jb

Dear Blog

2008-07-22T07:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog,
Sorry I haven't written in some time. Life is too busy to write to you but I have a couple days in limbo so I thought I would send you a postcard of life over the past two months:

It's been all over the place. I went to my old hometown of Kimberley to race the Provincial Short Course Champs. It went fairly well, I ran myself into second from a 3 minute deficit.......24 hours later I promptly broke out with Shingles.

After two weeks off and three very uncomfortable weeks I got back to business, had 10 days of training and raced the Vancouver Subaru Half.....another 4.5 minute deficit off the bike but a 1:09 half (well, 20.5km) brought me back to the front and to my surprise I won which was a nice surprise.

And now off to Penticton. Finn rules and drools....we expect some teeth soon. Ironman Canada 5 weeks away and all signs are positive. 10 good days in penticton and all should be right. I had a "race dream" last night which was annoying. I was missing the start because I couldn't get my seat height right and my brakes were rubbing. I need to relax.

I'll write more often....the build to the big dance.

2008-05-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be doing a monthly newsletter starting end of this month. It started as basically a way to keep sponsors and friends updated but someone suggested I start a newsletter that folks could subscribe to. If you are interested you can sign up on my website. I'm not really sure what kind of content will be on there, probably a mix of stuff. I'm also looking for a newsletter sponsor if anyone out there is interested. ie. brought to you by.....Happy Delicious Chocolate Cake Company or something to that effect. I had it done pro-like and it looks good.

We are what we eat

2008-04-25T10:55:00.001-07:00

Can't figure out how to embed this one but this is worth looking at:

http://www.foodmatters.tv/trailer.php

Best Trail Run I've ever done

2008-04-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

Resistance

2008-04-19T16:10:00.001-07:00

When we are young there seems to be little if any resistance. We simply move from one task to the next without labeling what happened before and without much preconceived notion of what is to come. Actions and emotions happen in real time and are rarely affected by what happened before. Nor are they affected by the fear or anxiety or even excitement of what is to come.

Our kid is 8 weeks old today. He lives in real time. One minute he is lying on his back, moving his arms and legs, looking around and making noises. The next he is asleep. The next he is quite obviously hungry but that is immediately soothed by the boob. Then he goes to the bathroom and might get a bit squirmy if you leave him in dirty pants for too long. He is quite content to be on his own for brief periods but also likes hanging out with other people. He's good with anyone and everyone, there seems to be little attachment to either of us except of course for the food aspect.

So where do we go from existing without judgement and labels to having preconcieved notions of things and anxiety towards certain things? Somewhere along the line we seem to go backwards when considering awareness of the present moment. At some point everything we see and hear is attached to a label or an experience. I suppose this is a good thing if we are coming up on a red light or going near a hot stove but I would argue that it's not always a good thing.

I think at some level we begin to create resistance to the natural flow of things. Actions and decisions become stifled by the baggage we carry from past experience. How many times have you heard the idea that starting something young is the best way to get really good at it. In sport and things like music or language this is often the case. Perhaps the younger you are the less resistance there is to new things, new ideas.....they are simply absorbed into the brain and nervous system.

Somewhere along the line I think we create a field of resistance to this natural flow of incoming stimulus. Everything that comes in is soon attached with a label and categorized. A great deal of the reading i've been doing lately would suggest that this is the work of the ever growing ego. The part of the person that judges, labels, needs to be better, is afraid of being worse....and so on. Of course I often relate reading experiences like this directly to sport immediately attaching my own meaning and labels to the ideas which in itself is kind of funny.

When you watch a baby or child taking things in and learning new things like how to crawl, it's rare to hear anyone say "wow, that kid really sucks at that. can you believe it's taken that kid 6,7,8,9 months to learn to crawl?" Instead we are usually watching with awe at how they naturally move from one phase to the next. We are more accepting of the idea that they are at where they are at and isn't that just amazing. When we are adults however, learning new things can often become frustrating if you don't catch on quickly. I wonder if this is because we attach our progress with labels and judgement almost immediately. We compare to everyone else without realizing it. I believe the irony of this is that in doing so we create resistance to actually learning the task. Not only are we trying to learn it but we are doing it with the baggage and weight of the judgement that goes along with it. I'm quite certain a baby isn't looking around thinking.....wow, i suck at crawling. They don't even need to fathom the idea of "accepting" where they are at......they just are where they are at. Complete presence of mind without judgement.

I've often wondered how a guy like Federer does it. I don't necessarily believe in the idea of being a "chosen one". I think for the most part we all operate under the same set of neurons. Some people perhaps have a better grasp on how to control the internal workings. In a sport like tennis there are literally hundreds if not thousands of players that would appear technically and skill wise as good as Federer. So how can he dominate in such stacked environment?

