HAIL?! (training update)
Did a 45-miler today out in Petaluma. Cold, raining, headwinds and episodes of HAIL! You kind of tuck your head down so the pellets won't sting your face as much, but then it goes through the vents in your helmet and pelts your bald head. At one point the road ahead looked like a sheet of white, it was coming down so hard, bouncing off the road like little white BBs. I was like, 'what the ?' I had to pull off the road and huddle underneath a big tree, it was the only shelter I could find, country backroads and all. 'This is crazy!'
It does make you ride faster, you and the rest of the team just want to get back to your car and into some warm, dry clothes. All my 'waterproof' gear was soaked, head, hands and feet numb, breath raggedly breathing out cold mist, legs flat and fatigued coming off a 6-mile run the night before. You have to make sure you're eating and drinking enough to keep your energy up. You burn a lot of calories trying to stay warm and grinding through the wind. Three and half hours later I finally pulled into the parking lot and let out a seemingly primal, expletive-ridden diatribe. That felt good.
On one hand, probably the most miserable bike ride I've ever done. You either laugh or cry. On the other hand, it's good to train in difficult, adverse conditions. It makes you physically and mentally stronger, more resilient, tough. You look back at days like this with a sense of accomplishment. It's money in the bank for race day. A little sunshine would have been nice though :)
Friday, February 01, 2008
HIKE!
Last year the Leukemia Society asked if I would like to be a part of their new national marketing campaign for Hike for Discovery. Of course I'm honored to do anything I can for the Society. Hike for Discovery is a training and fundraising program similar to Team In Training but you get to hike in beautiful (unforgettable, stunning, breathtaking) locales like Yosemite and Grand Canyon.
Well the website is up and the promotional pieces have already hit mailboxes and businesses. Gilly and I feel like celebrities. People emailing me from as far as Minnesota saying they saw the piece.
Funny story, my brother and his wife are ordering take-out at a restaurant in Emeryville. She glances over at the brochure on the counter and says, 'hey, that guy looks Roman.' My brother is preoccupied with ordering and says, 'yeah, it does huh' and goes back to ordering. She goes over and picks it up and yells OMG! It IS Roman...and Gilly! Cool!
My IronTeammate Beau said it was in their race packet at the Disneyworld Marathon. My other teammate Sedonia wanted to put it in her pocket so she could say she 'ran a marathon with Roman.' Beau wants it autographed (I haven't figured out if he's serious or not.) I told him I wouldn't even charge, haha.
I was even at my gym earlier this week and the brochure was at the front desk (yay 24 Hour Fitness). I tapped the lady there, pointed and said, 'check it out, that's me!' Smiled. And exited stage left as she stood there mouthing 'hey, wow'.
I have a few more stories like that from other people too, old friends, teammates, Gilly's teachers, coworkers. Fun.
Hike is such an amazing and much needed program. I'll try to Hike this year though it overlaps with Ironman, but for sure I'll be keeping in touch with the team throughout the season.
If you're at places like Fleet Feet, Sports Basement, REI, sports stores, restaurants, gyms you may spot the brochure. Or you can contact me and I'll send you one, the Home Office in NY sent me a stack.
I'll put up some pictures of the brochures/letter later but you can check out the website. We're in the banner movie on top of the page, and our picture and story is at the bottom. It's signed Hike for Discovery Spokesperson so since I'm the Spokesperson, you all have to go out there and do a hike :) Yosemite and Grand Canyon. Can't beat that!
Check it out here: www.hikefordiscovery.org
Last year the Leukemia Society asked if I would like to be a part of their new national marketing campaign for Hike for Discovery. Of course I'm honored to do anything I can for the Society. Hike for Discovery is a training and fundraising program similar to Team In Training but you get to hike in beautiful (unforgettable, stunning, breathtaking) locales like Yosemite and Grand Canyon.
