tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17272966074370615252024-03-23T02:49:50.228-07:00More Road Work AheadHaving fun and being happy,
living the swim/bike/run/eat/sleep lifestyle,
training for what is coming next.triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-86961289901989374502015-02-11T15:30:00.001-08:002015-02-11T15:30:15.398-08:00Tax season and small changesTax season makes me remember my college time counting small change to plan my meals. I'm not getting any tax returns, and I have committed a good amount of money in race registrations and hotel reservations (airfares still to come). I'm getting very good on rushing hotel reservations to save my legs and sleep for nice race starts. <div><br></div><div>Two weeks ago I stayed at the Waterfront Beach Resort (http://www.waterfrontresort.com) for the Surf City Marathon, and I just had to literally come down the stairs for the race start. At least in my age and fitness status this really matters for a good race. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUwLqtHTWDy01mamGXSBFkqIhaux8MOBSI-GlH08fNw6jQ9pcJKEIPjFXQYPloig6cKZ-Vnmydyp4N-Y7SSCPibc4bhQsQu90Zc5D4QVzaQ5vIZhOXvOpbI3Gd5lnt4hzyqbA5WlRC-Mh/s640/blogger-image--849876987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUwLqtHTWDy01mamGXSBFkqIhaux8MOBSI-GlH08fNw6jQ9pcJKEIPjFXQYPloig6cKZ-Vnmydyp4N-Y7SSCPibc4bhQsQu90Zc5D4QVzaQ5vIZhOXvOpbI3Gd5lnt4hzyqbA5WlRC-Mh/s640/blogger-image--849876987.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>I'm still working to make 2015 a very good year. Writing the blog is one of my resolutions. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">No one's ever achieved financial fitness with a January resolution that's abandoned by February.<br>Suze Orman</span></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSVxkhLDEXPIjBNQCsvEfNm6f0a3tgLg3c2In1zzq25dtRmDlYqOFvyftohXyYjmxbnlkQakGjm26d_9goyU_OgpYd74F2_Aj4yJC0KwE7Nu3wmUDXS3A9JrE36e5Nd-RoTtc7ZhuKjGS/s640/blogger-image-1936886084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSVxkhLDEXPIjBNQCsvEfNm6f0a3tgLg3c2In1zzq25dtRmDlYqOFvyftohXyYjmxbnlkQakGjm26d_9goyU_OgpYd74F2_Aj4yJC0KwE7Nu3wmUDXS3A9JrE36e5Nd-RoTtc7ZhuKjGS/s640/blogger-image-1936886084.jpg"></a></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-76485490205634665212015-02-10T17:30:00.001-08:002015-02-10T17:30:51.158-08:00Everything is good at the war frontToday I attended a lecture about daily writing making the good writer, so I felt compelled to come back to my blog.<br />
<br />
Everything is good at the war front, as I am getting busy at work, but saving time for training. In fact, I just managed two weeks ago at <a href="http://www.runsurfcity.com/">Surf City Marathon</a> to improve my marathon time to the best in the last two years (4:52:51), not much, but encouraging enough. With this year's race I became a legacy runner, and I plan to attend to this race every year. <br />
<br />
I am following a training plan through the <a href="http://neverstopexploring.com/2014/07/15/new-mountain-athletics-app-train-game/">Mountain Athletics app</a> to be able to run ultramarathons comfortably, if that is possible. At least, I feel stronger and more confident. I will run the<a href="http://www.thesfmarathon.com/ultramarathon/"> double marathon in San Francisco</a> as one of my main challenges of 2015.<br />
<br />
I will tell you later about my planned three Full Ironman and one Half Ironman races I have on the schedule this year. <br />
<br />
In summary, 2015 will be a blessed year.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjaminfr378118.html?src=t_persistence" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 26px; text-decoration: none;" title="view quote">Energy and persistence conquer all things.</a><br />
Benjamin Franklin<br />
<br />
<br />triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-65511712228253935082013-02-16T20:41:00.001-08:002013-02-16T20:41:55.554-08:00Lent, 2013"I have seen an angel,<br />
And my penitence now is to survive."<br />
<br />
I could not come with something harsher than I have been through, when I realized that my main penitence would be to live and smile. <br />
<br />
As a physician, a team leader, a husband and a catholic, I realized that I have been hurting others for not caring for myself. <br />
<br />
I will give up on alcohol and Coke, but above all I promised to myself I will take a moment everyday to reflect about my actions, pray, eat and exercise. <br />
<br />
I have started my Lent at a working trip, finally swimming again, back to my origins. <br />
<br />
I guess I am finding peace in the middle of the mountains of Salt Lake City. <br />
<br />
God bless us all. <br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo5EgWT7sCEuJbtwBdTJLojofzGD7X_HEMTTrARiivs9n_G-wIS7fXkqjvCLS-fG0o000iecoCUOLI-O-TWv-w8TAc21t6h_sqxosQUKAppL0YxBXpgV2F6IlY3OjP5_l4htjOzfz4Ggg/s640/blogger-image-1428677340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvo5EgWT7sCEuJbtwBdTJLojofzGD7X_HEMTTrARiivs9n_G-wIS7fXkqjvCLS-fG0o000iecoCUOLI-O-TWv-w8TAc21t6h_sqxosQUKAppL0YxBXpgV2F6IlY3OjP5_l4htjOzfz4Ggg/s640/blogger-image-1428677340.jpg" /></a></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com1Starbucks 9 South Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City40.76923 -111.902948tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-45734594642612642962013-02-14T23:52:00.000-08:002013-02-14T23:52:25.754-08:0002/07/2013<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AFMyFvPJ1BW77kurmngQgDkoMwbfwz4pf12i1ghEMFO8deEM2vzbdCYhxYVdR-N3e5cKZfTPlpBEOF9G1W2IR5tEBpfl0sXzN4EOyyLVrxMGHKDNaevLVKOTWNdX47bzHXDeiBvfzz1W/s1600/LC_pillarcandle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AFMyFvPJ1BW77kurmngQgDkoMwbfwz4pf12i1ghEMFO8deEM2vzbdCYhxYVdR-N3e5cKZfTPlpBEOF9G1W2IR5tEBpfl0sXzN4EOyyLVrxMGHKDNaevLVKOTWNdX47bzHXDeiBvfzz1W/s200/LC_pillarcandle.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One week ago I lost someone I loved very much. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5Pf424SaLCkNOFfxxMZTioQguFUVC0YcB2-xPIv4bCURfDGCwKEuhY-tVA7un8MwArEZKHx240jqLn2wot8phb3O5klUNIUU2d8KEwu-v7CLRz3SrYpIxyKzOCCY0nk-5aXp6FMkDCYv/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5Pf424SaLCkNOFfxxMZTioQguFUVC0YcB2-xPIv4bCURfDGCwKEuhY-tVA7un8MwArEZKHx240jqLn2wot8phb3O5klUNIUU2d8KEwu-v7CLRz3SrYpIxyKzOCCY0nk-5aXp6FMkDCYv/s200/photo.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have spent my days hiding from the light, haunting the dark corners of my apartment at night, feeling wrong at every breath, numb to everyone's sight.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I stopped listening to music, as it hurts; the only song that never leaves my head speaks exactly how I feel. It may not meet everyone's musical preferences, but the reader will certainly agree the words get their way in. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US">"We stare at broken clocks, the hands don't turn anymore.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The days turn into nights, empty hearts and empty places.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The day you lost him, I slowly lost you too.</span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> For when he died, he took a part of you.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> No time for farewells, no chances for goodbyes.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> No explanations, no f****** reasons why,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I watched it eat you up, pieces fallen on the floor.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We stare at broken clocks, the hands don't turn anymore.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> If only sorrow could build a staircase, or tears could show the way,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I would climb my way to Heaven, and bring him back home again.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Don't give up hope my friend, this is not the end.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We stare at broken clocks, the hands don't turn anymore.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The days turn into nights, empty hearts and empty places.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> The day you lost him, I slowly lost you too,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> For when he died, he took a part of you.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Death is only a chapter</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> So let's rip out the pages of yesterday</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Death is only a horizon</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> And I'm ready for my sun...</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I'm ready for my sun to...</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I'm ready for my sun...</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I'm ready for my sun to set.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> This is suicide season!</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> If only sorrow could build a staircase, or tears could show the way,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We would climb our way to Heaven, and bring him home again.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> If only sorrow could build a staircase, or tears could show the way,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We would climb our way to Heaven, and bring him home again.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> If only sorrow could build a staircase, or tears could show the way,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We would climb our way to Heaven, and bring him home again.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i>
