Iron Pol

Perhaps it's just a bad summer.  Perhaps it's just because I pay more attention.  Or perhaps these tragedies are receiving more attention so people become better aware.

On Wednesday, two Milwaukee endurance athletes were struck by a drunk driver while on a ride.  Nancy Sellars, a 48-year old with an impressive athletic resume was killed.  Tom Chopp, the other cyclist, is in the hospital with a fractured pelvis and rib damage.  The suspect in the case was arrested for intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and is free on bond.  With the death of Nancy, one would presume the charges would be updated to include manslaughter and the bond would be either increased or revoked entirely.

Sadly, Nancy was the second local cyclist killed in a 12-hour time span.  David Bradenburg was struck and killed by an inattentive driver a short time before Nancy was hit.  While statistics for Wisconsin bicycle deaths are down, the loss of two cyclists in less than half a day is frightening.

Nancy was well known for her accomplishments as an endurance athlete.  A four time Ironman, she also had five Birkebiener cross country ski races and dozens of century rides under her belt.  Most recently, she completed the Race Across America bike race as part of Team Badger Bikers.  Together, they raised more than $70,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

I didn't know her personally (that I know of), but she was a sister triathlete.  I know something about what motivated her and a bit about the lifestyle she must have led.  The accident occurred in Racine County, and it is only fitting that I dedicate my next race, The Spirit of Racine half-Ironman to Nancy's memory.

First, let me congratulate the members of the TBC who competed at Ironman CDA, this weekend.  So far as I could tell, everyone finished the race in fine fashion.  This includes:

Bigun - who now adds Ironman to his list of accomplishments

Geek Girl - who finished her second Ironman with plenty of time to spare (and proved she didn't need the time trial start used in Kentucky)

Sweet Baboo - who continues to amaze his family by completing all day endurance events

Bold - who proved you can continue to "have a life" while competing in Ironman events

Neoprene Wedgie - another first time Ironman finisher, and he did it in fine style

Spokane Al - all the training Al is able to do pays off in Idaho

Taconite Boy - showing off his super powers (and his WIFE's Flashpoint wheels)

Trigreyhound - Lawyer, advocate, husband, two time Ironman (does he share some of Tac Boy's superpowers?)

If I missed anyone, please let me know.

Now, on to other weekend events.  With Friday off, I was able to get some good bike training completed.  Thursday evening I headed out toward High Cliff to bike the hill only to find a bunch of Tri Foxes near the swim start for the High Cliff Triathlon.  They were holding a "newbie" swim, and I stopped to help out as best I could.  We always put together a swim gauntlet to get people used to swimming with a bunch of people.  Anyone who can survive our swim gauntlet will be fine in a mass start.  With the ride home, it was just over 20 miles, though with a 40 minute break between sets.

I woke up early Friday so I could get in a 90-minute ride before Mrs. Pol left for the day.  I went closer to 1:45, cranking out 33 miles in that time.  It was cool with nearly dead calm air.  The rest of the day was dedicated to my kids, including repairs to the training wheels on Monster Girl's "big girl" bike.

Saturday I volunteered at set-up for the High Cliff Triathlon, then headed to the pool for a swim workout with the tri club kids.  It turned out to be only one young man, allowing us to focus on a few weak areas of his stroke.  Summer always makes group workouts a challenge.  The rest of Saturday was spent disassembling, cleaning, and rebuilding our clothes dryer.  Apparently, I still need a few parts, as it won't run.  Mrs. Pol is searching for those items, and I'll be going through the process again when we have them.  For now, we have the cleanest broken dryer on the planet.

Sunday was filled with preaching at church and training.  I headed out for a planned 2.5 hour ride once the kids were napping.  After about 18 miles, minimally threatening clouds suddenly darkened, and I found myself on the very edges of a rapidly developing lightening storm.

While I'm not one to let a bit of rain deter me from a ride, I've been shocked enough to know getting hit by lightening shouldn't be on a "to do" list.  I decided to heed the storm's suggestion I head home.  The turn around was a bit of a bummer as I had just reached the bottom of a fairly major hill.  The electricity in the air motivated me to get back UP the hill at nearly 18 miles per hour.  I finished the 36 mile ride with an average pace of about 19.5 mph.

