Like most of us, I'm required to go out of town on business occasionally. Being that I'm uncomfortable leaving my family for any extended period, I made sure that I was away the least amount of time possible. In this case, a 20 hour trip to Washington, DC was in the cards and I wanted to be home the next day to hang out with my daughter. But, I have the big 40 miler coming up and I need to continue to train. Therefore, the coupling of traveling and training has begun.
Waking up at 3a to ride the bike before my flight so I could get enough leg conditioning in was critical. I got on the plane and slept from the time I sat down until the announcement to put up my tray table. We landed at Washington National airport at 9a on Saturday morning. By 9.30a I was running from the airport terminal on the sidewalks along the ice-capped Potomac River into DC. It was 19 degrees. Monuments to my right and heavy traffic to my left. Marine One flew over as I approached the Memorial Bridge with a Park Police escort. I began wondering where The President may be going that day.
Running over the Key Bridge at about mile 5 I saw a friend from my White House days, who I hadn't seen in 10 years, running the opposite direction. I would have never seen him if I were in a cab. We stopped and caught up and lots of great memories came back to me about him and how good of a guy he was/is. I like those encounters when two people are happy to see each other. I thought a lot about what life would be like if Tanner and I decided to stay in DC; living and working in the city, raising our family in the city. What sort of house would we be in? Where would our kids go to school? Would we be happy?
I turned the corner from M Street onto Wisconsin Ave and started climbing a 3 mile hill to my hotel. Two words, Oiy and Vey. I couldn't make it. I walked most of it, but by walking I became cold, so I started running, but I couldn't run because it was a hill so I started to walk...and so it went. The last 3 miles in 50 minutes. The water I was carrying froze. Carl Lewis would be so impressed.
I checked in to the hotel with my running tights on, a frozen and bugger-showing nose and a credit card. Its DC so they only focused on the credit card.
Met another friend and his daughter for lunch, did my work that afternoon and evening and was on a flight the next morning to see my family. I was gone 20 hours, but it felt like 20 days. I couldn't wait to get the hugs that I've become addicted to receiving everyday.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Events
Many have asked what specific events will I be participating in this coming year. I thought it helpful to simply list them all here with a little commentary;
February 26, 2011
Mt Mitchell Challenge
Black Mountain, NC
40 mile run
Note: 20 miles up and 20 miles down. Mt. Mitchell (highest mountain on the east coast) has received its highest amount of snowfall EVER this year. They shut the race down after 10 hours. Oiy vey.
March 20, 2011
Half Ironman Triathlon
Sarasota, FL
1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
Note: I need to finish in under 7 hours in order to "qualify" for the Survival of the Shawangunks (see below)
June 5, 2011
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
San Francisco, CA
1.5 mile swim, 18 mile bike, 8 mile run
Note: I haven't received confirmation that I'll be accepted for this one yet. Its just been one of those things I've always wanted to do.
April – July 2011
Interviews with Dave Scott (6 time HI Ironman champion and second place finisher at the age of 40) and other exceptional people of interest
Boulder, CO
Note: I'm looking for introductions/recommendations of other people who have accomplished notable events (athletic/humanistic/scientific or otherwise) when they were or on their way to turning 40
August 5 – 15, 2011
Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
Tanzania, Africa
19,340 feet
Note: Traveling to Africa with a group of friends to climb the highest mountain on the continent. Been planning this one for 3 years.
September 11, 2011
Survival of the Shawangunks
30 mile bike, 4.5 mile run, 1.1 mile swim, 5.5 mile run, .5 mile swim, 8 mile run,.5 mile swim, .7 mile run
New Paltz, NY
Note: One of the coolest, mostly unsupported races in the country. Out in the woods with you and a pair of running shoes.
October 25-26, 2011
Birthday workout
40 x 200 yard (4.5 miles) swim, 140 mile bike, 20 mile run
Tampa, FL
Note: Dave Scott did this workout in one day in 1994 (the day he turned 40.) Most likely will take me longer.
December 2011
40 pushups, 40 dips, 40 pull ups
Tampa, FL
Note: Note sure why I'm doing this. I can only do about 6 pull ups now.
In any case, I have my work cut out for me. I'm looking forward to the journey and would appreciate your comments and following this blog (clicking on the follow button). Also, feel free to get more frequent updates on
twitter: daddysdesperate.
Thanks for checking in.
Dave
February 26, 2011
Mt Mitchell Challenge
Black Mountain, NC
40 mile run
Note: 20 miles up and 20 miles down. Mt. Mitchell (highest mountain on the east coast) has received its highest amount of snowfall EVER this year. They shut the race down after 10 hours. Oiy vey.