Well the website is up and the promotional pieces have already hit mailboxes and businesses. Gilly and I feel like celebrities. People emailing me from as far as Minnesota saying they saw the piece.
Funny story, my brother and his wife are ordering take-out at a restaurant in Emeryville. She glances over at the brochure on the counter and says, 'hey, that guy looks Roman.' My brother is preoccupied with ordering and says, 'yeah, it does huh' and goes back to ordering. She goes over and picks it up and yells OMG! It IS Roman...and Gilly! Cool!
My IronTeammate Beau said it was in their race packet at the Disneyworld Marathon. My other teammate Sedonia wanted to put it in her pocket so she could say she 'ran a marathon with Roman.' Beau wants it autographed (I haven't figured out if he's serious or not.) I told him I wouldn't even charge, haha.
I was even at my gym earlier this week and the brochure was at the front desk (yay 24 Hour Fitness). I tapped the lady there, pointed and said, 'check it out, that's me!' Smiled. And exited stage left as she stood there mouthing 'hey, wow'.
I have a few more stories like that from other people too, old friends, teammates, Gilly's teachers, coworkers. Fun.
Hike is such an amazing and much needed program. I'll try to Hike this year though it overlaps with Ironman, but for sure I'll be keeping in touch with the team throughout the season.
If you're at places like Fleet Feet, Sports Basement, REI, sports stores, restaurants, gyms you may spot the brochure. Or you can contact me and I'll send you one, the Home Office in NY sent me a stack.
I'll put up some pictures of the brochures/letter later but you can check out the website. We're in the banner movie on top of the page, and our picture and story is at the bottom. It's signed Hike for Discovery Spokesperson so since I'm the Spokesperson, you all have to go out there and do a hike :) Yosemite and Grand Canyon. Can't beat that!
Check it out here: www.hikefordiscovery.org
Monday, January 28, 2008
LOUIE TRI! PART ONE
7th Annual Louie Bonpua Memorial Olympic Distance Triathlon at Treasure Island, Sunday, Jan.27, 2008
(Early a.m. view from the transition area)
MORNING
Cold and wet, what a great day for a race! .93 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run. This would be my first Olympic Distance Tri. I decided to wake up excited instead of nervous. My goals were to finish, have fun, and learn from the race. This is a special race because of the person it was named in honor of, Louie Bonpua. I'll save his amazing story for the end.
At 7:45 a.m. we drive into the huge parking lot and we're treated to a spectacular view of the City skyline and both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges in sight. Stunning. The place is already abuzz with 150+ Team In Training athletes, staff and volunteers. I check-in, get my race number and body-marked, pre-race greetings to friends, then start laying out my gear at the transition area. Wetsuit on, team meeting to go over the course, then a short walk down to the beach.
Setting up in transition
THE SWIM
I'm in the green cap, my buddy Jun in red
I'm not a swimmer. Sure, recreational swimming in the pool, but open water and lap swimming, never. But hey, I'm training for an Ironman so I better become a swimmer. So I started lap swims four months ago along with a few open water swims. My first open water swim in Lake Berryessa last November was very, shall we say, 'eventful' and probably one of the top 5 times I've been most scared in my life, and I can't even remember what the other 4 were. Going from an indoor pool to this vast body of open water, no side of the pool to hold on to, can't reach or even see the bottom, the thought of drowning, and don't forget those sharks in the lake (hey, it could happen!) But what's life without facing fear and doing it anyway. (Easy for me to say now, but at the time, the thought of quitting and swimming back to shore crossed my mind. I did finish though, yes! )
So now I get to jump into the cold SF Bay, not a lake. I told myself that I don't have time to be scared, I've got a mile swim ahead of me, four laps around the buoys.
My plan was to relax, take one buoy at a time, one lap at a time. I seeded myself in the first of four groups, slower swimmers first, faster swimmers last. 3,2,1 GO!