I would argue that he simply has a more fundamental understanding of how to stay present. The ability to exist one point at a time in tennis or one shot at a time in golf would give someone with exceptional skill level a considerable advantage over someone who is constantly dwelling on past points or hoping for future points.

The trouble with past and present is that it is often labeled with judgement. The trouble with judgement is that it is heavy....whether good or bad....it ads weight to the current situation...it ads a layer of thought that weighs down the current moment. The trouble with weight is that it causes resistance. Resistance to actions of the present moment.....or in another word...baggage....mental baggage.

People often describe Federers movement on court as floating. Perhaps this is because he carries little if any good or bad baggage from past points.....perhaps he simply exists point to point.

This is not to say that certain reactions don't come about by knowing and understanding an opponent or teamate. Watching the NHL playoffs it seems like the guys sometimes have eyes in the back of their head when they make some passes....I would say this ability can only come about by knowing and understanding who you are playing with or against and knowing where they are or what they do in certain situations. I wouldn't call this resistance or baggage however because there is no judgement attached to it.......UNLESS of course you start comparing yourself as either good or bad, better or worse to that person......judgement, baggage, weight, resistance.

I think when people talk about being "in the zone" it is basically just another way of saying "in the now".

New Book Worth Reading

2008-04-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

A good friend just published his first book......totally worth getting and reading....check out the trailer......."Negotiating with Giants"

Awareness Test

2008-03-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

This dude is awesome!

2008-03-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

This dude is awesome!

Aerobic Progressions

2008-03-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

The wonders of Aerobic progression. Everything so far has been aerobic base work.....HR ceiling the 140, strength and big gear work, increasing capilarization, efficiency and the engine. We've been doing a run test every couple of weeks since January and the numbers are interesting....2 miles on the track at HR in mid 130's....here is the progression:

Beginning January- 138- 8:00/mile
Mid January--------137-7:30/mile
Beginning February-138- 7:04/mile
Mid February-------135- 6:55/mile
Beginning March----135- 6:43/mile

No work yet over 140 HR, legs feel slightly uncoordinated but that will change with some speedier work which is on the horizon. The goal is to see how fast we can get while staying purely aerobic and well under the aerobic threshold. Three more weeks of this.

Stanley Cup'in

2008-03-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend Finlayson took a ride in the stanley cup. He's already being scouted by several NHL teams and we have re-mortgaged the house to pay for his training. I know he's only 11 days old but it's important to start the ball rolling early these days. We have him on a rigorous training schedule, mostly in the weight room doing max efforts. Some early morning cardio as well. He says that he doesn't actually like hockey and that he would rather play with his friends but I know he is "just saying that" to get out of the workload......he'll thank me when he's older and has accomplished all the things that his dad had in mind for him.

Baby boooger Boy

2008-02-29T13:37:00.000-08:00

On Saturday February 23rd at 1:51pm, Finlayson Dundas Blake karate chopped his way out into the world and weighed in at 6lbs 5oz. We arrived at the hospital at 1:30pm and he was out by 1:51pm. I nearly missed the whole thing trying to find a place to park.........his speed of exit was quite astounding. What can I say......the most incredible thing I have ever witnessed........overwhelmingly emotional and amazing that you can fall instantly in love with someone you have never met before.

Jude was nothing short of incredible and has fallen into the roll of Mom so naturally that I'm speechless. Watching her go through the process was something I will NEVER forget....she was incredibly brave and I am speechless. Mom and babe are both happy and healthy and we got home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon. It's not hard to sit for hours on end just staring at the little man....wow, wow, wow.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.....as one friend put it, Jude looks like she just spent the morning at a spa followed by a light lunch. I on the other hand was exhausted and felt like I had been hit by a truck......respect respect respect to mothers all over the world.

And now I sit typing this note with the little man on my lap, arms curled up by his face, crashed out hard after a good lunch of milk and more milk. I think he looks like Bob the builder with his little yellow hat and Jude thinks he looks like Yurtle the Turtle. He's got a good amount of dark brown hair and so far blue eyes.....it's hard to believe that one of our cats is 3 times his size.

Mission Accomplished

2007-11-28T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well, that was one heck of a trip!!

On day 14 of 21, we made it to Everest Base Camp. It was one of the most epic challenges I think any of us have or will ever do. I will admit that I severely underestimated how tough that trek would be. We spent a great deal of time lifting Pip....so much that we had to modify the trail rider with a yolk at the back and webbing at the front so weight could be carried on our skeletal frames as opposed to using muscle all the time.

