No way around it… its quad sapping, slow slogging, not quit running hard! Then if that weren’t enough… comes the famous “Sand Ladder.”

The sand ladder is simply that; 4-inch logs cabled together every foot and a half up a hillside that sand fills in between each. Along the bottom it was easy to hop along the logs but near the top most were submerged under the sand. With 400 of these steps you’d think that would be enough but NO, once you get back to the road there’s another half a mile still to the top! You really need to pace yourself on this thing!

No heading back down to Fort Point it’s a matter of negotiating the trails with those coming the opposite direction. As it was to this point going out wasn’t much of a problem since I was pretty much in the front of the pack but now coming back the rest of the field is in my way. Here, it’s quite a dance. But soon I’m on the flat surface of Crissy Field again and now just two miles of flat sailing.

I had no idea where I was in my age group. With the time trial start and my casual effort to enjoy it more than suffer it. I was hoping I’d do well but this race wasn’t really a focus race for me so I just was looking for a good time and not really a particular finish. One I came across the finish line I was happy and looking forward to connecting with my team.

I first saw Chris, who joked about making it first… I told him he had better! Then the rest of the gang full of congrats. It was cold no longer racing and remaining completely wet in my race gear so I headed to transition… but wait. Let me see if results are in to se how I did. Ah, nothing…

In transition I put on warm cloths and pack my bag and grab my cell phone. While I pull my cell out of the pocket it shows a twitter message congratulating @danp for taking 1^st in AG at SFTri Alcatraz! What???  I was first? Okay, Where is Chris now? In fact 2 of the individual racers on the team; myself and Jessica Bonner in AG competition and the Kevin, Heidi and Chris in the open relay. Overall it was a very good day for us as well as our TRIbe Triathlon representation. Coach Becky was the winner on the day! Winning the Female Pro division with fasted overall female and hubby Brian took seventh among a very talented men’s field.

So, should you race Alcatraz? Yes! Everyone should at least once in there life so they to can say, “I swam from here to there.” When taking your grandchildren on a tour of the “rock.”

Age Group Div. 1/31 Overall  29/525 total time: 3:13:06 / swim 49:20 / T1  9:16 / Bike 1:17:52 / T2 01:05 / Run 00:55:33 / Sand Ladder  02:40

I Left My Sweat In San Francisco Part 1

This is the first race of two this summer I've yet to report and in preparation for next Sunday's Ironman 70.3 World Championship Race, I thought I'd share these with you... first up; a race I did on July 9th

San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island

I’ve done this race now 4 years running now… (pun intended) and now look forward to it each year. It was especially fun the past two years when NBC came with Biggest Looser Contestants. However, I’m not sure what makes this race all that enjoyable since the course is not that enjoyable. And I have to admit, the only reason for this race report is for those who may want to do this race in the future, is to have a bit of a heads up for knowing what to expect. Here’s what you can expect.

Pre Race… for the locals around the Bay Area. Show up race day. There is an Olympic Triathlon and 5K/10K options on Saturday with the sprint race on Sunday. This is fairly typical of TRI California races. One of the great things about racing any TRI Cal race is its organization from a great organization. Registration is a breeze once you get on the island. You’ll be directed to a distant parking lot outside the race course and walk your stuff into transition. Once you’ve gotten your race bag, you’ll head into transition to put everything together. Numbers/chip/cap all added to the typical transition set up.  This race is fairly small. Even considering that this year Treasure Island was the USAT Southwest regional championships.

One nice thing always offered here is a generous supply of Power Bar stuff. From Bottles, bars, gels and chews you can grab a handful and be encouraged to do so. One not so nice thing is the wave starts into the protected marina are 15 minutes apart and you could be waiting a while to get in the water and start your day.

SWIM: The swim for Treasure Island is in a flat, non-current part of the bay called Clipper Cove. It’s a two-loop swim and the water is typically mid to upper 50’s. Wet suit definitely recommended but certainly not required.

Since the field is fairly small you can expect a fairly contact free swim. This year there was actually a strong wind coming from the south and seemed to mess with some of the swimmers, me included.  But by and large it’s a basic swim and not to be feared.

Transition: Coming out of the water your feet will be really cold which will help you not feel the little bits of gravel and pebbles along the run to your bike.  After donning helmet, race belt, glasses and of course don’t forget your shoes you are running your bike out of transition to a mostly flat, technical course that has 21, 90 degree turns, 8 45 degree turns and one 180 degree turn around that you do 6, that’s right, SIX times! You won’t be setting any bike split PR’s here.

