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The Hill In Front of You by TriGreyhound

Sometimes it's good just to go back to the beginning. Years ago, when a friend of mine took me on my first "real" bike ride, I rode a relatively hilly route between Montgomery and Richards Texas, through the Sam Houston National forest. Although I was at least five years younger than I am today, and the weather was a lot cooler that October morning, I had to be rescued from the predictable "bonk." I thought I might never ride again.

Today part of my long ride covered that very same route, and a lot more besides. The morning woke warm and humid, You could almost see the air, especially when the newly risen sun sliced through pines of the forest. Sometimes it was so still, not a twig stirred. All I could hear was the sound of my chain, my tires, and my breathing.

This ride not only covered more miles than my first trip down that road; it covered more mental real estate as well. I've got a decision to make. Some of you who know me (or at least the blog me) might have an inkling what that decision is. For me it's a tough decision because it is dream and an effort I don't know that I am ready for. Moreover, it is a commitment that will affect other people besides myself. I haven't made the decision yet, but the ride gave me some tools that might come in handy.

1. Start where you are. It's the only place you can start. Watching the clock or wishing you were closer to your goal is wasted energy. Goals are only reached if you start. Ready or not, you can only start where you are.
2. Use what you have. Sure it might be nice to be bigger, stronger, faster . . . but all I've got is me, my bike and the stuff I brung with me. Waiting for perfect conditions results only in waiting.
3. Climb the hill in front of you. There are a lot of rollers and hills between Montgomery and Richards, but thinking about the one you see down the road or the one you know round the bend does not serve to get you up the hill that is under your tires. Those hills can only be climbed one at a time, and the best way to climb them is to have your brain and your body both climbing the same hill at the same time.

If I can manage that, maybe . . . just maybe. . .

Want to read more by TriGreyhound? You can find him on his blog here!

The Hill In Front of You by TriGreyhound

Sometimes it's good just to go back to the beginning. Years ago, when a friend of mine took me on my first "real" bike ride, I rode a relatively hilly route between Montgomery and Richards Texas, through the Sam Houston National forest. Although I was at least five years younger than I am today, and the weather was a lot cooler that October morning, I had to be rescued from the predictable "bonk." I thought I might never ride again.

Today part of my long ride covered that very same route, and a lot more besides. The morning woke warm and humid, You could almost see the air, especially when the newly risen sun sliced through pines of the forest. Sometimes it was so still, not a twig stirred. All I could hear was the sound of my chain, my tires, and my breathing.

This ride not only covered more miles than my first trip down that road; it covered more mental real estate as well. I've got a decision to make. Some of you who know me (or at least the blog me) might have an inkling what that decision is. For me it's a tough decision because it is dream and an effort I don't know that I am ready for. Moreover, it is a commitment that will affect other people besides myself. I haven't made the decision yet, but the ride gave me some tools that might come in handy.

1. Start where you are. It's the only place you can start. Watching the clock or wishing you were closer to your goal is wasted energy. Goals are only reached if you start. Ready or not, you can only start where you are.
2. Use what you have. Sure it might be nice to be bigger, stronger, faster . . . but all I've got is me, my bike and the stuff I brung with me. Waiting for perfect conditions results only in waiting.
3. Climb the hill in front of you. There are a lot of rollers and hills between Montgomery and Richards, but thinking about the one you see down the road or the one you know round the bend does not serve to get you up the hill that is under your tires. Those hills can only be climbed one at a time, and the best way to climb them is to have your brain and your body both climbing the same hill at the same time.

If I can manage that, maybe . . . just maybe. . .

Want to read more by TriGreyhound? You can find him on his blog here!

How low can the Kahuna go? by Tri-Geek Dreams

The road to Ironman Florida has been NOT easy for the Tri-Geek Kahuna. First, he didn't sign up for Wildflower. Was that an innocent mistake or self-sabotage? Only the Kahuna's psycho-therapist knows for sure. Then there was his Xterra misadventure, generated by his deep desire to prove himself to world champion Melanie McQuaid. Is the Kahuna 45 years of age of 15? The jury is still out, despite the wrinkles and bald spot the size of Nebraska.

