IRONMAN!

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COMING SOON...

ALOHA FROM HAWAII...

Our lives are defined by a few significant experiences - a few days or hours or moments out of a lifetime of years and decades.  These are the moments that make the day-to-day routine worthwhile.  They are what we live for and why we endure the mundane. The things we remember.

Keep Smiling...

-R

SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION


Be right back...

-R

EMERGENT

For my peeps, suggesting, no, requesting, no, insisting on an update, here it is, albeit partial. And for those getting tired of looking at SFO, some eye candy of the new iPhone I just got from Steve.

Some sugar for you as we start (started) this new year:

I sense it coming but cannot avoid it.
My boat strikes something.
At first sounds of silence, waves.
Nothing has happenned;
Or perhaps everything has happened
And I am sitting in my new life.

-Rumi

A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2007!

I have a bunch of unfinished drafts, some that I'm hesitant to post in its current state. Maybe I'll just post the raw, stream of consciouness, unedited version and let it be. Blogging for public view and consumption often results in neurotic reluctance on my part. Ehh, it is what it is. I'm ready to get back in the saddle (Yipee Kayay blank-blank. Name that movie?)

Soooo...more thoughts and update soon.

No really.

I'm serious.

For reals.

:)

-R

(aerial view of SFO)

EARTH WIND & FIRE DAY TODAY...

I'm off to Hawaii with the team tomorrow AM. Good ol' SFO and Hawaiian Airlines. I love airports. Maybe because of the freedom and adventure it represents. Or because of the love you feel and see when loved ones are reunited there. Seeing that always brings a smile to my face.

I wrote a 'travel' love letter to my girl today. Just in case anything happens, so she'll always know. I know she does, I say it to her every night. I'll miss her so much when I'm away, but I know time will fly and I'll see her soon. I'll slip it into her Hello Kitty backpack. And I'll get a nice surprise for her later. I think she wants a videogame for her Nintendo DS. She knows how to milk it with Daddy.

Love and Aloha, lots more to come...

TRAINING LOG

Location: Healdsburg, Geyserville

Distance: 55 miles

Song: Life is a Highway (Soundtrack from Cars), by Rascall Flats. Gilly sings this and sounds like a country singer, I love it.

Thoughts: Quaint, charming little town with full of stores and restaurants and art galleries. This is probably my second favorite ride. Lots of rolling hills, and beautiful wine country scenery. After a four-mile climb up Pine Flat Road (which definitely ain't), it overlooks the valley filled with endless rows of vineyards. I didn't realize there were so many varied, independent wineries. Everyone's always wanting to stop to 'sample' the wares.

Hot one today, 95 degrees of dry heat, over 100 on the asphalt, like a giant blowdryer shadowing you all day. A few on the team had symptoms of dehyrdation and heat exhaustion. I drank about 5 water bottles of gatorade over the almost four hours that we were on the road and didn't even need to use the bathroom which means I was sweating it all out.

Even so, the last 10 miles of the ride had less to do with strength, but more about will and heart. Just brutal conditions. When you're hot and fatigued you need to dig down and ask yourself what your 'why' is, why are you training, why are you out there. You then begin to focus on that 'why' while the miles beginning to slowly disappear and you find a reservoir of strength that you didn't know you had.

For many, the face of a loved one comes to mind, or their memory. For others it's the commitment to the Cause, or a new vow to be healthy, or a promise to yourself to finish an unheard of challenge, or even laying on a beach in Hawaii, drinking out of a coconut after the Century Ride.

One of my 'whys' is on my handlebar, a pink Barbie bandaid that my daughter gave me after I crashed on a ride. I look and touch that touchstone many times on many different rides. I guess we all have 'whys' in our lives, someone or something that keeps us going, keeps us living strong, keeps us hopeful and joyful, that make our lives memorable, worth living, worth the struggle. With it, we tap deep emotional reserves that propel us forward.

What's your 'why' in life?

And the reward for me on this particular ride was an ice cold beer, waiting all those hours, hiding in an Igloo cooler, nestled comfortably on a bed of ice. It's the simple things in life, yes?

