Run Dale Run!

I AM A TRIATHLETE!

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:37:00 +0000

Although a slow one...but that is perfectly a.o.k!

I went into this with 4 goals:

Finish a Triathlon. Accomplished!
Finish in under 2 hours. Accomplished! (1:58)
Do not come in last. Accomplished!
Raise at least $2K for Leukemia Research. Accomplished! Over $4K raised!

So, I did not exactly burn up the track. I had a bear of a time during the swim and had to walk a few times on the run. But I DID IT!

Thanks to everyone who believed in me and supported me. This has been a rough ride considering the late start, the crappy weather, vertigo, anemia, a trip to Florida for a funeral, hypoglycemia, our pet dog eating our pet bird, flash floods, non-strokes, emergency trip to Texas, and falling trees. Essentially I did NO TRAINING AT ALL for the last 2 1/2 weeks. But, again, I DID IT!

A full race report will follow once I get some time to get on my laptop.

Final results:

Place Time    No.   Last Name      First Name  Age S Div   Rank Swim    Dash    T1      Rank Bike    T2      Rank Run    
===== ======= ===== ============== =========== === = ===== ==== ======= ======= ======= ==== ======= ======= ==== =======

  136 1:58:16    19 Leschnitzer    Dale         43 M        137   17:37    0:39    3:26   96   49:11    2:46  138   44:39

Love and Sweat!
Dale (the Triathlete!)

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Off to the race! In a snow storm....

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:45:00 +0000

It is cold and snowing here in Los Alamos. The weather is predicted to be miserable for the 200 mile drive to Durango. But the good news is that tomorrow should be nice.

I signed up for the Santa Fe Century yesterday. That should be an adventure....

Well, I will try to find a computer for a race report. If not, wish me luck. Here we go!

Love and sweat (and a little apprehension!),
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

If a tree falls on the neighbors house, does it make a sound?

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:45:00 +0000

Yes it does. CRUNCH.

The weather has been down right miserable. Winds on Wednesday hit 40 mph here in Los Alamos. Our last poplar tree finally went over before we had a chance to cut it down. Part ended up on my neighbor's roof and there is some damage. Luckily no one was hurt and the damage is limited to a few broken terra cotta tiles.

Ah, the weather. Cold, miserable, wet. I drove through a large snow storm on my way back from Texas to New Mexico this weekend. They expect snow tomorrow for our drive up to Durango for the Triathlon. Maybe all of this cold weather training paid off?

We leave tomorrow. Race is Saturday. I am not ready. Hold on, here we go!

Love and Sweat.
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

A week of terror and chaos

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:36:00 +0000

0404071947b.jpg
Originally uploaded by dalehugo.

Shortly after my sim on April 1, I met my wife and kids in Santa Fe for a little shopping. Linda sounded a bit weird on the phone but I was tired so I did not give it a lot of thought. When I met her in Santa Fe, she pulled me aside and gave me some very disturbing news.

The evening before (Friday) my mom had gone out to run some errands. Her part of Northern Texas was having heavy rains and was under constant tornado watch. As she returned at dusk to Nocona, TX, her SUV went over a low water bridge as it had hundred of times before. Only this time the bridge was under water completely and a flash flood was raging across it.

My mom's truck stalled and slid off of the bridge into the creek. It quickly filled up with water up to her neck. She was able to get the passenger window down and get out of the truck before it sank. She swam with the current and held on to a tree. A witness called 9-11 immediately but it took the local fire department between 30 minutes and an hour to get her out because of the location and strength of the creek's current. She was battered and bruised and swallowed quite a bit of water.

She was taken to the local hospital and treated for hypothermia and mild shock. She (luckily!) sustained no major injuries. She was released Saturday morning at 5am, just as I was leaving Los Alamos to run the sim.

It Gets Worse...

After several calls to my parents, we decided I would not go out to Texas. She was safe and although she had a ton of tasks to complete (new driver's license, the truck was totaled and still missing, etc.) I had plenty to do here.

Sunday morning I jogged lightly, ate lunch with my wife and kids, and took a nap.

