Event #40, 4 Hour Adventure Race, US National Whitewater Center, Saturday May 8

Honestly, it is with a bit of sadness that I am writing this entry. After a year of racing, training, blogging and most importantly fundraising, the 40 in 40 is complete.

This minor bit of sadness is overcome by the following:

1. We raised over $40,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

2. All the awesome folks I met along the way, through training, racing, blogging, just interacting with folks and explaining the 40 in 40 and why the mission of the LLS is in critical need of support.

3. I had so much fun. I enjoyed every race, in its own way - some of them were a lot more enjoyable when they were over to be honest - but so many of them had their own special memories attached to them - all of them, have been documented here in this blog.

4. The amazing kindness, generosity and support from friends, family, co-workers and even complete strangers.

So for those of you who are uninitiated in the way of adventure racing, like me, Pete, Mike and Josh were yesterday morning - here's how this one worked:

Start and go through the prologue - find the first three checkpoints and punch the corresponding number of your "passport" a sheet of paper with numbers and letters on them which correspond to the checkpoints in the race. Then - well actually before, strategize to get as to as many checkpoints as you can and as many numbers punched....in 4 hours or less.

We got the first 6 on foot, the next three (two plus a bonus) via kayak on the Catawba river, the next three via whitewater rafts on the largest man made whitewater river, the next three on the rock climbing wall and the last one via mountain bike.

We missed one by totally overrunning it - my bad idea about bushwhacking along the riverbanks versus sticking to the trail a little while longer...and only got one on the bike - because- well, these little markers buried in the woods are hard enough to find when you're jogging along, never mind when you're flying down the trails at the whitewater center....and besides, after some technical difficulties - we were running out of time.

So - as we head out - we set a pace of about an 8:30 - 8:40 minute mile. We've got a lot of land to cover - and it was warm at the start. Last year's winner, a young man from Germany was WAAAAY out front - he wound up running the entire course - and winning again this year - so we kind of followed him for a bit. As long as we could see him anyways, which wasn't long.

We got into this event at the suggestion of Mike Nicosia, the Director and our team consisted of Mike, Pete Lohri, the Navigator, a friend from UMass, former rugby teammate and neighbor here in Stonewater and Josh Cowley, the Gazelle, a neighbor of Mike's...and me, the anchor. We were Team 40-40 - still are...and we rocked!

What can I say - we had an absolute blast. The kayaks out across the Catawba to the checkpoints were fun. Realizing that I had totally overrun checkpoint 5, by probably 1/2 mile - and being able to get to the whitewater rafts in time - potentially damaging, but we did it. Riding the whitewater, not getting tossed out of the boat even on the hydraulic. They had them dialed up to about class 3 rapids is what I guessed...hard but not overwhelming. Rock climbing - which I expected I would totally suck at was fun...I know I didn't set any records on that - but surprisingly it was easy. And I got to see Abby Miller, TNT Director. She is such an awesome woman - she came out there to cheer us on and was so excited for us. God bless you Abby you are one of the many reasons I love TnT and the work the Team does. And then the bikes - well - that's another story.

Sheila arrived just as we were heading out. A quick kiss for good luck and off we rode - Team 40-40 - down the hill and off into the woods. The bikes were still fun mind you, but as we started out, Josh had quite possibly the worst popped chain I had ever seen. It took us ALL to get it fixed - and took about 10 minutes. Then, as we're barreling down the trail to the mandatory Checkpoint 9...we missed a turn and went on a black diamond (very difficult) trail which ate up more time.

Then - we finally get to checkpoint 9. A mandatory checkpoint, which we all thought, meant there'd be people there making sure we were all together - you have to stay within 100 feet of a teammate at all times- and checking us in...but no. It was a freaking compass orienteering riddle.

150 yards at 270 degrees, then 36 yards at 30 degrees, then 100 yards at 20 degrees...find three numbers, jot them down - then go back and continue finding checkpoints.

We completed the riddle - but then realized we had 15 minutes to get back to the finish...given the challenges on the bikes thus far - we quickly realized - no time for checkpoints - hump it back to the finish.

We got back about 6 minutes past 5, which meant we get docked 6 points. but you know what - we finished - and I made sure we finished together.