Godspeed,

-R

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ENJOY LIFE

Today is my 3 Year Remission Anniversary (boisterous spontaneous applause ensues!), the day I found out the doctors couldn't find any traces of cancer (leukemia) in my body.

Celebrate with me: Hug your keikis (children) extra tight. Stop and smell a beautiful flower. Lose yourself in your favorite music. Have a (Mojito, Pellegrino, Corona, Frangelico, insert favorite drink here) with friends. Laugh to the point of tears. Kiss the ones you love. Hike through nature. Feel the sun on your face. Put another shrimp on the barby. Have an extra scoop of ice cream. Wander through a museum. Read from your favorite book. Live from your heart. Breathe the fresh air. Walk along the beach. Ride a rollercoaster. Paint to your heart's content. Watch the sun set.

Do whatever makes your heart jump...

It's one thing to survive. It's another to live.

En-joy,

-R

CONNECTION (Mind/Body)

I felt lousy today, splitting nauseatic (my word) headache. Most of the time, I actually forget that I'm living with cancer and feel great, amazing. But no matter how well I'm feeling, I almost always get sick at some point when I'm expecting my test results back. Happily, my oncologist called and let me now that my results were normal, everything's fine (exhale.) Next round in October.

She also gave me the go ahead to train for multiple races this year, said my lungs are functioning normally and the side-effects of my treatment are neglible, so it shouldn’t affect my stamina and fatigue. "Absolutely go for it, yes train!" she said.

My cycle training is going great, but I had to cut back on my marathon training, my left hip is bothering me (again :). My chiro said my pelvic bone is rubbing up against a nerve cluster in my hip (yikes!) which makes my back and leg uncomfortable (painful) when I run. I’m feeling a lot better after a series of adjustments (my chiro is amazing), we’ll see how my training goes. It doesn’t bother me on the bike, only when I run, because of the compression and impact.

After I got the good test results back, that 'I'm not myself' feeling is gone just as quickly. I'm always monitoring how I'm feeling, my energy level, my emotional level, my stress level. They’re the indicators of my overall health. Of course I know my body quite well, when it’s out of sorts, but I’m still amazed how it knows and responds to what's going on inside. Sometimes it just 'aches.'

FIREWORKS

The burst of colors, fire, heat, sparkle. The luminous colors, loud core-shaking bangs.

Happy 4th!

-R


(pic: view from our hotel, fired from the mountainside shown in previous post.)

TRAINING LOG

Location: Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe

Distance: 38 miles, hard tempo ride

Song: Shalamar, Switch

Thoughts: Beautiful ride along the Truckee River, though it was like Frogger at times with all the people on the bike trail. Nice loop from Tahoe City up to Truckee. It was wide open with other cyclists out for a spin. I went out too fast instead of easing into the ride. Me and another cyclist were stopped at stoplight together, nodded and when the light turned green, we both non-chalantly started racing each other, matching speed. That was fun. But when I caught a stiff headwind coming back at the end of the ride I paid for it, inhaling Cliff Shot Blocks and Gu for some much needed energy, legs and lungs protesting.

I actually started thinking, "I'm on vacation, why am I doing this again?" Because I like it, because I can. A bad ride is just part of the deal, everyone has one of those days. What's the saying, "A bad day riding out in God's country is better than a good day stuck in an office." (Okay, I made that up.) But being out on the road in beautiful country was more than worth the effort (see pics). And the pool and spa was waiting for me after the ride.

-R

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YELLOW

Did you see George Hincapie sprint for those extra time bonuses knowing those extra precious seconds may put him in the yellow jersey, only the fourth American to wear yellow in the history of the Tour. He just missed wearing it a day earlier by just seven-tenths of a second. One cool cat.

SCANDAL!

On the verge of the Tour de France, several of the pre-race favorites have been suspended for suspected drug use. Wow. It's like a Lakers-Celtics Championship (back in the day) without Magic, Kareem and Bird.