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We would do anything to bring him back to you.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We would do anything to end what you're going through.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> If only sorrow could build a staircase, or tears could show the way,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I would climb my way to Heaven, and bring him home again.</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I would do anything to bring him back to you,</span><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></i><br />
<i><span class="TextRun SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Because if you got him back, I would get back the friend that I once knew."</span></i><span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i> </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="LineBreakBlob BlobObject SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SCX46793204" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i> Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season</i></span></span></div>
triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-25713498516469929282012-07-28T10:50:00.001-07:002012-07-28T10:50:38.967-07:00Men's Road Race - Olympic Cycling - Road | London 2012<a href="http://www.london2012.com/cycling-road/event=cycling-road-men-road-race/phase=crm012100/#.UBQmU-5zXDI.blogger">Men's Road Race - Olympic Cycling - Road | London 2012</a>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-80122569381076533572011-12-16T22:57:00.001-08:002011-12-16T22:57:48.100-08:00Sorry for being awayI am double sorry, for not posting more often and for not having many stories to tell. <br />
Life goes on at a faster pace, and I have devoted my days to work, thankfully being productive on that side. <br />
Today deserved a blog post because I finally found a good app for blogging from my IPhone, and because it is my wedding anniversary. <br />
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I thank God for my health, my beautiful and smart wife, and all the comfort I have, able to write a blog post from a warm place. <br />
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I recommend you take care of minutes, for hours will take care of themselves. ~ Lord Chesterfieldtriple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-58476945132996398902011-05-29T17:20:00.000-07:002011-05-29T17:20:24.463-07:00Older and Wiser<div style="text-align: justify;"> April 12th was my birthday, and since my last post I can state I am older and wiser.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> On 04/10/11 I started making wiser decisions when I switched my long bike ride from 100 miles to 60 miles as I did not train at all, and that was my first long bike ride of the year. Doing that I was able to enjoy the rest of a sunny Sunday with my wife, and walk straight for the following days. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> As work has taken the best of me, I am in fault to proper training, but continue challenging myself in order to keep my sanity, and halfway health. On 05/01/11 I ran OC Marathon, in my third consecutive year, and used a run-walk strategy to be able to finish without getting hurt. Pasadena Marathon came next, two weeks later, and the rain on half course and the hills made me slower than LA Marathon, but I was proud of my strong finish. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Now thinking about Ironman Arizona I have started to diversify my training (or, in other words, start training properly...), I swam 3200 meters at Coast to Coast Swim Challenge and started making plans. Right on time when Buckeyeoutdoors had a massive meltdown and lost all my training log and plans. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Today I ran the Brentwood Run 10K in order to assess my fitness, before starting proper training. I did suffer during the run, but finished right according to my predictions. Pace 8:51min/mile, with bonus of placing 253 overall in 521, 26 out of 41 in my age group, without any speed training. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> So much seriousness and commitment need a escape valve. Older and wiser, now I have hardened on my music preferences and embraced Heavy Metal. All day long, regular radio does not soothe me anymore. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Thinking again, maybe not that wise. For two of the last three marathons, I went to shows four days before the races. But I'll say it is all part of the challenge...</div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-3999341531830253582011-03-22T01:17:00.000-07:002011-03-22T01:17:59.406-07:00Marathon #32: This one is for the kids!<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrJhqr8aY_J6j8Gcgi7Ac2EKJ25CCI4BTV0GEZsEIAIRMUYGy5iEvEo9ZgDTOd5gRV_db3yT6rBPC8m2056fBwd6sDIxl62_Avg9nVbThzxPEFwIP72q6XyivoEWzPREJJRKS8t8CDSTU/s1600/LA+MARATHON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrJhqr8aY_J6j8Gcgi7Ac2EKJ25CCI4BTV0GEZsEIAIRMUYGy5iEvEo9ZgDTOd5gRV_db3yT6rBPC8m2056fBwd6sDIxl62_Avg9nVbThzxPEFwIP72q6XyivoEWzPREJJRKS8t8CDSTU/s320/LA+MARATHON.jpg" width="320" /></a> LA Marathon has always been a beautiful show, especially after the <a href="http://www.lamarathon.com/event/course-map/">new course</a> was designed, covering the most prominent LA's landmarks. All ages, all shapes, all fitness levels. Due to work, I came to race day without proper training, but with a full heart as I was running for St. Baldrick's Foundation and all kids battling cancer. I could not avoid to think that kids with cancer always come to the challenge frightened and unprepared. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I knew I was not alone in my hopes and questionable fitness, as I met my friends from <a href="http://www.marathonmaniacs.com/">Marathon Maniacs</a> for a group picture (some of them ran a marathon on the day before, some came running to the start).</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> And this was lesson number one:<u> <span style="color: orange;">YOU ARE NEVER ALONE, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO YOU ARE</span></u>. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXVrNypoJHndxIVaYvOWM7wKyq1Bg2nBsLS2OWNaov5pDhSQ3ENsQPJ6xtRkgpdsV_Afb_DjTzD4WZ_GkQEto21gqRVkNzNm8AGtkHRE5i3Og9ApJ196DcOOvGrdzBgQkcW4ZD3f8Td2Q/s1600/la+marathon+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXVrNypoJHndxIVaYvOWM7wKyq1Bg2nBsLS2OWNaov5pDhSQ3ENsQPJ6xtRkgpdsV_Afb_DjTzD4WZ_GkQEto21gqRVkNzNm8AGtkHRE5i3Og9ApJ196DcOOvGrdzBgQkcW4ZD3f8Td2Q/s200/la+marathon+009.JPG" width="149" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHsmepRFTlpWmHOPwAQ13sG2bgQAbjKXfSZ_F-WENiqjyBpbzKTRJNz_Jvep-XvqjjJ93gruC67jgL6xvXUnUuZ_6bRmGP05NA3EM2QSSzYF-Mc207K4YOG-X4zzDv38BxreVqaMcnA6Y/s1600/la+marathon+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHsmepRFTlpWmHOPwAQ13sG2bgQAbjKXfSZ_F-WENiqjyBpbzKTRJNz_Jvep-XvqjjJ93gruC67jgL6xvXUnUuZ_6bRmGP05NA3EM2QSSzYF-Mc207K4YOG-X4zzDv38BxreVqaMcnA6Y/s200/la+marathon+010.JPG" width="149" /></a> As all the runners crossed the start line at Dodgers' Stadium, the first drops of rain started to fall, announcing a challenging race. Winds started to pick up as well, making a chilly endurance statement. Seasoned runners like my friends and I started to worry about risk of hypothermia, but that all added to the race thrill, especially considering we all woke up about three hours before, and now our homes were very far away. The pretty sightseeing kept coming by, coloured by the racers and their jerseys and jackets, but the cold started to pick up. At mile 14 I was soaked, and the cold wind in my chest woke up my asthma, bringing fears of shortness of breath and race quitting. I knew if I was able to continue running I would warm up, get dryer, and breath better, so I kept going. </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> And this was lesson number two: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><u><span style="color: orange;">WE ALL HAVE FEARS, WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT YOU DO WITH THEM</span></u>.