I have a new goal, a new purpose in life. It came to me in a flash, like most visions, the result of a chain of events in-explicitly linked in a floury of seemingly unrelated yet perfectly interconnected occurrences. Perhaps inspired by late night blog perusal, or perhaps the result of a rapid fire Dinner-Done cooking spree, my vision is rife with purpose and a certain hope for the future. Fame and glory will forever accompany me wherever I go, should I accomplish this task - this one true calling I now face.
I will occupy TriMama's penalty box.
I can only hope this revered position is not solely reserved for Taconite Boy. That would be a let-down of immense proportions. I'm sure this will take advanced cunning, sharp whit, unyielding sarcasm and an elevated level of tom-foolery not uncommon in the realm of the Alliance or raceAthlete blog community. I realize this is an ambitious goal, but with steadfast determination I promise to cross whatever lines are necessary to succeed at what could be the most important and influential accomplishment of these past 43 years. Wish me luck, keep me in your prayers, and I apologize in advance for the collateral damage a task like this is certain to make.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Ahhh, Easy does it
I've been looking forward to this week - an easy week. End of another training cycle. A long 
cycle - I added a week to make it four weeks on instead of my normal three. Called it a "Reach" week. Go ahead, you can use that one if you want, I won't mind. Turns out it wasn't much of the reach I had planned - life got in the way - but I did train sore all week. I would have liked to get one more swim (2500) and one more bike (50m) in...oh well.
I feel like I'm tapering for my Century this Sunday, my Buck (I love that!) - I've got no bikes planned (I've got no days off from work this week!) and really would like to stay off my feet as much as possible. These next 4 weeks are destined to be "Peak" weeks, starting with 100m on Sunday. I'm not sure if you can peak with a 4-week cycle, but that's my plan, and I'm sticking to it. I'll be upping the intensity - doing more intervals in my workouts and spending more time breathing hard. This is it - this is the season, after all!
Some big events coming up on the near horizon for Team Bigun. My "A" race - St. Anthony's - is just 4 training weeks and a taper week away. I really, really want to do well there. Well for me will be defined as 2:35 and a top 10 Clydesdale finish. The week after that will be a taper week for a "B" race - the One-O-One in Bradenton. While not entirely fair as an Iron-distance gauge...St. Anthony's will be a all out effort, and I'm sure there will be some residual fatigue left when I head out on that 3k swim...it will still give me an idea as to what will be required of me come IM day.
Three workout weeks (a nifty cycle) later, and off we go to San Fransisco to brave the 55 degree waters and Escape from Alcatraz - that's going to be awesome! I almost don't want to ruin that race with goals and just go over there and experience it. Enjoy the scenery and take it all in - the Golden Gate while swimming, the hills, the people, the Sand Stairs - all of it. I'm this close to biting the bullet and getting a camcorder to capture all of this. When we get back from Escape, the "first" '07 season is over - back into base I'll go and start my training for GFT...I mean, the Florida Challenge, yea, that's it.
cycle - I added a week to make it four weeks on instead of my normal three. Called it a "Reach" week. Go ahead, you can use that one if you want, I won't mind. Turns out it wasn't much of the reach I had planned - life got in the way - but I did train sore all week. I would have liked to get one more swim (2500) and one more bike (50m) in...oh well.I feel like I'm tapering for my Century this Sunday, my Buck (I love that!) - I've got no bikes planned (I've got no days off from work this week!) and really would like to stay off my feet as much as possible. These next 4 weeks are destined to be "Peak" weeks, starting with 100m on Sunday. I'm not sure if you can peak with a 4-week cycle, but that's my plan, and I'm sticking to it. I'll be upping the intensity - doing more intervals in my workouts and spending more time breathing hard. This is it - this is the season, after all!
Some big events coming up on the near horizon for Team Bigun. My "A" race - St. Anthony's - is just 4 training weeks and a taper week away. I really, really want to do well there. Well for me will be defined as 2:35 and a top 10 Clydesdale finish. The week after that will be a taper week for a "B" race - the One-O-One in Bradenton. While not entirely fair as an Iron-distance gauge...St. Anthony's will be a all out effort, and I'm sure there will be some residual fatigue left when I head out on that 3k swim...it will still give me an idea as to what will be required of me come IM day.