As I slept, my dad was feeling poorly. He suffers from congestive heart failure brought on by a heart attack 13 years ago and a heart bypass. He has a pacemaker and is on blood thinners but he looked terrible last month when I saw him at Aunt Adele's funeral in Florida. He was ashen and gray.

As my mom played in the kitchen for a few minutes, my father slumped over in his arm chair and passed out.

My mom found him unconscious. She tried to revive him but he would not wake up. He suffered a mild stroke last summer and it appeared he had another one. Another call to 9-11 and the EMTs were back out to my folks, this time bringing my father into to the ER in Nocona. The stroke team stabilized him, took a CAT scan that reveled nothing, and then transported him to a larger hospital in Wichita Falls, Texas. He never regained conciseness that day.

My mom called us (as I napped) as the ambulance crew arrived to take Dad.

That did it. We packed up and the next day we headed out for Wichita Falls, a 600 mile drive. 2 adults, 2 kids, 2 vehicles, and 4 dogs. A long haul. Along the way my mom called. Dad was awake.

Then Dad was talking. And walking. And going to the bathroom. And bitching about the food. I spoke to him on my cell as I drive through the plains outside of Amarillo, TX. He sounded GREAT. No way he recovered from a stroke that fast that completely.

When we finally arrived in Wichita Falls, we found my Dad sitting up in bed. His color was fantastic. He was alert. He was on NO IV drugs, not even a saline drip. He had complete symmetry in his motion. There was no drooping in his face. No stroke.

The cardiologist also confirmed no heart attack. An echo showed his cardiac arteries were still clear. A pulmanologist said his lungs were fine. A neurologist also confirmed no stroke. In every sense he was fine, better than he was a month ago. Except for that nasty part about him passing out for 24 hours...

He went into the hospital on Sunday. He was discharged on Wednesday with no diagnosis.

On Wednesday evening, I found the truck. I forgot to bring my camera so I used my phone to snap pictures (which are on Flickr). It was about 75 yards off the road in the creek. It was up to the windows in mud and stagnant water. Later, I came back with Linda. The water line was easily 15 -20 feet above the creek bed. One hell of a flash flood. My mom was lucky to be alive.

The both were.

A later visit to my father's neurologist confirmed he did not have a stroke. It is suspected that he had a Bazil Seizure at the base of his brain brought on by stress from my Mom's ordeal and the congestive heart failure. It also turns out that my Dad's Coumedin levels were too low and he now is taking a month test to look at the clotting factor of his blood.

They are both doing absolutely fine! Amazing...

We left for Texas on Linda's 50th birthday. And today is my Dad's 72 birthday.

Naturally, I go no training in this last week. And little sleep and lousy eating. The race is this Saturday. I will train very lightly this week. But the alternative was a lot worse.

We packed clothes for my Dad's funeral as we left New Mexico. I am glad we did not need them!

Love and Sweat,
Dale

Sim of the Tri The Rim

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:21:00 +0000

(For you alliteration fans...)

Saturday was a big day for training. We gathered to simulate the entire Tri.

Swim 500 yards
Bike 12 miles
Run 4 miles

I was up at 4am and did not sleep too well the night before. Also, I was (okay, just SAY it), a little constipated, which giving my internal anatomy is not common. So I was not at peak. A Cytomax shake, some oatmeal, a spoon of peanut butter got me going. Some Hammergel (Hmmm...Espresso!) during.

It was DAMNED COLD when I left Los Alamos, 27 degrees. It dropped to 25 in Santa Fe. It was about 42 in Albuquerque when we got started.

I know, whiney whiney whiney. But it adds up to detract performance.

The swim went okay. At one point I had a very hard time getting the breathing synchronized with the strokes (around lap 4 and again at lap 7) but overall, it was okay. A mad dash out through the locker room in shower shoes across the parking lot to the bike and off. I was pleased with the transition, considering the conditions were improvised.

The bike ride went fine. I overshot the turnaround point by about 1/4 mile but no big deal.

Back in for the run. The run was okay and I did fine for 3 1/2 miles. I did have to alternate walking and running for a bit. My innards were pressing down on me.

