A First

So, after you consider all of the bike rides and triathlons I have done, you might find it difficult to believe that this weekend I changed a bicycle tire for the first time ever. The back tire on my spacebike has been flat for about a month after a ride around Houston busted it up.

Good as new.

BUYARACK of ALBAMA shirts

If you don't know, I am raising money for my brother Alan. We have a YouTube video and a fake email scam we forwarded, hopefully, both circulating around on the internet.

Did someone say t-shirt fundraiser?

Biking Nowhere

Eventually, training will "create" extra hours during the day. Today, 4:30 a.m. wake up call. On the bike from 5-7 a.m., then a 30 minute light swim. It makes you start to think the sun has bankers' hours.

The real challenge? Trying to take a picture of myself on the stationary bike. I thought my "dashboard" shot would be best. Skillfully achieved by placing my phone in my mouth and pressing the photo button with my teeth.

Did I get bored? No. Why do you ask?

DJ Merman

My wife gave me an amazing present. Basically, technology has made her once just a dream come true - swimming while listening to music. Thank you Speedo Aquabeat. How I don't get electrocuted, I do not know. I don't listen to music when I run, mainly because I like to try and take in the sounds around me, and to try and not get murdered by cars. However, swimming for any long periods of time is like being trapped in an aquarium. The drum of water rushing in and out of your ears is mind numbing. Removed from the threat of being run over by a semi and eaten by a shark, I can now listen to everyone's favorite hit songs from both the Rocky and Karate Kid soundtracks and all the old Nintendo classic theme tunes like from Mega Man and Castlevania.

Those songs are on everyone's iPod right?

Doctor's Appointment

One thing that has been confirmed is that things are in motion, even if I am not. I love big events, and I'm not just talking about races. With it comes a date that people know about and plan around and at that time and place, things come together. They have to, because of the event. It can go well or poorly, but the event happens. July 26 is coming.

Here is a list of recent happenings:

My left knee has been being weird. I had a doctor's appointment this morning. Diagnosis: inflamed IT (Iliotibial) band. It is typically called "runner's knee," that goes well with "golf elbow" I hear. The good thing is, I am not broken and can now work toward healing it.

I feared/nervously welcomed the idea of my doc looking at my knee, shaking his head, saying there was no way he would advise a normal human to continue to train and participate in such an event. And, I defiantly crawling to the Ironman finish. I am glad I don't have to entertain that scenario any longer. 

One of my doctors (they know me well there) said she thought she had seen me running around the Bayou. Houston is large, I run a lot, but it is just encouraging to know when someone notices.

3 brothers has been viewed almost 200 times on YouTube. (We are coming for you 'Chocolate Rain' and your 37,281,636 views.) Thank you to everyone who has passed the link along, posted the link on blogs, and especially to everyone who has donated.

My brother, Alan, left for Africa yesterday. His initial trip is about 3 months and will still be in Africa during the Ironman in late July. I think it would be funny if I run the Ironman holding a picture of him. Though, that is a little dark because he is not dead. Also, I was thinking the picture would be like an 8 x 10.

I received an email yesterday from a writer wanting to do an article for Ironmanlive.com that highlights athletes who are making Ironman, which is generally a solo sport/effort, a family affair via racing and/or fundraising together through the Janus Charity Challenge. Because of my brother being a source of motivation for the fundraising, they were going to try and do an interview. Pretty cool.

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen Part 2

I am an idiot.

0 to 1600 m

I ran 1 mile in... drum roll... 5:11:46!

I was on a 1/4 mile track and tried to gauge my splits. My laps were something like: 1:13, 2:33, 3:48, 5:11:46. It was painful to be going as fast as it felt I could while not picking up speed. There was a little bit of wind out and the air was really dry. After the run, as I was sucking in a lot of air, my throat felt like I had swallowed sawdust. It would be fun to train like crazy for speed and hit the track again.

Congratulations to Darren for his 5:15 guess. Your prize is in the mail. I better not find that on eBay anytime soon.