Three workout weeks (a nifty cycle) later, and off we go to San Fransisco to brave the 55 degree waters and Escape from Alcatraz - that's going to be awesome! I almost don't want to ruin that race with goals and just go over there and experience it. Enjoy the scenery and take it all in - the Golden Gate while swimming, the hills, the people, the Sand Stairs - all of it. I'm this close to biting the bullet and getting a camcorder to capture all of this. When we get back from Escape, the "first" '07 season is over - back into base I'll go and start my training for GFT...I mean, the Florida Challenge, yea, that's it.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Crusty too?
Last night's function went exactly like I thought it would. Old graduates talked of how it was, younger grads talked of things new and exciting, and the Superintendent dove right into his "State of the Union - West Point Style" speech, complete with Power Point slides and pictures. Unlike my prediction of the evenings activities, I was impressed.
I quickly found myself caught up in the Supe's talk. It was very different than stuff I'd heard in the past. The Corps has changed, but I really like the way it's different than when I was there, and in the direction it's going. USMA will always be about getting a great education - and in that regard I never found my experience there lacking (if only I had taken it more seriously...). I truly felt, looking back after being in the Army for a while, that I graduated clueless as to what being a leader in the Army was to be "all about". To be fair, the nuts and bolts of leading a platoon is taught once in the Army - the transition from Academy life to the military was a hard one for me - and it probably shouldn't have been. I doubt it is anymore for Cadets graduating these days. The "M" in USMA stands for MILITARY - it seems, from the Supe's speech, that the military is more a part of the West Point experience now.
I know that's hard to believe. Sure, we did military stuff while I was there. It was just so basic. The Supe talked of advanced training at a place called Camp Buckner - it sounded realistic and awesome - something we were lacking. Our Camp Buckner was, for lack of a better word, social. We got to know each other with lots of off time and group activity that was hardly military in nature. We did do Army training - again, in my horrible memory it just seemed so insignificant. These kids, this past summer, did a non-stop, no break, like-it-was-for-real "Forward Operating Base" - and thought it was the greatest thing. What, no Camp Buckner Cotillion?
These days, Cadets can volunteer for spring break and summer training abroad with host nation armed services - the program is huge and a large percentage of Cadets take advantage of it. I have fond memories of going to San Fransisco and Hawaii for a couple of spring breaks while I was there. They've now got a Commandant's program that is more about weapons training than marching and drill and ceremony, all participated in a Cadet's spare time. Do I sound jealous? I am.
It's hard to say what my attitude would have been if this had been the way of West Point when I was there. Without hindsight, I might have resented any infringement on my personal time, however, if unexpected, the loss of social time wouldn't really matter, would it? Times are different now - well, we had the Iron Curtain and they have the War on Terrorism. Mine was a cold war, and this one now most certainly is anything but cold. These kids volunteered in the face of 9-11, knowing full well what they were getting into. I was just a stupid high school kid with very little understanding about the USSR and Communist Aggression. I really, really like and admire these young men and women!
My hat's off to the current leadership of West Point. I'm confident - albeit from an hour chat with the head honcho - that they are producing the finest Army officers that have ever been produced from the Academy - and there have been some good ones (Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton and Schwartzkoff quickly come to mind)! They've got some awesome incentive programs to keep these great folks in the ranks serving our country for years to come - incentives that I'm sure would have kept me in (guaranteed Grad School for a 3 year extension of mandatory service time - from 5 years to 8 years - an unbelievable opportunity!). They keep a conduit open with the regular Army with lessons learned in the field that are relayed in real time back to the 'Point. Awesome stuff!
And, they have a triathlon team - very cool - which was used as an example a few times in the Supe's discussion. I guess I'm hooked on these Founder's Day functions, and looking forward to hear of next years' accomplishments by my Alma Mater. Not only am I a plodder, I'm also now a crusty old grad. Good grief, what's next? Grey hair? Can I get a "take-back" on my last post?