BIKE: As mentioned the course has a lot of turns what I haven’t yet mentioned is the conditions of the road surface… Well, it’s not so good. I recommend keeping those expensive race wheels at home and racing on your “work-horse” trainers as I do.

 

BTW… that’s the last race my Felt B2 will ever race now sitting in my garage with a completely broken top tube… but that is another story.

As mentioned you will go much slower here and you’ll find all levels of riders from very fast and competitive to slow and enjoying their first triathlon… which, ironically, Treasure Island is a good place to attempt your first triathlon. The hardest part is being able how to count! That’s because you’re on your own to know where you are on the bike course. “Is it four laps or five?” It may sound simple but trust me… it’s not. Just ask the countless people who have been DQ’d for not getting it right.

RUN: Again, a run this simple and easy should be a no brainer but remember to count. You have a fast, flat 10K run that is easy to mark and time split as you run out one mile and run back one mile then turn around and do it again and then again… that’s six, one mile sections! As my wife says, “Easy, peazy, lemon squeezy!”

Post race is fun and lighthearted and it’s easy getting off the island for some fun in the city. You might as well… You’re there and you’ve had a great opportunity to look at the picturesque San Francisco during your race… So, go check it out!

MY RACE 2011: In 2010 I took 1^st in the 50-54 age group. This year was my chance to repeat at a race… I felt pretty good until I saw Jason Campbell three bikes to my left in transition… Okay… second it will be! (So you know Jason not only has been winning our AG in races this year but also winning the entire amateur division in some races! VERY impressive and shows the depth of athleticism here in the Bay Area).

My swim was a bit slow and found myself coming out of the water with friend and FCA teammate Troy Soares. I was out of T1 first and began to look for him at the first turn around… there he was at the bottom of the short incline at the guard shack… Next lap will tell me where his bike is this year… Next lap, I missed him? Next lap oh, he was back by another 30 seconds or so and that’s the way it went until the run… T2 I’m in and out in a flash and will now wait to see where Troy will mark me on the run. Troy is a more natural runner than I and I know he’ll gain a little ground but how much? Coming back on the first lap I see Troy at the half way point… that means I’m a mile up and I’d have to start walking or he would have to set a world record pace to catch me but still pride and not knowing where my competition was I just keep going steady without killing myself. As each lap went by Troy was gaining only a little and a former roommate of Troy’s (T. Dale Jackson) made a comment to us as I passed him along the way as we passed Troy going the other way… At the finish I waited for Troy and with that ever present smile he congratulated me an we both relished in the very friendly competition we kept unspoken… Until I read his race report!

Overall, it was a good day. I took 2^nd… Yes, Jason got first but the time spent on Treasure Island is always relaxed and just a good day to enjoy triathlon as a sport and triathletes as friends!

Swim: 25:00    T1: 02:04     Bike:1:09:01    T2: 00:57     Run:44:10    

Total: 2:25:00

 

Social Media: Why Bother?

During this month, I will again be using the devices of social media to send out messages, hoping to create dialogue and for no other reason to share a bit of what's been on my mind. These devices are pretty simple. Twitter, Facebook and of course this blog.

I've neglected just about all three lately and not for bad reason or fault other than I've kinda felt a bit lost in the process. I've asked more than once of myself, "Does anyone really care about what I think, do, eat, create or question?"

Here is a funny commercial that seems to say it all for me when it comes to social media.

 

Unfortunately, the truth of this message is as shallow as the message. Social media can and is a very helpful tool to society. Think of the power of 140 characters helping fuel a cultural revolution such as Egypt and Libya. How a "friend" is not a friend in a usual sense but one in a practical sense when the "six degrees" emerge in one location; the web.

The value of social media is the interaction. For one to simply participate as an observer is voyeuristic at best and a tad creepy at worst. Those who engage in true friendships, which this commercial seems to poke fun, are themselves in an interactive relationship that can not decry the same frailty toward twitter toting and Facebook flaunting folks.

Yes, we may not be interested in what you had for lunch but we might be more than curious about what you think!

Like I tweeted this morning... "Some days you're smarter than you think, some you're not as smart as you think and others you're not thinking. What will it be today?" It was 133 characters. Enough to ad your re-tweet.

We're Scared

So, this afternoon I've been doing some reading and catching up on current affairs, you know, simple stuff like the economy and politics and class warfare. It started this morning having a casual conversation with my brother-in-law over a cup of coffee. It appears we (meaning most everyone) are seeing a horrible need to do something about all of the above but realize we are powerless to effect any of this change for which we're hoping. But yet, is all this collective anxiety real or perceived?

