WATER SPOUTS AND SHOUT OUTS!!!

Time to catch up with you guys. What a week!!! Great workouts... Tremendous weather, even on an eventful Tuesday and I raced again.

Tuesday at Fairport Harbor, we set out to swim the .4 miles to the breakwall and back. Plenty of kayaks and even a ski-doo!! So, the whole gang zipped out to the wall... And the rains came real hard. Pellets. We headed back to shore. One swimmer glanced back and realized there were some "WATER SPOUTS!!!!. Holy h20!!! Plus some thunder in the distance. So we hustled back.. Ski-Doo hauled me the final 50 yards and the heavens opened. So much for a longer swim. Thats cool. No problem. I had to race to Berea and do a story on what Browns fans can bring to Browns camp, and The Bride was returning from a little trip to see her sister down south.

Thursday, my son Pat and I swam at Wildwood with Brandon H. The lake was spitting us out like a wash cycle but it was invigorating. Later, we headed to North Chagrin for a strong 1 hour run. Pat was feeling the effects (Rocketpants, and Matt C., you'll like this) of a Cross-fit workout he did in Houston. But he loosened up. I have to struggle to keep up with him.

Friday, a long, hard 2 hour bike ride to North Chagrin. Rode the steep hill out of the lower section a couple times....was really cranking.

Also, on Friday, I was sent this picture.

This is Dawud. (pronounced Dah-wood). He is the little guy I am swimming for this Sunday in the Cleveland Triathlon. I have not met him or his family. I will get to see him Sunday morning before the race. I got a link to Dawud's donation page **Click here** As I write this, the story I did on a mother of a child with cerebral palsy, Kristen Minnick is running in our ten pm news. Kristen will do the whole sprint tri (her first) and she will take 3 year old Julia, her daughter with C.P. along on the bike and run. Kristen was inspired to do this after meeting Dick Hoyt. I am excited for Kristen and for all the families who have kids with C.P. that are taking part in the race. It should be a blast.

Raced Fairport Harbor this morning. 500 meter swim. 13 mile bike, 3 mile run. It also added a kayak option instead of swim. Its a longtime sprint tri with very good support and a super nice price. 20 bucks pre-race..25 on race day. Beat that!!!! Saw Matt C. and Jen C. Saw Betty, who is an ultra runner and was doing the bike portion. Met Sam and Joe of Shaker, who just finished Ironman Lake Placid. "Way to go!!! Eddie Police raced and did very well. The Maruts cleaned up as usual. Lots of strong racers and a tremendous turnout..Close to 300!!!

This was a very strong effort on my part for the second week in a row. The swim was a real brawl for the first 80 yards, but worked its way out before long. Don't know how I placed. When I find out, I will update and also, a friend shot a couple pics and I will post them. I am really feeling better on the bike and as Bigun says...its alllll about the bike!!! I did not use a wetsuit for the second straight week. Transitions were very tight and I didn't need much time to get somewhat fresh legs on the run. I saw Joe Rodriguez, longtime racer and former high school swim coach on the run course and caught him about a mile or so in..and then finished strong the last mile. Total time was 1:17:55. Not sure on placing but we will see. My son, Pat raced as well.... 1:13:00....I don't think I will ever be able to take him!!!

Of course, no triathlon race goes un-rewarded. Pat raced to the store and bought the fixings, and I made ..ohh...about 10 pieces of French Toast. Nothing beat French Toast and Log Cabin syrup. The Bride even had a piece or two. Now, its 10:30pm and I go on the air in a short bit. Its been a long day, but a good one.. This coming week will be even better.
Life's a Blast.

HUNTINGTON BEACH TRIATHLON

Hi gang....hope all is well. Thanks for all the comments about the 32 year anniversary with The Bride. You know what they say. "Its a marathon, not a sprint". A marathon withouts Gu's Gatorades, and timing chips. The object is to enjoy the experience, and we have!!!

Training this week featured, very hot weather, which I used to do long runs in the heat of the day, pumping more water through me than the Hoover dam. I had 2 upper body workouts, one leg set. Swam 3 different times and one of which, I re-discovered Memorial Pool in my hometown of Euclid. Each swim workout was 2,400 yards. Tweaking technique and trying like the dickens to become Total Immersion Telich. I feel a little faster, stronger in the water.

Raced on Sunday at Huntington Beach in Bay Village. In all my years in the sport, this is the first time I have done this sprint. Quarter mile swim, 12 mile bike and 5k run. Huntington Beach is very, very nice. In a way, I was feeling the good vibes of my longtime t.v. colleague and late friend Casey Coleman. Case passed away in Nov of 06. Can't believe its been almost 2 years.

Thats us just a week before he passed. Case grew up in Bay and spent alot of time at the beach, getting into all kinds of trouble, I can presume. He often went there as he was dying from cancer with his wife Mary. So, Sunday morning, I kinda took Case along for the ride, in a spiritual kinda way, I guess.

