CHALLENGE CHANGE!!! READ IT!!

Minor Change!!!  Pay Attention Folks.  I'm changing the weigh in deadline to Monday April 2nd at Noon.   I realize a lot of you have been weighing in at work and some of you may not work until Monday.  Just think of the upside.....As AW said, it will give here a few more hours to starve herself. 

So..........DEADLINE IS MONDAY APRIL 2, 12:00 NOON!!!!!

Good evening by the fire

Coby and I are out back roasting marshmallows and listening to Alabama. What an ossm night!!!

Last day.

Just a quick update. Tomorrow April 1 at midnight (arizona time) will be the deadline for updated weigh ins. Cmon people, run those butts off today!!!
Rusty-------Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

And it's back to the real world.  We had a blast in Phoenix this past week.  I got in quite a bit of riding and the kids were able to get in their share of fun as well. 

On Sunday we  planned on spending most of the day at South Mountain.  Ryan and I were going to ride to the top and Christy and the two younger boys would tootle around the park on their bikes.  It was a gorgeous day, about 83 degrees.  Perfect riding weather with the exception of the wind, but at 83 degrees, who's complaining. 

Ryan and I headed off from the car in the direction of the towers at the top.  This is an 8 mile climb and is mostly uphill the entire way.  Either Ryan is getting stronger or I'm getting older and slower, either way Ryan is becoming a very good rider.   When I ride with Ry, the ride up usually takes about an hour and about 20 minutes to come back down.  We made it to the top, took a few minutes to rest then headed back down.  About 1.5 miles down, I come flying around this corner and see this little kid in the distance heading up.  I thought, "how cool that this kid is riding up this",,,,,,,,,,,,"holy crap that's my kid".   My 9 year old Coby was only a mile and a half from the top.  How impressive is that??    Just as impressive, here comes my wife on her mountain bike pulling the trailer with Keevan inside.  All the people passing her thought she was nuts and that she would never make it.  Sure as heck though, everyone made it to the top. 

I love climbing this mountain.  There's just something about it that allows you to forget everything else going on in your life and focus solely on riding.   Going up is can be brutal if youre riding hard.  The burn in the legs, the burn in the lungs, the pounding heart.......it all makes getting to the top that much more worth it.   Then of course the best part is going down.  It's here that you think of nothing, but going as fast as you can without killing yourself.  I had brought a helmut cam to video the ride down, but didn't take the time to connect it.  I've written many times about living in the moment, well riding down a mountain at 40 mph forces you to live in that very moment.  It's such an awesome feeling.  Your mind is completely empty with the exception of how youre going to bank that next corner.  There is no better feeling then surviving one corner and praying to survive the next::) .

 Coby said his bike wasn't shifting so I took it for a brief ride.  A tad on the small side

No I don't have a cigarette in my mouth,  it's a See's Sucker.

Coby and Keev spent some good time racing in the parking lot.

Coby at the top of South Mountain

Christy, Keev, and Coby at the top

One of my favorite parts of the trip. Playing with Keev in pool.  I spent 2 hours just catching Keev as he told me each time "That's Super Sar Daddy".  He can't say the letter F yet.

He got braver the more he jumped.

It was a great time and a long needed break.  The weather was gorgeous and we stayed pretty busy.  Coming home was nice though.  It's always nice to be back in your own living room with room to move around.    Next stop will be Colorado in May.  Time for the Ironhorse Bicycle Classic. 

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Ry and I just made it to top of South Mountain. I love this climb this time of year. What a beautiful day. Gonna head back down then ride one more time back to the top. Lovin' it!!

Shave those hairy twigs you call legs.

I'm hesitant to post this but I was offered a huge amount of money to do it (10 bucks). 

Why do we cyclist shave our legs?   I could give you the aerodynamic reason, that it cuts down on wind resistance.  The problem with that is I don't go fast enough to make that much of a difference.

Then there is the massage issue.  This one does make sense.   It's much easier to massage smooth skin then trying to rub all that hairy crap.   If I could afford a massage a day I'd be all over this excuse. 

Crashing.  This one does apply to me.  The ability to keep road rash clean is so much easier with no hair on your legs.  I know this one first hand as my last couple of races (years ago) I crashed.  One time no big deal, the next time I broke my hand.   Either way, it's much more sanitary when the legs are smooth and your trying to keep wounds clean.