As we went through the awards, ours being the award of finishing - first time adventure racers - first time teammates (for most of us) - the race director asked us to come up and tell our story. Mike asked who found Checkpoint 5...apparently - we just missed it - again - my bad - as most of the four hour folks found it

Then they asked me to tell the story of the 40 in 40. Which I did. When I told them how we raised $40,000 - we (note we not I) got a standing ovation. That was in honor of all of you, those who have supported me with your generosity, Sheila with her patience, my friends who raced with me, pushed me, gave me grief about missing a race...

That was for you.

The 40th race is dedicated to Mike Nicosia, his three children, Kacey, Matthew and Sean and in memory of Kathy Nicosia who passed away in June of 2007. Kathy was pregnant with her youngest, Sean and upon giving birth, it was determined that there was a massive tumor in her uterus. It had gone undiagnosed or even seen during the pregnancy. From the time it was found, to the time that Mike, Kacey, Matthew and Sean lost Kathy - seeing them all from time to time, their power, their passion for life, love for Kathy - wife, mother - and their resiliency...was and still is powerful. Kathy was a great energetic, friendly, loving woman who welcomed friends, new and old into her world. She is missed, but not forgotten - and I am humbled to be dedicating this race in her memory.

As mentioned, Mike was the director of this team. Being able to do it with him - and now, being able to dedicate this event to him, his children and most importantly in the memory of Kathy - is the least I can do. I hope that I honored her, Mike and the kids appropriately. As a testament to Mike's power - he told all of us on Team 40-40 - to donate the race fees to the 40 in 40 versus reimbursing him. over $180...selfless....generous....kind hearted and powerful.

While the 40 in 40 is done, I am not.

I will continue to serve as the Treasurer for the NC Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Board - a position I am honored to hold. I will continue to do Team in Training events, I will continue to support and further the mission of the LLS - the cures are out there - we must continue to battle - to eventually defeat blood cancers.

This summer - I intend to volunteer for as many TnT events as I can - and challenge you all to come out and support the events as well. No dollars involved - just some time. Volunteers are critical to the success of these events. If you want to know more - just let me know.

Come out and see what enjoyment, sense of accomplishment and success the members of TnT realize during their events. Come out and see what powerful message is communicated - as those clad in purple and green - race for a cause, for a cure, for a life....or like the 40 in 40 - to put another birthday candle on a blood cancer patient's birthday cake. This year, next year, 10 years or more from now.

So - while the 40 in 40 is over- the blog will continue - with updates to races, new events, new challenges...but for now - nothing like the 40 in 40.

A Full Ironman is probably in the works for next year - more to come on that.

So while the adventure is over - the fun is not. I've had so many incredible experiences - I'll recount them over the next several years - happily - and will be sure to recognize all of you and your support. Thank you for following the blog - please stay tuned - we'll have a lot to share with you as time passes.

Who knows - maybe I'll write a book - 40 chapters, 40 pictures, probably sell about 40 copies!

Pictures to follow.

Go TEAM!!!! And thank you all!

#34 CoolBreeze Triathlon, Sunday March 28

Holy crap that alarm went off early....although truth be told - I didn't sleep much after we got home at midnight. Tri bag prep (prior posts go into my concern over that) and getting the bike ready and rack on my car...hit the rack around 1 AM - woke up pretty much every half hour concerned I slept through the alarm.

Then when it did finally go off at 5:15, I over used the snooze - assessing "what is the latest I can get up and make it to the race to get set up and ready?" Turns out that was 5:45....

Grab some pre-race chow and head for the race. make it to the site at 6:45 - plenty of time before the race starts - and even more before I have to jump in the pool. Get set up in transition, bike racked, clothes set up, all stickers/numbers affixed properly. Go get my numbers written on me at body marking....this is when it hits me - once again - we're so close to the end of the 40 in 40.

In Triathlon (and apparently in the race on Saturday) they do what is "aging up". If your birthday occurs after the race but during the calendar year of the race, they mark the age you will become (in my case 40) on your right calf. The reason for putting ones age on their leg is twofold....

