My New Ride

I've had it for a while. Several workouts on the trainer. Can't wait to get it outside.

Enjoy the show.

Video should be fixed now.....small technical issues.

Again to Carthage

I've been wanting to post some book reviews. I've read some awesome books this past year and will try to share more information about what I have been reading.

My latest read is the new book by John L. Parker, Again To Carthage. This is the long anticipated sequel to the ultimate running book Once a Runner. I've read Once a Runner several times because Parker is a runner who is a talented author. The way he describes the training and racing involved with running is awesome. I was not let down by Again to Carthage.

At first I was confused with the slow nature of the book. Trying to understand where he was going in the beginning I almost gave up. But the second half of the book is built upon the first half. Parker ties everything together and make clear the meaningful connections.

I was drawn deeper and deeper into the book to the point where I had to force myself to close the book and turn out the light somewhere near 11PM on some weeknights, usually my limit is 10PM.

Never mentioning clear dates in the book, I was sometimes lost when things were happening. However the ending is classic and is hard to describe. Of course I don't want to say anything about the actual story.

I will say that Once a Runner AND Again to Carthage are two highly prized books in my small collection. I know I will re-read this one again and again.

I cannot recommend these books enough. If possible read Once a Runner first. I know it's hard to find the first book, very expensive on-line, but if you can borrow it or find it....GET IT. Get them both. Read them both. Become excited about running.

Farewell Halle

Sad news this morning. Halle passed this morning thus ending her battle with cancer. However her husband, Geeva, has a long road ahead of him raising two kids. I know he will be okay. There have been many before him that have had to face the same reality of being alone on a journey you always expected to make with a partner.

Again I thought of nothing but Halle during my brick run. I somehow find peace and strength when I think of her.

God bless you Halle, you will be missed but never forgotten.

Family and Friends Friday - Halle Nanda

How the fuck do you start a post about someone you know who is facing certain death....in one months time. I guess you just jump into it and tell the story.

Aimee and I have known Halle and her husband Geeva for 5 or 6 years. Geeva was a fellow consultant at my company and had moved on to another company. We would get together at our neighbors house at least once a year for a wine tasting party. Seeing Hallie and Geeva was always greatly anticipated because they are both awesome people. Super friendly and great to be around. It's been a while since I've seen them. Hallie developed ovarian cancer last year. We were getting updates from our friend Kim and things were starting to look better. She fought the cancer through standard treatments and was given a clean bill of health.

If you know anything about cancer it's ruthless. Someone can correct me, but if you make it through 5 years of follow-up scans without the cancer recurring, you are considered cancer free. During one of Halle's check-ups they performed 9 scans of her body. Unfortunately they found cancer in all 9 scans. Oh yeah, it was also a couple weeks before Christmas. The week prior to Christmas they performed surgery to get as much as they could.

Since then things have not gotten better. The downward spiral keeps getting worse. Being told you have 6 months to live. Then six weeks later your husband has to tell you and your two young children that the time table has moved up and now you and your family are staring at 1 month. 4 weeks, 30 days. What the fuck does that do to you as the terminal patient, husband, child?!?

Yesterday all I thought about during my run was Halle. I pushed hard for the second half of that run. I wanted to feel a little bit of pain. Of course it's nothing compared to what Halle has experienced recently. The burn in my legs and lungs actually felt good. The feeling of being alive and healthy. Somehow it didn't seem fair. Once again I realized that I have led a blessed life without any major illnesses in my family. I'm starting to understand just a tiny bit of what Bolder has gone through in his life. Or there is also TriSaraTops. I read her list of friends lost to cancer and am dumbfounded.

Then while I am writing this blog I get another update from Kim. Halle's condition worsened yesterday and she was taken to hospice. I know what that means but I don't want to process it right now. It's too hard to comprehend it all. I can't sort everything out. It's happening too fast, and I'm not even in the middle of it.

As this comes to a close I will be ready to make my Declaration of Intent for the 2008 season.

Nothing else to say except........

Blogging Against Cancer

Because I Can

Game On

Gob Bless you Halle.

Sheldon Brown - Bike Guru

If you have ever done a search for technical information for your bike, you have probably run across Sheldon Brown. I've used the website he wrote for at Harris Cyclery many times for gearing, shifting, cassette combinations, and most recently for information on the Sturmey Archer hub.

Sheldon died on February 3rd of a sudden heart attack. There is an article here about this cycling great. I was always amazed by the amount of information he shared on the web site. I'm just glad that his words will live in perpetuity for all types of cyclists to enjoy and learn from.

God Speed Sheldon. You will be missed.