I quickly found myself caught up in the Supe's talk. It was very different than stuff I'd heard in the past. The Corps has changed, but I really like the way it's different than when I was there, and in the direction it's going. USMA will always be about getting a great education - and in that regard I never found my experience there lacking (if only I had taken it more seriously...). I truly felt, looking back after being in the Army for a while, that I graduated clueless as to what being a leader in the Army was to be "all about". To be fair, the nuts and bolts of leading a platoon is taught once in the Army - the transition from Academy life to the military was a hard one for me - and it probably shouldn't have been. I doubt it is anymore for Cadets graduating these days. The "M" in USMA stands for MILITARY - it seems, from the Supe's speech, that the military is more a part of the West Point experience now.
I know that's hard to believe. Sure, we did military stuff while I was there. It was just so basic. The Supe talked of advanced training at a place called Camp Buckner - it sounded realistic and awesome - something we were lacking. Our Camp Buckner was, for lack of a better word, social. We got to know each other with lots of off time and group activity that was hardly military in nature. We did do Army training - again, in my horrible memory it just seemed so insignificant. These kids, this past summer, did a non-stop, no break, like-it-was-for-real "Forward Operating Base" - and thought it was the greatest thing. What, no Camp Buckner Cotillion?
These days, Cadets can volunteer for spring break and summer training abroad with host nation armed services - the program is huge and a large percentage of Cadets take advantage of it. I have fond memories of going to San Fransisco and Hawaii for a couple of spring breaks while I was there. They've now got a Commandant's program that is more about weapons training than marching and drill and ceremony, all participated in a Cadet's spare time. Do I sound jealous? I am.
It's hard to say what my attitude would have been if this had been the way of West Point when I was there. Without hindsight, I might have resented any infringement on my personal time, however, if unexpected, the loss of social time wouldn't really matter, would it? Times are different now - well, we had the Iron Curtain and they have the War on Terrorism. Mine was a cold war, and this one now most certainly is anything but cold. These kids volunteered in the face of 9-11, knowing full well what they were getting into. I was just a stupid high school kid with very little understanding about the USSR and Communist Aggression. I really, really like and admire these young men and women!
My hat's off to the current leadership of West Point. I'm confident - albeit from an hour chat with the head honcho - that they are producing the finest Army officers that have ever been produced from the Academy - and there have been some good ones (Eisenhower, MacArthur, Patton and Schwartzkoff quickly come to mind)! They've got some awesome incentive programs to keep these great folks in the ranks serving our country for years to come - incentives that I'm sure would have kept me in (guaranteed Grad School for a 3 year extension of mandatory service time - from 5 years to 8 years - an unbelievable opportunity!). They keep a conduit open with the regular Army with lessons learned in the field that are relayed in real time back to the 'Point. Awesome stuff!
And, they have a triathlon team - very cool - which was used as an example a few times in the Supe's discussion. I guess I'm hooked on these Founder's Day functions, and looking forward to hear of next years' accomplishments by my Alma Mater. Not only am I a plodder, I'm also now a crusty old grad. Good grief, what's next? Grey hair? Can I get a "take-back" on my last post?
Friday, March 16, 2007
Get out of my way!
I keep putting my runs off to the end of the week. I hate that! Now I have to try and sneak in 18 miles over the weekend...what am I complaining about? Oh, yea, life - it gets in the way! Instead of running tonight, I'm going to my Regional Founders Day celebration/dinner. A bunch of 
crusty and less-crusty West Point grads meet for dinner with their spouses and wax poetically about the way things used to be. The Superintendent of West Point, Lieutenant (3-star) General Frank Hagenbeck, will talk for a half-hour about how great the program is and how things will be getting better in the future, and some young 20-year-old Cadet will stand up and talk for a while after him, insuring us that it's still hard a West Point. Blah, Blah, Blah.
I'm as patriotic as the next guy, more so perhaps, but I just don't do military functions well. Having to "suit up", sit at a round table with 5 other couples I hardly know and pass salt around is just not my idea of a good time. You'd hardly guess I sell stuff for a living! I'd so much rather have not postponed my 2-hr run 'till Saturday.
