This is my training log from Feb 1, 2009 to July 26, 2009. Ironman USA - Lake Placid New York.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Ping Test 4

Sunday Sept 20 Weekly Update

I'm beginning to see what people mean when they say they retired, but they are busier than ever! What a week this has been. Great, but busy!

Tuesday is turning out to be "Aurora" day. Up to check on mail, put stuff into storage, look for other stuff already in storage that we need, pick up mail, visit with folks. This week we added in 'Tattoo Day' at Fatcats!

Bryan had gone ahead and got his tat a couple of weeks earlier, but Willem and I got ours together, under the watchful eye of most of our tri and training buddies before heading over to Jersey Joe's for a few drinks. I was shocked to see so many of the gang there. Simon had sent out a note to the gang I found out later. A bunch of the gang drove up from the city as well. What a great surprise and a fun night. (Tattoo Night pictures)

On Wednesday morning I drove to St Catharines to see Jordan and to drop off Puppy at her new home with Mike Chiliak.

Mike does all of the photography for Multi Sport Canada. Lynne and I met Mike when we were race announcing at Wasaga Beach on the 16th & 17th (last weekend)

Mike has two dogs just like puppy. Rocky and Moose. He sent us this picture a couple of days later.

Rocky, Moose and Pupy Puppy

I'm not sure that Puppy looks totally comfortable yet, but I know she will be. Mike and his wife Rose and the kids are going to give Puppy a GREAT home!

Wednesday afternoon Thursday and Friday I worked on the Broadway Kitchen and Bath web site. I hope to re-launch that early next week.

We met with Kevin and Joan on Thursday night and listened to their adventures driving to Costa Rica. It's looking like it's going to be very expensive to ship the car, so it's looking like we're going to drive all the way though!

Saturday I had great time race announcing at Lakeside II. I had a few friends racing in the morning. My pal Allen celebrated his 60th birthday by racing. He got his first podium finish coming in 3rd. We figure that if he didn't fall off the bike he would have 1. Maybe got a first and 2. might not of broken his arm. We're not sure about that arm yet. We'll know tomorrow.

In the afternoon I had a blast announcing the 'Kids of Steel" races in the afternoon. It was just way too much fun watching the 3 - 5 year olds racing. They start out in about 3' of water. They work their way in through about 15 meters of water, head out for a 200 meter bike and then back for a 50 meter run. i had the best time cheering these kids on yelling "You are a Tri athlete" as they crossed the line.

Saturday night, my sailing buddy Paul had a good-bye party for Lynne and I. There were sailing friends, Canac friends and Aurora friends there. We had a super time and finally left about 2:30 - 3:00 in the morning. We hadn't seen that side of 3:00am in years!

The final countdown is on.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Sept 14 Update

Monday Sept 14 Weekly Update

I can't believe how quickly time passes here as we prepare for our trip. We sold the house a few weeks ago and are living in an apartment at Yonge and St Clair. Lynne loves it here. Me, not sos much.

Lynne is meeting tons of folks for lunch or dinner and shopping around the neighborhood. I've got some web work to do so I seem to either be at this little desk working, or driving back up to York Region for one reason or another, cursing traffic all the way there and back!

I suffered a little culture shock when we first moved in here. I guess after 20+ years in our house in Aurora, I got pretty used to everyone around and pretty much said "Hi" to everyone waling down the street. People aren't like that here in 'rental hell'. I thought at first that they were unfriendly, but soon realize that they are just scared. No one looks you in the eye on the sidewalk, but the look to either side of you, or down at the ground. A friendly "Hello" or "Good Morning" scares the crap out of them.

It's been a lot of years since Lynne or I have lived in an apartment. We forgot about how nosy people are and overly protective of their simple rented positions.

This little apartment is on the ground floor of an old 3 story walkup brown stone building on a beautiful tree lined street. There is even a kitchen door that leads out past the back of another apartment in front of us, and into a beautiful garden. It's great to be able to come in and out without having to go through the hallways with loud doors crashing closed automatically behind us.

Word came from the landlord last week that the front neighbor was 'traumatized' by someone who lived here before us who used that door and, would we stop using it right away. We were also told that Puppy whines a bit when were both out, (which happens very rarely) and we need to get rid of the dog immediately.

After calming down a bit I took a lesson from my son and smiled, agreed and then went on and did whatever I wanted.

Another women in the building the other morning came out and told me to NOT put the plastic doggy poop bag in the garbage cans outside against the fence, but to keep them in our apartment until garbage day.

Yup - Loving downtown living? Not so much for me!

Lynne and I did have a fun time this weekend though being the race announcers at the HSBC races in Wasaga Beach though. We're off to do it again at Lakeside next Saturday. Sorry we missed everyone at the Musk 70.3 this weekend though. Almost everyone I trained with, and my kids, were there. They all did great and from what I'm hearing so far, the course didn't get any easier this year!