This still will be one to watch, with Lance retired after 7 straight yellow jerseys, and now the suspensions, the race is wiiide open. I'll be rooting for Americans George Hincapie (Lance's buddy) and Floyd Landis for the overall. (sidenote: even with Lance retired, I still see so many people wearing their yellow LiveStrong wristbands. It's not a fad for them, or me.)

Imagine, three weeks of racing covering over 2261 miles throughout France and Europe, with only two rest days. I'll be glued to my set. I love the suffering, the drama, the courage, the savvy tactics and race strategies, the mosh-pit sprints, the delirious climbs, the obssesive fans. Yes!

I read these two sites for all the stage previews, recaps and general info on the race: www.olntv.com/tdf and www.coachcarl.com.

Gotta go ride...

MAN IN TIGHTS

Went to the opening night showing of Superman Returns last night. I went by myself since everyone else had other things like sleep in mind. I don't think I've done a midnight showing since one of the latest Star Wars. The best part of opening night is the energy from the crowd, usually full of fellow-geeks. I felt left out that I didn't have a Superman t-shirt, hat or pajamas to wear. Actually, I was wearing my uniform under my suit...oh never mind. But, you know the feeling, 500 hundred of your newest friends who go into near hysteria when the lights dim and the opening credits start rolling. Love that.

The movie: I really enjoyed it. Lots of the same beats from Donner's Superman (with Christopher Reeve). It was actually more of a love story than a summer action popcorn flick, but that's fine with me. (I think "Pirates" will fit that bill.) Singer and cast came through with a modern re-telling of the 1978 classic. Go see it, you'll love the end.

PRODIGY

Saw Jake Shimabukuro at Yoshi's Jazz house last night. I just love the vibe of this club, I would see practically anyone there as an excuse to take in the music and the energy. And pretty much everybody who's anybody has played there, all the heavies. If you're in the Bay Area and never've been, then go, and tell them Roman sent you. They'll say, 'who?' After I saw my first show there, I actually went home and researched the architect and designer so when I'm ready, they can design my home theatre or new restaurant, or both.

Did I mention that Jake is from Hawaii and plays the ukelele? Not the 'Tiny Bubbles' variety of course, more like Hendrix, Paganini, Chick Corea, Bach, Bela Fleck. During Jake's energetic and passionate two-hour solo set I found myself mesmerized, holding my breath, and on the edge of my seat by both the musician and the music. During the encore Beatles cover, "Here, There and Everywhere" I was actually on the verge of tears, I was so overwhelmed by the song's beauty. True art, no matter what the form, has the ability to do that.

MEGA-PHILANTHROPHY

Wowza. Warren Buffet, the world's second richest man, has taken his philanthropy to an other-wordly level, earmarking over $30 Billion dollars or 85% of his wealth, to the charity of the world's richest man, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda. Gotta love that.

In a fascinating "Billionaire Buddies" Fortune magazine interview with the both of them, there were a couple of things that Warren Buffet said that really stood out and have stuck with me.

1. CHOOSE the things that really make a difference, not meaningless activities. My take: You'd think that a mulit-billionaire would have places to go, people to see, things to do. But Buffet's calendar is mostly blank. He's learned how to say yes to the important things, and no to the meaningless things. Clear your calendar. Lance Armstrong says your schedule is how you make your intentions manifest in the world. I say it this way: It's YOUR life. Do what energizes you. Avoid what drains you. No guilt trips, no regrets. Don't just 'jump' when something comes up. If I feel I 'have to' or 'got to' do something, I'll usually decline. I'd rather 'want to', 'get to', or 'choose to' do something. Big difference.

2. Your INNER scoreboard is more important than your outer scoreboard. My take: don't care what others think about you or what you do. Of course don't be unkind or irresponsible, but live life your way, make decisions based on your values. Honor your own preferences, be true to yourself. It takes too much energy to do otherwise. Besides, you can't control what other people think anyway. Just be yourself, at your best, unapologetically.