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> One of the nice surprises of this new course was to have the race coming to my neighborhood, running just few blocks from home. It was a blessing from Heaven to see my beloved wife on the corner, and a kiss was the medicine I needed to cross mile 16 running light with a smooth pace. That made me sure I was going to conquer this challenge without any horrible happenings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Lesson number three: <u><span style="color: orange;">YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE, AND YOU SHOULD COUNT WITH THEM</span></u>. </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I came across a lot of concerns during this race, and the worsening weather did not help at all. Having passed the middle point at about 2 hours and fifteen minutes, I knew my finish time would most likely be above four hours and fifty minutes. The rain rushed my stride, and running along my friends reinvigorated my legs. In an attempt to improve my time, and also to avoid the rain, I resorted to my secret weapon: to close my eyes... I always use this in order to avoid looking at the watch or the mile markers, staring the uphills, or getting afraid of the long distances in front of me. I simply look inside my brain and rekindle my courage. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60dBzktVzANaEGk3zbYVph4C9XDz1SLKxJDNKWs3aU1X4HTXZmW78d62omvd6whyvPoEGyZzqp0ySnm1LnNAYXIhY8Uk1MRfxF0Eq07Ke42-ofAThu5_pwbUKMj5fn5xHtEIaxhR_8iqq/s1600/la+marathon+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60dBzktVzANaEGk3zbYVph4C9XDz1SLKxJDNKWs3aU1X4HTXZmW78d62omvd6whyvPoEGyZzqp0ySnm1LnNAYXIhY8Uk1MRfxF0Eq07Ke42-ofAThu5_pwbUKMj5fn5xHtEIaxhR_8iqq/s200/la+marathon+011.JPG" width="150" /></a> Lesson number four: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><u><span style="color: orange;">BELIEVE IN YOURSELF: YOU CAN DO MORE THAN YOU THINK</span></u>. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> After a sprint over the last two miles, I finished the race in 4:42:42, with few tears hidden by the rain, at least eight minutes faster than my expectations. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This is the report of my marathon #32, not my fastest, but my best marathon, because this one was for the kids! </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E-Y8fxmGAPYZTj3Wej0DzJ2RG3IP1riOSiXhoSpRTsuwVT_5GDSqMYLhvU9tmegjzDC-kvqsxgqA48Op0zfg23X6zD9uHBEoFfvCf3Sg-P_0IekGsc0qGBgVIzvZ5D984dxnEls7XA0r/s1600/la+marathon+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E-Y8fxmGAPYZTj3Wej0DzJ2RG3IP1riOSiXhoSpRTsuwVT_5GDSqMYLhvU9tmegjzDC-kvqsxgqA48Op0zfg23X6zD9uHBEoFfvCf3Sg-P_0IekGsc0qGBgVIzvZ5D984dxnEls7XA0r/s320/la+marathon+012.JPG" width="239" /></a></div></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-19472246443811500282011-03-14T23:15:00.000-07:002011-03-14T23:15:52.202-07:00Boldly Bald<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_7B0NNMmSII/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_7B0NNMmSII?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_7B0NNMmSII?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> Now I can say the 2011 season has started. And I started head first. Last Saturday I shaved my head at a local St.Baldrick's Foundation event, in my way to become a hero. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> It feels like Triathlon season again!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> </div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-31167889447960960122011-03-06T23:01:00.000-08:002011-03-06T23:04:52.595-08:00Becoming a Hero! I have been working hard on my resolutions. And so as in my job. <br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"> That means I have been taking somewhat good care of myself; I have kept my weight around 173-174, have done Yoga almost every day, and slept better. I have run more often than last year, not yet every day. At work, I have been doing a lot, and that has brought a lot of contentment and new tasks. I have been busy for these first months of 2011, but I still have in mind my future races, with the big event being Ironman Arizona. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Talking about big events, I have been involved with <a href="http://www.stbaldricks.org/">St. Baldrick's Foundation</a>, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding childhood cancer research. Everything started on 2000, with a head-shaving event to benefit kids with cancer on St. Patrick’s Day; today the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the leading non-governmental organization funding research in childhood cancer. From their website:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The St. Baldrick's Foundation has made more than 250 grants totaling over $55 million for childhood cancer research since 2005, its first year as a foundation. In 2010 alone, over $14 million was funded - more than by any other foundation making grants for research to cure childhood cancers. The St. Baldrick's Foundation has made more than 250 grants totaling over $55 million for childhood cancer research since 2005, its first year as a foundation. In 2010 alone, over $14 million was funded - more than by any other foundation making grants for research to cure childhood cancers.”</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> On March 12, 2011, LAFD and LAPD come together to host a fundraising event to support St. Baldrick’s Foundation, in North Hollywood. It will be a beautiful morning with music, magicians, free IHOP and Starbucks breakfast, family fun, and, of course, head shaving! Up to now I have counted 82 shavees, myself included :) !!! </div><br />
For more information and donations please go <a href="http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/eventid/1756/eventyear/2011">here</a>.<br />
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In preparation for this great event, I am growing my hair, and have started team “<a href="http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/teamid/70367">Bold Baldrick</a>”, a team for everyone who believes all kids should have the opportunity to be silly, to laugh loud, to play all day long and be happy, instead of being scared by devastating diseases and fearing nurses and doctors. I am going to “baldly” race a series of events this year to honor our brave young cancer fighters: LA Marathon, Pasadena Marathon, Magic Mountain Man Half Distance Triathlon and the Ironman Arizona Triathlon. </div><br />
St.Baldrick's Foundation is working hard to save kids from cancer, and I am doing my part giving my hair, sweat and support to their cause.triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-43625004158456680702011-01-01T20:56:00.000-08:002011-01-01T20:56:23.810-08:00Resolutions 01/01/11#1. Keep myself healthy; I'm almost forty, and people are dying around me. <br />
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#2. Yoga and run EVERYDAY; same reasons mentioned above. <br />
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#3. Keep my weight below 172 lbs; same reasons mentioned above, plus I need to get faster...<br />
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#4. FINISH every race I start; even if that means fewer races.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">#5. Have a baby before forty; ... same reasons mentioned above. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj80V7s2NfOLhJt4a8wISOfAuou0vHUQwtX7EacRCEEI1qDj6ORAOr-tfaa_ejpSgBg6tSZXdai-Y8p8v7V3BX9urJgc74r0JpWhlIJK2hqWSvN_7_H25a9TyqPEH_BHEqYiwPFdq_WPa/s1600/IPHONE+PICS+233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKj80V7s2NfOLhJt4a8wISOfAuou0vHUQwtX7EacRCEEI1qDj6ORAOr-tfaa_ejpSgBg6tSZXdai-Y8p8v7V3BX9urJgc74r0JpWhlIJK2hqWSvN_7_H25a9TyqPEH_BHEqYiwPFdq_WPa/s400/IPHONE+PICS+233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-14925796405912519722010-12-31T13:21:00.000-08:002010-12-31T13:21:23.617-08:00Welcome 2011 !<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Happy New Year!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyb_2vFj5LOMIOOHGlSw5GXhtIH6ovTXhoLSQGV0ThmZEC7rxo4M1svFUa40OmPmDOhLfONghfJNr3VrbpxVYKrK7SpcgcfQUNtUdpsa8XdwDhJzPB9McajnDeIRQtTR7KaNupPXIDg_oR/s1600/cycle+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyb_2vFj5LOMIOOHGlSw5GXhtIH6ovTXhoLSQGV0ThmZEC7rxo4M1svFUa40OmPmDOhLfONghfJNr3VrbpxVYKrK7SpcgcfQUNtUdpsa8XdwDhJzPB9McajnDeIRQtTR7KaNupPXIDg_oR/s320/cycle+pic.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> I was raised with the belief that everything you do on the last day of the year will be repeated throughout the next year. And as an endurance athlete, I live by the motto that happiness requires sacrifice.