At 3 1/2 miles WHAM! My right knee shot in pain and it radiated all the way up my right side. IT Band, I am very sure of it. I literally limped in and got chewed out from my coach for not getting new shoes. But overall, with 2 weeks to go, I am happy. A little ice, a little Advil I was fine.

I did get new shoes. Pearl Izumis. The guy in the running store analyzed my gait, said, "Man, you got flat feet!" had me try on a bunch of pairs (including an ASICS which I normally wear but did not like this time, no support for side to side movement of the foot), and I settled on the Pearls. Hope they help.

Love and sweat,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Pizza after the big ride

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 01:14:00 +0000

Nothing like a little pizza after a big ride. Carbs and protein and fat. Yummy!

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Name Dale's Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 01:04:00 +0000

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

And then Sunday's Bike Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:47:00 +0000

With the Team in Training Santa Fe Bike Team. A beautiful ride (will try to post the actual ride on either mapmyride.com or bikely.com). Through the beautiful hills of Santa Fe, out of town into the neighboring communities. Saw Long Horn and dairy cows, Western Movie sets, and Buffalo. Great ride.

I took of my Crank Brother's Candy pedals and got some Speedplays. The Crank Brothers were impossible for me to get into no matter what I did. The speedplay were great. Easy in and easy out.

It was a 56 mile ride. I did fine and was strong and in the top 1/3 for most of the ride.

Until about mile 45. Then I had problems. I did not "hit the wall." I just got tired. I completed the Tri Sim just the day before and did not recover. We were going up a long, steady climb and the pace was all off. Too slow. I ended up have to really shift gears around quite a bit. Then it was over, I fell behind. The coach stayed back with me and she talked me into trying some sprints to catch up. I did pretty well but it tired me out. So for about 5 or 6 miles I was dying.

We finally stopped at the crest of the climb for a short breather, only about 4 or 5 minutes to allow the last two behind me to catch up. That was all that I needed. The rest of the ride was golden. 56 miles total.

It was wonderful.

That night came home and had a hot, hot bath with Epsom salts. Hmmmmm!

Not bad, not bad at all.

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Saturday's Torture! (and Triumph!)

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:32:00 +0000

Saturday it was up at 4am and off to Albuquerque for a full Tri simulation with the Team in Training. It was drizzling and yucky all week.

Saturday the sky opened up with moisture. It was DAMNED cold when I left (31 degrees) and it was sleeting and snowing (!) in Santa Fe when I buzzed through at 5:30am.

It was pouring and thundering when I arrived In Albuquerque. We decided to do the bike portion inside on Spin Bikes. I grabbed my gear and headed inside.

Before I left I had a bowl of oatmeal, some peanut butter, and a Cliff bar. I had a gel and had a bottle of Accelerade with me. My sugar was...well, it was too damned cold o get blood so beats me but I felt fine.

Into the pool. 400 yards (8 laps). Decent speed. Then off, going through the locker room, up the stairs (in lousy Corona flip flops...I really need to get some decent swim and shower shoes!), into a jersey and socks and shoes, actually donned my helmet, and on to the spinner for 40 minutes. I took a moment to put on my Pratt Straps to help support my IT Bands. I did not need any more knee pain. Glad I did as you will see.

I cranked the resistance up and down and pushed pretty hard. Up hills and sprinted on the flat ways. Good sim.

By then it was no longer pouring and we decided to run outdoors. At the end of 40 minutes "biking" it was off and onto the next transition. Off came the helmet and the bike shoes. On came the running shoes and the glasses and hat. And I was off running.

Now, I HATE running. The most I have ever, ever run was 5K (3.1 miles). One of the coaches offered to run with me. The Tri the Rim Triathlon has 4 miles of running. She had a course set out where on could choose 2, 3, or 4 miles.

I chose 4.

I warned her that I would probably have to stop and rest a bit. Also, I was fearing knee pain.

One mile and was slow but feeling fine.

1.5 miles. The turn around point for the 3 mile run. She asked if I wanted to keep going. Yup, what the hell.