March 20, 2011
Half Ironman Triathlon
Sarasota, FL
1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
Note: I need to finish in under 7 hours in order to "qualify" for the Survival of the Shawangunks (see below)
June 5, 2011
Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
San Francisco, CA
1.5 mile swim, 18 mile bike, 8 mile run
Note: I haven't received confirmation that I'll be accepted for this one yet. Its just been one of those things I've always wanted to do.
April – July 2011
Interviews with Dave Scott (6 time HI Ironman champion and second place finisher at the age of 40) and other exceptional people of interest
Boulder, CO
Note: I'm looking for introductions/recommendations of other people who have accomplished notable events (athletic/humanistic/scientific or otherwise) when they were or on their way to turning 40
August 5 – 15, 2011
Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
Tanzania, Africa
19,340 feet
Note: Traveling to Africa with a group of friends to climb the highest mountain on the continent. Been planning this one for 3 years.
September 11, 2011
Survival of the Shawangunks
30 mile bike, 4.5 mile run, 1.1 mile swim, 5.5 mile run, .5 mile swim, 8 mile run,.5 mile swim, .7 mile run
New Paltz, NY
Note: One of the coolest, mostly unsupported races in the country. Out in the woods with you and a pair of running shoes.
October 25-26, 2011
Birthday workout
40 x 200 yard (4.5 miles) swim, 140 mile bike, 20 mile run
Tampa, FL
Note: Dave Scott did this workout in one day in 1994 (the day he turned 40.) Most likely will take me longer.
December 2011
40 pushups, 40 dips, 40 pull ups
Tampa, FL
Note: Note sure why I'm doing this. I can only do about 6 pull ups now.
In any case, I have my work cut out for me. I'm looking forward to the journey and would appreciate your comments and following this blog (clicking on the follow button). Also, feel free to get more frequent updates on
twitter: daddysdesperate.
Thanks for checking in.
Dave
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Body Test Numero Dos
Now that the doctor has completely humbled me, I thought it only fitting to have more complete strangers talk down to me and diminish any sense of manhood I thought I had. Therefore, I made the trek to Gainesville, FL to have some athletic tests conducted by the University of Florida Athletic Performance Lab. Just the fact that its a lab should have been my first indication that this was going to be painful. In any case, I felt it important to once again quantify where the ole body is at this point in my life.
The director of the lab, name purposely withheld until I get his permission, was awesome. Patient, sense of humor, but very smart and focused on my tests. We started with some treadmill warming up where I still think that I'm in good shape. To set the scene, huge room, very clean and neat, lots of exercise equipment, lots of people being directed to move around a lot, but not a lot of sweat; this is not the Olympic training center. However, Ivan Drago would have been very comfortable there. I get on the treadmill and get what feels like a mouth guard placed/shoved in my mouth with lots of different hoses in order to collect/measure the oxygen I am able to inhale. Its fastened by a halo-like device around my melon and then, for good measure, they block my nose with a clothespin-like device. Lets just say...not the most comfortable way to run.
Testing begins with incremental increases in speed, finger pricking blood tests every 10 minutes, lots of jotting stuff down on a clip board and people, of course, are now staring. What's the most fun about this test is that the breathing through this contraption makes you produce an inordinate amount of saliva and if you can imagine, it really has no place to go except for this VERY small receptacle attached to the mouthpiece and dangling next to my chin. Needless to say, it fills up fast and in my case, overflows faster. Now, not only am I sprinting on a treadmill in the middle of this place and many people staring at me with clipboards, I now have a Bassett Hound amount of spit swinging back and forth as I try to run as fast as I can for the best measurements. Again, ego out the window.
End result, tests come back with me at the bottom of the range of the good level. I have to make to excellent by the end of the year.
The director of the lab, name purposely withheld until I get his permission, was awesome. Patient, sense of humor, but very smart and focused on my tests. We started with some treadmill warming up where I still think that I'm in good shape. To set the scene, huge room, very clean and neat, lots of exercise equipment, lots of people being directed to move around a lot, but not a lot of sweat; this is not the Olympic training center. However, Ivan Drago would have been very comfortable there. I get on the treadmill and get what feels like a mouth guard placed/shoved in my mouth with lots of different hoses in order to collect/measure the oxygen I am able to inhale. Its fastened by a halo-like device around my melon and then, for good measure, they block my nose with a clothespin-like device. Lets just say...not the most comfortable way to run.