I do a 'Tarzan' stroke (head above water) for a while so I can navigate all the feet and legs splashing around. I did get kicked a few times and people bumping into me, but no big deal. Once things thin out, I put my face in and start swimming. The water's cold but after a while, your face, hands and feet get so numb you can't really feel it.
I finally get to the buoy for my last lap (lap four) and saw most/all of the swimmers around me heading to shore. But I just kept going, one more lap. Then several minutes later I saw kayaks 'surrounding' me and I thought, 'Great, I must be one of the last ones out of the water. Personal kayak escort again. Or maybe they've all mistaken me for a drowning person in need of help, haha.' Then another swimmer swam with me to see how I was doing. She gave me some technique advice and once I tried it, it felt like I was going faster/easier. Man, why couldn't she have been with me at the first buoy instead of the final one. She introduced herself to me after the race as Nancy. She's a swim coach and SF TNT coach and was swimming with the newbies this morning. She's awesome, like my angel mermaid.
Anyways, I started hearing the bullhorn (Coach Ted) and crowd from shore, something like 'Go, Roman, Go, Roman' (it's hard to hear, I have earplugs, plus the swim cap and water.) That's way cool but now I'm thinking, I must REALLY be the LAST one out if they can keep cheering for just ONE person for so long. You know, it wasn't Go Roman, Go Jill, Go Jack, Go Dexter, Go Team ('Team' in Training and all). It was Go, Roman, Go, Roman. And I know there's not several different people named Roman still swimming. And how did they know it was me? My ubiquitous green swim cap?
Being last out of the water in your first tri with only 10 people is one thing (Lake Berryessa), but in a race with 100 people? Isn't there at least one, just ONE more person slower than me out here. I didn't think I was THAT slow (no offense to that one more person out there.) And now that everyone is cheering me on I feel 'obligated' to swim as fast as I can to shore. But people, I'm already swimming as fast as I can, I don't need any extra pressure, haha. Closer...closer...people getting larger...solid ground! Big smile. 52 minutes by my watch (Timex Ironman of course). People are whooping it up like crazy, like I was the first one out. Hey, that lady looks like mom. It is mom! And dad! What are you guys doing here? I do a really quick glance at the water and it's smooth and tranquil, not one more colored swim cap, the red buoys are gone, and all the kayaks are grounded. Rats. Last. Oh well, make up the time on the bike. But yeah baby, I just swam a mile in open water, last or not, something I never thought I would or could do. Time to go ride.
Even though I was last out, I was excited because I had a great day mentally and psychologically. I wasn't dreading the swim, I was actually very relaxed walking to the beach pre-race, chatting with my teammates. I had zero panic attack moments and minimal, if any, extraneous, negative mental chatter. And I only stopped to rest once for about 20 seconds. My pace going out was too fast with all the excitement, and people bumping into you, so I just took a few extra breaths to get my heart rate and breathing back down, no biggie. I even passed a person hanging on to a kayak for dear life. Now that was something I didn't needed to see in the middle of my swim. So I tried to ignore it and kept swimming. I wasn't really tired, I just swim slow (for now :)
I would learn after the race that many swimmers didn't finish all four laps so that's one of reasons I was last out. (Or maybe because I'm slow, hehe.) I'm not worried about my speed, I know I'll get faster as the season goes on. It doesn't matter if I'm last at all my other triathlons, as long as I'm fast enough to make the 2 hour swim cut off time at Ironman (2.4 mile swim). Even with my slow time, I think the cut off is within reach.
and we're off...
RACE REPORT to be continued...
7th Annual Louie Bonpua Memorial Olympic Distance Triathlon at Treasure Island, Sunday, Jan.27, 2008
(Early a.m. view from the transition area)
MORNING
Cold and wet, what a great day for a race! .93 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run. This would be my first Olympic Distance Tri. I decided to wake up excited instead of nervous. My goals were to finish, have fun, and learn from the race. This is a special race because of the person it was named in honor of, Louie Bonpua. I'll save his amazing story for the end.
