Tweedle Beetle Tri-Atheletle

Some of us ride to train.
Some of us ride for general health.
Some of us ride to get from home to work and/or from work to home..
Some of us ride for our significant others, fathers, mothers or brothers.
Some of us ride because we can't drive, for one reason or another.
Some of us ride because it is hard... really hard, depending on how hard you want it be.

Others, a lucky few, ride because every once and a while - it allows us the capacity to capture an experience which is worth remembering.  Experiences like these can take place any-day, anytime, anywhere or with anyone.  My experience today though, took place on a beautiful February Day, about 60 degrees and sunny.  Cold enough to wear a sweatshirt but not cold enough for a jacket.

My riding partner for the day saddled up on his bike looking particular fast - a red skateboarding helmet, partially sliding off the back of his head because of the stocking cap being worn underneath, his Velcro-shoes, strapped stylishly in a "X".   I donned my more "stylish" Old Navy jeans, tucked strategically into my socks.  Instead of my Specialized bike shoes, I elected to go with a less common high top converse (old school style).

They ride was typical.  We covered rolling terrain, made especially tricky by the allowance of driveways gently greeting the pavement of the street.  For a bit it was stop and go, as we checked both ways before moving from one side walk to the other.  Our stats were also typical - 1 mile covered, 40 min of ride time, Average Speed of 4.2 mph... oh and a stop at the slides and a loop around the basketball court.

This ride was not special because of the sights seen, the weather, the speed or distance.  It wasn't special because my heart rate was in the "target range" for 80% of the ride or that I lead the pack for more than my fair share.  It was incredibly special because it was with my son - my very first ride with my 4 year old son.  In a life which is so unpredictable, so fleeting - these experiences are gifts, and these gifts are the reason why I ride.  Today's gift was unexpected, this experience was one to remember and document.  Today was certainly a ride of a lifetime - and I am grateful.

Why do you ride?

OH MY GOD - PUT A BULLET IN ME NOW BECAUSE I AM IN AGONY.

So for the past 4 days I have had a bit of a neck/back ache. It was tight but nothing too terribly bad for the first two days - I even went for a ride on Saturday (Details below) and felt OK. At about 4:00 this morning though, I woke up unable to move without excruciating pain. I have been thought allot of painful things... broken collar bones, broken ribs, hernia surgeries and a whole bunch of other ailments. Very infrequently does pain cause me to well up with tears and whimper like a baby. It is 6:52 AM and in the past 3 hours I have done this twice. At 6:30 I left a pleading message with my chiropractor to get me in at whatever cost. This is true agony...

Well, to try and distract myself, I thought I would at least communicate my last ride on Saturday. It was actually really fantastic (besides the dodge ram that tried to run me off the road). Temperature was a brisk 50 degrees but no rain and intermittent fog (which was actually really cool to ride though). There were two huge elevation changes in the short 20 mile ride which allowed for fast descents into cloud banks and that amazing feeling of going from 20 ft visibility to blue sunny sky at the top of a climb. Overall it was gorgeous!!!

I think my favorite part of the ride was the last climb - this was one of those where your HR is over 180 and you look down (while standing on the peddles) and your speed is 5.2 mph.

Here are the stats:
Ride Time: 1:34 total
Ave HR: 166 BPM
Max HR: 188 BPM
In target HR Zone: 25 min
Above target HR Zone: 108 min
1613 Kcal burned
Distance: 20.4 miles
Ave Speed: 13 MPH
Top Speed: 36 MPH

Here is a map of the ride with elevation.

Anyway, I will keep you all updated on the state of my back... thanks for listening!

On June 26, 2010 - 1000 hopeful Tri-Athletes will pour into Wickiup Reservoir near Sun River Oregon...  their breath falling short and chest clenching from the near freezing temperatures.  They will pull their way through a 1.2 mile swim, peddle through 56.3 miles of mountains and run another 13.1 miles to the finish at Sunriver Resort outside of beautiful Bend Oregon.

I am going to be one of them. 

Assuming I finish (this is a bit iffy at this point) 4 to 9 hours later I will stumble across the finish line, collapsing into a bliss filled coma at the feet of my very overwork wife and two terribly impatient toddlers.

With any luck I will be so exhausted that I will be unable to hear or maybe comprehend the whining that will inevitability accompany my two wonderful children after waiting at the finish line for hours on end...  I have to admit, I hope they will be there.

First off - who am I?  What a messed up question is that???  Eight years ago, I would have answered with something like, "Oh, I am a Chemical Engineer."  Six years ago, I would have blurted out, "I am an Operations Manager!" Three years ago, I would have proudly said, "I am a small business owner."  Recently, I have come to realize that all of these things are all about what I do and not who I am.

Who I am is a imperfect soul who loves his family more than anything.  My two little boys have showed me who I should be and my wifes forgiving love keeps me on track.  I am the reflection in my families eyes.

What am I doing?  I am trying to get some accountability around a very serious challenge.  My wife and children will love me regardless of whether or not I finish this race... all of you - I hope not!

What is this blog about?  Taking a 10K race ready athelete to a 1/2 Iron Man ready athelete, all the while maintaining my marrage and continuing to be the Dad my boys deserve.  This journey will last 6 months and will come to completion on June 26th, 2010.