Yes, the DOW had a 5.5% drop today but will this simply offset tomorrow when investors find opportunities for another quick buy to sell at the slightest uptick or will dubious values tumble amid a landslide of insecurity? At some point if it truly is BAD and confidence is LOST and people do PANIC I believe we have no idea what the impact will be socially. As the old saying goes, "There goes the neighborhood" we might reconsider the implications of such volatility as "So goes the neighborhood... so goes the economy." And as the economy suffers, cries for political reform will mount and as we endeavor to fix a republic, as we have, we'll tend to make matters worse by trying to include every concern, with every complaint, with every special interest and with every politically correct sensitivity. As the definition goes... Absolutely INSANE!

So, just how bad is it? I have no idea but I can tell you what it feels like.

You know what it's like when you're playing tug-of-war after you've held on and pulled with all your might and continued to dig far longer than you ever imagined you could? It's that moment in time just before you convince yourself you can keep it up and you won't quit but the rope is slipping. You're holding on just as tight as you've been and grind your teeth just as much as before but... control is past and out of control is beginning like the slow advance of a roller-coaster car cresting the high peak before it gains full momentum. That's what it feels like.

The other night I was reading through Hebrews 10 and was reminded of the passage...

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

I started wondering... in today's world, a world where we've been debating the realities of hell and just how loving is the living God, could we really, honestly address this as reality or would it be best to explain it away as idiomatic?

I mean, just how bad is it? I don't know but I'll tell you I don't want to find out.

What the writer of Hebrews was saying was it's going to be awful especially for those who turn away from God after personally knowing His kindness. This is exactly the pattern that was set forth in the writings of Isaiah in the Old Testament. Time and time again, God offered deliverance to His people yet they trusted in their own strength and in the idols they could craft. How similar for us today... and I mean August 8, 2011!

      You keep him in perfect peace
      whose mind is stayed on you,
      because he trusts in you.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Is 26:3).Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Today has been a tough day... especially for the families of 30 of our country's finest soldiers. One, who was the pilot of the helicopter, was the brother of a friend. It's hard to know what if anything these brave men feared. As Navy SEALS, I imagine nothing.

But what about us... those who remain? I see it more and more in the eyes of the people I talk to... we're scared that everything we've known; the comfort we've had and the freedoms we've shared, may soon topple as the proverbial apple cart comes into contact with a rock it's handler never saw coming.

And the rock... just what is that anyway?

Sleeping In: Boise 70.3 Race Report

Triathlon is a sport that causes you to make friends with early morning sunrises. Not only in training do you get up before the crack of dawn but pretty much every race is met with an alarm clock barking before the usual time. But not in Boise! Here you get to sleep in and I mean really sleep in if you like... say 9:30? I was told the reason for this is after the first year the race organizers were forced to a 12 noon start which made for a unique feature to this half Ironman distance race and it stuck. At first I thought I was going to like the later start but in the end, I'm not sure...

I must say it is nice to wake up at a normal time (7am) to have breakfast and wear shorts not sweats to the race start... but it does give you a LOT of time to wait and wait... and... wait. This seemed only to be worsened by the constant reminder by the race announcer that the water was 53 degrees and you couldn't get in the water prior to see what that was like, nor would you want to. All you had was the luxury of what seemed like hours to think about how you'd freeze into a popcicle.

So, here's how it went down

Pre Race Day: two days travel by car from San Jose, CA with a stop in Reno. Oh was that ever interesting... I was expecting something like Las Vegas and it was more like Leaving Las Vegas. I won't go into detail but the Biggest Little Town in America could use a face lift! Okay, next day we traveled to Boise via Winnamuca, through So.E Oregon and into Idaho! It was raining! sometimes hard. But making it into Boise we quickly found our hotel; the Hyatt Place and we were pleasantly surprised of it's value and amenities! It is near just about everything but not necessarily everything you'd want. Downtown, or what the locals call the Bodo, is about a 10 minute drive and has everything you'd want! When we arrived we checked in, got in our car and drove to the Boise Center quickly and smoothly registered and returned to the hotel all within 30 minutes... On our way, we stopped by REI to pick up Joy a pair of sunglasses as hers went missing in action last week.  Now time for dinner we walked across the street to Macaroni Grill for some grilled salmon and pasta then walked back to our room all within 90 minutes... as you can see time was on my mind. We were in bed and ready for a good nights sleep setting the alarm for... oh wait. No need to set the alarm. We'll get up "whenever."