At 7:45 a.m. we drive into the huge parking lot and we're treated to a spectacular view of the City skyline and both the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges in sight. Stunning. The place is already abuzz with 150+ Team In Training athletes, staff and volunteers. I check-in, get my race number and body-marked, pre-race greetings to friends, then start laying out my gear at the transition area. Wetsuit on, team meeting to go over the course, then a short walk down to the beach.
Setting up in transition
THE SWIM
I'm in the green cap, my buddy Jun in red
I'm not a swimmer. Sure, recreational swimming in the pool, but open water and lap swimming, never. But hey, I'm training for an Ironman so I better become a swimmer. So I started lap swims four months ago along with a few open water swims. My first open water swim in Lake Berryessa last November was very, shall we say, 'eventful' and probably one of the top 5 times I've been most scared in my life, and I can't even remember what the other 4 were. Going from an indoor pool to this vast body of open water, no side of the pool to hold on to, can't reach or even see the bottom, the thought of drowning, and don't forget those sharks in the lake (hey, it could happen!) But what's life without facing fear and doing it anyway. (Easy for me to say now, but at the time, the thought of quitting and swimming back to shore crossed my mind. I did finish though, yes! )
So now I get to jump into the cold SF Bay, not a lake. I told myself that I don't have time to be scared, I've got a mile swim ahead of me, four laps around the buoys.
My plan was to relax, take one buoy at a time, one lap at a time. I seeded myself in the first of four groups, slower swimmers first, faster swimmers last. 3,2,1 GO!
I do a 'Tarzan' stroke (head above water) for a while so I can navigate all the feet and legs splashing around. I did get kicked a few times and people bumping into me, but no big deal. Once things thin out, I put my face in and start swimming. The water's cold but after a while, your face, hands and feet get so numb you can't really feel it.
I finally get to the buoy for my last lap (lap four) and saw most/all of the swimmers around me heading to shore. But I just kept going, one more lap. Then several minutes later I saw kayaks 'surrounding' me and I thought, 'Great, I must be one of the last ones out of the water. Personal kayak escort again. Or maybe they've all mistaken me for a drowning person in need of help, haha.' Then another swimmer swam with me to see how I was doing. She gave me some technique advice and once I tried it, it felt like I was going faster/easier. Man, why couldn't she have been with me at the first buoy instead of the final one. She introduced herself to me after the race as Nancy. She's a swim coach and SF TNT coach and was swimming with the newbies this morning. She's awesome, like my angel mermaid.
Anyways, I started hearing the bullhorn (Coach Ted) and crowd from shore, something like 'Go, Roman, Go, Roman' (it's hard to hear, I have earplugs, plus the swim cap and water.) That's way cool but now I'm thinking, I must REALLY be the LAST one out if they can keep cheering for just ONE person for so long. You know, it wasn't Go Roman, Go Jill, Go Jack, Go Dexter, Go Team ('Team' in Training and all). It was Go, Roman, Go, Roman. And I know there's not several different people named Roman still swimming. And how did they know it was me? My ubiquitous green swim cap?
Being last out of the water in your first tri with only 10 people is one thing (Lake Berryessa), but in a race with 100 people? Isn't there at least one, just ONE more person slower than me out here. I didn't think I was THAT slow (no offense to that one more person out there.) And now that everyone is cheering me on I feel 'obligated' to swim as fast as I can to shore. But people, I'm already swimming as fast as I can, I don't need any extra pressure, haha. Closer...closer...people getting larger...solid ground! Big smile. 52 minutes by my watch (Timex Ironman of course). People are whooping it up like crazy, like I was the first one out. Hey, that lady looks like mom. It is mom! And dad! What are you guys doing here? I do a really quick glance at the water and it's smooth and tranquil, not one more colored swim cap, the red buoys are gone, and all the kayaks are grounded. Rats. Last. Oh well, make up the time on the bike. But yeah baby, I just swam a mile in open water, last or not, something I never thought I would or could do. Time to go ride.