3. A SUCCESFUL life is defined by the people that you hope love you, DO love you. My take: at the end of one's life, that's what life's all about, isn't it? Not the 'stuff' you've accumulated, but the relationships and experiences you've shared, the person you've become, the people whose lives you've touched.

Thanks for the sage advice Warren, we seem to think alike. Well, at least those things in common. Now let me get back to working on that billionaire thing... :)

- R

An excerpt of the interview (Fortune, Oct. 17, 2005):

FORTUNE: What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given, and how has it impacted your personal or professional life?
BUFFETT: (Turns to Gates.) What did I tell you that impressed you the most? (Laughter.)
GATES: Actually, I can answer that. When I first met Warren, we were talking about getting together and doing something again, and he pulled out his calendar and the pages were so blank. I said, 'Wow, you've managed to avoid getting tied in to a lot of kind of meaningless activities.' And Warren said, 'Yeah, you have to be good at saying no and picking the things that really make a difference.' And that's one of many things I've learned from Warren, and so I can blame it on him whenever I'm turning things down.
BUFFETT: The truth is I don't get invited anyplace. (Laughter.) I got an awful lot of good advice from my dad, and he didn't lay it on me, meaning I picked it up from him but there was never any of this 'do this, do that' type of thing at all. But he really taught me that what's on your inner scorecard is more important than your outer scorecard. Some people get in a position where they're worrying all the time about what the world is going to think of this or that, instead of considering what they themselves think about it. The people who ascribe too much to the outer scorecard sometimes find that it's a little hollow when they get all through.

FORTUNE: What has been your largest non-business success in life?
BUFFETT: This will surprise you, but I would say that I've never known anybody who got to be my age who had lots of people that loved them who were anything other than a success. I mean, you have lived a successful life if as you get older, the people that you hope love you do love you. That includes your family, your business associates, all kinds of people.
And the converse of that is that I know people who are enormously wealthy--they get schools named after them and they get dinners in their honor, all that sort of thing—and the truth is that nobody thinks a thing of them. And I have to believe they know that, and everything gets quite hollow in their life at that point.

(pic: with some of the team, all cancer survivors, post-ride potluck, Pellegrino in hand :)

TRAINING LOG

Event: Honolulu Century, Team In Training
Ride location: Sonoma, Kenwood, Glen Ellen
Distance: 35 miles
Song: One of my coaches told me to always have a song in your head when you ride. Today it was "Love is the Answer", England Dan & John Ford Coley. Corny perhaps but never fails to put a smile in my heart.

Thoughts: Worked on communication, hand signals and pacelining with the team. Also gear selection and climbing and descending techniques. Climbed Sonoma Mountain Road, my first time tackling this short steep bear of climb, gets you sucking air, legs throbbing, your heart pounding in your ears. Of course the best part of climbing is bombing downhill. Got to paceline with the fast group on the team, pushing myself just beyond my comfort zone, legs burning, grinning the whole time, glad to be on the bike, one of my favorite things to do. I think it has to do with the freedom and fun of cruising the neighborhood on ten speeds as kids, the joy of movement, pushing my limits, and the 'need for speed." I paid for it in the afternoon, I was exhausted, probably a little dehydrated as well, the effort along with the heat.

I saw this line somewhere, I've adopted it as my own, a 'delicious thought': "Biking is my hot fudge sundae."

Yeah baby.

I had a chance to thank all the teams (triathlon, cycle and marathon) at the post-training potluck. It's always an honor to say thank you to the people who are raising money to help fund the research that helps keep me alive.

Most of them are endurance event first-timers: selfless, expanding their limits, relishing the challenge, doubting their doubts. I told them it's not the time, it's the distance; it's not the size of their muscles, but the will in their heart. Team In Training is all about ordinary people doing extraordinary things for extraordinary people who would give anything to be ordinary again. Speaking of, current blood test results come back on July 7, one day before my 3-year remission anniversary.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers, waiting to exhale.

-R

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RELIEF

High 90s today.

Remedy: Jamba Juice-Matcha Green Tea Mist.

Doesn't that sound perfect?

Enjoy!