We had some long hard days of 6-8 hours and climbed from 9,000ft to over 18,000ft. Part of what made the journey tough was our afternoon scrambles. We would trek in the morning from one small village to the next, take a couple hours break then a few of us would venture off for a speed hike to see how high we could get. We would take our guides altitude watch and go up a few more hundred meters, usually at a running pace then rip down.

We had incredible weather and saw every peak in the area.....every morning was crisp and clear and we were treated to the most incredible views I've ever seen. We stayed in Sherpa tea huts that are heated by a big wood stove that mostly burns Yak dung.....quite hard on the lungs and definitely resulted in some infections.....I'm still recovering.

There were so many highlights it's hard to mention them all but here are a few:
Pip at Base Camp and Kalapathar
Our two primary goals were Base camp and Kalapathar....both over 5,000m. Base camp because it is base camp and Kalapathar because it offers the best views of Everest. Both are accessed from Gorak Shep, a tiny two building village at 5,100m elevation. Cold, harsh nights and high altitude.....to give some perspective, two Thai trekkers died the night we were there from high altitude sickness.

The Team
We had hands down the best possible team you could have assembled for something like this. Three weeks working together with no dramas or issues....we simply just worked stuff out. I think it was the absence of ego and everyone focused on a common goal that was the key to it all. We had a mission and everyone wanted it to succeed....not for their own gain but for the gain of the group and for Pip. True teamwork is possible when everyone is in a position to contribute value. Everyone on the trip had a role to play and everyone did it with enthusiasm. Nobody had to turn back....a first for a large group....very cool.

The workload
We live for that stuff as I put it to my mom one day who was rather worried we were overextending ourselves. There were some epic days with lots of lifting. The base camp day was like a mission.....we went hard and with little rest and no lunch.....combined with the previous days ascent of Kalapathar and we were smashed that night.....I feel like all my fitness for this year went into those two days. I wouldn't have made it if I hadn't been fit and I was thankful for that.

Meals
It's amazing what we take for granted here. Meals on the trek are all prepared from scratch and prepared from what is available. When meals were ordered you could count on 2 hours at least to get the food. If you ordered veggies, they were literally picked from outside....anything to do with bread or pastry was prepared from scratch on the spot. Combine that with 14-20 people ordering food and one wood stove to cook on and it gives some idea of what goes into it all. It was a good shot of perspective.

The People
Are simply incredible.....so tough, so humble. Porters my size carrying loads of 60-100kg from a strap across their heads......shoes falling apart or even sandals. They make so little money, have basically the clothes on their backs and are never without a big smile and kind words. We were all humbled by it and i hope to never forget it.

Kathmandu
Nuts! Traffic with no apparent rules, 4-6 family members on one motorbike, animals everywhere, extreme poverty......quite the experience. We stayed in an old Palace of the kings so we were able to escape into our own little world......at $25/night for a 3 person room with a shower it is considered expensive and it is one of the nicer places to be......perspective is everything.

The Culture
So different, yet so accepting. The Sherpa people particularly......the treks people do are essentially century old highways.....walking highways....for goods and wares going up and down to and from different villages. These people are carrying on a way of life that has been going for years and little has changed except perhaps the goods they carry. Everything up there has been carried by someone so when you see a bottle of coke that is a 5 day walk in with no roads, it makes you appreciate it a bit more.

The Epiphany
I found the best part about the trip was that I was able to strip off all the nonsense that I deal with at home....there was no background noise, no ego's, no alternate agenda's, no need for material garbage......you strip away all the nonsense and rediscover what's at your core. No wonder these things are life changing for people......I would argue it's not really life changing but just rediscovering your true nature....which is always there, it just gets loaded up with societies crap. This was the best part for me and I can't wait to do it again.

The Next Big Adventure

2007-10-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Well, onto the next big adventure..........

It's been about 20 years in the making. When I was about 10 years old we were scheduled to go trekking in Nepal......my mom, my brother and I. I think my Mom thought that might be a bit bold for her and two boys aged 8 and 10 so we went to New Zealand instead and lived on a sheep farm.

It was always a dream of my Mom's to get to the Himalayas and trek around and maybe get to the base camp of Mt. Everest. When MS became part of her life that dream kind of got attached to a hitching post in the back of her brain. For the past 15 years we have talked about getting her there but it mostly became fun conversation, I'm not sure if the Intention was really there.

This time last year, Ollie started putting action behind thoughts and words and so here we are, 3 days until take off. Ollie and a small crew left yesterday to do an extended version of the trip which will take them 6 odd days from Kathmandu to Lukla where the rest of us will meet them on November 1st to start the trek to Base Camp.