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> I wish I could run a race today, but with the bad shape I am right now I probably would bring a very frustrating 2011. Right after ten days in Brazil, eating delicious home-cooked meals and killing my homesickness, my current weight is about 5 pounds higher, and my muscles are stiff of many hours of airplane trips. But my spirit is the same, and over the last week I have spent hours on planning the next season, and pondering the near-misses of 2010. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> I cannot complain; I was able to finish my first Ironman distance triathlon (Full Vineman), and did not have any major injuries. I have discovered Yoga, low-carb diet and Total Immersion, successfully started a new and promising job, and I live in a beautiful place, with blessed weather. Oh, and I was able to register to Ironman Arizona this time!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"> Still savoring the bitter taste of my first DNF, I am carefully planning the new season, now taking into account the new job. Of course, the goals are to improve my personal records, and for that probably I will not be able to race as often. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Right now I am cleaning my desk, catching up on the Yoga routines, and tuning up my bike. Just bought my first formula at <a href="http://www.infinitnutrition.us/">Infinit</a>, and renewed my contract with <a href="http://brandchampions.sugoi.com/">Sugoi Brand Champions</a>. Finally had time to post in my blog and check my racing plans. Yeah, 2011 will be an awesome year...</div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-42868359408145684722010-10-24T22:21:00.001-07:002010-10-25T00:04:23.044-07:00Half-racing<div style="text-align: justify;"> I am officially declared out-of-shape for this rest of the year. Today I just ran the inaugural Dodge Rock'n'Roll Los Angeles (you know, this is the first, I had to do it...), and suffered as much as in a marathon, running a half-marathon AT MARATHON PACE. Not just that, but I had to walk few hills, felt sick and hit the wall at Mile 6, and, for the third race finish in a row, medical volunteers came to ask me if I was OK. </div> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> Emergency measures are required, specially because I have a marathon in three weeks, the year still has two months to go, my training was jeopardized by my new job, and I want to have big endurance plans for 2011.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> First Step is start including my training on my written daily schedule. Even if it is a 30-minute run or a 15-minute Yoga session, something EVERYDAY, of course alternating intensity and listening to my body. Anything is better than nothing (current status). </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> Second Step is to go for a medical check-up, as now my gastrointestinal problems got me to believe I may have<a href="http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/ibs/"> Irritable Bowel Syndrome</a>: my frequent toilet visits start now the day before the races, and not only on race morning, causing me to become dehydrated even before the races start. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> Third Step is to start again taking better care of myself; my weight is still the same, but I've been drinking way too much coffee, eating erratically, delaying Yoga for more than a week long, and sleeping poorly. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> After my DNF disaster two weeks ago, I thought an easy half-marathon in less than two hours would be a nice workout. I am happy I had this wake-up call just in time for Thanksgiving.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> By the way, my unofficial time was 2h07min; and I am working on Thanksgiving.</div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-53753612698969103112010-10-12T09:13:00.001-07:002010-10-12T10:52:42.017-07:00Good News, Bad News<div style="text-align: justify;"> Pardon me my transient disappearance. I just started a new job one month before my first Ironman distance triathlon on July, and I am still catching up. As a miserable age grouper, I kept following my race schedule without adequate training after recovering from the big race. Happy to say I did not get physically injured. But naturally you can imagine what happened: I had my first Triathlon DNF.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> First the good news: I have completed my first Ironman distance race in less than 16 hours, a lifetime experience that I am sure I will repeat multiple times. In my trainng for it I learned to adjust my metabolism to burn fat, to trust Yoga for all my physical needs and build a stronger body, to disassemble my bike and pack it for flights and to swim longer distances (even though at the same slow speed...). After Vineman I did Malibu Oly and Malibu Sprint Relay, and finished my fastest Sprint race at the Los Angeles Triathlon. </div> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> It took me almost two months to feel back to normal after Vineman; I had a skin infection on my right index finger, and then five weeks of diarrhea after taking antibiotics. I felt like a pro when I got diarrhea again on the night before LA Triathlon, sleeping only about four hours, and still being able to achieve a PR. On the week before Magic Mountain Man 70.3 I was working 12-13 hours a day, and started again with gastrointestinal problems on the night before the race. Even without having rushed visits to the port-a-potty on race course, I had to stop after biking 16.6 miles in 1 hour and 58 minutes at 90F degrees, not sweating for about 40 minutes. I would have continued after a break at the first water stop if it was a flat bike course, but that is a very challenging one, and I knew I would not make the time cut-off, not talking about crashing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Talking about good and bad news, my hero Macca became the World Champion again, and Chrissie Wellington got sick and did not continue her championship streak.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Just a week before I was questioning the value of a finisher's medal, but a DNF makes you relearn your priorities. Maybe I am getting older and recovery is taking many more weeks, maybe I am working too hard, but this is Endurance life... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I need to schedule my next races, more road work ahead. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-19069379221193389142010-04-17T11:24:00.000-07:002010-04-17T11:24:17.473-07:00Birthday, and a book reviewMy 38th birthday was last Monday, and, of course, this whole month will be a month of reflection and contrition. As a personal rule, I never regret past acts, as I cannot change them, but I always try to learn from each days' mistakes. <br />
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I have been happily busy, as work is going well, opening opportunities for the future as I continue devoting huge efforts in order to build them. That is awesome if you are not trying to train for an Ironman distance race. <br />
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For the Full Vineman in July 31st, my goal became to be able to complete it despite less-than-optimal training while building my future. Part of the job description of being a working young adult... And my wife is already complaining I am always away training for the race.<br />
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As part of my efforts on trying to renew energies and recover out-of-work reading, I joined <a href="http://www.booksneeze.com/">http://www.booksneeze.com/</a> as book reviewer, and I gladly came across with <em>The Map</em>, curiously very opportune for a birthday month (or maybe I am biased...).<br />
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Below is my book review:<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Map: The Way of All Great Men, by David Murrow</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Every book has equal chance to influence the reader, but it will all depend on reaching the reader at the right opportunity. Even an award-winning bestseller depends on that golden moment in the reader's life to best deliver its message. This book has hit me at the right moment, and I recommend this book as a challenge to readers in order to dare to question the author’s diligent work.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Murrow is an award-winning television producer and writer, and employs all his skills to describe an elaborated story of suspense and drama about the search for a mysterious ancient map hidden in the Bible that would lead men to a life of greatness. Using this exciting tale as a parable, Murrow brings his findings and conclusions of many years of studying the Bible. <br />
