"Almost There"

As hoped for I got to meet Paula Newby-Fraser this morning.



Besides being the most successful long course triathlete ever, she is bright, witty and well spoken. I had a chance to meet with her along with a small group of people who had entered the race through the community fund program. A charity program in which you pay twice the entry fee, and coincidentally the reason I was allowed to carry my entry over to 2009. She made several comments which I found sensible but the point which hit home the most with me was related to "why are you here?" She said that the most common phrase she usually heard during race week was "I just want to have fun". She challenged us on this, making the point that a year ago when we signed up and started training that the idea of 'fun' had nothing to do with it. She went on to share her belief that each and every one of us was there for a very special, very personal reason, and that we should focus on that as opposed to having fun. I took her advice to heart and as such intend on trying to enjoy my success, as opposed to having fun. I think those are 2 very different things

I'm tired today and at the same time I'm ready to go. I did not sleep well last night but hope for better tonite. I continue to get amazing support from so many people but tonite I had a special call. My sister-in-law Heather and her daughter Carla gave me the most wonderful words of support. They then put brother Bill on the line who proceeded to tell me at some length that my blog was mostly a waste of words. This didn't bother me because generally I agree with him and I appreciate his honesty. It was clear however that he has read enough of it to be able to make that judgement and as such I say it must have had a few good moments. Besides, he blew his whole tough guy approach when he told me that "he loved me"!!! I love you too Bill!

Teresa tells me that we made it onto the TV in Kitchener tonite courtesy of Janine and there will be a followup on Monday for anyone who cares. Any video you will see will be courtesy of my wife, videographer extraordinaire.

I wish to dedicate day 344 to our Kylie, the most perfect girl child ever born, and on who's shoulders I will fly through the course.

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."---Dr Seuss

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."---Walt Disney

love
peter

"Got er Made Now"

I've got the sister on my team! You may recall one of my very early postsI dedicated to this woman, Sister Madonna Buder. She is 79 years old and has completed 35 Ironman Races. She said she would pray for me, and failing that she would walk the marathon with me. I'm counting on the prayers!

This morning started out with registration down at the park, and by the time we were out of there and back to the RV, my stress level was through the roof. Thank goodness Roo had the foresight to get us in line before they even opened, other wise we would have been standing for hours. What an incredible zoo! Fortunately as the day wore on Claudette talked me down and as I started getting all my respective gear packed and ready for the race I gradually settled down. Phone conversations with Peter and Miguette and the grandchildren(especially them) really helped, as well as a text message from Jon and a brief note I got from Cory....she's still taking care of me in my old age.

I also continue to get incredible support from other family and friends through e-mail, Roos facebook, and by phone. I am so humbled by it all.

I went over my bike one more time including checking every chain link individually, then took it out for a short ride. I officially declare it ready to go.

Tonite I will just try to relax and then tomorrow I will prepare everything I've not already done, including mixing all my nutrition. My bike and my transition bags actually need to checked in on Saturday anyway. Bit by bit they are erecting all of the fences, tents, bleachers etc and so I can start to get a sense of where and when everything will happen. I am looking forward to them getting the swim buoys out on the lake so that I can get my head around that. I already know that 2 kms out is going to look like a long way and the sooner I see it the better.

Tomorrow I will be going to a breakfast meeting exclusively for participants who entered through the community fund charity, and I think there I will be able to meet Paula Newby- Fraser. She is unarguably the most successful triathlete of all time, of any gender. She has won 24 Ironman races including Hawaii 8 times. ABC sports named her the greatest all around female athlete in the world! Maybe I'll get a few tips eh?

For the most part I want Saturday to be a day of meditation and soul searching. I need to enter this thing with a clear mind and a feeling of peace. Wish me luck with that.

Today Claudette asked me what I was going to do without my blog? Good question eh? I'm not sure yet but right now I think I will try to carry it on for a while. I can, if I choose to do so, sign up for 2010 on Saturday??? Probably not! But to continue my writings I would probably need something to give it some focus and as such maybe I'll come up with some new endeavour...something more useful...something harder...something not so selfish. We'll see.