Mrs. B is friends with Hope, who's a classmate of mine and who also is on the Founder's Day Committee - so...it's very hard to bow out of this event anymore. I've been good at it so far - missed it 4 years in a row! Well, time for an attitude check, mister - this will be fun, right? I'll bust bugs after work getting there, drink water while everyone else is drinking cocktails, including Mrs. B, hopefully =;-) and maybe I'll run into someone from my past military life that I used to know. An old friend. Who's name I can't remember for the life of me. Now that's FUN!
crusty and less-crusty West Point grads meet for dinner with their spouses and wax poetically about the way things used to be. The Superintendent of West Point, Lieutenant (3-star) General Frank Hagenbeck, will talk for a half-hour about how great the program is and how things will be getting better in the future, and some young 20-year-old Cadet will stand up and talk for a while after him, insuring us that it's still hard a West Point. Blah, Blah, Blah.I'm as patriotic as the next guy, more so perhaps, but I just don't do military functions well. Having to "suit up", sit at a round table with 5 other couples I hardly know and pass salt around is just not my idea of a good time. You'd hardly guess I sell stuff for a living! I'd so much rather have not postponed my 2-hr run 'till Saturday.
Mrs. B is friends with Hope, who's a classmate of mine and who also is on the Founder's Day Committee - so...it's very hard to bow out of this event anymore. I've been good at it so far - missed it 4 years in a row! Well, time for an attitude check, mister - this will be fun, right? I'll bust bugs after work getting there, drink water while everyone else is drinking cocktails, including Mrs. B, hopefully =;-) and maybe I'll run into someone from my past military life that I used to know. An old friend. Who's name I can't remember for the life of me. Now that's FUN!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Season's first Brick!
Well, you know the tri season's started when you tie up those sneaks after ripping the Velcro off your bike shoes. The dreaded Brick. Your friend, your Nemesis; there's surely a love-hate relationship with the Brick. Oh, and running in ultra-tight Cycle-Ops bibs is no fun - note to self on that one...I'm calling this week a "REACH" week. In the spirit of finding that fine line between "over-reaching" and "over-training", I'm throwing in this 4th week and flirting with a higher training level. It's dangerous, I know. Over-training is difficult to bounce back from. So, I'm taking steps to avoid the syndrome.
First, I'm making sure I get enough sleep - at least 8 hrs every night. 10pm - 6am last night, for example. Recovery is key, and recovery takes place, mostly, when we are sleeping. I'd have gotten more, but American Idol was 2 hours last night...
Second, I'm eating right. I've started using the principles I'm learning in the Paleo Diet for Athletes (thanks Bold) - lots of protein from animal sources, plus fruits and veggies galore. This is a delicate balance for me, since I'm also trying to lose a bunch of weight. Surprisingly, eating this Paleo way, I'm still losing weight even though I'm stuffing my face with all the fruit and veggies and meat I can eat. I like that.
Third, I'm supplementing with Amino Vital. I bought the capsules this time, and I'm taking the recommended daily allowance - which also includes necessary vitamins and minerals that I'm probably missing. Gotta get those BCAAs - branch chain amino acids - to facilitate the protein in repairing the damaged muscle - recover, baby, recover.I'm doing ok, so far - I'm not sick, I'm not persistently tired, and I'm not overly grumpy (no more than usual) - and I can definitely tell the difference in speed of recovery with the Amino Vital. With any luck and the right post- and pre-workout nutrition, my Over-Reach will end with a recovery week and and increase in fitness, and not the dreaded Over-Train. Run tonight, and a long bike tomorrow (with another short brick thrown in for good measure) and I may be changing my tune. By Sunday, I'll be looking forward to a rest week for sure!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Shamrock Classic 10K
The Bigun's no speed runner...not anymore at least. I ran the 100-highs in High School, and was part of a 4x200m relay team that still holds my HS record, but deep down, I'm a shot-putter and discus thrower - a plodder. Yea, that's me, a plodder. Just for giggles, I decided to participate in this 10k just to see what I could do.