One - to tell everyone just how old the person who just dusted you on the bike or run is
Two - to know if you should chase them - if they fall into your age group (5 year groupings - I am now in 40 -44)

Back to transition - and the guy next to me in the racks informs me my bike is racked incorrectly - to those of you who haven't done a tri - this could result in a penalty of 2 minutes - which in any tri - especially a short one - can make a big difference...not that I'm going to win - but still.

So I explain - no its not and why...net-net - he feels he doesn't have enough space for all his transition stuff...waa waa waa. So I double check the rules - and no I am in fact racked properly. So I leave it.

About 15 minutes later - they announce incorrectly racked bikes and other potential penalties over the PA system "#426 your bike is incorrectly racked"...guess who #426 is...ME.

So - I move it - but as I do a USAT official ( the folks who figure out who is potentially in penalty - and record/report it accordingly) is walking by so I ask him....is my bike incorrectly racked this way? He's like nope - you're good....

OK - I'll catch this little bugger, #425 on the course and make up for him tattling (incorrectly) on me...ya big space hog baby.... :-)

I am somewhat sympathetic as for many this is a first time tri - short course, pool swim early in the season - and while it's my first of the season, and I clearly could have made a mistake - however, just like there's no crying in baseball, there's no tattling in triathlon. I did in fact move my bike to accommodate #425 - not wanting to make his first tri (or one of his first tri's) a bad experience.

Today was like a TNT reunion of sorts....ran into and chatted with Jay Reid TNT Coach and husband of the wonderful Cat Reid - who was a Tahoe teammate from last year (his first tri EVER - as prep for the Austin TX Olympic), Abby Miller - TNT Director, John McLean, TNT Alum and Full IronMan finisher (I haven't done that...don't imagine I could) and Cheryl Reid - also a Tahoe teammate who is doing her first (I believe) TNT Tri in June....

Also saw Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer blogger and running aficionado who just completed his third marathon in 4+ months last weekend....

All of them - with the exception of Jay - were all out volunteering to help make this a great event. John McLean of course was giving me grief on the run...."come on, get up this hill"...but it helped.

Net - net...

Swim - which was short (250M) was harder than it should have been
Bike was fast - due in part to the fact that pieces of the course were familiar due to other training rides and previous tris
Run was good - especially given the fact that we did the 5K yesterday...and I pushed a little harder than I expected to.

I passed #425 (mr tattle tale) about mile 5 on the bike - and saw him come in from the run...I was already hanging out drinking water and stretching and chatting with Jay....go re-rack YOUR bike pal.... (sorry - just an irritant)

I also met Patrick (didn't catch his last name - maybe he didn't have one - like Fabian....) who was doing his first ever Tri today and Jennifer - a mother of 3 who was doing her first tri too.....I love meeting folks who are just getting into a sport - their enthusiasm, their nervousness, their energy....and questions - help me feel like - no matter what - if I helped them get through this race - or prep for another one - or give them something else to think about - such as the 40 in 40 and the LLS mission - then - it was a great day. And I know - based on seeing them at the end - they'll be out there again and again.

Official times aren't up yet - but based on the clock - looked like about 1:14...not my best time - not my worst - but #34 is in the books and we're getting closer to home.

Also - #33 - yesterday in Raleigh (also - official results aren't posted) Sheila came in under 27 minutes, Mike around 30 and Denise around 35.

It was a great race - but some technical issues with the start time, the actual start - they counted down out loud versus using a horn or gun...and the course....the first half was fine - but as we looped back we literally ran across the stream of outgoing runners to get back on the road heading to the finish....I mean...we're running - "they're headed right for us" and you'd hate to impede them at all or break up their pace. Come on Raleigh and the race organizers...you had several hundred out there for the 5K - possibly close to a thousand including the half marathon - and this is what you offer? I'll be submitting feedback once official results are posted.

Thanks to everyone out there today with kind words, support and cajoling.

Thanks also to Denise and Mike for training for the 5K and letting me come in ahead of them- and more importantly - organizing and planning the fundraising party where we raised nearly $500.

Thanks also to Mary and Al - for hosting the party and helping to organize and make it happen
Thanks as well to Sheila for getting us home as early as possible and making sure I got out there and made #34 happen.

You all ROCK!

Congrats to all finishers today. Will be providing heroes and folks I am doing these races in honor of shortly.