Race Day:

Up at 7:30 we strolled over to the breakfast area which was already bustling with compression sock clad triathletes eating bagels, cereal and eggs. We did our share of eating then back to the room to prep bike, get gear in respective Bike, Run and morning cloths bag, which should have been aptly named afternoon cloths bag. We jumped into the car drove back to downtown, dropped of the run bag in transition (all of 5 minutes and now with nothing else to do we plugged "Lucky Peak State Park" into the GPS and drove straight there... when we arrived Joy dropped me off at the top of the dam where I unloaded my bike and road across to the parking lot. Joy drove down below to the lower parking lot and walked up. when I rolled in it was 9:50 and it was clear the volunteers were a little flustered that athletes were already there. After getting everything set and settled at my appointed bike rack I now had a whopping 2 hours before the race to wait. I chatted with a few other athletes a couple of the pros coming in. One was wearing a brand new SKIN Strong kit and we chatted a bit about John and Chandi and their fabulous product. Next I saw Heather Jackson and wished her well remembering back when she was just an upstart age group athlete I used to train with. When Joy arrived we walked down to the dock. Here with nothing but time I decided to lay out in the sun and warm up a bit while getting in a short nap. It felt good to just lay out and relax... when I came back to consciousness there were a lot more people down at the dock and it was time to say goodbye to Joy as she wanted to get back to town before they closed the roads out. Now on my own, I check, double checked and checked again everything on my bike. Then with 30 min to go I drank a Gaterade 01 Prime Carb drink and put on my wetsuit, walked down to the staging area and realized I was still wearing my sunglasses... so I walked back put them inside my helmet where they belonged and walked back down to the water, into the crowded choral of people and waited for our chance to jump into the deep freeze.

Swim: 70.3 racing is generally a wave start by age group. Over the years I've been so fortunate (sarcasm) to be left to the penultimate or final wave. Yet, today we were going off in wave 4! only nine minutes after the first wave (pro men) start. Now given clearance to jump into the water it's a matter of get in early and get a good position and toy with hypothermia or wait till just before the gun and stay warm but be in the back. I chose the former and from one moment of sweating and overheating inside a polystyrene cacoon to the shock of getting a 55 gallon drum of slushy thrown all over you the water filled my suit and eventually warmed... kinda. There are ways for warming your suit but I won't go into those details.

The start was crowded and because it was so cold there was more movement under the water than usual so there was some unintentional kicking and hitting going on with lots of, "oh, sorry." "Excuse me!" "sorry." Soon the countdown, the horn blast and the splashing was on! And to my surprise a very smooth start with no traffic. The first point of congestion happened about 300 meters from the first turn where we started to swim through a lot of the 40-44 women who went out in the wave before us. It's a triangular, clockwise swim and with the sun way up over the horizon sighting was never a problem. The water which was pretty choppy when we arrived had calmed down significantly and the only chop came from the athletes themselves. Now making the 2nd and final turn you're left with the shortest stretch of the swim and getting to the dock seemed to come quickly. Could it be a fast swim? Pulling out of the water I looked down to a 33 on my watch... hmph, not that fast! Oh well still felt good and the water wasn't nearly as bad as 53 degrees sounded but trust me... it WAS cold!

Total Swim time: 33:34

T1: it's a long run up to transition and I was surprised to see wetsuit strippers at the top of the ramp! who hoo! yes please "get this thing off me!" At the bike everything went on smooth but getting my wetsuit into the bag left for collecting and bringing back to town wasn't so elegant, I mean how hard is it to put a floppy thing into a floppy thing? T1 time - 3:42

Bike: The ride begins crossing the dam and then about a mile of easy decent. I like this allowing for blood flow and breathing to normalize. At the bottom we begin to slowly turn back uphill so, as my climb began I am downshifting to keep my heart rate steady and now shift to my small chain ring where the chain starts to rattle on the frame letting me know the shift didn't quite make it. Looking down I realize this is going to require a dismount and getting my fingers grimy. Now losing a whopping 30 or 40 seconds and seeing riders I had just past ride on by I jump back on my trusty steed and get going again... telling myself in the course of a day that glitch will amount to nothing in the overall. Been there before and all I need to do is simply ride and run according to plan and the result will be there.

The bike course isn't really anything to write home about, fairly open with few trees or terrain it was a meandering road through industrial parks and short byways making it moderately breezy going out to the turn around. Thinking since we had some winds cross over to this point I was looking forward to a little tail kick back home... not so. Apparently the wind doesn't know which way to blow in Boise. Oh well, now nearly back to downtown the crowds were forming along the way and I could see I was coming in pretty much where I wanted having kept my heart rate and RPE at both moderate to moderate hard levels. Crossing the bridge on Capital you could see the bike finish just ahead and the vibe coming into town felt electric... almost Ironmanesque!