WARNING!!! In an attempt to be fast, I tried to look fast. I am wearing running shorts in the photos below. Shield your eyes.

3 brothers

A story about 2 brothers, with 1 mission, who also have another brother.

ENJOY!

Memory Reminder

As a build up to tonight's single mile running event, JBear, a jock from high school, helped clear up my misremembering.

In high school the basketball team had to run a single mile in under 6 minutes. The guy I remember, Fabian, was the fastest. He ran his in 4:40 or 4:45. That is lightning. Nobody was close to his time.

What I Do Best

Tonight I did again what I do best, I signed up for another race. You can train all you want, but experience is essential. June 14, Ironman 70.3 Kansas. Dorothy, here I come.

If you know her last name, without looking it up, you are a real Oz fan.

The Expensive Knee

One thing about being in good shape is that you are more aware of your body's tuning. This is both a good and bad thing. While it doesn't hurt or cause any discomfort, there is a weird thing happening with my expensive knee (the one that had surgery).

The odd happening is on the outside and feels like a popping inside on the outside of the knee. It isn't an audible pop, it just feels like something flexing out of place. For now, it is just something that is different than what is happening on my right knee.

I'm just hoping I won't have to use duct tape to be upright in July.

26.2 to 1

It has come up more than once. How fast can I run a single mile? I know I have done it before, though I can't remember a single time. I only remember that in high school it was crazy fast to break 6 minutes, or was that 5 minutes? I think only one guy could do it, probably 5 minutes.

I am a trained machine. Only, I'm a machine with 1, maybe 2 gears. I'm just fuel efficient - think Prius, not Scaglietti.

Post a comment with how fast you think I can run this famed single mile. The winner will be the person with the closest time and will receive an autographed old shoe lace of mine. In one week, I'll hit the track for 4 loops. I am not going to speed train for do anything outside of my normal workouts.

The whole 'how fast can you run a single mile' just makes me very aware of what my limits are. Leroy Hoard, former Minnesota Vikings running back, said it best:

"If you need one yard, I'll get you three. If you need five yards, I'll get you three."

The Swim Back

I have thought a lot about David Goggins recently. Thus, taking time away from day dreaming of toughness that revolves primarily around Rocky Balboa, Ivan Drago and Mike Tyson.

Goggins website has in large print, "I am nobody special." But, let's be clear, the man is a trained killer, literally. He also does endurance events. That part we have in common. I wonder what about me is different from him. I see runners all the time jogging around and they are training, everyone has their own reasons to run.

I think my favorite thing to think about with all this in mind is from the movie Gattaca. The whole movie is about genes and being born superior, with more coded gifts or potential than others. These two brothers, Vincent and Anton, (Anton with the superior set of genes) have a regular competition by seeing who can swim out into the ocean farthest. Basically, Anton always beats Vincent as Vincent tires and heads back to the shore. The toughest part is when Vincent knows he can win.

Anton Freeman: Vincent! How are you doing this Vincent? How have you done any of this? We have to go back.
Vincent: It's too late for that. We're closer to the other side.
Anton Freeman: What other side? You wanna drown us both?
Vincent: You wanna know how I did it? This is how I did it Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back.

Renewed Vigor

In what has felt like dominos falling in place, I have a charity for the Janus Charity Challenge... Samaritan's Purse.

One of my favorite quotes about fundraising is from David Goggins in this article.

“People respond to pain,” he told The Union-Tribune. “If I go out and wash cars for $10, who gives a (darn). People want to see you throw up, cry and go through tremendous suffering."

Goggins runs for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. I love running for a cause, I think it helps keep the pain in check. And, there is something about people giving money as a response to your efforts in a race that makes you think, wait a minute, not only am I really about to do this, I have to finish this.

If you would like to donate or know of anyone who would help email out a link: http://januscharitychallenge.kintera.org/LP09/PFILES

Sock It To Me

I am fully aware that it looks like I raided Captain America's sock drawer. But, NEVER underestimate the power of great socks.