More than just the first bright of suspense book that the editorial reviews advertised about, I was interested in learning Murrow’s message, as the author of the 2005 bestselling book Why Men Hate Going to Church, and director of Church for Men, an organization dedicated to restoring the masculine spirit in Christian congregations. I wanted to see how an engaged religious man could write a suspense book, or even a self-help book, for that matter.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Map is an interesting book with a bold proposition, in two parts: a fictional suspense story and a non-fictional argument presenting Murrow’s proposition. It showed me a different way to understand and live my faith, and maybe it will really serve as a guide to greatness and living life to the fullest.</span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http: booksneeze.com="">book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http: 16cfr255_03.html="" cfr="" nara="" waisidx_03="" www.access.gpo.gov="">: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”</span><br />
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"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose." - Lyndon B. Johnsontriple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-51169884177887953512010-04-17T10:57:00.000-07:002010-04-17T10:57:51.256-07:00Love your bike, part III have already written about how much I love my bike, but this post is about tough love. On March 7, 2010 I went to San Diego to once more take part of the Gran Fondo Colnago San Diego, on his second presentation. <br />
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Of course, I registered for the century, 101 miles with about 4157 ft of ascent on a beautiful course around San Diego, outstanding organization, and this year offering a 53mile and a 32mile courses. And, of course, it was raining the whole course. Sorry, no pictures this time, the Iphone was in a plastic bag.<br />
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Instead of skipping to the shorter courses, I tried to complete the century, as it was the only one to offer a challenging KOM segment that killed my body last year. Unnecessary to say I paid for my audacity. The ride started under pouring rain, with 10 minutes delay waiting for the Amtrak train to pass, with all riders soaked to their underware. The extent of the damage was just felt at the first stop at mile 15: my computer had died, and I was uncontrollably shivering at lower efforts. I even took a wrong turn going into the shortest ride, when I decided to continue the daring enterprise.<br />
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I happilly did the KOM segment: 6.75 miles, grade 3%-12% (averaging 5.2%), total vertical of 1,858 feet, in 1:10:37, still very slow for a real ciclist, but about 20 min faster than last year (of course because of multiple rest stops...). But right after the KOM I noticed that my breaks weren't working properly, and when I had to stop with a flat rear tire, I saw my break pads were almost complete worn down, probably because of the sandy wet course.<br />
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At mile 67 I had to stop, as I was going to face more downhills, and I couldn't trust my breaks. That, and I had to wait for an hour in the rain for my wife to come to pick me up. At least I was able to complete a metric century, and do the KOM once more. <br />
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Now I know why, even if it is fun, the pros don't like to ride in the rain. And my love for biking killed my computer (now working again after drying for a week), my break pads (switched to higher quality ones) and my drivetrain (now switched to a real Shimano Ultegra).<br />
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My tough love to myself upgraded my bike, and taught me new lessons. Waiting for the next year's new lessons...triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-45540433090942086842010-02-24T14:58:00.001-08:002010-02-24T14:58:06.528-08:00Nursing 2010I am happy and proud to say I'm busier than ever. Work is productive, the new apartment is comfortable, I am in control of my diet, and I am doing Yoga every day, all following my own schedule.<br /> <br />With the commitment of doing my first Ironman-distance race, the Full Vineman race in 07/31/10, I have since last December started Yoga practice, what became a basic daily need of my body and soul. Together with periodization of my diet following the principles taught by coach Bob Seebohar, I lost about four pounds, feel better and have more energy. Burning more fat, I can stand longer periods of time without food (5-6h instead of 2-3h), and I don't have the highs and peaks of blood sugar. My core is stronger, I don't have back or neck pains, and I sleep beter. I don't need daily doses of Ibuprofen anymore.<br /><br />Of course, training time and activities have to increase. I am still working on setting up my training slots adapting myself to this new reality, but comparing to last year I am already more active. I bought a cheap hybrid bike to be able to bike to work and swimming workouts without being afraid of losing my beloved tri-adapted bike. <br /><br />I am posting from my Iphone, so then I can post on the go, but unfortunately I cannot add pictures and make it prettier. But I really had to update my blog, after thinking about this post for over a month. I know this is probably a prolonged honeymoon with my improved me, but this has been my reality for two months. Just ran Pasadena Marathon last weekend, and suffered a good bit with poor training and gastric upset, but I felt good over the first 15 miles, finishing about the same time as the average time for previous marathons. <br /><br />I am happy with myself and know what to do. Ready for more road work ahead. <br /><br />triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-23962445202992131152010-02-23T21:39:00.000-08:002010-02-23T21:39:48.525-08:00Proudly announcing I'm a BookSneeze reviewer.<a href="http://www.booksneeze.com/reviews/blogger/10493?ref=badge"><img alt="I review for BookSneeze" src="http://www.booksneeze.com/images/booksneeze_badge_lg.png" border="0" width="300" height="250"></a><br />
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Sorry for the delay on my posts. <br />
Thank God I've been very busy, very productive and happy.<br />
Ramping up the training, of course, preparing for Full Vineman on 07/31/10. <br />
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To catch up on my reading, and get another incentive to write blogs more often, I joined BookSneeze as a reviewer; I will share my book reviews, read during my rest hours.<br />
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Posting soon!triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-64459480515636064712009-12-21T19:26:00.000-08:002009-12-21T19:26:04.413-08:00Malibu International Marathon<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe9ClMKGw2E15CBd9bLAuHBbPNbgOucZP0BUx8O_zVtDR3u-nR0yoL40-SbruVlwFO8laL421jeBMXMJ1BmMzb3el6Ds9RT65CukwhNWn4toM8lT1YL25bmUbGYvryV-RVo_oAkzpt1mr/s1600/zuma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVe9ClMKGw2E15CBd9bLAuHBbPNbgOucZP0BUx8O_zVtDR3u-nR0yoL40-SbruVlwFO8laL421jeBMXMJ1BmMzb3el6Ds9RT65CukwhNWn4toM8lT1YL25bmUbGYvryV-RVo_oAkzpt1mr/s400/zuma.jpg" />A</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Zuma Beach, in Malibu, CA, has a very special place in my heart. It is a beautiful place where I had planned my first A race, where I first got panic at open water swim, where I first noticed my bike strength was not enough, where I will always be able to watch the ocean without people interrupting my view.<br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> That is essentially why I was mesmerized by the idea of running a marathon through PCH finishing at Zuma Beach. I knew there would be hills at the last half, and without proper training this would not be a race to get a personal best. But as usual, being this the first event there was a special attraction. And I had to run another marathon for 2009.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4JAqRkJcyCqCEr_wNxZ1aoX1KYkR_R99MV3fcd3GYzCiY1_0bhTc6MiVZKbH1EhARILqLqxxb6l8Bc5iyGAdmvBI4gZO80ay2mSBalhnYwwwt169Z0htb8xyUMK7-BxAbKT-yY-szlA-/s1600-h/malibu+start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rs="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4JAqRkJcyCqCEr_wNxZ1aoX1KYkR_R99MV3fcd3GYzCiY1_0bhTc6MiVZKbH1EhARILqLqxxb6l8Bc5iyGAdmvBI4gZO80ay2mSBalhnYwwwt169Z0htb8xyUMK7-BxAbKT-yY-szlA-/s320/malibu+start.jpg" /></a> It was a chilly morning (43-45F), and parking was available near the finish line, with shuttles to take the runners to the start. My wife was running the half, and would start at the middle of the full course, two hours later, so we had to go separate ways. There was a small number of racers for the full marathon (331 finishers), and the sun came out right before the start.<br />