Even though I was last out, I was excited because I had a great day mentally and psychologically. I wasn't dreading the swim, I was actually very relaxed walking to the beach pre-race, chatting with my teammates. I had zero panic attack moments and minimal, if any, extraneous, negative mental chatter. And I only stopped to rest once for about 20 seconds. My pace going out was too fast with all the excitement, and people bumping into you, so I just took a few extra breaths to get my heart rate and breathing back down, no biggie. I even passed a person hanging on to a kayak for dear life. Now that was something I didn't needed to see in the middle of my swim. So I tried to ignore it and kept swimming. I wasn't really tired, I just swim slow (for now :)
I would learn after the race that many swimmers didn't finish all four laps so that's one of reasons I was last out. (Or maybe because I'm slow, hehe.) I'm not worried about my speed, I know I'll get faster as the season goes on. It doesn't matter if I'm last at all my other triathlons, as long as I'm fast enough to make the 2 hour swim cut off time at Ironman (2.4 mile swim). Even with my slow time, I think the cut off is within reach.
and we're off...
RACE REPORT to be continued...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Saturday, December 01, 2007
GO SPEED RACER GO
I recently attended Audi's 'Driving Experience' test drive program at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. First did some classroom time (learned what under/oversteer is, the Quattro system, car physics and how weight change affects handling. And finally basic driving principles-look where you want to go, not where you don't want to, your hands follow your eyes; slow into turns/apex/accelerate out; patience; scan the road, no tunnel vision, etc.)
We then went out to the parking lot and learned how to position ourselves correctly in the driver's seat. Your body should basically be in the 'ready' position like in sports, relaxed and ready to react, not straight and rigid or lazy. We even learned the the correct way to hold and turn the steering wheel. They teach the 9 and 3 o'clock hand positions. Better control. And the 'dead pedal' is there to brace your body against the seat during hard turns. I never knew that. I drive like that now-9 and 3 o'clock, dead pedal. For safety and control reasons. No more one hand, lean back, cruising position. Now always ready. I feel more in control and in tune with the car.
Back to driving school...Now time for some emergency braking and handling drills in the parking lot with cones. Lots of flying cones and screeching tires, fun. A6, A3, A4, A8L and Q7. Had the R8s at the track (sweet) but we didn't drive those. That thing is fast. Still my new dream car.
Then we got to drive this little red baby, 2008 Audi S5, not even on the market yet. 4.2 Quattro 354 HP 6-speed V-8, stick. Push button start, rev the engine, yes!
Two laps around the course. Don't know my top speed since I had to follow and keep up with the pace car. The instructor guides you through the course over walkie-talkie, talking you through the turns. When I did peek at the speedometer it was inching toward 100 mph. Still only in 3rd gear, sheez. Nice to abuse a car that's not my own, stomping the gas on straightaways, hearing the engine whine, shoved into your seat, tight turns at speed, tires squeeling.
I was a little lightheaded afterward. Maybe because of the the adrenalin/stress/excitement. Maybe I forgot to breathe during laps, haha.
I had so much fun and learned a lot. I'm a better 'civilian' driver now. I'll definitely do it again. Maybe next time in the R8. Zoom...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
BEAUTIFUL
What a great day to be alive!
I did an early morning 4-mile run today by the water (Benicia State Park), clear sunny day, cool crisp air. Scenery was stunning. I wanted a setting where I could think, be thankful, and enjoy the outdoors all the while listening to Alicia Keys' new album on my iPod, she's one of my absolute favorite artists. Her songs move me as always. Smile on my face the whole time.A perfect start to a perfect day.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
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
Thursday, September 21, 2006
(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...
Saturday, July 08, 2006
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
----- o
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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
Friday, July 07, 2006
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.'
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.'
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
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
----- o
---<# \,
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