Then, this very weekend, he was at Corona del Mar State Beach, swimming for an hour in the mighty Pacific. The swim was sublime. He did it with two of his close friends -- Robo-Stu and Head Doc -- and four of his new cyberfriends -- Amazin' Amelia, Bridget, Jim and his son Garrett.

But then Robo-Stu threw down a challenge: let's do an hour's run after the swim. There were many reasons why the Kahuna should have turned down the offer.

1. The Kahuna had just run on Thursday morning. Running on Saturday would break his four-day rule to save his temperamental calves. He needs AT LEAST four days between runs.

2. Swimming in 64-degree water and then running for an hour isn't the best situation to put his calves in.

3. Running with Bridget and Robo-Stu, the Kahuna would probably be running faster than his usual training pace, increasing the chance of injury.

Of course, the all-knowning and mighty Kahuna listened to none of this. He went for the run and he went fast. He felt great. He was barely touching the ground, his breathing easy as he zoomed along the Newport Coast.

He should have listened to his tightening right calf, but he didn't. He ignored it. Then about 40 minutes into the run, POP! His right calf was done. It felt like someone shot him. Holy crap. His first thought was of Ironman Florida. Was he done?

With ice strapped to his calf, he wondered on Saturday and Sunday how in the hell he would compete in Florida.

This was a big question. His mood, down in recent days, plummeted to Death Valley proportions. After his family and job, he had centered all his energies in becoming an Ironman. What if it didn't happen? What if he screwed this up by breaking several basic rules that pushed his training beyond what his body could handle?

How goddamn stupid can you be? For various reasons (which the Kahuna will reveal in the upcoming months), this Ironman is one of the most important milestones in the Kahuna's life. But now he is limping around the house, an ice bag taped to his leg. He couldn't run if his life depended on it. Biking wasn't a reality. Swimming would hurt.

The Kahuna, despite being beyond depressed, decided to take some logical steps. He would stop even trying to run or bike for a week. Maybe he would bike after that, but he will forget running for the next two or three weeks. He'll find a physical therapist who will work on his girly-girl calves, working out the scar tissue and getting the Kahuna ready to go 140.6 miles in November.

This is no time for panic, right? If anyone who there has some advice for chronic calf injuries, he would love it here it.

Do you want to read more by Kahuna? Just visit his blog by clicking HERE.

How low can the Kahuna go? by Tri-Geek Dreams

The road to Ironman Florida has been NOT easy for the Tri-Geek Kahuna. First, he didn't sign up for Wildflower. Was that an innocent mistake or self-sabotage? Only the Kahuna's psycho-therapist knows for sure. Then there was his Xterra misadventure, generated by his deep desire to prove himself to world champion Melanie McQuaid. Is the Kahuna 45 years of age of 15? The jury is still out, despite the wrinkles and bald spot the size of Nebraska.

Then, this very weekend, he was at Corona del Mar State Beach, swimming for an hour in the mighty Pacific. The swim was sublime. He did it with two of his close friends -- Robo-Stu and Head Doc -- and four of his new cyberfriends -- Amazin' Amelia, Bridget, Jim and his son Garrett.

But then Robo-Stu threw down a challenge: let's do an hour's run after the swim. There were many reasons why the Kahuna should have turned down the offer.

1. The Kahuna had just run on Thursday morning. Running on Saturday would break his four-day rule to save his temperamental calves. He needs AT LEAST four days between runs.

2. Swimming in 64-degree water and then running for an hour isn't the best situation to put his calves in.

3. Running with Bridget and Robo-Stu, the Kahuna would probably be running faster than his usual training pace, increasing the chance of injury.

Of course, the all-knowning and mighty Kahuna listened to none of this. He went for the run and he went fast. He felt great. He was barely touching the ground, his breathing easy as he zoomed along the Newport Coast.

He should have listened to his tightening right calf, but he didn't. He ignored it. Then about 40 minutes into the run, POP! His right calf was done. It felt like someone shot him. Holy crap. His first thought was of Ironman Florida. Was he done?