Following my training on forefoot running, I decided to make this my first marathon on flat lightweight shoes, my old pair of Asics DS Gel Racer that I used on my sprint triathlons throughout 2009. Addionally to that, I was three weeks on my low carb diet, lighter and feeling more energetic. My watch battery had died, so there would be no time monitoring, what contributed to decrease my anxiety.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4AcPA5JecUC1M0VzRmE5DT6RzWxSOXFXhKdJRaHL4Wq_xTEF3-8H5bHtt8whwoOWiS55n0PydKZrxxV2brhneITEmXaEsY3E4Rsxqal3TjWtqJbUJtZXvztYJU_OHSqaWZ65WnrJNfbF/s1600-h/malibu+Marathon+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4AcPA5JecUC1M0VzRmE5DT6RzWxSOXFXhKdJRaHL4Wq_xTEF3-8H5bHtt8whwoOWiS55n0PydKZrxxV2brhneITEmXaEsY3E4Rsxqal3TjWtqJbUJtZXvztYJU_OHSqaWZ65WnrJNfbF/s320/malibu+Marathon+010.jpg" /></a><br />
</div> I felt really good at start, and decided to leave behind the 4:30 pace group, as I was able to run confortably at 9 min/mile pace. When we reached the Pacific Coast Highway there was a strong headwind for about two miles, what required extra energy spenditure. But I kept the 9 min/mile until mile 15, when everything came down, as I started to climb the hills. Probably I had muscle fatigue resulting from the current diet mixed with the different running technique. I had to do walk breaks, mostly on the hills, as I did not have a watch to rigorously follow a schedule. At that point, it became a fun run, and I started to chase the other marathon maniacs and interesting people.<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> To help me finish the last three miles, I met a runner training with Galloway using an interesting device to <a href="http://www.jeffgalloway.com/detail.aspx?ID=49">time the run/walk/run schedule</a>. That tiny box with loud beeper really pushed me forward, and we finished the marathon few minutes after 4:30, without being passed by the pace group (that or I was really short of oxygen).<br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghms6mbc07XpCvA9dPw1ZhE5t2Gwx-6R-Oj1UoAlhwyny3tQbKUXGUWQ0TNorQQwabIWOrWVC7iVfZR22Pb8SCbtDliyoSBQjlF-QD2DKl_X-MjIkL6e5hZaiyWQAytzQ-9xHDElaOGvzj/s1600-h/Malibu+Marathon+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghms6mbc07XpCvA9dPw1ZhE5t2Gwx-6R-Oj1UoAlhwyny3tQbKUXGUWQ0TNorQQwabIWOrWVC7iVfZR22Pb8SCbtDliyoSBQjlF-QD2DKl_X-MjIkL6e5hZaiyWQAytzQ-9xHDElaOGvzj/s320/Malibu+Marathon+009.JPG" /></a><br />
</div> I ran Malibu more than two months after my last marathon (<a href="http://www.thekauaimarathon.com/">Kauai Marathon</a>, 09/06/09), and a month after I burned out after <a href="http://www.renegaderaceseries.com/index.php?view=details&id=36%3Amagic-mountain-man-triathlon&option=com_eventlist&Itemid=146">Magic Mountain Man</a> (10/10/09), so it was my secret pleasure to finish it. I was finally reclaiming my running form back, in time for Baton Rouge Beach Marathon in 12/05/09, and a happy 2009 closure. <br />
To have the same result as previous marathons was reassuring, with the new diet, the new technique and the new year to come. I was finally going back to my roots, becoming a better runner and triathlete. <br />
</div></div></div></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-63342536175202270632009-11-23T20:01:00.000-08:002009-11-23T20:01:16.351-08:00Before I forget...<embed wmode="opaque" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/index/swf/badge.swf?v=200911192100" FlashVars="backgroundColor=0xFFFFFF&textColor=0x2F6186&config=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runcast.tv%2Fmain%2Fbadge%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fxg_source%3Dbadge%26size%3Dmedium%26username%3D1kwf5hmjrmvcc" width="206" height="174" bgColor="#FFFFFF" scale="noscale" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"> </embed><br /><small><a href="http://www.runcast.tv">Visit <em>RuncastTV</em></a></small><br />triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-68766254797220418282009-11-13T20:02:00.001-08:002009-11-14T02:29:19.206-08:00GUILTY AS CHARGED!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7wcUy9osUyYjFpKnb5p6F5bjfQ5Ic7Jp_fG6-44xT_1S4Uh1UHrDQ_jCYI51d535JWhTWNKBqOyIhcedJ0B1JbygQ7NmwxVsLcq-KJobv5kDq1MEBwoBvpRCrQndU7Zo1ppbcBiHwgnW/s1600-h/Heroes+of+Hope+s0j1r5x7i9r1u2l3d2a2j3l.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403810323970623090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7wcUy9osUyYjFpKnb5p6F5bjfQ5Ic7Jp_fG6-44xT_1S4Uh1UHrDQ_jCYI51d535JWhTWNKBqOyIhcedJ0B1JbygQ7NmwxVsLcq-KJobv5kDq1MEBwoBvpRCrQndU7Zo1ppbcBiHwgnW/s320/Heroes+of+Hope+s0j1r5x7i9r1u2l3d2a2j3l.jpg" /></a>I have to apologize for all these months without posting.<br /><br /><div align="justify">Major part of it is that I have been very busy at work, thank God. I have accomplished many steps in my career, and have made the plan for the next few years, so that was worth. Now I can pay more attention to my wife, my life in details, and my blog. I have done many races, as you may see on the sidebar. I promise I will bring details in further posts, at least I will never run out of topics. Probably will not write a lot about Giants and Trojans, as it seems they will not do very well this season. </div><br /><div align="justify">Another reason for my absence is Twitter. Most of my need to communicate with the Earth and its inhabitants was satisfied by using those 140-character microposts. And you can see them all on the sidebar as well. </div><br /><div align="justify">I promise I will continue this blog, as I am alive and well (see the picture of me and a friend at my last race). Even happier on giving continuation to my blog. And doing Yoga more often. And eating healthier low carb diet. And having moved to Beverly Hills adjacent. And having started a small garden in my balcony. And planning my first Full Ironman Triathlon distance. </div><br /><div align="justify">Talking again about the sidebar, please notice my insatiable hunger for challenges keeps me registering for races.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I am guilty as charged for not giving attention to my blog, but as you can read, I am still the same impulsive, elegant hard worker-but-bad-schedule-follower as before. I love my wife, my life and this blog. I love triathlon, endurance sports, children and puppies. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc34Q_qS8CIuvAOgrT-bwe0doWKVMlBZoj3carX9L62dzKmqt3LsxY7-CEWb2j5_ysTHtcSfC-lltU1bXQDhp_qvfrwBPgGhxb-tmucGdxcANatEpZJ4VEtqwqPKqdUibvBce5yNPT7anr/s1600-h/road+work.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403903888306232722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc34Q_qS8CIuvAOgrT-bwe0doWKVMlBZoj3carX9L62dzKmqt3LsxY7-CEWb2j5_ysTHtcSfC-lltU1bXQDhp_qvfrwBPgGhxb-tmucGdxcANatEpZJ4VEtqwqPKqdUibvBce5yNPT7anr/s400/road+work.jpg" /></a> <div align="justify">More Road Work Ahead. </div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-68814658672886265012009-08-23T22:44:00.000-07:002009-11-13T19:48:09.155-08:00Vineman 70.3: Lessons to Learn<img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403796796608101810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdZIdUANfBb2QIDuGFBVHDXg1Fwit9Aag2nawqxkhsBb0wxQUplPfxSNr3r8IHLYeMSJnpRG32jrcnvFX5p3NOlU20sJmip5sjkBdh4xyy8atFqqQIMBOTlIvEcdsNGzrL45UFZuT_UUg/s320/thumbs-775048.jpg" />Going for bigger challenges, I had on Vineman 70.3 my second half-ironman triathlon. It was my first registration, my A race, while Wildflower was to be my rehearsal. Vineman was special because of the M-dot logo, I should say.<br /><br /><div align="justify">It taught me a lot of lessons, I am happy and proud to say. First lesson was never to travel on the previous day of a long distance race. Trying to save time and money, I went from LA to San Francisco on the morning of the previous day, spent hours driving and dehydrating, wasted my lunch time at the expo, and ended having lunch at a supermarket at 4PM, about fifteen hours from the race start. Bad plan. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRjQBX-Ee11Roj7ZsJnKyQ7qOz0l9mFWBLjXa5WpXLoMw1DSMO56R8vzNRMBtdvMAJV17ygLLplt1K7DokvaqEmrRXHyRA7g4QWZHz8mIZRxX6boCrWn9OA6InOYdcCreYSMNaptrGGQV/s1600-h/001.