We are taking Pip up there in a modified rickshaw thing. We are a team of 14 and a total mixed bag. Everyone brings something important to the group and I think everyone is biting at the chomp for the adventure to start.

I probably won't get to bloggin much over there. I'm not sure how easy it will be to access computers on the way up. I will do my best but in honesty it might be nice to take a break so I probably will.

If we do have random access then we will likely be posting info and blogs at the website designated for the trek.....which is.......

www.riseabovebarriers.com

It is a great site put together by fellow teamate Jon who is master of such things. We're all super excited and will definitely be setting up some slide shows and there is even the possibility of a documentary being done on it.

Anyway, until then, I wish you all a super Nepal- High- Five- O

-The Jersey Kit-

2007-10-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well a week already and how quickly we are on to the next thing. This is just a quick blog to introduce a really exciting project that we've just got under way. I have great partners this year and they've all been great in helping this come to light.

The goal- To raise $1 million for MS by the time my career is done. It's lofty but we have several initiatives coming to light and the first one is under way. We've made a really fun logo this year and it's represented on a great cycling jersey by De Soto. Every icon in the logo tells a story and we are going to add to it every year with new icons. Which means in 2008 you will have to update your wardrobe with the latest version:) A portion of all proceeds are going to MS so you will be supporting a great cause and getting one kick butt bike Jersey.

The link to the purchase page is:
http://www.desotosport.com/products/product.asp?Category=MEssentials&ProdID=JBBJ

This page has the story behind the jersey and a picture of it so you know what you are getting into. It's pretty loud but really fun and it is the highest quality jersey perfect for warm weather riding.

If you purchase one I thank you in advance!

Until next time I wish you a super Victoria High-Five-O

Know Thyself

2007-10-14T07:23:00.001-07:00

Well, today was not my finest hour that's for sure. It's rare I bail out of a race but yesterday I found myself in that most unenviable position where you have to make that call. Decisions like that can play havoc on the brain.......at the time they seem like the right thing to do, in hindsight they can haunt you for a bit. It's an easier thing to do if you crash and break your face or something but without some sign of visible trauma it involves many explanations.

I actually started with one of my best swim efforts to date. I was geared up for this one and felt really great. Canon went off and after a few hundred meters I was with the lead group.....after a few more I still was......I kept looking up to see surf legend Laird Hamilton paddling the lead surf board with total amazement that I was still able to see him. At about 1200m a small gap opened and I chased it down for a couple minutes and got back on. Through 3000m I was still there and actually feeling pretty good but shortly after that I popped. I must have been slightly over the effort I could sustain and whammy that was it.....back to the second group and a significant loss of time.

However, I still got out in a good group and with the excitement swelling I made my most critical mistake. I made a conscious decision to try and get myself back to the front group. In Hawaii there is much talk of the winner and top finishers always coming from this group....I figured I had to be close and so every passing cyclist presented an opportunity to match pace and get myself there. What didn't resonate at the time is that most of the guys I was trying to match pace with were sub 4:35 riders on good days.......Torbjorn, Marino Vanhoenacker and several others........guys whose pace I can probably ride for about 20 minutes tops.

After about 50km well above my current ability I popped.......With the swim it must have been about 2 hours well into the red zone and that was it.....I was done.......for the next 40 minutes I hobbled along at a pace that was consistent with one that follows a 2 hour massive effort.....small ring hunched over the bars. When you go over the line it's harder to absorb food and fluid and the legs can only sustain the effort for so long before they turn to jelly. I'd done an effort that takes a day or two to recover from and the tightness in my gluts where a good sign of this......and that was it.

I was ready to go yesterday, everything was in place and I was as fit as I have been but I made a really poor decision......one that seemed right at the time. On the day it can be overwhelming......I tend to beat myself up a bit especially around big events, we don't get many chances to race the big ones at this distance and I screwed this one up. I was a pretty miserable ass for a few hours but eventually you start seeing the light around it so here is what I got out of it:

I had to know- The most valuable thing I learned yesterday was that I just am not a front pack rider in Hawaii. Even if I had made it into that group, the pace they sustain is a notch higher than my current riding ability....which makes trying to get there from a deficit even more ludicrous. But, I had to find out and sometimes it happens the hard way. The important thing is to remember this for the next time around. It also means that at the moment I can't race anyone in Hawaii...I have to make it a solo effort within my own limits and that is how I can achieve the best outcome.