Total Bike Time: 2:34:17 (official time from race timer - yet my time on bike showed a 2:03 second difference at 2:32:14 ???)

T2: It's always fun coming into T2 as one of the first people in... I could see only a handful of bikes among the sea of racks. As I approach, I dismount in professional fashion, run my bike across the timing mat and turn down my aisle and in movements of economy I reach up with my free hand and unclick my chin strap... "Hey his chin strap is undone!" My heart sank as soon as I heard this. You can be assessed a penalty for having your chin strap undone before you rack your bike. I thought, "Great... a penalty. I wonder how that's gonna hurt?" But undeterred I had a mission to do... run! T2 time - 1:12

Run: Coming out of T2 running in those light KSwiss Kwicky Blade Light shoes my legs felt strong and snappy. There is a short jog over to 8th street where it definitely felt Ironman like. Already there was a huge crowd gathered and for the start of the second loop a bit later it was crazy crowded! Now beginning the first loop I'd no idea where I was going or what to expect not having done this race before. All I knew is the that the run would be around the river park on run/bike paths and it should be pretty shaded with trees, not that it was necessary that day. The weather report called for thunderstorms, which never really materialized but left the sky grey and keeping the sun hidden and temps cooler than usual. One thing I didn't expect was to have so much "local" traffic on the run course. In other words, it is a public park and there were public out there enjoying it! While most were politely staying out of the way there were the occasional "this is my park and you'll work around me succa!" types but with the litany of turns and chicanes it wasn't going to be the fastest course on record but I could tell the legs were gonna give me a good effort. The aid stations were well placed, stocked and volunteered. Most offering encouragement as well as nutrition. Starting the second loop I had realized having done the first loop I had not been passed by any guys in my age group and I couldn't tell if there were any I had passed but now I'd not be able to tell since first loopers would be mixed among 2nd loopers and oh, it's just confusing at this point so I just kept on my race plan to run 10 beat above AeT and monitor a relaxed breathing and body posture. by mile 10 I could see I was still holding 7:30 pace per mile and was happy to feel still quite snappy. At the turn around there is a little over two miles to go and I thought this is going to be a fast run for me if I can hold on and I then started staring every guy who looked my age down who was approaching the turn... so far, so good! I kept my pace up and quickly made the left turn around and up then a right back onto 8th St. where you had about a quarter mile straight to the finish. The crowds were awesome and again I felt like it was an Ironman finish and coming into the finish shoot along I could hear my name, my age being declared "52 years young!" I could see by the time I had done exactly what I intended to do and the race plan executed perfe.. well, with one little chain thingy... perfectly!

Total Run Time: 1:37:15 = Total Race Time: 4:50:00 / Age Group 3rd place. Qualified for Ironman World Championship 70.3

Post Race: Boise is a cool town! After a quick massage and paying for my Vegas slot, we went back to the hotel, showered up and returned for the awards ceremony held at 8pm. They did a great job of moving that along allowing us to get into the Bodo for dinner. I had previously did a little restaurant research on Open Table before leaving for Boise and found a standout among Boise eateries. The Bitter Creek Ale House and Red Feather Lounge are known for outstanding food made from locally produced ranchers and farmers and excellent service and ambiance. When we stumbled upon it we could see it was a crowd favorite. The Bitter Creek was packed with a "seat yourself if you can find one" option while the Red Feather was a reservation kinda place and very tiny! Thinking there isn't a prayer in the world I decided to ask the maitre d' if there was any possibility. He said, "Give me your number and I'll call you in about 15 minutes." Are you kidding me? Here in the Bay Area it would take 15 minutes just to get the maitre d' acknowledge you! Sure enough my phone was a buzzing as we sat at the bar waiting to be seated and soon we were walked up the stairs to one of the hippest and most comfortable dinners we've had in a long time! I can't say enough how much we enjoyed the food, service and vibe of this place. Oh, and I forgot to mention... It was really REASONABLE as in price! Let me put it to you this way... the night before a basic dinner at Macaroni Grill, this night a phenomenal dinner at Red Feather; guess what the difference in price was? NOTHING! it was the same. Should you get the chance to go... everything we tried was awesome but may I recommend the Lamb Burger... OMGsh!

Thanks Boise. We had a great time and will return. Oh... and I've decided. I like the noon start but 10am would be awesome!

 

I Love This!

Every now and then a commercial comes along I absolutely adore... Here's my current fav!

"That guy? Never seen that guy in my life." Best line delivery EVER!