Go TEAM!!! We're over $25K - who gets me to $30K?

Let me know how I can help.

Next up - looks like the Elizabeth 8K - April 17, 2010.

Event # 31 (sort of) Whitewater Trail Run, Saturday January 23

It's been a while since the last event (over a month) but today started out with pretty much ideal weather for a trail run at the Whitewater Center, just outside of Charlotte. Scheduled to do 13 miles, I got to the site and picked up my packet and bib in semi-darkness. I ran into Abby Miller, soon to be new TnT Director for the Western North Carolina Chapter of the LLS, Cat Reid, fellow TnT Alum, Mike Smith - Cheryl Ryan's (also a fellow TnT Alum) husband - and a bit of a running nut, Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer blogger extraordinaire and also a running nut, and Santiago Montilla and Juan Pablo Mancia from work. It was like a reunion of sorts.

We started out a bit after 8AM and quickly enter the woods....this is where trail running diverges from road running. Single track trails (one person or bike wide) muddy, mucky, rooted and rocky trails. it taxes muscles and the body differently. First few miles are good - and I start to get into a rhythm. The challenge of trail running - in addition to the trail conditions - are the constant grade changes, uphill, downhill, stump jumping. You can't really get into an even pace...but we're having fun and ticking off the miles..

Then - right past mile 4 - down a bit of a muddy washout, and my left calf locks up....tight tight tight....so I pull over and try stretching it out. It's rock solid because of the cramp, but it loosens up and I get going again.

Mile 5 - and past mile 6. As we make the turn where the 8 mile route and the 13 mile route split- Theoden says "well we're committed now"....to which I respond - "maybe we should be committed"...about a 1/4mile down this trail, the calf cramps up again and my legs are just not feeling right - so I stop to stretch again...get going and another 1/4 to 1/2 mile...and again...cramp - this time worse than the other two. Dammit....Decision time....so I decide - begrudgingly - I turn around and have now determined I am best served to do 8 and not 13. My concern over seriously hurting my calf - potentially derailing the last 10 races out of the 40 in 40...outweighs the "no guts no glory" that was running through my head and silencing the pain in my calf. Good news is - it's my left calf - not my right calf like in Kiawah...

As I get on the trail again - I am debating - should I just turn around and muscle through the 13. I see where the 13 mile route rejoins the 8 mile route....yes, no, yes, no....no. fudge

I manage to get through the balance of the 8 mile route with only a couple more cramps and instances of my legs locking up - or feeling like they were.

I cross the finish line and am in all honesty - pissed at myself. My training has not been as focused as it should have been the past couple of weeks. Nutrition has been suspect. And it all showed up today - and got in my face - and beat me.

So - while I completed a race - whether or not I count it ultimately in the 40 in 40 remains to be seen. The folks I am doing this for - the reason - all go through so much more than a little muscle cramp. They persevere through Chemo treatments, surgeries, ups and downs that make what I was dealing with today seem like a hangnail or a bad hair day. They don't give up.

So while I believe I've isolated the factors that drove the outcome - that I didn't have what was needed to complete the event I set out to do - I also know I need to reflect and build on these things - and focus on the reason I am doing this - to do more to help those who are battling blood cancers....to help them by raising the $40K I set out to raise.

Going forward - no more doubts - no more letting the doubt get in my head - time to re-focus and do better....time to do more for those who are unable to. Training needs to be smarter and more diligent - more consistent. Nutrition more purposeful.

Santiago and Juan Pablo did great today - finishing the 8 well ahead of me. Mike did better than he set out to do - crushing the 13 in around an hour and a half....and while I didn't see Theoden since the time I stopped to stretch, I know he did awesome as well. He has a determination and fire that kept him focused....

All the runners did great today - well - all but one.

Run well my friends - hope to see you soon - and if I do - tell me to pick it up and get going.

