Day 124 May 31st - Stomach Bug

What a week. I must have eaten something bad on Saturday night because Sunday, Monday, Tuesday I could not keep anything down regardless of what I ate.

I drove to Bellevue, WA on Sunday to be part of my father David O. Dance's 91st birthday and Memorial Day for my Mom who just passed away this month. I was getting up every few hours during the night.

On Monday I ran 5 miles with my 3rd son Jeff Dance and family friend Minh Chin who just ran a 10K a few weeks earlier in 51 minutes which is 8:30 miles. We ran trails Jeff had run while a member of the Cascade Striders years ago. I had no energy and had to stop at the 2.5 mile and 4.5 mile mark and walk abit. 

Then I went down to Portland for business meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, but ended up cancelling most of them as I didn't want anyone else to get the bug and I felt so tired regardless of how many hours of sleep I got each night.

Finally on Wednesday I drove home to Hayden, Idaho and started feeling better. On Thursday I put on my running clothes three times and didn't get to run until about 5pm at night. I intended to go 6 miles but only had time to run 4 miles and ran out of gas at the 3 mile mark.

According to Strava Run, the iPhone running application I have started to use I ran the first mile uphill in 9:30 then the second in 8:28 and the third in 8:30. I still felt that no energy was there. I ran another 6/10ths at an 8:32 pace but that was it. So it takes awhile to recover from being sick.

I had to quit early because of the Coeur d'Alene High School Senior Awards night for our 7th son and 8th child Jonathan Dance. Here is a You Tube link to one of the 5 awards he received that evening - Male Athlete of the Year 2012-2013. You Tube Video

Today I am resting as tomorrow I have a 10k in Spokane and am interested in seeing how I do then. It will be an interesting indicator to see where I am.

Day 118 - May 26th - Maybe Something is Working

I surprised myself this week. Julienne and I went on a 15 mile bike ride partly around Hayden Lake. We wanted to go the whole distance, but started too late, and she had a piano rehearsal at a set time we needed to be back for. I rode with her most of the way, but on the way back on the Dodd hills I tore into them going up to 37 mph down them and up to 10-12 mph going up. I really like the Aerobars and feel that they put my body in a more powerful position.

Then after getting home yesterday I went for a run to simulate more of what a triathlon would be like. I used the new Strava iPhone app that my son Tom told me about earlier in the week.  It says that I ran 3.6 miles in an average pace of 8:10 per mile. That is really good for me knowing the first 3/4 mile was uphill at a 9:13 mph pace. 

Then my weigh in today was a pleasant surprise - 162.4 pounds and 23% body weight. That means that I am only 2 1/2 pounds away from being in the 159 range.  If I can just keep chipping away at my weight I know that my running times will improve.

Maybe something is working after all of these workouts and I am steadily improving.  

Day 114 May 22nd Weigh In Delight

I was discouraged this morning. Another day of rain. I wanted to get a long bike ride in yesterday and didn't go early enough. It rained all afternoon and night. So no exercise yesterday, nothing.

Today I decided to take an early morning 6 mile run and was handsomely rewarded. I used the Strava Run App for the iPhone5 and ran 5.6 miles in 53.30 which was an average of 9.35/mile. Not fast but it was all hills in the rain, so I felt okay. I loved the Strava app. It recorded my run so now I can compare and see how I do better on a sunny day when I am feeling up to it.

But what was exciting today is my weigh in. I felt it would be way up and feel that I am snacking too much right now. But I am still exercising and lo and behold the scale said 164.4 pounds this morning and 23.2% body fat. I weighed myself three times. The numbers didn't change.  That is the best ever yet! Maybe I can get under 160 before the Hayden Sprint triathlon.