2 Miles. 3. At about 3 miles my right knee twinged a bit and I walked for about 40 yards (she said I walked pretty fast...I did not want my heart rate to drop). I started up again.

3.5 miles. The finish line in sight. 4 miles running. Actually, 4.3.

I ran 4 miles and only had to slow down once, and not because I needed to breathe or rest. I had never, ever done this before.

Afterwards, my knees felt like hell. But a good stretch and I was doing just fine. About 80-90% of what I will see in competition at the actual Tri.

Wow. I was on cloud nine. Maybe I can actually do this?...

Love and Sweat,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Some in between Training

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:27:00 +0000

Nothing exciting here, more just a log of what I have done. Will go into details about the weekend in another post.

Went for a very short bike ride on Wednesday, 3/21
Swam some pyramids and drills on Thursday, 3/22
Didn't do much on Friday (later)
Full Tri work Out on Saturday
56 Mile Bike ride on Sunday
Rested Monday and Tuesday (and stretched and walked)
Simple weight training on Wednesday (today) 3/28. A full circuit. This evening I swam drill and pyramids, 1,2,3,3,2,1.

Back to the grind!

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

But will I win?

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:26:00 +0000

Shortly after I told my mom that I was nuts enough to do this triathlon she asked me a simple question:

Do you think you will win?

I chuckled at that and said, no I will not win. I "just" want to finish.

That was several weeks ago and the conversation still rings in my ears.

Just. Just finish. Just. just....just...

"Just" is a strange word. I try to avoid it and also notice when others use it. It seems to diminish some pretty big things.

No, I will not "win" the race by coming in first.

I "just" will:

Swim 500m and then
Bike 13 miles and then
Run (and probably walk some) 4 miles
After weighing over 400 pounds
And never being athletic in my life
And never been athletically competent before
And being a couch potato for most of my 43 years
And fitting in training between work and life
And being able to only eat partial meals due to an altered anatomy
And being anemic
And being hypoglycemic

My goal is to cross the finish line and (hopefully) not be last. Can I do that?

Hell, yes! I guess that "just" might make me a winner after all.

The point is if I never tried, if I never got out there, if I never signed up, if I never trained, I would not just lose...I would fail. And I do not take failure well at all...

So for the Tri-wannabees, runners, swimmers, bikers, hikers, hell!, water polo players, whatevers like me, Carol, TriBob, anyone else in Team in Training, go out, give it your all, and just be winners.

Love and Sweat,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Five Hundred Fifteen Fifteen

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 05:00:00 +0000

25 yards per length.
50 yards per lap.
10 laps.
500 yards.
Fifteen Minutes and fifteen seconds.

One hyperventilated yet very happy former fat dude!

Lap Elapsed Time Comments
1 1:09
2 2:30 Breathing every stroke
3 3:57 Slow start, stopped in middle
4 5:28 Slow start, stopped in middle
5 7:04 slowing down
6 8:45 paused
7 10:24
8 12:04
9 13:38
10 15:15

Many thanks to Linda for keeping track for me. The hardest problem was keeping from hyperventilating. Tried every right stroke and also every third stroke to breathe. Ever since my surgery, really rigorous breathing is difficult. Trying to play the sax again was disastrous...

I know that 15 minutes may seem slow but I am absolutely thrilled. Who would have ever thought I would swim 500 yards at one time and not be exhausted?

Cool!

Love and chlorine,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Bike Ella Bike!

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 03:00:00 +0000

Well, after a lot of trials and one skinned knee, Ella finally learned how to ride her bike. We are very proud. Clara went out to ride with her and I dropped what I was doing and grabbed my comfort bike and chased after them. It was wonderful riding with my two girls. After a lot of fear, Ella now says it was fun. Of course the best thing was we got ICE CREAM to celebrate.

Clara loves her bike and I enjoy riding with her. Now we three can be the terror on wheels in White Rock, our "hood."

Changed a few tires today. Seems like I am always changing tires....

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Tri Bob

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:31:00 +0000

Okay, I am impressed. Tri Bob in New Jersey is kicking my butt. Running 10 miles and feeling fine. Going for a light 70 mile ride. Iron Man in training, no problemo.

