Time to Become a Caterpillar Again

The 17th World Transplant Games on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia are finished. For ten days I flew among people from over 50 countries, each of whom share the transplant experience. The dreamlike trance from which I awoke upon returning to the smokey skies of LA made earth seem like heaven. What if you had 10, 20, 50, or 100 friends whose names you never knew, but whose hearts you identified with immediately once introduced?

But as you probably know, all flights to heaven with butterfly wings only last as long as an eclipse. The light shines so intensely you believe that life is always so. It's only when the eclipse has passed, you realized its magnificent glow.

Although my goal was to finish number "1," my numbers of destiny were "1" and "8." And indeed in the 5K Bicycle Time Trial and in the 20K Bicycle Road Race, I finished 8th. Each time I gave what I had, but I didn't quite make it. Maybe for the next World Transplant Games, my number of destiny will simply be "1." Of course, that won't be easy since the next World Transplant Games begins on June 18, 2011. In the meantime, it's time to prepare for next year's U.S. Transplant Games and return to my profession as a teacher and my graduate studies. It's time to become a caterpillar again and prepare for another few days of heaven on earth at the 18th World Transplant Games, June 18-25, 2001 in Goteborg, Sweden.

To All my Supporters.

Thank you.

Sunday, August 16th ... Hansen Damm Triathlon ... Relay

I swam the swimming portion of the Hansen Damm Triathlon as apart of a Relay Team with Jose (cycling) and his friend Willie (running). We finished second overall. I swam 457 meters (500 yards) in 11.05, 47 seconds better than last year's time. Out of the 26 relay teams, I was 10th. My goal is to do that course in 10 minutes or less. It was a fun day with real competition (the nervousness ahead of time) was the competition for day and since I finished so quickly I was able to relax. My friend Becca was also there. She did her first triathlon and took some great pics.

Final Countdown

Today my was my final ride before boarding a plane to Australia tomorrow night. Now my bike is being packed up and I'll take it with me in a large bike case tomorrow. It should be the most fun I'll have during the trip lugging that thing around … not. I rode pretty well today. I didn't break any records for myself but I was three minutes better than I was on the same course going over the hilll first than just last week when I was still feeling very ill. Now I feel better. I felt that I had more power today, but I wasn't fluid. When I get to Australia I need to get to the gym and peddle. That's what I noticed today is that I wasn't fluid because I haven't been peddling enough. As of today, I've ridden 87 days this year, equaling the number of days I rode last year.

Frenetic Friday

This is the best I've felt for three weeks or so. It wasn't my fastest time, but it was the healthiest. My strength still isn't back 100%, but my overall conditioning feels solid. I've lost some weight (2-3 pounds on my slender fame. Still, it makes my cadence and rhythm are better than before Having written that, I wasn't smooth shifting today that cost me some time and energy on the climbs. In order to do well in Australia, I'm going to have to peddle smarter and quicker than most guys. I won't be able to outpower guys. Just four days to go until take off.

Six Days and Counting

Five days off. I feel like I'm slowly … very slowly … getting over the flu I had and the anti-biotics I took for them. It's a long process. I still have some lingering bronchitis and I feel a little bit weak. On the bright side, my weakness caused me to lose a few pounds so that I have a very efficient cadence. I did the hybrid 20.15k ride in Griffith Park. From the start to the turn, I rode in the TT position. My times were 8.37 and 9.10. Those times a little slow, but it was windy and I hadn't ridden in awhile. I've lost some power in my legs. I'll have to make up for it with massive cadence. On the way back, I road in the RR position climbing over the mountain. Good thing I have lots of muscle memory because sometimes it's just hard to climb. The next couple days I need to rest as much as possible. I've done pretty much everything I can to train for the World Transplant Games. It's time to put the work into action.

Second Consequtive Night of Swimming

My second consequtive night of swimming. Adding the 500m distance to my workout has re-energized me. I like the longer distance and my 50m split on the 500m distance is only 1.7 seconds less than my 200m distance. My stroke seems to have come together. I'll have to remember to take it easy during competitions when the easiest thing to do is push. But pushing tightens the muscles and makes swimming easily more difficult. It's kind of like golf. You have to relax in order to do well.

Tick Tock ... 9 days to go ... Swimming ...

It has been two weeks since I have swum. I felt smooth, a bit tired and worried. Still my breathing was calm and rhythmic and my stroke felt most fluid. I swam the 500m distance in order to prepare for next week's Hansen Damm triathlon, in which I'll do the relay with Jose next week. I'm doing the swimming portion. In the future, I'll compete in longer swimming distances. Let's see how I feel over the next couple of days. I hope that I can still can to Australia.