No time to post anything tonite other than hello and good bye. It was of course Roo's birthday and I think she had a good day. I bought her new running shoes and of course we had cake and children, and grandchildern etc. I was going to post a few pics but the freakin camera is pissing me off. Things that don't work right just drive me crazy.
I wish to dedicate day 150 to the love of my life. Happy Birthday honey!
"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."---Larry Lorenzoni
love
peter
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
"Friday the 13th!"
I went out to do my hills today with a decidedly tired feeling. I was still sore from yesterdays bike ride, and so I thought maybe I would just do one or two and head back home. Unfortunately I ran into my wife on the way out as she was returning from her workout and I got different instructions. Namely that I better not be back too soon or she would know I hadn't done enough. Now if it was summer time this wouldn't be a problem as I could just have a nice nap on a lawn somewhere, but that wouldn't work too good right now. So I just went out and got started, determined to do at least 6 or 8 and then go from there. As I got into it I avoided looking at my watch too much and just put my head dowm and plugged away. By the time I hit 6 I was pretty sure I could handle 10 and maybe even 12 which was my previous high. I even fantasized about 14 as I usually do multiples of 2 so that I never have to turn around at the bottom of the hill. But that no longer seemed feasible when I finished number 12. But then it occurred to me. It was friday the 13th, and so the answer was obvious! Today I would go down once more and turn around at the bottom. Superstition is not one of my peculiarities.
In the end I was pretty happy with my effort. Including my warmup and cool down I had a total run of 18k, and really felt pretty good at the end. I also went to the pool but I was very, very tired by then and managed only to get a few drills in, and some stretching in the hot tub. I am getting a little more worried about my right achilles and so I really need to concentrate on fixing it. I will send a note to my buddy Burt who knows more about running injuries than anyone I know, to see if he has any good advice.
I wish to dedicate day 149 to our old friend Janet Baird, a kind, decent, warm hearted woman.
"The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses."---Francis Bacon
"Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise mother."---Voltaire
In the end I was pretty happy with my effort. Including my warmup and cool down I had a total run of 18k, and really felt pretty good at the end. I also went to the pool but I was very, very tired by then and managed only to get a few drills in, and some stretching in the hot tub. I am getting a little more worried about my right achilles and so I really need to concentrate on fixing it. I will send a note to my buddy Burt who knows more about running injuries than anyone I know, to see if he has any good advice.
I wish to dedicate day 149 to our old friend Janet Baird, a kind, decent, warm hearted woman.
"The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses."---Francis Bacon
"Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise mother."---Voltaire
Thursday, February 12, 2009
"Spoiled!"
Just a little ride outside last sunday, and then that glorious run in shorts on tuesday and I am spoiled already. I want summer, and I want it now!
As promised I rode long on the trainer today. Longer than I planned becasue I was slower than planned. It took me 3 hours 40 minutes to do the last 90k of the Ironman course. It seems that as time wears on my indoor riding gets slower and slower. I don't know what that's about? I suspect that I need to change things up a bit, and spend more time on strength and technique. I'm gonna have to have a look in the dreaded training books.
I wish to dedicate day 148 to Roo's sister Cathy who also had her fair share of tough times.
"Life asks not merely what you can do; it asks how much can you endure and not be spoiled."---Harry Emerson Fosdick
“Spoiled. That's all it's about - can't live without this, can't live without that. You can live without anything you weren't born with, and you can make it through on even half of that."---Gloria Naylor
love
peter
As promised I rode long on the trainer today. Longer than I planned becasue I was slower than planned. It took me 3 hours 40 minutes to do the last 90k of the Ironman course. It seems that as time wears on my indoor riding gets slower and slower. I don't know what that's about? I suspect that I need to change things up a bit, and spend more time on strength and technique. I'm gonna have to have a look in the dreaded training books.
I wish to dedicate day 148 to Roo's sister Cathy who also had her fair share of tough times.
"Life asks not merely what you can do; it asks how much can you endure and not be spoiled."---Harry Emerson Fosdick
“Spoiled. That's all it's about - can't live without this, can't live without that. You can live without anything you weren't born with, and you can make it through on even half of that."---Gloria Naylor
love
peter
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
"Second Chances"
Most people I talk to who have not had a life threatening experience, understand the idea of getting a second chance the same way that I did before this cancer bullshit. I always believed that if I ever found myself in that situation, that I would experience a great sense of freedom, and aliveness, and enthusiasm, and open mindedness, and fearlessness, and gratitude, and love, and gentleness, and kindness, and patience, and optimism. I would go peacefully through life with a smile on my face, enjoying every moment of it....
Well from all my bitching you can tell that it hasn't been that way for me. I don't know if it's just me or if it's natural to struggle for some time in my situation. I'm afraid to ask other survivors, probably because I will find out that either it is just me, or in my normal cynical way I won't believe them.
Despite all that I am truly grateful not just for the second chance at life itself but also for all the other "first chances" I've had in so many areas of my life. Chances that quite frankly most of us have. I believe, that it's what me make of those chances that determines our destiny. I personally have had the chance to learn, to work, to play, to teach, to compete, to give, to receive, to love, to swim/bike/run etc.
I also want you to know that the despite the fact that it has not been the way I hoped or thought it would be, that I do intend on making the very best of this second chance. I just need to keep working at it, and time will get me there. If I refer back to the list I made earlier I believe I have made some inroads, any yet have a long way to go,....especially in the areas of freedom, patience, gratitude and optimism. I am proud to say that I think my progress areas have been those of gentleness and kindness....of course there was lots of opportunity there eh?