The time changing almost put a wrinkle in the works, but just before I fell off to sleep, I remembered and set the clock ahead. I got to the race around 7am - it was only 10 miles from my house, got registered and looked for my chip - alas, no chip timing for the day. So, I got my number on my nifty race number belt (why more runners don't use it, I don't know - those pins are a pain in the butt...) and did a short warm-up run; just enough to get the juices flowing. It was then I realized that there were no Port-o-Potties. Luckily we were in an industrial park - empty on a Sunday - so I ducked behind a building, and went about my business.
The route, I learned while running it, was a 3-mile loop - so that was a neat surprise, running by Bacon who was there cheering his wife on, and I guess me too. Mrs. Bigun has a pinched nerve in her neck and was in no shape to be around people this morning - bless her.
There was plenty of support, and there was a volunteer at every road intersection, so that made everything alright. Of course I went out too fast, and tuckered out trying to chase down that girl that passed me at mile 3, but overall I enjoyed the race and had fun. They gave me a card to fill out after I crossed the finish line - it did not have my time on it! Luckily I had hit the stop on my watch just as I crossed the line, and wrote my time - 51:42 - on the card with no illusions of placing.
I was 8:58 per mile for 13.2 last month, so even though it was only 30 seconds per mile faster, I was happy with my 8:20 average pace - I was 244lbs after the race, so with another 10 - 15 lbs to go before May 6th (the Bradenton 101), finishing that run with a 10-minute pace seems more and more likely. After all, I'm a plodder.
The time changing almost put a wrinkle in the works, but just before I fell off to sleep, I remembered and set the clock ahead. I got to the race around 7am - it was only 10 miles from my house, got registered and looked for my chip - alas, no chip timing for the day. So, I got my number on my nifty race number belt (why more runners don't use it, I don't know - those pins are a pain in the butt...) and did a short warm-up run; just enough to get the juices flowing. It was then I realized that there were no Port-o-Potties. Luckily we were in an industrial park - empty on a Sunday - so I ducked behind a building, and went about my business.
The route, I learned while running it, was a 3-mile loop - so that was a neat surprise, running by Bacon who was there cheering his wife on, and I guess me too. Mrs. Bigun has a pinched nerve in her neck and was in no shape to be around people this morning - bless her.
There was plenty of support, and there was a volunteer at every road intersection, so that made everything alright. Of course I went out too fast, and tuckered out trying to chase down that girl that passed me at mile 3, but overall I enjoyed the race and had fun. They gave me a card to fill out after I crossed the finish line - it did not have my time on it! Luckily I had hit the stop on my watch just as I crossed the line, and wrote my time - 51:42 - on the card with no illusions of placing.
I was 8:58 per mile for 13.2 last month, so even though it was only 30 seconds per mile faster, I was happy with my 8:20 average pace - I was 244lbs after the race, so with another 10 - 15 lbs to go before May 6th (the Bradenton 101), finishing that run with a 10-minute pace seems more and more likely. After all, I'm a plodder.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Position
The Bigun's still having a heck of a time with this new position on the bike. I brought it on to myself, so really I'm not complaining, but I had to stop at 50 miles again today. I didn't feel too bad though.
I got my buddy Bacon back out again - and that's a feat, let me tell you. He's been avoiding his steed now with the same zeal in which people avoid the dentist. But it was beautiful today; very little wind, between 75 and 85 degrees during the ride, and not a cloud in the sky. Perfect day for a ride!
I tried to goad him into 37 miles, but 25 was all he was having - 2 laps. I stopped when he did to stretch, figuring that would help to get another 50 in. In typical fashion, the Bigun forgot a vital piece of training gear - my Garmin - so I had no idea how fast (or slow) we were going. Turns out we averaged 18.2mph for the first go-around. Heading back out, all I had was the clock on my cell phone.
I thought I'd try and stay in the bars for at least 25 to get my back and hips used to being that low. Oh yea, I raised my seat about a quarter inch. With the new position, I just felt like I wasn't getting enough extension. With the seat raised that little bit, it felt much better.