But seriously, I found this guy's blog and liked it and will follow it. I have no desire to do an Iron Man but it will be fun following Tri Bob's progress. Go Bob, Go!

Tri Bob is at http://tribob.blogspot.com. Tell him Dale sent you.

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Biking, More Biking, Running, Knee Hurt, Greasing my Butt...

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 16:31:00 +0000

I brought my bike in to a local guy, The "Bike Doc." Actually, I brought in Clara's Schwinn. He talked me into tuning up my road bike and enhancing it a bit. He also fitted it to me, something I desperately needed. He was a little pricier than I wanted but the quality of work was worth it.

I rode for a short ride on Friday, just under 12 miles through Pajarito Acres here in White Rock, NM. After having my saddle raised and moved back and my handle bars tilted a bit (and padded) I had to admit that I was a lot more comfortable. Less cramped. So far so good.

Saturday it was up at 4:30 to get to ABQ on time to train with the Team in Training Triathlon Team. I ate some cinnamon raisin bread with peanut butter (carbs and protein), had a juice box, a cliff bar. So my sugar was fine when I got there. We road for 20 miles out from ABQ to Corrales and back. Very pretty ride. Then we ran. I ran 3 miles. This was my first official "brick." I stayed hydrated and put down an energy gel. My right damned knee started to hurt near the end. I did not wear my Pratt Strap. Should have. Sigh....

All in all I did fine and was very happy. A little tired. About 40 minutes after the run my sugar was still 86 so that is good.

I found a wonderful sporting goods store (Sports Outdoors) in ABQ. I have driven past it a million times but never stopped in. They have a complete bike shop which was beautiful. Bought some basic cleaning and lubing supplies and some Chamois Butter....basically a mineral oil based lube that one spreads inside your bike shorts and on your butt (as my daughter would say, EWWWWW! Gross!) to help prevent road rash. So far this has not been a problem but SPRING IS HERE! and it is getting warmer.

Resting today (Sunday). Walked the big boys (dumb Lab and Husky) and might go for an easy ride this afternoon. Or take a nap. Or both...

Love and Sweat,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Hypoglycemia amd Training

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:53:00 +0000

The feed zone - Nutrition Q&A with Monique Ryan - Exercise hypoglycemia

Pretty good article about eating before a workout.
I will follow her advice!

Maintaining Blood Sugar

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:36:00 +0000

So far so good. Have been eating more protein like I should. AFter swimming my sugar was 88.

Rested today (Wed). Will either bike or swim tomorrow.

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Swam Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:35:00 +0000

I warmed up with some easy laps. Did some kicking on a kick board (my new mantra is KICK FROM THE HIPS KICK FROM THE HIPS)

Then pyramids.
1 lap (50m)
2 lap
3 lap
3 1/2 lap (I had to stop half way to yell at my kids)
3 lap
2 lap
1 lap

stretch in HOT therapy pool.

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

A donation letter from my cousin...

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 02:12:00 +0000

With a generous check for $118 (18 is a lucky number in Judiasm as the numbers spell out Chai or Life)
__

See Dale.
See Dale run.
Run Dale run.

See Linda.
Linda sees Dale.
Linda sees Dale run.

Dale is running.
Dale is running fast.
Run fast Dale.

See Linda.
See Linda laugh.
Linda laughs at Dale.

Linda is laughing.
Linda is laughing hard.
Why Linda why?

See Linda?
Linda tripped Dale.
Mean Linda mean.

See Dale.
Dee Dale fall.
Dale falls hard.

See Linda.
Linda stopped laughing.
Linda stopped laughing fast.

See Dale.
See Dale laugh.
See Dale laugh at Linda.

See, when Dale ran
And Linda tripped Dale
Dale fell on Linda....

Ouch Linda ouch.

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

45 Miles on the Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:30:00 +0000

The hell with anemia, vertigo, hypoglycemia, global warming, jihaadist terrorists, etc!! I am riding!

45 miles today from Santa Fe to Galisteo and back. When I was through my sugar was 88. I know to keep an eye on it. Did pretty well, no falls and the hills are getting better. Raising the saddle just a little bit made a big difference and "dragging my heels" helps. In other words, keeping my heels pointing down and not my toes allows me to "lift" the pedal using my hamstrings. This makes hills easier.