With ice strapped to his calf, he wondered on Saturday and Sunday how in the hell he would compete in Florida.

This was a big question. His mood, down in recent days, plummeted to Death Valley proportions. After his family and job, he had centered all his energies in becoming an Ironman. What if it didn't happen? What if he screwed this up by breaking several basic rules that pushed his training beyond what his body could handle?

How goddamn stupid can you be? For various reasons (which the Kahuna will reveal in the upcoming months), this Ironman is one of the most important milestones in the Kahuna's life. But now he is limping around the house, an ice bag taped to his leg. He couldn't run if his life depended on it. Biking wasn't a reality. Swimming would hurt.

The Kahuna, despite being beyond depressed, decided to take some logical steps. He would stop even trying to run or bike for a week. Maybe he would bike after that, but he will forget running for the next two or three weeks. He'll find a physical therapist who will work on his girly-girl calves, working out the scar tissue and getting the Kahuna ready to go 140.6 miles in November.

This is no time for panic, right? If anyone who there has some advice for chronic calf injuries, he would love it here it.

Do you want to read more by Kahuna? Just visit his blog by clicking HERE.

How low can the Kahuna go? by Tri-Geek Dreams

The road to Ironman Florida has been NOT easy for the Tri-Geek Kahuna. First, he didn't sign up for Wildflower. Was that an innocent mistake or self-sabotage? Only the Kahuna's psycho-therapist knows for sure. Then there was his Xterra misadventure, generated by his deep desire to prove himself to world champion Melanie McQuaid. Is the Kahuna 45 years of age of 15? The jury is still out, despite the wrinkles and bald spot the size of Nebraska.

Then, this very weekend, he was at Corona del Mar State Beach, swimming for an hour in the mighty Pacific. The swim was sublime. He did it with two of his close friends -- Robo-Stu and Head Doc -- and four of his new cyberfriends -- Amazin' Amelia, Bridget, Jim and his son Garrett.

But then Robo-Stu threw down a challenge: let's do an hour's run after the swim. There were many reasons why the Kahuna should have turned down the offer.

1. The Kahuna had just run on Thursday morning. Running on Saturday would break his four-day rule to save his temperamental calves. He needs AT LEAST four days between runs.

2. Swimming in 64-degree water and then running for an hour isn't the best situation to put his calves in.

3. Running with Bridget and Robo-Stu, the Kahuna would probably be running faster than his usual training pace, increasing the chance of injury.

Of course, the all-knowning and mighty Kahuna listened to none of this. He went for the run and he went fast. He felt great. He was barely touching the ground, his breathing easy as he zoomed along the Newport Coast.

He should have listened to his tightening right calf, but he didn't. He ignored it. Then about 40 minutes into the run, POP! His right calf was done. It felt like someone shot him. Holy crap. His first thought was of Ironman Florida. Was he done?

With ice strapped to his calf, he wondered on Saturday and Sunday how in the hell he would compete in Florida.

This was a big question. His mood, down in recent days, plummeted to Death Valley proportions. After his family and job, he had centered all his energies in becoming an Ironman. What if it didn't happen? What if he screwed this up by breaking several basic rules that pushed his training beyond what his body could handle?

How goddamn stupid can you be? For various reasons (which the Kahuna will reveal in the upcoming months), this Ironman is one of the most important milestones in the Kahuna's life. But now he is limping around the house, an ice bag taped to his leg. He couldn't run if his life depended on it. Biking wasn't a reality. Swimming would hurt.

The Kahuna, despite being beyond depressed, decided to take some logical steps. He would stop even trying to run or bike for a week. Maybe he would bike after that, but he will forget running for the next two or three weeks. He'll find a physical therapist who will work on his girly-girl calves, working out the scar tissue and getting the Kahuna ready to go 140.6 miles in November.

This is no time for panic, right? If anyone who there has some advice for chronic calf injuries, he would love it here it.

Do you want to read more by Kahuna? Just visit his blog by clicking HERE.