I gotta say, I cranked for that 25. Finished in 1:10 - at about 22 miles I could feel my left hamstring tightening up, so instead of pushing my luck, I knew I'd call it quits at the end of that lap. It was a neat feeling - I was pushing hard, but not really breathing hard...not winded like when doing fartleks or intervals. I've got some more room there, some more umph. It's good to know that. Now all I need to do is get used to that darn new position.
I got my buddy Bacon back out again - and that's a feat, let me tell you. He's been avoiding his steed now with the same zeal in which people avoid the dentist. But it was beautiful today; very little wind, between 75 and 85 degrees during the ride, and not a cloud in the sky. Perfect day for a ride!
I tried to goad him into 37 miles, but 25 was all he was having - 2 laps. I stopped when he did to stretch, figuring that would help to get another 50 in. In typical fashion, the Bigun forgot a vital piece of training gear - my Garmin - so I had no idea how fast (or slow) we were going. Turns out we averaged 18.2mph for the first go-around. Heading back out, all I had was the clock on my cell phone.
I thought I'd try and stay in the bars for at least 25 to get my back and hips used to being that low. Oh yea, I raised my seat about a quarter inch. With the new position, I just felt like I wasn't getting enough extension. With the seat raised that little bit, it felt much better.
I gotta say, I cranked for that 25. Finished in 1:10 - at about 22 miles I could feel my left hamstring tightening up, so instead of pushing my luck, I knew I'd call it quits at the end of that lap. It was a neat feeling - I was pushing hard, but not really breathing hard...not winded like when doing fartleks or intervals. I've got some more room there, some more umph. It's good to know that. Now all I need to do is get used to that darn new position.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Proof
Here's your proof! raceAthlete shirt and Cycle Ops bibs - out a beautiful Flatwoods park for a windy 50 miler. I'll admit, I intended on going a bit longer than 
that, but I just recently changed out my front end with a Bontrager 17 degree 120mm stem (my old one was 0 degree, 110mm) and the Ironman extensions (nice internal cables) with the Alumin-x base bar. I drilled out an extra two holes on the base bar to allow for a little bit more internal brake cable run - and the Nokon cables were also a change. If you ever decide to go with Nokon's, make sure you get the extension kit for the brakes. I almost wish I got two - I don't think I have enough left to run the Nokon cables for my Hed 3rd brake.
With all of spacers below the stem, this setup dropped my front end 2 inches - I used to have the
stem as low as I could get it. That will take some getting used to. At the beginning of the ride - the first 25 miles or so - it felt great - fast and easy, even with the serious wind that was out there today. By 40 miles, however, I was feeling the different mechanics, and getting achy in my back and quads where it all felt..different.
So, it true Bigun style, I cut the ride short at 50 to make sure I didn't hurt myself and to give me time to get used to the new position. I'll be back at it Thursday - if it feels good, I'll make up the ride and do the whole 80. We'll see. In the meantime, any of you who do NOT have your rA
Jersey yet, you can be super jealous of mine until yours arrives. Na na, na na, na.
My initial feelings on the shirt - great shirt! Cool colors, great fit and fabric. I get a little flapping (not the Nytro kind...) when in the aerobars by the fabric in the shoulders around the neck, but you know, I didn't
have it zipped up all the way either.
Oh, an in case you were wondering, I left my waterbottles at home this morning, so I had to buy the little Gatorade bottles for the ride. Speaking of water - one thing I still have to figure out is how to mount my aero-drink bottle by profile design. The way this is set up, it's too wide for the bottle mounting kit - I'm probably going to have to tie two short pieces of PVC to the insides of the extensions and mount the kit to that. Hokey, yes, but until this straight-C college average guy figures something else out, that's going to have to be that.
