Dangremond's April 2009 Mentor TEAM - CLOSED (WE'RE BUSY WORKIN' IT!) (Page 18)

Hey everyone, Mitch's picture is up on the homepage today!!!  Mitch, which race was that at?  Did you enjoy it? 
It is always nice to put a face to the postings online.  I have tried to download pics on this site, but I always get the message that  the file is too large. 

Try this; http://www.photosize.com/

Free.  It reduces the picture file so you can post it.

On another subject, I went through a lot of soul searching the past 24 hours about my goals as an endurance athlete and what I'm willing to invest. 

Background:  I had a coach from Robbie Ventura's Vision Quest offer to help me at the start of the year.  He said I was inspiring people through my writing about what's possible post-obesity and post-cancer and he wanted to be a part of it.  He offered to help me through July 18, my second triathlon and my first olympic.  After that, I would be on my own. 

So, after he and I talked yesterday about what I needed to do to get ready, he mentioned it was time for me to leave the nest.,  But, I didn't want to.  I had already checked out how much it would cost to keep him.  $200/month.  I'm not poor but that is a lot of money for a guy who lost nearly a week to furloughs and lost all my raise and my 401K match, etc.  

I did some thinking.  Coaching is by far a great way, maybe the only way to cut the learning curve.  I've gone from a 225-watt FTP to a 265-watt FTP in just 6 months.  That's a 17% increase.   I haven't been injured but once and that was my fault for not stretching and hydrating after a race.  I was only out of running only for 10 days.  My workouts are pre-designed by him to be efficient and effective.  I've learned tons about nutrition and bike skills.  

I'm 57.  I got involved in bike riding 5 years ago and have done about 26,000 miles. Dropped from a 50 inch waist to a 36.  In 2006, cancer.  Beat it, and the doctors said my improved fitness level was probably a large part of that.  I shared all this with my readers.  Lots of people are following it.  Some have gotten inspired because of it.  

So what was I looking for at the start?   I wanted to lose more weight.  Check.   Exercise certainly plays a role in whether the disease will return.   No sign of that in 3 years.  Self esteem.  Check.  Promoting fitness among obese people - letting them know they can do it.  Check.  Letting cancer patients know there is life beyond the disease.  Check.  

Then, I decided I want to do something definitive, unequivocal.   An Ironman.  Could I do it?  My coach says yes.  I'll never be one of the fastest, but I can be a finisher.  I want to do sprints and Olympics often. Ironman goal = 2011. Might never do another IM in my life.  But I want to do one for all the reasons above.

My wife and I discussed it after my coach told me the end had arrived.  Her immediate response was to say "Go for it, just don't kill yourself."  So, I'm going to.  No contracts.  Come and go as you like.  I can always get out if it becomes a burden, which I don't think will happen.

Commitment is an incredible thing.  When you think you've gone far enough, your dreams take you farther.  Sometimes, they want you to bring your checkbook.  :/


    

   







  

 

 




 




 

Hell yes Iceman.  That is awesome.  Is your coach for hire?  Sounds like he does great work.  I to would love to do an IM but have to get going on training and nutrition.  Good luck to you my friend.

Scott, great goals you have developed.  You can do the IM!  Lance is one of many people who have overcome illness and adversity to attain what some perceive to be unreachable goals.  In the last month I faced possible breast cancer and decided to do a full marathon & try to qualify for Boston as well as complete an 1/2 IM.  That is why I love the BT forum, all of the wonderful support from fellow athletes and especially this group.  All of you rock!

We are all capable of achieving the goals we have posted.  The act of posting them is our very first step.  I support all of you 110% and would love to attend your various Ironmans/ Half Ironmans and cheer you on if possible.  I am hoping to do a Half Iron in 2010 possibly.  It is scary to even post this, but I truly feel we are capable of amazing things and we are all merely beginners on some varying but equally marvelous paths.  It is a privelige to be among you and I will continue to work daily at finding ways to earn my time on the message boards

Terps - that picture was taken at the 2008 Big Fish Tri in Ortonville Michigan (is it the picture with me and about 6 others and I'm on the edge of the photo, blue tri jersey?).  That was my second Tri and I really enjoyed it.  Really hilly sprint course for the bike and rolling hills on the run.  Great lake too!

Edited by dangremond 2009-07-13 9:25 AM

Congrats on your registration and congrats to your wife for finishing her journey!  Good luck on the tri!

Hey Terps, what's your status healthwise?  Do we know yet?

Agreed. Must be a huge relief for you and your family.

Great News!!!

x2 ^^^

For Linda and her "benign" results, to J.G. and your first Tri, and to Scott for your deciscion to take on the IM. 

Scott ~ you can totally do this!  You have the desire and dedication that is needed to achieve that goal!

J.G. ~ I was gonna race this Tri, but I have decided to volunteer instead (cost of other races for wife and kids, in addition to Clear lake Oly and travel/lodging/2010 registartion for IMFL... I had to say no to some other races)  I will be out there cheering you and others from BT on!

Linda ~ I am happy to read your reults.  My wife has had lumps removed from each of her breasts (both benign), but she also survived malignent melanoma as well.  Cancer is a punk-a$$ b*tch! 

Congratulations on the tests.  I am so very happy for you.

Cancer sucks. It is defeatable.  In fact, cancer ultimately can't win because it can't kill the soul.  And, it makes you stronger in the fight. But, it still sucks. 

Ice

Great to hear!!!  Huge sigh of relief from all here!!

Cancer does in fact suck.  I'd love to share the fact that a friend of mine who sang to my sister-in-law as she passed, biked a century in honor of her and it was in our local paper last week.  I saw her in a local ice cream joint and shared that I race with Andrea's initials on my jersey. Life can be really hard and sad and that is all the more reason for us to absorb every ounce of it through our pores, breath deeply and express love often.

Grace, you rock!

Swam a short open water last night to get used to it again.  Skipped the pool.  Got to get used to swimming unable to see the bottom.  Around here, you're lucky to see a foot.  Sighting went well, speed was ok after that first 200 yards when anerobic kicks over to aerobic.  Bilateral breathing was fine - but what I'm sidcovering is that nearly anytime I swim outdoors, the sun hits me one side or the other and I wind up doing 3/4s on the shady side to avoid getting blinded.  At some point, I plan to try tinted lens. 

I called the guy I bought the frame from and asked about a loud rubbing noise I've been getting upfront.  He told me to grease the tips of the carbon fork.  Never heard that before.  I did.  I'll try riding it briefly to see if it worked.

Have a great day. 

Ice.

Had an MRI on my knee and the Doc said that it looks ok.  He says there may be a mild sprain but more than likely it is the arthritis in my knee that is causing the pain and swelling after running.  Long story short he gave me a prescription for ibuprofin and said take this and ice afterwards.  Woo hoo I'm competing Saturday!!!

Dewey, glad to hear you can race Saturday!  You will feel great crossing that finish line! 

My next race is next Sunday and my swim wave may start at 9:30 am wihich will have me running possibly at 11 am.  I am not used to running in the heat at lunch hour so I will have to practice a few short runs at noon before then.

Good luck with your races Scott and Dewey!