I wish to dedicate day 343 to my littlest son Adrian who also happens to be my biggest son, but more importanly a son who has grown into a man before my eyes! Today he watered his mothers plants without a reminder, thereby reaching heights I have never scaled myself!!!

"Courage is just fear, plus prayers, plus understanding."---Edward Albert

"I have lived to thank God that all my prayers have not been answered. "---Jean Ingelow

"It is in vain to expect our prayers to be heard, if we do not strive as well as pray."---Aesop

love
peter

"Now That's a Good Sign!"

I was down at the lake today just trying to de-stress and a guy handing out business cards gave me one. He was a registered massage therpist who was offering his services to people "after their Ironman" I didn't have a sign on me and I was just dressed in my sloppy clothes but somehow he suspected I was a competitor. I hope it was because I looked like one. I'm gonna believe I did.

I did my little simulation today and it went well. Everything felt good, and I learned a few little things as well. My new ear plugs are comfortable and keep the water out nicely. Sand will be a potential problem as I come off the beach and get into my cycling shoes. Normally I would just ignore it but I'm afraid to for this distance. My heart rate monitor felt fine under all my stuff so that's good. I was trying to decide whether to take my own wetsuit off while still in the water or whether to use the volunteer wetusit strippers and that answer bacame obvious as I struggled a bit getting it off myself. My bike felt great after all the attention it got and my "race" shoes were a pleasure to pull on.

Tomorrow morning, check in starts and at that point I will get my race number and all necessary paraphernalia. Then I can start getting all my gear bags packed and hoepfully that will begin easing the stress. I had 2 beers this afternoon because I was starting to feel a little out of control. I know that sounds pathetic but the physical withdrawal from exercise combined with the emotional aspects of doing something you've never done before, truly take a toll.

I had much e-mail chatter with mt friend Janine Grespan today and she still intends on doing something around this thing. If you get a chance watch CTV Kitchener news at 6 on friday and you should see me. She will re-introduce me with the intention of doing a follow up on Monday after the race. Claudette sent her some video today and will also send what she can capture on race day. As well there is a possibility that I may get interviewed by CTV Vancouver some time in the coming days. I'm not sure if it will be a useful distraction or more stress?? Either way...bring it on!

I want to take back my offer to have Roo send out race day updates because it should not be necessary. The website specifically states that they will have a live "athltete tracker". At the very least you should be able to see when I finish each component and there may even be more frequent data during the run. Here again is the Ironman Canada link but I'll provide more info as they provide it to us. For now if you like you can hit the Race Coverage button and read the story.

I have a special place in my heart today for my dear brother-in-law Mike, just in case he needs it.

I wish to dedicate day 342 to my son Michael who was born special, remains special today, and from whom I have learned so much

And on good signs...

“It was ordained at the beginning of the world that certain signs should prefigure certain events."---Marcus Tullius Cicero

love
peter

"How Old do I Look?"

This morning I had a great swim and for some reason suddenly felt ready to do this thing....at least physically. Then I got talking to a guy on the beach who asked me if I was in the same age group as him. I said, "Well I'm fifty-three", and he never really responded, so I asked him directly how old he was. His sheepish and somewhat apologetic response was, "ummm, sixty five!" Holy shit...this guy thought I was a senior citizen!

Oh well, just one guys opinion right?

So I headed off to Tim Hortons to get a coffee for me and my sweetheart, (no not my bike!) and before the young lady rang up my bill she said, "and are you a senior sir?" Holy Smokes!. As Arlo Guthrie of Alices Restaurant fame would say, "its a movement"

Do I really care? Does this really bother me? Perhaps surprisigly, I can give you an emphatic NO!. I know that if I grew my hair a little and put a little Grecian formula in it I would not look a day over 60. But what differnce would it make? I would still be the same person, with the same number of years and the same life experiences. I think perhaps it's good for me to be reminded that I'm now an old, or at least oldish bugger. It keeps a man honest to know that his days are numbered. Besides, when I was a very young 37 years old, I smoked a pack and a half a day, drank 5 or 6 beers, regularly ate a large bag of potato chips with dip, and was always too tired to play with my children. I plan on having enough energy to play with my great grandchildren one day. Isn't that a cool freakin idea? And no matter know old I may look, I know it is a realistic possibility.