that, but I just recently changed out my front end with a Bontrager 17 degree 120mm stem (my old one was 0 degree, 110mm) and the Ironman extensions (nice internal cables) with the Alumin-x base bar. I drilled out an extra two holes on the base bar to allow for a little bit more internal brake cable run - and the Nokon cables were also a change. If you ever decide to go with Nokon's, make sure you get the extension kit for the brakes. I almost wish I got two - I don't think I have enough left to run the Nokon cables for my Hed 3rd brake.With all of spacers below the stem, this setup dropped my front end 2 inches - I used to have the
stem as low as I could get it. That will take some getting used to. At the beginning of the ride - the first 25 miles or so - it felt great - fast and easy, even with the serious wind that was out there today. By 40 miles, however, I was feeling the different mechanics, and getting achy in my back and quads where it all felt..different.So, it true Bigun style, I cut the ride short at 50 to make sure I didn't hurt myself and to give me time to get used to the new position. I'll be back at it Thursday - if it feels good, I'll make up the ride and do the whole 80. We'll see. In the meantime, any of you who do NOT have your rA
Jersey yet, you can be super jealous of mine until yours arrives. Na na, na na, na.My initial feelings on the shirt - great shirt! Cool colors, great fit and fabric. I get a little flapping (not the Nytro kind...) when in the aerobars by the fabric in the shoulders around the neck, but you know, I didn't
have it zipped up all the way either.Oh, an in case you were wondering, I left my waterbottles at home this morning, so I had to buy the little Gatorade bottles for the ride. Speaking of water - one thing I still have to figure out is how to mount my aero-drink bottle by profile design. The way this is set up, it's too wide for the bottle mounting kit - I'm probably going to have to tie two short pieces of PVC to the insides of the extensions and mount the kit to that. Hokey, yes, but until this straight-C college average guy figures something else out, that's going to have to be that.
The other people out at the park probably had a laugh at me setting up the camera and taking these weird pictures of myself and my bike. Jees, it' took me 5 minutes just to figure out how to work the timer! And YES, I'm a poser with my Cycle Ops gear and no power meter...Oh yea, and see all that green stuff - the grass and the trees and the leaves - yea, this is Florida, baby...
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Weekend Update
Welcome - it's time for Weekend Update and your not-so-fake news with the Bigun.Our top story for today, in a gruesome fiery crash Iron Benny crossed into the Publix parking lot on his roof for the win in the little known yet highly competitive Ogden 14. Benny is OK, physically at least, and after the race was quoted as saying, "ya know, I may not be the fastest Ironman out there, I got just 2 words for you - Shake and Bake!"
In a related story, Nytro is still a women, and we may have an eye witness that allegedly claims to perhaps have seen Nytro shed a tear - just one mind you - when Benny was given a clean bill of health. If she asks, I'll deny ever saying it, however. I think that the witness has...yes, the witness is officially missing...
Iron Pol is turning a nice shade of blue-green due to the onset of chlorine-induced skin coloration. Waterworld has become his favorite movie - and he swears that Kevin Kosner really does have gills - and Pol wants some.I have, on the phone, a special guest today...Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome Iron Wil...Wil?
Wil: yes, Bigun - thank you for extending an invitation extrapolating and the juxtaposition of my pontification while the stars align and my feelings for all to see and hear.
Bigun: Wil, I have no idea what you just said...
Wil: let me explain, you see, aiding my rebirth into the exasperation that has become my life in the second coming of what has been widely known to be the sport of triathlon that I can't really explain or talk about now, alluding to the inner qualities of peace, love and understanding...
Bigun: Nope, you still lost me - but you've really been rocking lately, working hard and getting ready for a big season...what's that, Wil, I'm driving through a tunnel, I'm losing you...
That's right folks, the Bigun's a neanderthal - and in related news, I just
ordered Bolder's book of choice, the Paleo Diet for Athletes. Speaking of Bolder, from the center of the country we have a tragic story of a man gone bad - kids, this is what happens when you combine foreigners with illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Bolder, a skinny, well-honed Ironman machine wanted more and wanted it fast. Now look at this exclusive "after" picture of Bold, post-juice:
What do you know, we have Boulder on the line! The P-Dawg Leader, Bold, thanks for calling in today.
Bolder: I am going to fly to Florida, ehh, and mess you up, Bigun!
Bigun: whoa, calm down big guy - that's just the 'roids talking - a 'roid rage! From this un-re-touched picture of you, it seems that you've been doing a bit more than just the Paleo diet (nice speedo, btw...)
Bolder: You've got no proof, this is all lies and fabrications!
Bigun: Oh really? We have now, on conference call, Dr. Shivago, USAT's official urinalysis and drug testing monitor - Doctor, tell us what you've discovered.
