Getting My High Altitude Climb On Again – The Mt Laguna Loop

The past month has been nothing short of a miracle in regards to my ability to get back on the bike and attain significant mileage again.  However, all of that mileage has been mostly on flat terrain.  With my confidence bank feeling fatter with the deposits of cycling success, I began eyeing bigger game and…

Daddy’s Got Two New Pairs of Shoes

Let’s start with the bad news.  I am now over a month into trying to get the left orthotic to be adjusted correctly.  I will not go into the details, but the orthotic has been bringing the pain of the injury back instead of supporting the foot in a way that prevents it from happening…

Do I Hear 50? 50 Miles?

Following nursing my foot injury for over 4 months, I started on July 13th with a flat 10 miles.  Then, on 7/15 increased it to 23 miles.  7/22 and 7/29 featured 30 and 40 miles respectfully with the Tri Club San Diego group.  Amazingly, in just over two weeks I am back to some serious…

Riding With The Big Kids

The maiden 10 mile ride complete!  23 mile ride with the Tri Club San Diego Beginners group done!  Cardio was challenged, but legs were in a happy enough place to think I could do more.  Time to step it up a little bit more I thought.  So, back to the Tri Club San Diego training…

Being A Beginner All Over Again

The author of “The Pursuit of Happyness”, Chris Gardner, also wrote a book titled “Start Where You Are: Life Lessons In Getting From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be.”  Following my successful 10 mile test ride of my foot, I was very aware of the need to come to grips with how…

Back In The Shoe & The Saddle

The last day on my bike was March 29th.  We are now 4 1/2 months into the injury odysey that introduced me to a boot, crutches, and the infmamous kneeling scooter that I mastered as almost a new sport.  No running and no cycling has taken place since March 29th.  Only cycling sadness.  However, following…

The Orthotics Are Here! The Orthotics Are Here!

I am now four months into the injury to my Sesamoid bone in my left foot.  No cycling and no running for four months.  Only swimming.  I have/will miss all three of the triathlons that I signed up for.  I was definitely derailed from my original 70.3 Ironman Canada target, but have great hopes of…

New 1000 Yard Swim PR! 6.5 Minute Improvement Since New Coach!

First, congratulations to my swim coach Julie Dunkle.  This past weekend she competed in Ironman Boulder in the 50 to 54 age group.  Coming out of the water she was third among all women including the pros!  In the end, she placed second in her age group.  Very impressive. My own accomplishment this week came…

Stimulating Healing

I am now 2 1/2 months into no running or cycling thanks to what my Orthopedist calls “bone edema” on my outer Sesamoid.  Since this is taking a long time to heal, she suggested I get a “bone growth stimulator” to speed up the process.  This morning I started the once a day treatment. A…

50M Pool Isn’t Completely SLO For $3

This weekend I was visiting relatives in San Luis Obispo and wondered if there was a pool I could swim in while I was there.  I called ahead and learned that the answer was yes, and it was right down the street from the first condo we bought back in 1992.  I remember the pool, not…

My Sportsmobile Transformation Begins!

Traded in my Mustang and bought Michelle a Prius.  That means I get the hand-me-down family van which will now become my Sportsmobile!  The transformation started today by stickering it up.  Looking forward to adding an Ironman sticker later this year!  Gotta earn it first though.  

Going The Distance In Michigan – 2000 Meters Under 60 Minutes!

After a couple days of personal record 500-yard intervals in the home pool, I traveled across the country to visit family in Michigan.  Again, with a boot on my fractured foot, I can’t run or cycle.  But, I can swim and focus on my weakest skill. The swim distance at 70.3 Ironman Canada is 1.2…

Fracturing The 13 Minute 500 Yard Swim – 25% Mo Faster!

With my foot in a boot, running and cycling is out of the question.  However, Mr. Glass Half Full looks on this setback as an opportunity to focus on my weakness which is swimming.  It is all I can do. Today, I ventured back into the pool after an incredible session with my new coach…

Foot Injury – Can You Say Fractured Sesamoid Bone?

For the past week and a half, I have not been able to run or cycle on my left foot. I tried toughing it out, keeping off it, and hoping I would wake up one day pain-free. That little movie in my head did not materialize.

New Swim Coach = Mo Better Results

I got the email last week. My swim coach dropped me. Something about needing time for his other clients as the season got serious and he was heading off to run the Boston Marathon. Not exactly motivating as I was just thinking I was getting somewhere.

Sad, Sad Swimming In Saudi…

Before my departure to Riyadh, the weeks featured a constant decline in swimming ability after ditching the fins. Both form and function declined at an equal rate. Unfortunately, today was no different.

Training In Saudi?

Continuing training while traveling can often be a challenge in the United States. My next trip was not in the United States though. No, my next trip was to Saudi Arabia!

Fastest 5 Mile Run – New PR Under 9 Minutes Per Mile

A PR (Personal Record) is a PR and I am celebrating.  There is nothing earth-shattering about a 9-minute mile other than it is about as fast I have ever run per mile in a half marathon.  This is important as I will be running a half marathon in the 70.3 Ironman Canada following swimming 1.2…

Swimming Backwards – Sans Training Fins Setback

After great success last week eclipsing the mile mark, it was time to ditch the training fins and move to the next level of no assistive devices.  No pool buoy.  No training fins.  No snorkels etc.  All items I had used at various times up until this point since October to garner some wins, positive…