I was one of the first ones at the park at about 6:45. I was able to sign up and get my stuff all set in transistion. The Red Cannondale was itching to race as it was 3 weeks since the Half Ironman. My recent workouts concentrated on more biking and I knew this could help me stay strong in the aero position and race hard. Saw Trisaratops, who had some girls from Rocky River High racing. Sara was excited for the girls and I met all of them, wished them well. TriEric was racing. he had gotten in an hour run before the race but still looked fresh and ready to rip. A girl next to me was racing for the first time. She was understandable nervous. I talked to her and her parents and told he she would do well.

The water was flat, 73 degrees. I opted for no wetsuit. Good decision. Was in the 4th wave ..Mens 55-59, Clydesdales and teams. It was a beach start. I was one of the first in as we ran about 4o yards into the water before stroking. Found my rythmn pretty well. Not congested at all. Exited the water at 7mins, 30 seconds...then a run up an incline...a distance of about , I don't know..maybe 300 yards..I'm guessing.

On the bike, I quickly settled in a hammered strong the entire way. Passed alot of racers from previous waves. Back tire seems to be a little mushy on couple of turns!!! Shoot!!! I had pumped both up at 6am... Luckily not many turns... We headed west to Avon Lake, into a little wind but not bad. Stayed aero.. Hamstring was doing okay.

Got back to T2 and got into my running shoes and TYR cap and took off. Wanted to hit a 8 min per mile pace. Found my groove pretty quickly and pushed the pace. I can honestly say, perhaps only3 or 4 racers passed me on the run. The bricks I have been doing helped. At about 2.5 miles I picked up the pace even more. Got fooled near the end as I approached the finish. TriEric and Aimee were cheering for me. Eric said "Just one little loop back that way and back up under the road". What??? Okay, I pushed even more. Saw a guy who was 50 yards ahead and tried to reel him in. Couldn't. Finished strong. 1:16:47. Broke them down unofficially this way. Swim 7:30 Bike 39:00 Run 26:00. Transistions I am not sure on. UPDATE (TUESDAY) FIRST PLACE OF 9 MEN IN THE 55-59 AGE GROUP. WHOOOHOO. MY FIRST. 95 OUT OF 240.

Chatted with Eric and Aimee. He smoked as usual. He was very kind in given me a pair of Crocs he got from the Bolder/Boulder race. Thanks Eric!!! Saw Bill Marut and son Tony. Both guys can really fly. Trisaratops girls did well. I saw a couple come in. I had a "creepy old guy" moment, I think. Remember the young girl who I saw before she did her first race??? I saw her approaching the finish and ran over and was right there at the end "Hey Great job..High Five!!! The girl looked at me very weird. It was the wrong girl!!. Stupid J.T. Later I saw the rookie and she came in 1:33:00. She was all excited and so were her parents....

The Huntington Beach race was a great experience. It was one of those last minute decisions and I am glad I raced. Next week is the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse Sprint.

One final schedule change. I will be racing with the Cerebral Palsy teams in the Cleveland Triathlon Aug 3rd. I said I would be a swimmer for them and they put me on one of the teams. In all the years I have raced...this is the first relay I will have done. It worked perfectly as my Half Ironman race is the next week.

Thanks gang. Have a great week. Tip the waiters and waitresses. Life's a Blast!!

32 LOVE FOR TWO

Some training updates before I get right to the point of the post. Still on track for the Half Ironman on August 10th at Mentor Headlands. Have been getting in long runs....the biking has been going well too. The Red Cannondale is loving life ,"rightside up".

Went to the Fairport Harbor swim Tuesday morning. Some of the regulars..Karen Ruth, Juan, Joe Rodriguez, Kathy, and others were there. We got alot of new folks and there were 6 or 7 kayaks keeping an eye on the newbies. We swam .4 mile out to the breakwall. Waited for the folks who were struggling a bit....Regrouped and then swam back to shore. Then, I tacked on another half mile swimming along the shore to the mouth of the Grand River and back. Water was like glass. Spectacular!!! The Beach management said they were not happy about two triathletes that went out a half hour before everyone else. Beach Brass means business and wants NO accidents, and the like. I can appreciate that. I promise pictures in coming weeks. The swim is worth it for the food that Kathy cooks up.

Today, I met a woman, Kristen Minnick who is competing in the Cleveland Triathlon Sprint on August 3rd in downtown Cleveland. She is one of a few families who are doing the race, and having their child with cerebral palsy,"along for the ride"...like the Hoyts have been famous for all these years. In fact,, Kristen met Dick Hoyt (YOU TUBE VIDEO) last year and was inspired. This is her first triathlon. I interviewed her and will do a piece on the news next week. Her daughter Julia, is 3, born on Christmas day. A gift from heaven, I think. Little girls smile will melt your heart. The race officials will not allow the parents to tow the kids in the water like the Hoyts for liability purposes, so some members of Masters swim clubs have volunteered to swim for any family that wants to split the other relay chores, the biking and the running. Kristen will swim by herself, then will hop on her bike with Julia in tow, and of course after the bike, she will push the running stroller with Julia. You simply have no idea how much the Hoyts inspire people worldwide. I will keep you posted about how Kristen is doing. Thanks to the Cleveland UCP folks, Karen, specifically for telling me about Kristen and Julia.