The new route I was using turned out to be a very nice change.  On Friday morning, I passed a deer while riding through the state park.  We were only about 10 feet apart when I passed, and it never moved.  I passed another deer on Sunday, though nowhere near as close.

All in all, it was a pretty good weekend.  Added to the work, training, and volunteering is the fact that my back somehow stopped bothering me Sunday morning.  I didn't really notice it until I went to put my shoes on and had no trouble doing so.  For the past several weeks, shoes and socks have been quite a chore because I couldn't really bend properly.  Yesterday and today, absolutely fine (knock on wood).

This is a good omen as I have less than four weeks until my next race, the Spirit of Racine half-IM.

 

 

Eight years ago, I sat in a doctor's office as he threw around words like surgery, biopsy, and non-Hodkin's lymphoma.  Though somewhat stunned at the urgency with which the doctors were considering options, I was fairly stoic about the overall discussion.  There was little to be gained from wigging out over "possibly" and "potentially."  A minor bit of surgery and some time with a microscope was all that was needed for concrete information.

Those results and the doctor responsible for my care thrust me onto the endurance scene.  Well, to be fair, the doctor accepts no responsibility for my becoming an endurance athlete.  He says that's all on me.  I blame him.  He's the one who told me to start running.  Who knew that like Forrest Gump, I'd still be running years later.

It seems I have now gone full circle.  Biopsies performed nearly a decade ago were the starting point in my journey from out of shape sailor to marathoner to triathlete to Ironman.  Recently, while preparing for a training swim, I noticed both a "bump" and blood in my ear canal (I wear plugs and routinely clean the ear to ensure a secure fit).

A visit with the ENT identified a couple things.  First, I seem to have yet another (or still existing) rupture of the tympanic membrane (eardrum).  Given the lack of any real symptoms, the doctor is fairly unconcerned with this.  He'll keep an eye on it and see if any reasons to treat it develop.

He was a bit more concerned with the bump in the ear.  Eight years after surgery for lymph node biopsies, I sat in a doctor's office as he removed a sample from my ear.  It will be sent to the lab for testing.

The doctor had two positive comments.  First, he is fairly certain this is a fairly common and routinely benign growth.  If so, we'll add it to the "wait and see" pile along with the ruptured eardrum.  Second, he was amazed at how quickly I identified the new growth.  While it seemed huge (in ear terms) to my wife and me, he said it is relatively small and is most likely a recent development.

In the event it isn't benign, we are ahead of the curve with the quick discovery.

Who knew that one biopsy would so directly result in another.  That was one big circle.  Next Tuesday I will know if I'm once again dealing with a minor inconvenience or if it's a bit more serious, this time.

Roman Mica recently posted an article about a local sheriff's take on cyclists, traffic laws, and attitudes.  The sheriff, along with many readers, made very vocal comments about their perception of the attitude of cyclists.  In return, cyclists tried to help others understand the environment they sometimes face.  And to be fair, other cyclists did much to prove the sheriff's point.

On Sunday, there was yet another incident in which cyclists paid the price for the actions of a driver.  In a race in Monterrey, Mexico, an alledgedly drunk and sleeping driver slammed into riders on the course of a local race.  One cyclist was killed and another 10 were injured.  One article is here.  A word of caution, the included picture is quite disturbing and somewhat graphic.

To avoid the accusation of stereotyping, allow me to start by saying that not all drivers are drunk.  Most drivers remain awake while driving and focus reasonable attention to the road and others around them.  And it is, fortunately, still relatively rare for a cyclist to be hit by a motorist.

There is, however, a big "but."  Cyclists have no way of knowing which motorist IS drunk.  Or asleep.  Or paying more attention to (pick one: their cell phone, the radio, breakfast/lunch/dinner, personal hygiene, some very important aspect of the local scenery).  When a car is approaching with a great deal of momentum, cyclists have little warning of any impending doom.

So, when the motorist decides at the last moment to lay on their horn to "warn" the cyclist they are passing, reactions tend to be negative.  If passengers in the car try to "share" a beverage container (or the actual beverage) with the cyclist, the response is unlikely to be positive.  Motorists (and civil authorities) who are completely oblivious to the law regarding a cyclist's right to the road often elicit bad attitudes.