60 miles and a short brick - great way to start a Saturday

6:45 AM ride start - in some fog - with 17 riders. Coaches Steve, Tricia, Greg and Jenny, Tricia's husband Justin, Jenny's husband Marcus, Wayne, Lindsey, John, Tal, Shelly, Becca (i think), and a couple other guys whose names I didn't catch...

rode out through some heavy fog/mist for the first 30 or so - then it cleared up and turned into a glorious day. got to catch up with some friends I hadn't seen in a while - what else do you get to do when riding for 3 and a half hours or so...

got awesome SAG (Support and Gear) support from Stacey and Abby from the TnT office...they had a guy with them as well - but I am not sure who he was - just someone who wanted to spend the first 4 - 5 hours - early hours of his Saturday riding behind a bunch of folks on bikes I guess...

Followed that with a lovely 10 minute brick - at a good pace. Jenny really pushed me on the return trip in...

had an awesome ride the newly fitted bike really felt awesome....knee started acting up - but not until around 55 miles - which goes to show you how much better it is. My knee used to start bothering me around 15 - 20 miles...thanks again TrySports - looking forward to some time in the mountains this weekend with Sheila, Maggie and Dobhen...and probably a long run at some point.

Thanks everyone for an awesome ride - and for the terrific support from Stacey and Abby...and the guy I don't know....I know - it's bad of me to not know his name - but I kept forgetting to ask.

Most of the folks out today were doing their last long ride before the Patriots Half IronMan in two weeks...they're gonna rock it - they all did awesome.

Go TEAM

Event # 20 half way there. Lake Norman Sprint Tri Aug 23 700 AM

Early wake up call after getting no sleep for the past few days. Butterflies all weekend due to the number of events and the fact that if I were successful I would reach the halfway point in terms of races - and thanks to all of you, nearly halfway in terms of my fundraising goal. In a little less than 4 months..... Half way in about a third of the time!! You are all absolutely incredible. Thank you all.


So the day started off well. All packed and prepped after multiple bag checks the night before and readied my typical pre-race breakfast. Oatmeal (lower sugar maple and brown sugar) and an Ensure shake (yes - ensure - a good friend turned me onto them for races - thanks johnny Murdock) and the combination rocks. 300 good well balanced calories from the Ensure shake and 150 calories from the oatmeal. Lots of water the night before and on the way to the event...

6:30 AM All set up in transition and body marked (where they write your race number and age on you) a few tunes on the iPod to get in the mood and right frame of mind...some Skynyrd, some AcDc, some tunes from the Rocky IV soundtrack, some Stones... met Ben - a first time triathlete who was excited and anxious....just like me - despite the number of races done, the whole getting ready thing can be a bit daunting. Chatted with a few folks in transition, caught up with Ruben, Tal, Scott - some other TnT folks out doing the race today. Got to see Abby at chip pick up...Abby is great - always a smile on her face and cheer in her voice - despite dealing with stressed out triathletes...get to finally meet Theoden Janes, blogger for the Charlotte Observer. He and I have been communicating over the past few months - he's looking for a comeback after getting a flat tire at Latta in June - and is pumped!

The venue and weather are perfect. The water - a bit warmer than bathwater...and at 7:02 we hop, well wade in the water. Wave 1 is already out there crossing the swim course...I'm in wave 2 waiting to get going.

Gun goes off at 7:04 and away we go in wave 2. Lake swims are different than pool swims...and I still need practice...and I realize that early on. See the big difference is three fold....

1. the water is murky and doesn't taste so good (neither does pool water - but it is "relatively
clean")
2. there are swimmers in front of you, besides you, in back of you competing for the same space versus a pool where you swim in relatively straight lines
3. there are no lane markers - so you need to "sight" or pop your head up out of the water every couple of strokes so you make sure you are on course, versus swimming out to sea...or the wide open lake in this case

I get through the swim and see Abby Miller, John McLean and Sheila - right there as I head out of the swim...and then Todd Spanish - a neighborhood friend who did the same race on Saturday...comment to Todd "I hate swimming" - his response "well you're done - get on with it"..very true....

I jog the 1/10 mile across the pavement to transition and get on the bike. Up on and out easily and on the course. Make the first turn and I know the hills we are about to face in the first 4 miles, so I shift and adjust accordingly. Up and over the hills and a quick turn onto some more level pavement. Pick it up a bit - but not by shifting...the new bike fit is accommodating my "picking it up" without having to crank much harder....thank you Teelo and TrySports - again.