Know Thyself- Take a compilation of what I know I am capable of at this distance and match it up and I still run myself into the top 10. Patrick Vernay was smarter than I was yesterday and it paid off......he finished 10th.....53min swim, 4:49 bike, 2:48 run.....nothing special and never anywhere near the front group....in fact he would have come off the bike hearing his time deficit as "25 minutes down"......and "14 minutes down on the lead group"......but he obviously stuck to his plan and at the end of the day he was in the top 10. So today I learn my most valuable lesson from Patrick Vernay and tip my hat to the man. You have to know what your abilities are and do your best to maximize the return on them.

There were some pretty awesome performances yesterday----here are a few that stand out in my mind:
Samantha McGlone- Wow....first Ironman, tons of hype around her and she performed. Yes you could argue that several top women dropped out but check out the time she posted and she ran 3hrs........probably one of the top 3 times in the history of the event so I don't care who you put in there the result would have been the same.

Chrissie Who?- Don't you love when there is someone nobody talks about who is suddenly leading and running away with it. Kind of reminds me of the 2000 Olympics. Chrissie Wellington from the mother land Great Britain ran a 2:59 and came from basically nowhere to win the womens......I don't even know what she looks like.......I like stories like that.

Mike Neil- Every year the guy gets better here.....8:47 yesterday....no flash, no ra ra....just smart racing. As much as I learned from Patrick Vernay yesterday I learned just as much from Mike......the guy was never anywhere near the front but kept plugging on and posted his best result here.

Chris McCormack- 6 years ago he said he was going to win it and he did. In honesty he should have won it.....he has all the pieces....talent, work ethic, confidence, resources.....in my mind he did something he should have done but you still have to do it....you still have to show up and do it. He probably had the most pressure here and for sure had the most self induced pressure and he pulled it off.....very cool.

Craig Alexander- Kind of like Samantha- half ironman genius but put it together yesterday and ran bloody well.

Patrick Vernay- For reasons previously noted.

Chris Lieto- For trying to win it

Tim Deboom- Because nobody was talking about him....so quickly forgotten, sport is a fikel place.

Leanda Cave- For a super gutsy effort and for being at the front so long.

Torbjorn- For figuring out how to perform in the heat despite looking ridiculous. But for a top 3 I would have worn a snowmobile suit if I thought it would work.

And of course there were many more......................so until next time i bid you a grand hawaii high five-O

The Rules

2007-10-12T21:12:00.001-07:00

It's fun to observe the state of mind you are in before a big race. It's a mix of a whole bunch of things from calm and ready to nervous and anxious. I figured this time I would write a blog about it and try to be as real as possible, no flowery emotional stuff, it's just a race and in 48 hours everyone will have forgotten and be on to the next thing until of course a few magazines come out a few weeks from now and remind us for a day or two.

Nerves come and go in waves but i've been able to hone down into a specific head space pretty regularly over the past year and I think for Ironman especially in Hawaii this becomes the real secret. I don't know what tomorrow will bring.....certainly I have hopes and dreams just like Veronica Corningstone but as Forest Gump once said so eloquently.....bla bla bla chocolates and you never know what you are going to get or something like that.

What I can say with certainty is this: I am fit, I am as ready as I have ever been for an Ironman and I have no major or minor health/injury problems that have been present or have potential to present themselves. I have had no major dramas over the past few months, no mental instability, nada nothing, no excuses. I've set myself up to perform well and I plan on doing that. Often it is most of the battle to just get to the start line healthy and fit and giving yourself the best chance at success and I have done that this year.

I think the mental state you get into is probably the single most important factor for any big competition or task in life. Over the years I've come to several important conclusions on what the ideal state is for me....I stress for me because everyone is different.

In the process of getting here we all go through waves of different stuff but inevitably this is where I end up when I'm in a productive space:

Expect nothing------and you can deal with anything-----I have no idea what will happen tomorrow, no amount of visual garbage will determine the outcome.....it will unfold as it will unfold and the more I can observe it without background noise the better I will be able to respond.

Appreciate Everything-----I live in extreme privelage in fact anyone doing this crazy event does. I don't mean this in an emotional bla bla gag gag way, just in a way that you can dread the day or appreciate simply that you are able to do it.

Don't Judge----Judgement during the race serves little if any purpose....you will be where you will be, judging it doesn't suddenly transport you somewhere else.

Use emotion, don't let it use you-----Emotion can swing you wildly all over the place, especially in an event like Ironman where people prepare so much and invest so much in it. It's such a massive task that emotions often take over....anyone who watches the NBC coverage knows what I mean. However, I don't think emotional spikes in either direction are very helpful. For every spike in the "high" direction you have to inevitably recover from it and for everyone in the "low" direction it just causes bad energy which i don't see as very productive. I think the more level you can keep your emotions throughout the day the better off you will be. I think the time for a high spike is in the last 1-2 miles if you need it to get you past some people or to the finish....then you can spend the next few months recovering from it.