I share the road with hundreds of cars every time I get on my bike.  The vast majority of them are in the hands of responsible drivers.  The occassional poor choice on their part is most likely offset by the occassional poor choice on my part.  The opportunity for unintentional situations always exist.

They aren't the ones that concern me.  For any non-cycling motorists who might read this, remember that "wonder" is a two way street.  While you wonder about a cyclist's "negative attitude," they are wondering if you're driving the car that is going to injure or kill them.

Many of us have experienced the pride of hearing the words, "You are an Ironman!"  And many of us have used our love of endurance events to perform some kind of public service or charitable fundraising.  We all hope to act as role models for others.

A great many athletes set an even greater example as they accomplish the same events despite a variety of physical limitations.  Some are bound to wheelchairs.  Others  are blind or deaf.  Some suffer from long-term "inconveniences" while others suffer from shorter term death sentences.  Still, they compete.  And they succeed.  Many become Ironmen themselves.

And in at least one case, one half of the team is unable to move under their own power.

But what if someone were unable to move, and unable to BE moved?  What then?  That was the condition in which Dianne Odell lived nearly her entire life.  Afflicted by Polio at the age of three, Dianne was forced into an iron lung in order to survive.  She lived in that iron lung for 58 years until her death, today.

Oddly, it wasn't the polio or any other health issue that ended Dianne's life.  It was a power failure.  After losing power at their house, a back-up generator failed, and caregivers were unable to keep her alive.

Despite being confined as she was, Dianne completed the requirements for her high school diploma, completed college courses and was awarded an honorary degree, and wrote a children's book.  Her goal was to show young children that anything is possible, regardless of physical limitations.

There is much we can learn from her story.  First, we must cherish our abilities and never take them for granted.  Second, physical ailments can be either obstacles or roadblocks.  It's up to us to decide.  So long as we seek a way to get over, under, or around the condition, it is only an obstacle.  Only by giving up do we allow it to be a roadblock.

Dianne proved that sometimes it doesn't take 140.6 miles to become an Ironman.  In fact, in some cases, we can show ourselves made of Iron without moving an inch.  It seems to me that Dianne didn't allow her iron lung to defeat her.  She allowed it to define her.  After nearly 60 years, she truly was an Iron Woman!

First, a picture from the Green Bay Marathon.  This is a wonderful picture showing how three co-workers spent their weekend.  On the left (holding the Gatorade) is Lisa, who acted as sherpa during the race.  She is collecting gloves from Casey and replenishing our Gu supply.  Another friend was the photographer and captured several nice shots.

It is great to have co-workers willing to participate in endurance events.  It puts it over the top to have others willing to spend the better part of a day off traipsing around town carrying gear, taking pictures, and cheering our accomplishments.  And were it not for having a baby recently, she would have been out there with us.

As more co-workers join the ranks of marathoner (full or half), many more begin to see they also have the ability to tackle endurance events.  It also helps people see there is nothing overly special about my accomplishments.  Discipline and a bit of dedication make many things possible.

In other "Congratulations" news, we received word that my brother-in-law was selected for promotion to the rank of Senior Chief in the United States Navy.  For those unfamiliar with military rank structure, there is only one enlisted rank, Master Chief, above this.  For those who are familiar with the military, you can understand my sister's pride in the fact that her husband was selected for this promotion his first time up.

To put it in perspective, only about 3% of the enlisted force can hold the rank of Senior or Master Chief.  In a 100-person division, there will generally be perhaps one or two sailors of this rank.  They are the managers, historians, and teachers of the Navy.  Despite the grief less senior sailors are prone to giving "the Chief," they are deserving of and granted a great deal of respect for their accomplishments.

My brother-in-law has always accepted the tough assignments that lead to rapid promotion.  During a recent tour as a boot camp "Company Commander," (similar to Marine drill instructors) he accepted the added pressure of helping develop a new and successful training facility, complete with Disney style animatronics and Hollywood special effects.

After leaving that assignment, he transferred to a squadron that was forward deployed almost immediately after his arrival.  In fact, the promotion announcement leaves my sister with about a month until she can congratulate him in person.  He will wear his new anchors, complete with the shiny new star, when he returns.

So, to my brother-in-law, who just joined a community as small as those called marathoner, congratulations!  Like the 26.2 miles of a marathon, he has reached another milestone in a long and demanding journey.