Day 113 May 21st Strava Cycling

Now that I have a bike, I am interested in how I am doing. The first time out the fastest I could go down a hill in top gears was 1.5 mph. I knew that was wrong so I figured out my tire's circumference and reset the cyclometer. Now I am ready for more. My oldest son Tom Dance introduced me to Stava Cycling tonight. What a nifty program. You can use it to track all your bike rides, record your details, see your route in full view, and explore what others have done. The leaderboard is impressive. Check it out at www.strava.com

Day 104 - May 12th - Weigh In

During the past few weeks of trials, travel, and funeral I am pleased to report that I didn't balloon up as much as I thought I would. My weight today was 167.4 less than a pound up from my low and 12.6 pounds down from where I started. I would like to be somewhere in the 150-160 range by the time the triathlons start.

Day 103 - May 11th - Road Bike Purchase

What a change in attitude and training.  Here I was at a low point during the week days but a high point this weekend.

My son Tom, found a Felt Road Bike at a garage sale Sat morning and thought it might be the right bike for me.

Earlier that morning I had been on a ride with my wife Julienne. My Giant Perigee Road Racing Sport Bike that is probably 20-30 years old or more finally gave out. The gears stopped working and I knew it was time to get serious about getting a new bike.

I have been looking for months but didn't feel it was a priority. Even if I got a aluminum alloy bike at a discount it would have added up to $1,805 as follows:

Specialized Allez Comp APEX $1,550 less 20% for last years model = $1,250
Pedals $110
Shoes $150
Helmet $40
Aero Bars $115
Flat Repair Kit $50
Speedometer $90
Total $1,805

Now although you can get some parts for less cost, the mixture was not top end and more in line with the cost of the bike.

So I had looked at Craig's list from time to time and found a LaMond Big Sky SL that was about 5 years old and came with Carbon Fiber Forks, Shimano 105, and Delphi cycle computer all for $650. but still would have cost me another $500 to add the other parts. There was no guarantee that the bike would really function as desired as it hadn't been taken care of for quite a while.

I had also purchased the 2013 Bicyclying Buyer's Guide and saw bikes from $600 to $11,000 and more.  Of course the Eddy Merckx EMX-525 they featured on the front page was only $4,250 for the frame and $11,000 as tested.

So when my son reported that I could get a Felt Z5 for under $800 and cleated bike shoes for just $15 I was elated. I went right down and bought the bike, then went on a 15 mile bike ride. It came with pedals and a wireless speedometer. I had received a helmet for my birthday in March so the only other components were Aero Bars and a Flat Repair kit. Tom said he had some extra Aero Bars so the only additional item is a Flat Repair kit making the all in total $816.

And what a difference it makes. As you all know and I have just discovered, the pedaling and the muscles used are much different than a normal bicycle that I had. It is much closer to spin cycling at the Kroc Center.

Now it makes sense to get fitted for the bike. The Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce sponsoring me was kind enough to include that in the package sponsorship. 

I am exited again and ready to continue training for the triathlon.

Days 97-102 through May 10th Low Point

Since the funeral I have had to catch up with business and have driven just under 2,000 miles, flown on 6 planes, and been in 9 states in the last week.

I did have a good run in the hills of Oklahoma listening to the proceedings of the funeral that I taped on my iPhone5. And I did get a good workout in a LifeFitness gym in Texas, but other than that had a flat low point in my training and enthusiasm for the triathlon.

Life happens, even while you are sponsored and trying to train. You just have to keep at it.

Days 91-96 ending May 4, 2013 Funeral

This week was consumed with making plans for the funeral for my Mother. Yes I got in some training days but not much. No one has died in my family for decades so I didn't know quite what to expect.

I think it can be summed up briefly with my Dad's comments to his kids:

"I am glad the day is over. I was dreading it, but it was really wonderful."

So on a beautiful spring day in Seattle, when the sun was shining, there was no cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze was blowing, and all our family and closest friends for the last 7 decades or more were there, we buried my Mom with fondness and love at Sunset Memorial Hills in Bellevue, WA.

We look forward to a reunion with her and our friends in the after life promised by our Savior.