Today was a no training day. I worked in Grand Rapids until about 2:30 and then had a 4 hour drive home. That was enough. Tomorrow I will have the "chance" to ride the trainer for at least 3 hours and I intend on taking advantage of it.
I wish to dedicate day 147 to the memory of Roos little sister Rachelle, who didn't really have a chance at all.
....and in the category of the longest quote I've ever posted I give you this...
“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I've learned that wheneverI decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.---Maya Angelou
love
peter
Well from all my bitching you can tell that it hasn't been that way for me. I don't know if it's just me or if it's natural to struggle for some time in my situation. I'm afraid to ask other survivors, probably because I will find out that either it is just me, or in my normal cynical way I won't believe them.
Despite all that I am truly grateful not just for the second chance at life itself but also for all the other "first chances" I've had in so many areas of my life. Chances that quite frankly most of us have. I believe, that it's what me make of those chances that determines our destiny. I personally have had the chance to learn, to work, to play, to teach, to compete, to give, to receive, to love, to swim/bike/run etc.
I also want you to know that the despite the fact that it has not been the way I hoped or thought it would be, that I do intend on making the very best of this second chance. I just need to keep working at it, and time will get me there. If I refer back to the list I made earlier I believe I have made some inroads, any yet have a long way to go,....especially in the areas of freedom, patience, gratitude and optimism. I am proud to say that I think my progress areas have been those of gentleness and kindness....of course there was lots of opportunity there eh?
Today was a no training day. I worked in Grand Rapids until about 2:30 and then had a 4 hour drive home. That was enough. Tomorrow I will have the "chance" to ride the trainer for at least 3 hours and I intend on taking advantage of it.
I wish to dedicate day 147 to the memory of Roos little sister Rachelle, who didn't really have a chance at all.
....and in the category of the longest quote I've ever posted I give you this...
“I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I've learned that wheneverI decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.---Maya Angelou
love
peter
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"Global Warming!"
This climate change stuff is really starting to worry me. I ran in shorts and a t-shirt in Grand Rapids Michigan today, which is just slightly north of St Thomas. And it's february the 1oth! I don't know what the temperature was but it must have been at least 15C as it is till 12 degrees at 9 pm. Pretty smart of me to even think of packing my shorts eh? I ran for 9 kms and then I also did a few laps around a high school track I spotted on my way back to the hotel. I thought at first that I was pretty fast around the track but I now have this sneaking suspicion that it was 400 yards instead of metres?
Anyway I have figured out how to hedge my bets on the global warming thing. I sponsored Colby in his attempted climb of the CN tower in April which is a WWF fundraiser for this specific cause....real or not? In case you want to help him out, here's a link to his personal fundraising page.
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=592964&LangPref=en-CA
Roo's gonna see if she can make it up with him, and so I include her link for your consideration as well. Even if you don't want to sponsore her check it out because there is a very nice picture of my honey there. I must have taken it??
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=592943&LangPref=en-CA.
That's it for today. I really really hope that the weather continues to be warm and let the next generations be damned! I have training to get in!
I wish to dedicate day 146 to my old running friend Paul Lovelock, who sent me a bunch of swim training advice yesterday.
....and on 400 yards vs 400 metres....
"The metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet."---Dave Barry
love
peter
Anyway I have figured out how to hedge my bets on the global warming thing. I sponsored Colby in his attempted climb of the CN tower in April which is a WWF fundraiser for this specific cause....real or not? In case you want to help him out, here's a link to his personal fundraising page.
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=592964&LangPref=en-CA
Roo's gonna see if she can make it up with him, and so I include her link for your consideration as well. Even if you don't want to sponsore her check it out because there is a very nice picture of my honey there. I must have taken it??
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=592943&LangPref=en-CA.
That's it for today. I really really hope that the weather continues to be warm and let the next generations be damned! I have training to get in!
I wish to dedicate day 146 to my old running friend Paul Lovelock, who sent me a bunch of swim training advice yesterday.
....and on 400 yards vs 400 metres....
"The metric system did not really catch on in the States, unless you count the increasing popularity of the nine-millimeter bullet."---Dave Barry
love
peter
Monday, February 9, 2009
"Hotel Rooms"
It's 10:30 at night. I just got into my hotel after a long day and I'm ready for bed....even if it's not my own.
No training today.
No inspiration today.
But I still see and feel much beauty in the world primarily because of the great co-workers I spent the day with.
I wish to dedicate day 145 to my new friend Alejandro Gorraez, a man of passion, humour and inner beauty.
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."---Muhammad Ali
love
peter
No training today.
No inspiration today.
But I still see and feel much beauty in the world primarily because of the great co-workers I spent the day with.
I wish to dedicate day 145 to my new friend Alejandro Gorraez, a man of passion, humour and inner beauty.
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."---Muhammad Ali
love
peter
Sunday, February 8, 2009
"Two Strong Men"
A little snow and ice didn't stop these 2 tough gys from their bike ride. We did the block(7.4kms) and Colby wanted me to specifically point out that 1.5 kms of it was uphill. Of course he did all the pedalling and I did all the talking....or something like that?
By the time we got back the day had turned nice enough that I actually did take my road bike out for a 20k spin and it felt great. I just had to get used to the fact that the bike did not stand up by itself, and that I had to actually steer!
I wish to dedicate day 144 to Roo's brother Roger, who also loves riding his bike year round!
"There are fathers who do not love their children; there is no grandfather who does not adore his grandson."---Victor Hugo
love
peter
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