It's amazing how things can change a person's perspective.  After spending the weekend dealing with a rather sick two-year old, I figured it was good blog fodder.  Then I read a news article about the Gulf Coast Triathlon that made a couple nights sleeping on the floor seem pretty inconsequential.

During Saturday's race, Patrick Kane, 38, or Roswell, Georgia was pulled from the Gulf of Mexico and later passed away at the hospital.

We don't know Patrick, and can only guess that triathlon was something he loved.  He dedicated an early May Saturday to completing the 70.3 miles of a half-Ironman.  An unknown and tragic situation led to his early death.

Remember that what we do has some built-in risks, and make sure you are prepared for whatever the day's training or racing might hold in store.  Though uncommon, every situation like this means we've lost another member of the triathlon family.

Train and race safe!

It was a major weekend in many respects.  First, since it's the elephant in the room, we've obviously made some changes to the site.  A little different layout to change the feel.  This layout got my wife's approval, so it must be okay.  The banner still needs a bit of work, and I'm willing to offer a case of Vanilla Power Gel (plus any others I have) for anyone willing to help out a graphically challenged blogger.  Feel free to let me know your thoughts.

Second, it was Ironman weekend, with at least a few blogger toeing the line in Arizona.  Iron Benny finished the course in 13:39, and I look forward to his race report.  Commodore ran into some issues on the bike and showed discretion by leaving the course.  I'm hoping there were fewer issues than last year, and anxiously await the post saying all is well.

Update: Mistress put up one post about Commodore's condition, and it seems the race took more out of him this year than last.  Keep Commodore in your prayers.  She also posted about his obstinence.

Regardless of the outcome on Sunday, both of these guys as well as a sizable crew of others showed just how big their hearts are on Saturday.  Anyone questioning just how committed they are to both triathlon and giving back to others should read Commodore's post from Saturday night.  Benny and his wife, along with Stronger and many others did a wonderful thing for Duane, and deserve a tremendous amount of recognition.  They are all winners in my book, and a shining example of what makes the triathlon community truly special.

Finally, I got a call on Saturday about two more youth interested in our growing youth triathlon club.  We started with three, last year.  This year, we look to have a minimum of eight.  If everyone who has expressed an interest joins, we'll have ten.  And I'm hoping a few of those already joining will encourage others to sign up.  Even so, if we have eight youth participate, this year, that will be nearly 200% growth.  I'll take that.

So, a new look for the blog.  A new ride for Duane.  And two new names for the youth tri club.  Sometimes, change is a good thing.

No, it isn't a rest day.  It's an OFF day.  As in feeling "off."  Perhaps it's the long runs this past weekend.  Perhaps it's a rough night of sleep.  For the kids and therefore, by default, for me.  Perhaps it's just one of those days.

I planned an easy swim given the heavy mileage of the past three days.  I decided the short swim was a good opportunity to combine some basic skills with some 100s for speedwork.  I maintained a decent pace but still felt sluggish.  Far different from the runs where everything seemed to click.  Then again, I guess I'll take feeling slow over actually being slow (a relative term), any day.

I've always contended the best solution to motivation issues is race registrations.  Nothing is better at focusing attention than money spent on a race.  So, I completed my registration for the Green Bay Marathon, this morning.  To be honest, though, it had more to do with the race director telling our tri-club that the race is nearly at capacity.  If you're thinking about this race, it's time to stop thinking and start acting.

Once I dig up the paperwork, I will also hand in my registration for the Bellin Run 10K.  That will be a total of four confirmed events on the race schedule.  After the Spirit of Racine half-IM, my attention will be focused on preparing for a 50 mile running race in October.

In addition to these events, I may have inadvertently agreed to a long open water swim of either 3.5 or 7.5 miles, depending on which "wave" I join.  Someone in our tri club thought it might be a good idea to swim across the local lake.  The concept is taking on a life of it's own, and people are already talking about support boats, nutrition, and routes.  At this point, the idea is to swim at least 6.5 miles, finish at the swim location of the High Cliff Triathlon, and walk up the hill saying something like, "Whew, even Olympians only swim 6.2 miles!"

Hey, we have the coolest outfits and the coolest club.  Nobody ever said we have the most brilliant people.