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403468265988956546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRjQBX-Ee11Roj7ZsJnKyQ7qOz0l9mFWBLjXa5WpXLoMw1DSMO56R8vzNRMBtdvMAJV17ygLLplt1K7DokvaqEmrRXHyRA7g4QWZHz8mIZRxX6boCrWn9OA6InOYdcCreYSMNaptrGGQV/s320/001.JPG" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Driving back and forth along the bike course, still made to have dinner with colleagues from LA TRI, at a place to have a pizza "to die for", with an old ambulance for deliveries (see picture). </div><br /><div align="justify">Slept well, but worried through the hot night for have forgotten to check again the race course, with no Internet or IPhone access to do so at bedtime. That was my second lesson: study carefully the race course, months and weeks before. </div><br /><p align="justify">Transition area and swimming start were crowded, with many colorful distractions and loudspeakers, and I almost missed the start of my wave. The Russian River is a beautiful place, and its warm calm and shallow waters were a pleasure to swimmers of all levels. At mid-course I regretted to wear full wetsuit, sweating while touching the bottom with my hands. At the end, I regretted not to have trained better: 57:32, in such ideal conditions. Of course, transition area was half empty. Little problems packing everything, and T1 was 4:19.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUFG1LKSpFZ3vlhIAQJU7kbZZoMWJb6stlP1_16xnNhjDBBGFdXNcjjtAwxnII6cw4-fKmKgpWMlgcmG3bzpK_T0uCmumcGk3vhAMxckgJsA-lHzvrjuo1XOr4s_dLXLwONUOxkmihe1R/s1600-h/p223721-Guerneville-Russian_River.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403796907433460082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUFG1LKSpFZ3vlhIAQJU7kbZZoMWJb6stlP1_16xnNhjDBBGFdXNcjjtAwxnII6cw4-fKmKgpWMlgcmG3bzpK_T0uCmumcGk3vhAMxckgJsA-lHzvrjuo1XOr4s_dLXLwONUOxkmihe1R/s320/p223721-Guerneville-Russian_River.jpg" /></a> </p><p align="justify">Best bike ever was followed by my worst run ever; cooking under the hot sun, I had foot cramps over the first four miles, followed by excessive fluid intake up to mile 6 and consequent abdominal cramps and nausea over the last six miles: 2:44:20. Last three miles were<br />a slow long nightmare, watching the minutes fly over my tired legs and dizzy head. </p><p align="justify">Packing everything under the hot sun and my burning rage, recovering from nausea and abdominal cramps, I felt the bitter taste of dissatisfaction. 7:16:50 was my time. </p><p align="justify">One last lesson was still to be learnt from Coach Brian Melekian, at the exit of transition area.</p><p align="justify">"Hey, are you OK?"-he asked. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdZIdUANfBb2QIDuGFBVHDXg1Fwit9Aag2nawqxkhsBb0wxQUplPfxSNr3r8IHLYeMSJnpRG32jrcnvFX5p3NOlU20sJmip5sjkBdh4xyy8atFqqQIMBOTlIvEcdsNGzrL45UFZuT_UUg/s1600-h/thumbs-775048.jpg"><br /></a>"I am upset because I did not break seven hours."- I said. </p><p align="justify">"DID YOU have <em><strong>FUN</strong></em>?"- he returned.</p><p align="justify">Yes, ideed. It was fun, probably even when I was hurting. </p><p align="justify">That's why I love Triathlon. And that's why I will come back to Sonoma.</p><br /><br /><div><br /><em>"A person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it." - Anonymous.</em><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="justify"></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="justify"></p>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-23929448276808947792009-07-12T15:46:00.000-07:002009-07-12T17:13:33.760-07:00Race Week!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflxss9GZrYUHfdHrP-iCWwdfwC3J6xKwa6KV7z48BLcvn_VwN24Bz94D8ySE60lKS3S-KhJeNSmLfAEXbXCTA0r91kKX98Lt57n2a7MAp7JKpzvXfOE858699QPoOP0YcIattL3r6ksQs/s1600-h/thumbs-775048.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357710649971183954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflxss9GZrYUHfdHrP-iCWwdfwC3J6xKwa6KV7z48BLcvn_VwN24Bz94D8ySE60lKS3S-KhJeNSmLfAEXbXCTA0r91kKX98Lt57n2a7MAp7JKpzvXfOE858699QPoOP0YcIattL3r6ksQs/s320/thumbs-775048.jpg" /></a> Vineman 70.3 is one week ahead, and finally I can take a break in the push for training (or the guilt of not training harder). </div><br /><div align="justify">This time I cannot say I did not peak my training. And I have seen myself faster, more confident and more comfortable, at least on the bike. Of note, training for my second half distance race I did two marathons in six days (LA Marathon and San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon), happily completed my second Century (LA River Ride), and was able to conquer hills with the group rides. I can proudly say now I do not stay last in the group rides. </div><br /><div align="justify">Hungry all the time, now I can indulge on ice cream and bananas and cake at night, and eat as many times as I feel hungry. I had sports massage two days ago, and now I can feel my body without awkward posture or tightness. I go to be earlier, and sleep until late evertime I can. This time I am enjoying race taper.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtXZSr7mcqLPJSRSnGN3ae9u2tdWaPiKe1VUConxSIMpJ1MBHCr3BXJa3VOQx0hcgxxPcsutwKnmura_3DZiGD9Z0dVA06HypYuD3A_ahOuw72QzfiiWfTNhnLqNgI5c1aUTzkdE51HoX/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357727914221213266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtXZSr7mcqLPJSRSnGN3ae9u2tdWaPiKe1VUConxSIMpJ1MBHCr3BXJa3VOQx0hcgxxPcsutwKnmura_3DZiGD9Z0dVA06HypYuD3A_ahOuw72QzfiiWfTNhnLqNgI5c1aUTzkdE51HoX/s200/002.JPG" /></a>Worried about the forecast of 95 F for Sonoma on race day, I have spent time exposed to the hot weather, doing short runs or half hour walks. That is a real threat.<br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As part of the taper, I am catching up on my movie going activities. Yesterday I went to a documentary festival, and I watched <a href="http://www.beautymarkmovie.com/">Beauty Mark</a> and <a href="http://bicycledreamsmovie.com/">Bicycle Dreams</a>. It may be I am in a sensitive mood theses days, but I have to declare my love to these two movies.</div><br /><div align="justify">Beauty Mark is centered on Diane Israel, a world-class triathlete and psychotherapist, discussing body and self-image, and athletic bulimia, with interviews with many former champion athletes, including Dave "The Man" Scott. </div><br /><div align="justify">Bicycle Dreams is an award-winner documentary that follows the epic Race Across America, touching the souls of all endurance athletes, showing cyclists in search for their inner truths struggling in this challenging race. </div><br /><div align="justify">Training is complete, I am completing another big step in my life, and I am happy. Looking forward the next challenge. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgPhuDX7hwC5JQZJ8yTpIBX50xhC4S8bmQS-3z1DdK-slB6Ai92nj9bCHMaBwYOZ9EXh7z0y_s3XtoF1V1uXYsI9O51V7v5E4FU04StI4vZReIdTSJQxn3ARMbEcRzvngRlCynVhqUj3s/s1600-h/roadworkahead.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357730679487691154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgPhuDX7hwC5JQZJ8yTpIBX50xhC4S8bmQS-3z1DdK-slB6Ai92nj9bCHMaBwYOZ9EXh7z0y_s3XtoF1V1uXYsI9O51V7v5E4FU04StI4vZReIdTSJQxn3ARMbEcRzvngRlCynVhqUj3s/s320/roadworkahead.jpg" /></a>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-19341548812677601922009-06-10T21:08:00.000-07:002009-06-25T04:38:46.021-07:00Wildflower !!!<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvN_LFHJjNmPBU4MXL_zuOsNVciokipTOJONUSOifh7tzaO2baZVMtLrJqqTJnUqdVdV9YMbutJwZwdduX8mvNQ8AgfLwlSk-FZKl1fmGsJe5jt1chOFyDEh0CHU0N15VXYpCZJ3KkpSw/s1600-h/wildflower.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 170px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 104px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345921722416150338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvN_LFHJjNmPBU4MXL_zuOsNVciokipTOJONUSOifh7tzaO2baZVMtLrJqqTJnUqdVdV9YMbutJwZwdduX8mvNQ8AgfLwlSk-FZKl1fmGsJe5jt1chOFyDEh0CHU0N15VXYpCZJ3KkpSw/s320/wildflower.gif" /></a>Wildflower long course was my first Half-Ironman Distance in my short life of triathlete. One should expect months of hard training and commitment, and so did I. </div><br /><div align="justify">But life came on the way. Months coming to this race I was having a hard time at work, not able to eat, sleep or train accordingly. All I had was the thrill of the first Half distance, and the challenge of beating the course closure times. Truth to be told, I registered for Wildflower as a rehearsal for Vineman 70.3, certain that I needed a wake-up call. With all the bad schedule, that was the right decision, and I came to Paso Robles, CA with the goal time of less than 7hours and 30 minutes. Talking about rehearsal, this was my first race on a Sugoi trisuit, and I have to say: it was more comfortable than wearing pajamas.</div><br /><div align="justify">After touring the bike course by car, on race morning I set up my transition time almost certain that I would not be able to climb Nasty Grade all along. I just did not do my homework, and I knew I missed precious training hours over the last few months. </div><br /><div align="justify">I was not nervous, I knew what I could do thanks to my previous races and my training. But again made the mistake of not avoiding anything new on race day: worried about foggy goggles, I tried the anti-fog spray on my Aqua Sphere goggles; by the second buoy I had water on my goggles, and since then my sight was blurry, and at the turn around I missed one corner, being instructed by the officials to turn back. After that, I lost my confidence, and my pace was jeopardized by more often blurry sights. I finished the swim in 57:58 and with a red eye that lasted two days to heal, possibly a chemical conjunctivitis. It was less than one hour, as expected, but probably I could have finished the swim leg in less than 50 minutes. I need new racing goggles, that is for sure. </div><br /><div align="justify">T1 was a little bit more than five minutes, due to a mix of run/walk on rough cement and dizziness at wetsuit strip.