So back to my morning swim. It was a glorious quiet morning when I slid into Lake Okanagan at 8 am. I spent the nicest 40 minutes in the water I have ever experienced. The lake is quite clean and it was flat as glass. Like swimming in the pool but with no turns.

Besides the senior citizen I also met a really cool couple in the water. Their names were Jim and Janine Boldra from Wisconsin. They have done this race together for the last 21 years straight! Unbelievabe eh? Jim is actually one ahead of her at 22 completed , and if you think that's amazing....my 65 year old friend was also here for his 23rd in a row. I may look old but I'm still just a newbie!

And yes, I do feel more ready today. It's all a mind game now. Staying calm, relaxed and confident. Tomorrow morning I will do a mini traithlon, intended to simulate race day. I will use all my race day gear, and eat accordingly tonite and tomorrow morning. Wish me luck! I'll let you know how it goes.

I wish to dedicate day 341 to my son Jonathan, who refuses to give in to his demons. May he continue to win the battles!

"Never fear growing old; there are many who have never had the privilege"---Anon

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."---C.S. Lewis

“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."---George Bernard Shaw

love
peter

"Some Attention for my Sweetheart"

But first I took Claudette out for lunch.

Then I spent the entire afternoon with my other "best girl"

I gave her new rim tapes.

If you're not familiar with these, they go on the inside of the rims to prevent the tube from blowing out through the spoke holes.

New tubes.

Twenty bucks apiece!

The blue race tires.

Man they look good!

New batteries.

If I get tired I'll simply use the battery backup...just kidding...they're for my speedometer.

A new chain.

Actually I put it on before I left home but I took it apart again and cleaned it.

Some wonderful high tech lube.

It goes on wet and then dries.

A complete cleaning and tuneup

Including tightening all her bolts!

A new Bento box.

For tubes, wrenches, CO2 cartridges, ass wipe etc

And doesn't she look fast!

Or at the very least, pretty.
Just like my wife!

I had a good day today. As hoped for, working on my bike really relaxed me. I actually did spend about 5 hours with it. This morning I also rode an easy 30 kms and felt quite relaxed. As I mentioned yesterday I've been feeling a little overwhelmed. And despite my protestations to the contrary I have even been worrying a little that maybe I won't live up to expectations. I feel a sense of responsibility to all those who have been so supportive for the last 2 years. If I don't do this thing successfully I will have let you down, and let myself down. That's really been bothering me, but somehow today I started to move past it. While I still believe that I have a tremendous responsibility to repay all the love, kindness, and support I have been given by so many, I suddenly realized that it has nothng do do with swimming, cycling or running, and certainly nothing to do with 12 hours! My responsibility to each and every one of you, and to myself, is so much simpler. My responsibility is about having fun, about letting my spirt soar, (thanks Elly) about celebrating life, about feeling proud, about using this experience to add value to my life and to the lives of those around me, and yes Mary about being safe.

This new responsibility I accept willingly.

I realize now that if I let the success or failure of this whole thing from a physical perspective become a reason for sadness or happiness, then I will cheapen the whole journey that I have been on, and that so many others have shared with me. I promise that I will not let that happen.

Oh, by the way, I still plan on finishing in 12 hours!

I wish to dedicate day 340 to my number one son Peter. May he discover all the things he needs out of life and may he find his responsibilities fulfilling.

“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach."---Tom Robbins

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of."---Jim Rohn

“Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more"---Gail Hamilton

love
peter

"More Rules"

This one made me laugh! It is rule number on for the run portion of the race.

"No form of locomotion other than running, walking or crawling is allowed."

I think I'm gonna crawl for a while just to take full advantage of the rules!