Testing begins with incremental increases in speed, finger pricking blood tests every 10 minutes, lots of jotting stuff down on a clip board and people, of course, are now staring. What's the most fun about this test is that the breathing through this contraption makes you produce an inordinate amount of saliva and if you can imagine, it really has no place to go except for this VERY small receptacle attached to the mouthpiece and dangling next to my chin. Needless to say, it fills up fast and in my case, overflows faster. Now, not only am I sprinting on a treadmill in the middle of this place and many people staring at me with clipboards, I now have a Bassett Hound amount of spit swinging back and forth as I try to run as fast as I can for the best measurements. Again, ego out the window.
End result, tests come back with me at the bottom of the range of the good level. I have to make to excellent by the end of the year.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Body Test One
I thought it only fitting to try and quantify a few things with the aging body before I begin the infliction of pain. So, new year's resolution numero uno is...go to the doctor. After meeting him in his office and talking about my OCD planned year, we then start talking about the litany of tests I will do in the next hour; EKG, blood, urine, etc. I got out of the one that included a rubber glove because he saves that gem for 40 year olds. Oh, the poor 40 year olds.
What I found out: I've been lying to people my entire adult life. I thought I was 5'9" when it turns out I'm 5'8". I'm also 200 lbs. First thing Mr. Doctor says to me is by Body Mass Index calculations, I'm obese. Not only am I walking around the room in my underwear and having nurses walk in and out at will (one did tell me I was wearing different socks; meaning there is nothing on you worth looking at except your socks), I have that little obesity nugget to boost the ego. He might as well said, "I'm a little embarrassed to be in the same room with you given the way you have let yourself go over the years. I'm actually surprised your wife still likes you."
In any case, he wanted me to get a chest x-ray and see the results from some future performance tests I'll be having. Icksnay chest-ray. But I'll see what the other tests reveal.
I went home and ate some ice cream to make things better. That'll show him.
What I found out: I've been lying to people my entire adult life. I thought I was 5'9" when it turns out I'm 5'8". I'm also 200 lbs. First thing Mr. Doctor says to me is by Body Mass Index calculations, I'm obese. Not only am I walking around the room in my underwear and having nurses walk in and out at will (one did tell me I was wearing different socks; meaning there is nothing on you worth looking at except your socks), I have that little obesity nugget to boost the ego. He might as well said, "I'm a little embarrassed to be in the same room with you given the way you have let yourself go over the years. I'm actually surprised your wife still likes you."
In any case, he wanted me to get a chest x-ray and see the results from some future performance tests I'll be having. Icksnay chest-ray. But I'll see what the other tests reveal.
I went home and ate some ice cream to make things better. That'll show him.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The beginning
Its official! My 40th year has begun and so has the quest to see what I can find out about myself, my life, past, present and future, and pass on to my kids; hopefully with a little insight. A few tidbits, I'll be competing ( more like completing) in 10 or more endurance events this year. Some are fairly tame only taking a few hours and some are outrageous that take me thousands of miles away from my family, my home and my life all in an attempt to see if I can find out something monumental about turning forty. During this period, I'll be training, learning and hopefully meeting some people that can give me an inspiration as to why I would commit so much to something completely unknown...or do I already know the answers of turning forty but need some ridiculous excuse to jot it all down.
In any case, it started January 1, 2011 at 4.30a with an 11 mile run in Delray Beach, FL on a golf course that they were probably not that happy that I was traipsing on like they just opened the doors to Wal-Mart on Black Friday. With a headlamp angles slightly downward, I trudged through the darkness to get my 11 miles in before everyone else woke up to the new year. At 7.00a I was done, tired, sore, feet hurt, sunrise and pretty intimidated that I had a whole year of this, not including a full time executive position at my firm, two children under 4, a wife that may need me to help raise said kids, 12 year old dog (first born) and lots of friends that I really like.
Well, here we go. Lets see what 40 years does to someone, to someone's family, to someone's son, to someone's boss, to someone's friend. Lets just see if this 39 year old can teach his children something about turning 40. Hopefully when they are 39, they can read this instead of torturing themselves for thousands of hours.
In any case, it started January 1, 2011 at 4.30a with an 11 mile run in Delray Beach, FL on a golf course that they were probably not that happy that I was traipsing on like they just opened the doors to Wal-Mart on Black Friday. With a headlamp angles slightly downward, I trudged through the darkness to get my 11 miles in before everyone else woke up to the new year. At 7.00a I was done, tired, sore, feet hurt, sunrise and pretty intimidated that I had a whole year of this, not including a full time executive position at my firm, two children under 4, a wife that may need me to help raise said kids, 12 year old dog (first born) and lots of friends that I really like.
Well, here we go. Lets see what 40 years does to someone, to someone's family, to someone's son, to someone's boss, to someone's friend. Lets just see if this 39 year old can teach his children something about turning 40. Hopefully when they are 39, they can read this instead of torturing themselves for thousands of hours.
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