</div><br /><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQdU84WUXufu31pJGSfdK4PpwctydMLLW7BvKa6nPG2HHxKhVR-r_Bap-oR-xkshkeICa7q0AHuyD-ukiIQkFkWbvsDWF1bO2mpIKghvaDTDx3xY4aBpnmQ-3pX_mZ-wHjjOph-YS1Qs8/s1600-h/WildflowerBIKE.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 168px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351224341898726866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQdU84WUXufu31pJGSfdK4PpwctydMLLW7BvKa6nPG2HHxKhVR-r_Bap-oR-xkshkeICa7q0AHuyD-ukiIQkFkWbvsDWF1bO2mpIKghvaDTDx3xY4aBpnmQ-3pX_mZ-wHjjOph-YS1Qs8/s200/WildflowerBIKE.jpg" /></a>For the bike leg, the challenge was to finish before the course closure, what meant to be completed in less than five hours. I was not sure about my abilities, and for that reason I was a bit anxious for about three-fourths of the course. I had lumbar backpain, probably because of the swimming efforts followed by the climbing right at the beginning, and that contributed to my almost despair. I did not stop, until the last few yards of the Nasty Grade, when, as expected, I had to walk my bike. I was not alone at that point, but I swore I will never do that again in a race. Another valuable lesson. Nutrition was not a problem, and I was able to keep myself up-to-date with pieces of Triple Threat Powerbar and gels. To my surprise, I did the bike leg in 4hours and 5 minutes, a nice surprise to myself, not before feeling angry on seeing people finishing their run while I still had the whole half-marathon ahead. Those made my T2 about 2 minutes, not bad for such a large transition area.</p><br /><div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTCA8W0swS0mMp-T_pLyPocBQNdFz5iwak7VrUwgwyKZ70eNn0NsDDuPAi-uaxxg9jU_h0S3VfMYsymx3NnwjzF-yOE_zhDwwlb_32CwAC3eRiitmQ7XUpbCvm6-ziM9Re77hyRJyMqdy/s1600-h/WildflowerRUN.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351225034366934642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTCA8W0swS0mMp-T_pLyPocBQNdFz5iwak7VrUwgwyKZ70eNn0NsDDuPAi-uaxxg9jU_h0S3VfMYsymx3NnwjzF-yOE_zhDwwlb_32CwAC3eRiitmQ7XUpbCvm6-ziM9Re77hyRJyMqdy/s200/WildflowerRUN.jpg" /></a>I really enjoyed the run, at least the first 11 miles, because of the trail course, and because I did not bonk. But I was rushed to finish, and forgot nutrition. Took only three gels during the whole leg, and paid the price; at mile 10 there was a long hill, and I had to walk. Even running the last mile and a half, I finished the run in 2hours and 24minutes, not enought to beat my goals. </div><br /><div align="justify"><p align="justify">I finished in 7 hours and 36 minutes, happy to be able to complete a Half distance, but upset by 6 minutes on my expectations. But I will never forget my fond Wildflower memories, and I know what went wrong, and I am ready to improve. That is all that matters.<br /></p><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727296607437061525.post-89286828151158830902009-04-28T19:43:00.000-07:002009-04-30T11:24:57.706-07:00Long Time No See...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0kyOVe8qctnpPieCrJApAjNkaKWng0V9vULYz4YEx39lO12Gd9RXbIm_N9jUStR6vlyqQtz5S3ND2nkrpeJnprtHXzez73fhr-mJalRNfihzwo90NzwSg6O4XCRM43VgN12dS0n0BG0n/s1600-h/untitled11.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330550234191857378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0kyOVe8qctnpPieCrJApAjNkaKWng0V9vULYz4YEx39lO12Gd9RXbIm_N9jUStR6vlyqQtz5S3ND2nkrpeJnprtHXzez73fhr-mJalRNfihzwo90NzwSg6O4XCRM43VgN12dS0n0BG0n/s320/untitled11.bmp" border="0" /></a> I have been very busy at work, so many things happened, so few hours in the day...<br /><div align="justify"><br />Let me start reporting that I had a real Catholic Lent: for about six weeks I worked hard, almost completely keeping myself away from serious training, eating badly, and sleeping 4 to 6 hours a night. And as a real resurrection, I had my birthday on Easter, finally (but late) resuming my training for Wildflower Long Course.<br /><div align="justify"><br /><div align="justify">Not that I had some fun and endurance challenges during the last months... On March 1st 2009 I took part in the Gran Fondo, a <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/san-diego/690581530155">challenging ride at San Diego</a>, my first Century. Let's say a century hurts more than any marathon. And it was a good lesson: I did not take enough fluids for a Tmax of 75F, and started cramping at mile 35, and had to walk my bike for many points of elevation. But I really wanted to finish, and did it, in 10 hours and 15 minutes, right when the finish line was being disassembled. Result: I earned unforgettable memories and experience, and up to today I did not receive my medal (promised to be sent by mail) and my jersey (also promised to be sent by mail by the organizers).</div><div align="justify"><br /><div align="justify">All that effort brought unexpected results: on 03/21/09 I ran the Stand for Hope 5K race around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (see the first picture) and got a new PR, 21:10. On the very next day I ran the Pasadena Marathon and also got a new PR, 4:13:32. Better than that, I was able to run the first half few seconds less than 2hours, in a hilly course, in a happy preparation for Wildflower. </div><div align="justify"><br /><div align="justify">Aware of my urgent need to increase my hours on the bike, on 03/28/09 I took part in the Spring Metric Century organized by the Orange County Wheelmen, on the Santiago Canyon, happily finishing 66 miles in 4:18, less hurt, without cramps or dehydration. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgx8gjWXfbvmdtkXIILaF_XqDqP-NR73xMqBWygZ027c40F25tgRImK33zMTW_7c2WAtbd6Hab2JvH7g_PuP5qi19xnTqhkb_ZD11lEQwTSfvGl2wBxuWC95YxCoE_wAWEZj9yTFOoj8N/s1600-h/rock+store.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330549523630273778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgx8gjWXfbvmdtkXIILaF_XqDqP-NR73xMqBWygZ027c40F25tgRImK33zMTW_7c2WAtbd6Hab2JvH7g_PuP5qi19xnTqhkb_ZD11lEQwTSfvGl2wBxuWC95YxCoE_wAWEZj9yTFOoj8N/s320/rock+store.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Still in the same spirit, I went for a ride with experienced LaTri athletes on the Santa Monica Mountains, and of course got left behind in a <a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=913124014884516623">50+ hilly course</a>, but got home sure that I was able to tackle a harder course than the real <a href="http://www.tricalifornia.com/index.cfm/Wildflower2009-course_descriptions_long_course.htm">Wildflower Long Course</a>.<br /><div align="justify"><br /><div align="justify">Joining LA Tri Club and USAT meant the beginning of my mature age as a triathlete (not to mention all the perks and discounts). Last weekend I had another beautiful bike ride on Palos Verdes, at a very mellow pace, followed by a short run at the beach and a barbecue. </div><div align="justify"><br /><div align="justify">Of course, with maturity comes accountability and hard reality; I could be "more ready" for Wildflower. An unrealistic goal of 6hours and 30minutes came down to a threatening attempt to at least beat 7 hours and 30minutes. But I am really having fun, achieving new PRs and exciting experiences. Considering Wildflower will be my first 70.3 distance, I am going to enjoy the most. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">And still have time to prepare my redemption at Vineman 70.3.<br /></div></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1YKcsvoI6lMA2M1Tf4stuK1PyXXgk3PgsgPX-vpe8zj5KK1gsuJ1wWqEAcTkvtnGWEKkuD7Y3gl2GQXN-KpAfvCfOxzV4_k3n-f_SvJXvE4oWQqA3K4CxNL_IjTZmO3oUxvKtLYPq4GM/s1600-h/SUGOI+logo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330551632596628658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 31px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1YKcsvoI6lMA2M1Tf4stuK1PyXXgk3PgsgPX-vpe8zj5KK1gsuJ1wWqEAcTkvtnGWEKkuD7Y3gl2GQXN-KpAfvCfOxzV4_k3n-f_SvJXvE4oWQqA3K4CxNL_IjTZmO3oUxvKtLYPq4GM/s200/SUGOI+logo.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Experience is not what happens to a man. </span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">It is what a man does with what happens to him. </span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Aldous Leonard Huxley</span></em></div><br /><div align="justify"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>triple Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12026712792127378067noreply@blogger.com0