As I make my way over the 13.5 miles of the shortened (due to construction - not me cheating) bike course I continue to pick it up a bit...it's shorter, the run is still only a 5K - so let's see what is left after the 4 other events I've done since Friday night.

Transition to the run smoothly and relatively easily, strap on the Karhu shoes and nice breathable Craft hat - get the race number on and away I go. Up the hill to the run course...as I pass Sheila who is telling me to "go, go, go Sean" I think - what am I doing...and then I remember...I am doing this for so many others who cannot, those who have not been able to, who are battling something more than mere fatigue in their legs. As I crest the hill - I hear "Go Team" again and again...grab some water and I am off...not fast mind you - but I am off.

Make my way across the run course. Mile 1 down, mile 2 down...1.1 to go. Pick it up - and pass a few folks - and get passed myself...but it's not about me - point to point, A to B - several times over today.

As I make the next to last turn to the finish - Todd is there - cheering me on....Todd who woke up with fever and chills the day prior and did the race and got up at 4:30 AM to volunteer today....Abby who also got up - probably at 4:00 AM to volunteer and help check folks in...Lex Erwin - a TnT Alum who raced today and is done...I am inspired...pick it up a bit....head to the last turn...there waiting for me is John McLean - fellow TnT Alum who is doing Florida IM in November who yells at me...."pick it up it's not like you've done anything else this weekend" - while in jest - he is right....compared to those who are battling blood cancers, those who have battled and lost - this is nothing...so I do pick it up to get to the finish line. I get to stop this challenge for the day in about 200 yards....those patients, families have to battle day after day.

While official times are not in yet - Sheila estimated about 1:28, which translates into approximately a 17 minute swim (on par) a 41 minute bike (tracked with my Garmin (I love that thing)) and a 24 minute run (again thanks to the Garmin) - adding a couple minutes for the two transitions...

Not my best times - but not my worst. But that doesn't matter....I have been out there, I have brought attention to the mission, WE have raised almost $16,000 over the course of 4 months.

I have completed, through your support and belief 20 events, half of what I set out to do over 12 months in 4 months time. We have reached the 40% mark - or close to it - in terms of fundraising in 4 months...ONE THIRD OF THE WAY in terms of the 40 in 40 calendar.

I could not have done this much thus far without the support of you, my family, my friends, my colleagues, your friends, the TnT Team, the folks from LLS, my supportive, appreciative and understanding wife Sheila (and our dog Maggie who gets left out of long runs at this point due to the heat and my schedule) and our cat (Dobhen who gets woken up at crazy hours as she sleeps between my feet).

I am inspired, energized revitalized to get to 40 and beyond in terms of races and more importantly $40,000 for the LLS by the time I turn 40 in May.

Next week is an "off week" no races, just training...September holds for right now 3 more events and at least one biggie in October. I could not have made it here without you - I will not make it without your support, kind words and friendship - and good natured ribbing - but I will keep pressing on.

Today's event, the halfway mark is in memory of Bill Janov, or grandpa Bill, as Sheila's nieces and nephew knew him. Bill was my sister-in-law's step father, who a little over two years ago was diagnosed with Leukemia. Sheila and I went to visit him in the hospital while we were out in the Asheville area - for a TnT event (Fletcher Flyer) that she was participating in. In his words "I feel great but my blood work sucks" those 8 words were a testament to the challenge and battle that Leukemia patients suffer and deal with every day. You never know. We can work for a cure, or cures, we can fight the good fight - but we need a stronger, better more capable army to win. Sadly, Bill passed no more than a couple months later...full of life, full of piss and vinegar (as my dad would say - although...not 100% sure what that meant besides fight and determination) and a die hard attitude that he was sure he could beat this.

As I reflect on the events of this weekend, 5 races in 38 hours, a bit tired, but exhilarated, energized and determined (hell bent for leather - if you will) for the next event and fundraising threshold...I can only recall and reflect on the battles so many have endured, hundreds of thousands each year who are diagnosed with blood cancers...some who win, some who lose those battles. So many families, friends, colleagues who have been stricken. All ages, genders, races...it is indiscriminate.

I appreciate your support thus far. I am humbled by your friendship and belief. I strive to do more.

Thank you. Go TEAM!