I'm a little bit tense today as I gradully start to grasp the scope of the whole thing. Penticton is only a little bigger than St Thomas and you can see already that this event just takes over the town. I feel special to be lucky enough to participate but it is a bit overwhelming.

I didn't do much today as we settled in but I did get into the lake this morning. It was quite choppy and I felt slow and sluggish.



The picture was taken later in the day when it had settled down and they also claim that at 7 am it is usually quite calm. I will swim at least twice more this week just to get the bugs out.

You know what I hate? I hate it when someone else has a creative idea before I do. I'm actually way behind on this one because if you check out the participants list you will see some very interesting "professions" listed.

Here's just a sampling of a few cute ones...
bikini inspector
sock tester
lion tamer
bike whisperer
spouse neglecter
lion tamer
...and my personal favorite...
professional snail walker!

I may have to do another ironman just so that I can join the ranks of these creative athletes. I would choose to be a "superhero"!

Son Michael is just about to land in Amsterdam on hs way to Copenhagen for a short vocation. I hope all goes well. Nice to make good use of some of my airmiles!

That's about it for today. Tomorrow I'll ride again and then take my bike apart. That will probably help me relax.

I wish to dedicate 339 to my wife who's been holdng my hand both figuratively and literally, both of which help a lot.

"Being a hero is about the shortest-lived profession on earth."---Will Rogers

love
peter

"Welcome to Penticton"

And I don't plan on leaving for some time. Forty bucks a day gets me electricity, water, sewage, cable TV and a fast wireless Internet connection! No property taxes!! And it's a 3 minute walk to the beach and all around me there's beautiful scenery, with great roads to ride or run on. Too much! I even thought I found a fitting place to relocate permanently when this came up on our navigation system as we approached the city.

Actually my whole family could probably move here and feel at home, but I'll settle for my grandchildren coming to visit once a month or so. How about it Mom and Dad? If I send the air fare? And no, no, no.... you should stay at home and enjoy some alone time!!

But seriously I am very happy to be here. When we came into the Okanagan from the south we drove the hard parts of the bike course (from 60k on) and while I am still very respectful of the incredible climbs I am less scared than I was. After we got parked I rode the first part of the course and also most of the run course. Lots more hills, but again, the scenery is very distracting. One thing that is a bit disconcerting, something which we had already noticed while driving, is that your eyes really deceive you. Because of all the curves and the surrounding topography it is very hard to tell whether you are going uphill, or downhill or neither. Very strange indeed. I need to focus on my intensity and try to disregard the speedometer. This phenomenom helped me make a decision; whether or not to wear my heart rate monitor? The most important rule of the day will be to stay within myself for the entire bike ride. I am more determined than ever to enjoy the day regardless of wind, rain, heat, sleet, hail, hills, lake monsters, flat tires, or whatever else may come my way. My HRM hould help with this.

I was reading some Ironman advice the other day in which the author strongly recommended that first timers keep any time goals to themselves. His rationale was that you will focus too much on the time and disregard circumstances such as the weather and end up blowing up. I knew of this risk when I told you of my 12 hour time hopes, but I am also determined that I'm gonna be smart. I hereby make a promise to myself and to you that I will use my brain, enjoy the day, and whatever will be, will be. I know in my heart that no one will think less of me if it takes me an hour or 2 longer. Oh by the way, I still plan on finishing in 12 hours!

We also checked out the lake this afternoon and I'm not worried about the swim at all...other than battling it out with the rest of the neoprene clad idiots. As I make that comment it occures to me that I should feel right at home. Everyone out there doing this thing is an IDIOT! Woohoo!! I'll probably meet some long lost relatives.

I wish to dedicate day 338 to Dan Ashton the mayor of this beautiful town that has allowed me to come here and hang out for a week or so.

"While runners differ, basic principles never change. So it's a matter of fitting your current practices to fit the event and the individual. What's good for you might not be worth a darn for the next guy."---Bill Bowerman(co-founder of Nike)

And this one is perfect eh?

"Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day."---Samuel Goldwyn

love

peter