Of course, the word "easier" is relative...

I am not allowed to run for another week so I will walk tomorrow. I plan on going to ABQ on Tuesday to swim (I can hear my wife biatching about it now!) but I got to get swims in. And bricks.

Sigh....

I napped a little with the Conure nestled under my chin in the recliner and then rode a few miles on the comfort bike with Clara.

Life is good.

Love and Sweat,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Well this just sucks...Feinting and sugar

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:13:00 +0000

My wife is convinced this Tri is going to kill me...

After my bouts with vertigo last week, I went in for a check up with my doctor on Thursday. I felt fine. Really good as a matter of fact. He gave me a clean bill of health, told me he might see me in Durango (he runs Triathlons as well), put me on a routine maintenance of Procrit and sent me on my way.

Fine and Dandy...

Right before lunch I was hit by an overwhelming amount of stupidity and bureaucracy at work. It pushed me up a bit. I calmed down, changed clothes, and went out for a run. I got about one block.

Bonk.

I felt suddenly weak. I was confused. I walked a few blocks and decided to turn around and head back to work. It took me a reeaalll llooonnnggg tiiiiimmmmee. I had to sit a few times. I finally got back, went upstairs and ate (salad with tuna). I didn't even change back into my work clothes.

I do not really remember too much after that...

I called home and told Linda I was coming home. The next thing I knew my boss had come by to see me and was checking on me (I think the world of my boss. She is great unlike many of the other losers that I have had as leaders). She told me that I was going home. That made me happy because I wanted to go home.

She told me that my wife, Linda, called her.
I told her that I had a wife named Linda. She was home.

My boss looked worried. (at the time) beat the hell out of me why. My wife's name has always been Linda!

Someone came and sat with me. They talked about IT policies and Catholic Nuns. There had to be a connection somewhere. This gal sounded like the adults on a Charlie Brown Christmas. Whaa Whaa whaa...

Someone told me my wife was there. Great. Her name is Linda. Can someone tell her I want to go home?

Uh, Dale, she is here to take you home.
Great. My wife is named Linda. Please call her and tell her I am going home.
No, Dale, she is here.
Who is here?
Your wife is here to take you home.
I have a wife. Her name is Linda. Please excuse me while I call her and tell her I am going home.

Worse than Abbott and Costello.

Got home. Did some other strange things. I do not actually remember most of this, just what others have told me. Two guys helped me down to the van where my wife (hey, that's my wife Linda. What are you doing here? Can I go home?) was waiting.

This has happened a few times in the past. Scares the hell out of everyone....but me. I am in Laa-Laa land.

Took some meclazine, zyrtec, and valium and SLEPT.

The next morning went back to the doctor (nurse practitioner. I really like her). She was baffled. Linda (my wife) get harping on how I was fatigued. I was tired but I did not feel fatigued. I was getting almost enough sleep. I needed a few more hours that week but I am not too far off.

A few discussions later and they decide to check my blood sugar. Now, I am really against this. I am going nuts NOT to be diabetic. The though of using a monitor pisses me off.

I lose. I get to use a monitor several times a day.

Turns out I am not diabetic.

I am hypoglycemic. My blood sugar registered at 58, way below normal. A formal blood test taken 30 minutes later (after they forced a REGULAR high-fructose laden COKE (I try to avoid regular soda like the plague!!!)) came in at 44.

44 means they admit you and inject glucose into your body.

Luckily for me we had already left the hospital and were heading for Santa Fe to pick up my bike from its tune up. Hell, my priorities are in order!

Actually, I did check in and my sugar levels were going back up and were 109 when I called in.

So, here is the deal.

I must eat protein for breakfast
I must test before I exercise

If my blood sugar is below 90 I must snack
If it is really below 90 I do not exercise (damn!)

I must test after I exercise

It my blood sugar is below 90 I must eat
It is is really below 90 I chomp on some glucose pills

I am allowed to do the Tri

Hey, life could be worse. I just have to watch what I do.