Dr. Shivago: ferst of all, leet me just say dis - I luf Canada and all Canadians and somedaaa vee vill velkom dem all to the Master...
Bigun: woah, woah, I warned you about that - just tell us about Bolder, please!
Dr. Shivago: ehem - ve found a large collectchion of illeeeegle perrrfformance-enhacing drugs in his system, incluuding but not leemited to; human growth hormone..
Studio Audience: 'gasp'
Shivago: Andrrrro and DHA with a testosterone patch derrrivitive...
Crowd: 'no...'
Dr. Shivago: and surprisingly, an elevated level of EPO with a estrogen chaser, vich ve at the laaab all had a rrrealy good laughhhh about...
Boulder: ahh, let me explain, really, the samples must have been switched - WHERE's MY "B" SAMPLE - DR SHIVAGO, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!!!!!
Wil: yes, Bigun - thank you for extending an invitation extrapolating and the juxtaposition of my pontification while the stars align and my feelings for all to see and hear.Bigun: Wil, I have no idea what you just said...
Wil: let me explain, you see, aiding my rebirth into the exasperation that has become my life in the second coming of what has been widely known to be the sport of triathlon that I can't really explain or talk about now, alluding to the inner qualities of peace, love and understanding...
Bigun: Nope, you still lost me - but you've really been rocking lately, working hard and getting ready for a big season...what's that, Wil, I'm driving through a tunnel, I'm losing you...
That's right folks, the Bigun's a neanderthal - and in related news, I just
ordered Bolder's book of choice, the Paleo Diet for Athletes. Speaking of Bolder, from the center of the country we have a tragic story of a man gone bad - kids, this is what happens when you combine foreigners with illegal performance-enhancing drugs. Bolder, a skinny, well-honed Ironman machine wanted more and wanted it fast. Now look at this exclusive "after" picture of Bold, post-juice:What do you know, we have Boulder on the line! The P-Dawg Leader, Bold, thanks for calling in today.
Bolder: I am going to fly to Florida, ehh, and mess you up, Bigun!
Bigun: whoa, calm down big guy - that's just the 'roids talking - a 'roid rage! From this un-re-touched picture of you, it seems that you've been doing a bit more than just the Paleo diet (nice speedo, btw...)
Bolder: You've got no proof, this is all lies and fabrications!
Bigun: Oh really? We have now, on conference call, Dr. Shivago, USAT's official urinalysis and drug testing monitor - Doctor, tell us what you've discovered.
Dr. Shivago: ferst of all, leet me just say dis - I luf Canada and all Canadians and somedaaa vee vill velkom dem all to the Master...
Bigun: woah, woah, I warned you about that - just tell us about Bolder, please!
Dr. Shivago: ehem - ve found a large collectchion of illeeeegle perrrfformance-enhacing drugs in his system, incluuding but not leemited to; human growth hormone..
Studio Audience: 'gasp'
Shivago: Andrrrro and DHA with a testosterone patch derrrivitive...
Crowd: 'no...'
Dr. Shivago: and surprisingly, an elevated level of EPO with a estrogen chaser, vich ve at the laaab all had a rrrealy good laughhhh about...
Boulder: ahh, let me explain, really, the samples must have been switched - WHERE's MY "B" SAMPLE - DR SHIVAGO, YOU'RE A DEAD MAN!!!!!
Finally folks, disappointing news out of the Saris Group, specifically Cycle Ops, where apparently their shipping center has burned to the ground. That's right, everyone, the Cycle Ops shipping center blew to bits last week in a horrific chemical fire. It must have...since I placed my order for my highly sought after raceAthlete jersey on the 26th of Feb and it has yet to ship. I sure hope everyone there is ok, my thoughts and prayers are with them as they deal with these tragic events. And that's the fake news, train hard everyone!
Edit: turns out I did receive my rA shirt and nicely matching Cycle Ops '05 bibs in Saturday's mail - it was in the mail box today, we just didn't check - still says, "not shipped" at Cycle Ops site, however...Love the shirt, it's truly AWESOME!
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