Relax into speed----Nothing in Ironman needs to or should happen quickly. Relax into the rythm, relax into the pace, relax and the speed part of it will take care of itself.

Engage-----your brain needs to be constantly engaged with pacing, nutrition and general body awareness.....the worst thing you can do is get caught up in someone else's race plan because you got excited for a few miles.

And of course there is the actual race plan itself....in a nutshell it looks something like this:
Swim- a fast start, get with the main group
Bike- HR 148-158 range with a ceiling of 160 on flats and 165 on hills- 1200-1500ml of fluid per hour---75-85 grams of carbs per hour----700-1000mg sodium per hour
Run- Goal pace---6:20ish---Start out at a 6:45 and build my way there----Sport Drink, Water every aid station----Coke, sport drink, water every second----sodium pill every third aid station----Ice and water to cool core temperature down every aid station.

Pretty simple, nothing special-----solid level day and it will go well.

And so with that I wish you all a good night and thanks for reading along.

This time tomorrow I will be in post season bliss. Yipeeeeee.

Tension

2007-10-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Today we had the pro meeting. Often there is tension at these things, everyone there in the same place for the first time, kind of like a first date. You look around, check out who is there and how people look. Mostly it's about how lean people look which is a real good thing in the heat and for running as long as you don't go overboard which is sometimes the case then you just lose power and get unhealthy. A couple people asked questions, Jimmy Ricitello gave the marshals briefing and we all had to have our picture taken. One photographer, 150 people in line.....a slight oversight. But I got into line near the front on account of my super "line up speed"

Today I saw some real lean tanned people and they were mostly staring back at me from the mirror.....yeah, that's right that's what i said.

Nerves come in waves but mostly I am good, only when i get ahead of the game and into the race in my head. I feel generally very good and at peace with the current situation. It's amazing how quickly the days storm ahead and before you know it you are the day before the race and then you are having a margarita in the VIP tent after.

Today I ate lots of food and was merry. We have another sunset happening and we always have dinner looking out at it from our patio....paradise by the dashboard light.

Tonight I will sleep and tomorrow will wait some more. 48 hours and the season will be done and that is nice, I am looking forward to eating some refined sugars for a day. Maybe some pizza too.

Until next time I send you a hearty "Hawaii 5-O"....Magnum PI style......Higgins

People I Disqualified Today

2007-10-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

Norman got DQ'd for having too much of a tan

I disqualified Ferris again for not wearing his helmet

I disqualified Samantha McGlone so she can't beat me

I disqualified Lisa Bentley for smiling too much

I disqualified Mike Neil because he's fit

I disqualified myself for writing this blog

I disqualified Jonny Caron for speaking Frenglish

I disqualified Borat

I disqualified the Bachelor guy out of envy

That's it for today, I'm sure there will be more disqualifications tomorrow.

A slippery banana

2007-10-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

I saw Viktor Zmyetsyev yesterday and I spent all night trying to work out how to spell his name. He is the guy who won Couer D'Alene (and Lake Placid in 2006, and world long course champs). I really like Viktor, I only really met him in Couer D'Alene but he's one of those really humble dudes that seems to have great perspective. He's got an incredible resume but you would never know it. I would hazard a guess that if he was from the US he would probably be making a great deal more money but he doesn't really seem to care. He seems grateful for what he gets and somewhat unaware of how good he is.

We chatted briefly yesterday, I don't think he feels very confident here but the guy can swim 50, bike 4:40 and consistently runs under 2:50. If you put all that together he is down in the 8:20's which is consistently top 5-10 here. I told him he just needs to relax and not do anything special and run how he always runs and he will do well. Patience is key here if you are a runner.....many things can happen in the last 6 miles. He punched me in the face after that and asked that i don't give him advice.....I wept.

Jude and I watched the sunset last night from our place.....i read my last blog and realized that the other day I watched the sun rise which was total nonsense. If you were paying attention you would see the flaw. We face west from our place so how could I watch both. I would like to say that on day one I simply observed it getting lighter out but last night we really watched the sunset. It was magic and right at the height of the sunset I caught on fire....literally just burst into flames.....oh the inspiration.

Today I will start to shave my body. It is a non wetsuit swim and whether it is faster or not it feels good. I will need probably 48 hours to shave all the hair I have accumulated.

It was my birthday yesterday and I turned 34. Jude's birthday is today and she turns 34. She is with an older man and I am with a younger woman.....the world is in harmony at this thought.