Love and sweat,
and a regular coke (sigh....)

dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Old is the new New

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:26:00 +0000

I am sick of Clara getting damned goat heads in her Schwinn bike tires. I ordered some thorn-proof tubes by Forte through Performance Bike, bought her Mountain Bike tires in the local Los Alamos bike shop and went to change her tires over lunch.

No tire irons...

And the (small) bike shop had none. He was waiting on his spring shipment.

So I lost a workout today. When I got home I did change out Clara's tires as well as the ones on my comfort hybrid bike. That should help.

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Some days just go on forever...Tuesday's Events

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:12:00 +0000

Long day...

I did some light weight lifting at lunch:

Squats 12/3/135
One Arm Rows 12/3/45
Shoulder Dumb Bell Presses 12/3/50
Front Shoulder Raises 12/2/12
Side Shoulder Raises 12/2/10
Rear Shoulder Raises 12/2/12
Leg Curls 12/3/200
Incline Bench Press 12/3/95
Leg Extensions 12/3/90

You may have noticed a lot of shoulders here. Preparing for more swimming.

After work, I took the new bike to the shop for a tune up. Free in the first month. I have to go back to Santa Fe to get it back.

From there on to Albuquerque. I warmed up in the pool at 8 and we started at 9 for Tri Team swimming. I was slow but not altogether bad. I am bending me knees (creating drag), not breathing enough for a Tri (I was told that I was breathing for more of a sprint type race. A breath every three strokes alternating between left and right). For the longer 500m Tri with more aerobic activity after the swim, I need to breathe more. It was suggested that breathe on every right-hand stroke. This worked okay but I started to hyperventilate.

Oh, and I drag my left hand through the water on the upstroke creating drag.

What a drag. But practice makes perfect. We pyramid trained (50m rest 100m rest 200m rest 300m rest 200m rest 100m rest 50m). This killed me. By now it was 10pm and I was up since 5:30am and still had a hundred mile drive home.

I know, WHINER!

All in all a good but long day.

Love and sweat,
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Ran a few miles at lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 04:10:00 +0000

The Pratt Straps (and having a week off) helped. I was able to run about 2 or 2 1/2 miles at lunch. My knees hurt a little tonight but I will live. I am convinced it is ITB syndrome.

Tomorrow is weight training and hopefully going to Albuquerque to swim with the TNT Tri Team. At 9pm. Puts me home around midnight. Yawn...

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!

Great Bike Ride...35 miles

noreply@blogger.com (Bobblehead) — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 03:25:00 +0000

I had a great bike ride on Sunday...my first time to work out since Vertigo kicked my ass. I rode with the Santa Fe Team in Training Bike Team. Most of them are training for America's Most Beautiful Bike ride around Lake Tahoe. This looks likes a great event and I am tempted to sign up for it next year.

But, for this weekend we rode from Santa Fe to the train station in a little town called Lamy. Round trip was 35 miles. The road back was fairly uphill and the workout was great. I felt strong afterwards and am ready to start training for a Century after the Tri the Rim.

I did fall twice because of the new clipless pedals. I came to a stop and unhooked my right pedal. In doing so I shifted my weight to the left. Over I went. WHAM! Nothing I could do. I got back on, took a turn in the gravel and tried to clip back in. WHAM AGAIN! Only 3 feet later. There was a guy on a motorcycle behind me who just chuckled and shook his head. I knew he felt I was a dork and he was right :)

The problem I had with the clips was not unclipping...it was clipping in. I will remove some screws from the bottom of the show and maybe put in some shims. Once I was in the clipless pedals did make a difference. I had more power, especially on the "up stroke."

Nothing hurt but my pride.

Next week we take the same route but add another 10 miles for 45 total. Bring it on!

I had no food before the ride. I did have a cup of tea and a Cliff Energy Gel. That helped. I cannot exercise on much food but I know I need calories to go. Will figure out a balance.

Oh, I also wore my Pratt Straps for my IT Band. It seemed to help (see next post).

Keep on biking!
Dale

Help donate to Dale's Race to Fight Blood Cancers!