32 Equals Everything

As I write this, the memories are flooding back.. back to a day 32 years ago when Jane Quinton of Manhasset New York said "I Do" to a goofball from Cleveland, Ohio. We met on a blind date. Yes, love is blind and I have been sightless all these years. We are lovers, friends, buddies and soulmates. We raised 3 fantastic kids whom we are so proud of. But let it be known that the kids were very much shaped by the discipline and strong love of THE BRIDE. The hubby was the good cop, to The Brides tough cop. But its a team and if I may use the language of todays youth... "Thats how we roll".

Yes, I will do an endurance "stunt" workout, sequence ..whatever you want to call it to pay tribute to our 32 years, but as I "roll" through the miles, the strides and the distances, I'll be doing it to honor the greatest lady on the planet. The woman, I love to call "The Bride".

Michael Buble' sings Everything.. and thats what The Bride is to me.

You're a falling star, You're the get away car.

You're the line in the sand when I go too far.

You're the swimming pool, on an August day.

And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.

Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.

Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.

Cause you can see it when I look at you.


LIFE IS A BLAST!!!!

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Its Thursday and time to pilfer an idea from the hometown newspaper. They do a thing called Thankful Thursday, which is more my cup of tea than Monday Moaning!!!...

So..I got to thinking...which is sometimes good...sometimes bad and have compiled a few things I am thankful for, not the least of which is that the government stimulus check came and...that ...it DID NOT BOUNCE!!!! when I deposited it.

To put me in the thinking mood..I looked at Rodin's "The Thinker" which is right in front of the fabulous Cleveland Landmark and Institution....The Cleveland Museum of Art.

The Thinker is likely thinking how the heck he can afford 4 dollars a gallon and just how he can rid himself of the tendinitis in his wrist from posing that way. Try that at home folks.

So...here goes...Thankful Thursday....not to be confused with WTF??Wednesday. Kidding

What I am thankful for....

1. The Bride

2. The Kids

3. The Job

4. The Sport of Triathlon and Endurance Training.

5. Genetics. 3 Grandparents lived to be 89 to 93

6. Cleveland Metro Parks

7. Living right on a Great Lake

8. Gorgeous summer weather as I got in a 2.5 hour run on the trails today.

9. My knee is holding up and my hamstring hasn't boycotted my efforts.

10. I am not tapering for an Ironman. Many of my blogging buds are having a tough time as Ironman Lake Placid is 10 days away.

11. I get into sporting events free

12. I have worked at the same place 29 straight years in a fickle business

13. Did I mention The Bride???!!!

I could go on and on. How about you??? Any thoughts??? and any suggested captions for "The Thinker"?????

My training has gone very well. Will race Huntington Beach Sprint Triathlon, then Fairport Harbor Lighthouse Triathlon. The Greater Cleveland Half Ironman is Aug 10th and I am doing well with my bike training. Getting out this afternoon for 1.5 hours. Great training everyone .. Life's a blast!!!!

HELLO MY NAME IS CANNONDALE

Alright gang...our nation is another year older and many of us are deep into 0ur 2008 racing schedules. I am thinking of adding a sprint to the lineup. Its the Huntington Beach race on Clevelands West Side on July 20th, the same day as Ironman Lake Placid.

This week was a lighter week after I raced the Half Ironman in West Virginia. I have lifted weights twice. Patrick and I swam Thursday am at Wildwood Park, a one mile swim and I had 2 bike sessions, Weds and Fri of one hour each. Friday, I worked on a certain hill...staying in the saddle at one gear for two climbs. The climb is .8 of a mile. The third climb, I went one gear higher and nearly made it to the top before getting out of the saddle to crank the last 30 yards.
Today I am going out for 2 hours.


No secret since the race in WV I need to re-introduce myself to the Red Cannondale. So my emphasis will be on the bike until the Greater Cleveland Half Ironman on August 10th. Too much of the bike's existence has been upside down.. I have to correct that.

Quoting Kona Shelley..does this make my butt look too big???

Pics came in from the Half Ironman. Which one, or ones make me look like an actually triathlete, instead of the guy who's been posing as one for 23 years hahah!!!! Any feedback would be appreciated.

Props to The Bride who continues to teach others the values of fitness via Pilates, Core Strength, Resistance Bands and weights. We are hitting 32 years in the middle of the month. This twisted mind is thinking of a fitness challenge to commemorate that number ..Hummmm!!??

Catch you later. Lifes a blast!!!!