Today I must have a short ride on my bike. Yesterday I saw Ferris riding without a helmet so I disqualified him.....he was angry but I comforted him by saying....."next year my good man, next year you shall have your revenge upon the man who disqualified you but not this year, this year you may not"

Kona

2007-10-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe already a month since arriving for the camp back in September but we got in last night for the final week before the big dance next weekend. A painless trip really.

We are staying at the far end of Alii drive...not ideal from a transport perspective but totally ideal for maintaining some distance from the madness of the pier. Like any race the place is buzzing. It feels really good to be back here having spent time here recently. I feel more like a local....no time wasted finding grocery stores, the pool all that nonsense......easier to quickly settle in.

We have a great place, with ocean views and we our place is built on an old lava flow, pretty spectacular. We sat out watching the sun come up this morning....windows all open, nice breeze, good vibrations.

Nothing special today, good swim at the pier and a good run, a far better version of my first run here back in September.

I feel as ready as I have ever been for Saturday. I know this because there is no fear or anxiety just peace of mind and eager anticipation. When I feel like this it is a good sign that I have confidence in the work i've done and i'm healthy.....sometimes getting to the start with these two things in check is most of the battle. Things unfold naturally and as they should and it's easy to move with it.....no resistance, just peace. I'm not always in this state....Couer D'Alene was a different story, more forced, less confidence, more resistance.

Papayas are back in my belly, life is good.

Hot Box

2007-09-25T18:29:00.000-07:00

Well, we're in that precarious stage before Hawaii when you come from a colder climate and fall has arrived but you are getting ready for a race that promises to be well into the mid 30's. So what do you do when you need to sweat.....you make workouts take place in a great deal of discomfort. Today I ran and rode in pretty much all the gear I had.

Run was in thick fleece tights, toque, long sleeve shirt, two running jackets and gloves. Ride was in winter tights, long sleeve fleece riding jersey, winter riding coat and non breathing rain coat.....with 30mins at the end on the trainer with the block heater exactly 20cm from my face. I had to take the rain coat off because it was starting to melt. As Jude would say "good times". But the heat acclimation still seems to be in tact from the happy fun camp in Hawaii and the heat feels good, my legs seem to work better with some heat.

I can't wait to get back there, less than two weeks before travel and less than three before racing. Until then I will continue to hot box it here in Victoria.

PS. As you can see from the picture, it's cold way up here in Canada

Frosty

2007-09-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

What a difference a week can make! This time last week, i'm in Hawaii, 36 degrees, humid like mad dogs and getting a tan. Saturday's ride here.....8 degrees with patches of rain. But, i'm in that good space right now where the work just gets done and it doesn't seem to matter the conditions. I went up to Whistler to spend a weekend with my brother and we did a great ride out to Pemberton. The riding would actually be quite good there in the warmer months....it's a total mixed bag.....lots of hills if you want them and good flat sections over in Pemberton. To get to Pemberton requires a significant decent so every ride finishes with about 40mins of climbing but it's pretty steady.

On Sunday I had a great run. Finally I am starting to feel somewhat "normal" running. I think a combo of the Osteopath work and exercises I've been doing and some work in the heat which tends to lean things out a bit. I ran around the cross country trails in Whistler which roll pretty good but are smooth. We had a great weekend, good training and great relaxing.

We have a new kitten, hilarious.......she loves the shower, if you are having a shower she spends the entire time in there splashing around and drinking. After you turn it off she stays in there and rolls around in the left over water. She's awesome and she enjoys to still pee on everything but the litter pan.

Two more weeks and off to Hawaii. Probably one of the last open water swims I will brave this morning. I'm in with the top half only of my Desoto wetsuit which is a huge bonus for Hawaii....can still get in open water and stay warm in the upper without messing up the lower half of your body. My legs needed an icing after yesterday so it was good for two things.

Hawii Camp Day 12- Last Day- Some Fun Numbers

2007-09-15T23:16:00.001-07:00

Last day of camp was good, just a good swim and a longish run at some pace work. My legs are pooched but that is the point in general to smash yourself, get leaner and get out on the course. Mission accomplished, I will live to sit on my bike seat another day and i didn't get eaten. Crazy trip home but that is for another blog and so now I present to you Hawaii by the numbers:

13 days
63 hours of training
11 hours of swimming
34 hours of biking
8 hours of running
Aproximately 70 liters of water
2 bags of Gleukos sports drink
40 salt stick salt capsules
13 packages of 7systems
8 iron pills
4 energy bars
3 powergels
2 loaves of bread
1 jar of almond butter
2 small containers of jam
1 small container of honey
3 big bags of organic salad
2 bottles of Annies organic dressing
1 small horseradish mustard
3 packages of turkey breast
3 smoked salmon pieces
2 Ahi Tuna steaks
5 boxes of Kashi cereal
5 cartons of Almond milk
6 Apples
2 bags of sprouts
15 papayas
3 oranges
6 bananas
5 Potatoes
5 Sweet Potatoes
1 bag of pasta
1 container of Organic pasta sauce
1 Bag of honey wheat pretzels
3 cookies (yes only 3)
1 brownie
1 bag of Sunchips
1 bag of Organic salt and vinegar chips
2 small pieces of dark chocolate
2 Lava Java Muffins
2 cups of coffee
3 cups of Quinoa
1 dinner out at O's restaurant- I ate Mongolian Stir Fry and some bread
1 Killer taco chicken burrito
2 Killer taco fish tacos
1 Pesto Chicken Burrito en route in Seattle airport
1.5 rolls of toilet paper
1 tube of chamois cream
1 load of laundry
1/2 tube of sunscreen
1 small bar of soap
1 small thing of shampoo
3/4 tube of Berts toothpaste
1/4 roll of dental floss
2 garbage bags
2 flat tires
1 CO2 cartridges
24 chapters read in my book
12 watched sunsets
13 days up before the sun
1 tank of gas
3 hours talked on my cell phone on roaming charges
2 hysterical calls from my lovely wife
8 normal calls from my lovely wife
39 bowel movements (although i would hazard a guess that some of these were the same ones in two different waves)
6 different riding sores
1 tube of ginger macadamia skin cream for my crotch
1 sore crotch
26 ice bottles for my crotch
3 urinations that stung so bad your mom goes to college
1 $30 cab fee to the airport
20 hours of travel
8 US Open matches
1/2 football game
9 episodes of Burn Notice
3 movies
1 episode of house
3 episodes of friday night lights
8 episodes of Law and Order
Too many hours of TV
Too much time on my hands

Hawaii Camp- Day 11- Taco, Taco, Burrito, Burrito

2007-09-15T21:48:00.000-07:00

I have an ice bottle between my legs, my mid section is killing.....the skin and the bones. It wasn't too bad on the ride but now the thought of a bike seat makes me want to not sit on it.

Today was the second of two big rides. 6.5hrs with basically a TT of the course. I started early, 6am basically in the dark. It was a different day today, a bit overcast and not too much wind but really really really humid. The air was so thick that your mom goes to college. I rode well today, fast out to Kawahae which is the turn off to Hawi...bit of rain up to Hawi, refilled the bottles and off again. The section from Kawahae to Kona was fairly windy but not too bad today so i was rolling well. A run off the bike with a recovery swim and Bob's your uncle- 14hrs of training in two days with 12.5hrs of riding and at the moment i can't imagine the thought of sitting on a bike ever again.

My legs are now officially smashed....one semi-long run tomorrow and a couple more open water swims and whammy, camp done and home sweet home. It's been a very good, very productive block here. I think I've figured out the hydration thing, I'm basically drinking twice as much as i used to and the beauty is that i don't really need food anymore.

The best part of today was eating two fish tacos and a burrito from Killer Taco. I had to ride my bike there, it really hurt but it was worth it.

Props to Lauren Grov-ez for making her Olympic criteria....at least that's the news I got down the pipeline today....man that is just sweet sweet action....way to go Grov-ez.

I will leave you with this note:
One who understands others has knowledge
One who understands himself has wisdom
Mastering others requires force;
mastering the self requires strength.

If you realize that you have enough
you are truly rich

Hawaii Camp- Day 10- 8 Bottles

2007-09-14T20:07:00.000-07:00

Big ride today- 6hrs out onto the course again but this time around it was way better. I started at 6am so I could get it done and it was either more favorable with the wind or it just wasn't a very windy day. Whatever the reason it was just a more pleasant day. My mid section has had a nice break and the saddle felt more comfortable (although I'm not sure how tomorrow will feel). The set was basically mid range aerobic work for 6 hours, in the aerobars pushing steady. I got to Hawi just before 9, refilled the bottles and headed back.

I think the big difference today was the amount of fluid I consumed.... my hydration was managed much better and my core temperature stayed in check....this despite the fact that my computer showed the highest temperature so far on camp at 38 degrees in one section.

Today everything flowed....a good day! One more big ride tomorrow and camp is almost over. I'm going to get a cookie at Lava Java.

jb

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The Next Big Adventure

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Know Thyself

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Tension

People I Disqualified Today

A slippery banana

Kona

Hot Box

Frosty

Hawii Camp Day 12- Last Day- Some Fun Numbers

Hawaii Camp- Day 11- Taco, Taco, Burrito, Burrito

Hawaii Camp- Day 10- 8 Bottles