Probably the best excuse (except in my case) is that it just looks better.  Spandex and hairy legs just don't mix.  It's like the hairy guys at Disney Land that wear tank tops.  The two just don't mix.   Most cyclist have very defined muscular quads (if I could get quad and calf implants I would) and shaved legs just make them look even better.  Wish I could use this excuse. 

So really............I have no excuse...............

So here ya go:   If you have a weak stomach I would skip this post as these pictures even disgust me. 

Here's the legs prior to shaving.  Oh and one thing hair does......hides the white:)

We'll do one leg at a time.  Always easiest to cut the fur with electric trimmers first.  Otherwise I would run out of hot water and plug up my septic. 

 One leg down. Don't say a word about the little girl calves. Even my wife makes fun of me. 

And now you have the very prickly version of white legs.   Sure hope you didn't just eat. 

Even I laugh when I see how small those ankles are. 

So there you have it.  In less than 30 minutes theyre are smooth as silk:) (there goes the gay side again).  Oh ya, the conditioner advice................works great:) 

You know what's even more pathetic..................I actually took pictures of this process. 

Congrats Someday!!!!

Yesterday I received one of the coolest emails from Someday Skinny.  Until yesterday, I had no clue as to who Someday Skinny was.  I don't have the numbers here in front of me, but the amount of weight she has lost so far is really impressive.   It's killing me not sharing the email she sent, but she has given me permission to share only a little information for now.  Since her last weigh in, SS has just found out that she is expecting her second little one.  Now not to downplay the excitement of being pregnant, but something that is almost as awesome is that she is 30 lbs lighter then she was when she became pregnant with her first child. 

I got another email from her today which really made my day.  It was hilarious!  She recorded the moment that she told her husband about being pregnant.  His response is priceless!!  It's so cool to see how excited and shocked he was.  To see young parents so excited brings back such great memories of the challenges and emotions involved in being new parents.  Once they make it official, I'll post the video, but for now its hush hush. 

I've got to say though that the two emails brought a huge grin to my face.  You can just feel the excitement.  The excitement of the weightloss, the excitement of the pregnancy,  and the excitement of motherhood.  While reading the email, I couldn't help but smile the entire time.

For now I'll just call them Mr. & Mrs. Someday Skinny.   So to Mr. & Mrs. Someday Skinny, you guys look so happy. I hope you will keep in touch with the progress of the pregnancy.  Seeing as how the baby is due in November, I'll be expecting some huge results in next years challenge.  

Congratulations!!!!!!!! 

PS:  I think the someday has arrived.  

WannaBe Takes the Lead

Well looks like WannaBe is the new leader.  Slim lead just ahead of SomedaySkinny.  14% lost so far.  Super impressive!!!!  Cmon you sandbaggers where are you??!!!

Back at the gym.

Finally back in the gym today. While its only been 4 days, I feel like a fish out of water. When I first started pedaling the spinning bike I thought I was gonna pass out. After the first 15 min though, things were all good. Gonna go work the heavy bags here in a few. Bad idea with ribs, but its sort of addicting. Can't wait to start sparring again. There's something about getting your butt kick by an old man that just makes you want to come back for more:).

Actually the work and dedication involved remind me of what it used to be like to wrestle. There's so much involved that I don't think you could ever really be a master at the sport.

I haven't seen many of you post your weights. You're either wimping out or your totally sandbagging till the end. Only 10 days left so step up that commitment!! I'm gonna lose 5 more by this Sunday. At least I hope to. Lots of cardio and lots of fruits and veggies. I'll lose another pound just by shaving these hairy a$$ legs. Gonna be riding a lot in phx next week and can't let the locals see me with this crap all over my legs:) . I'm sure there will be comments from the Whiting clan about the legs. Bring it on!:).

Family and I are going to phx for 5 days so me and Ry hope to hit South Mountain several days. I just want some sun!!! A little riding without a jacket will be good for the motivation.

More to write but time for bagwork. Ill write more later. See ya.
Rusty-------Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

IMG-20120316-00068.jpg

Cobys first day on the bags:).

Live Today

So, a few responses from yesterday's post.  Of course, most of them from AW who's creative mind is always full of great ideas.

This isn't one of her ideas, but I was thinking about this while on my ride yesterday.

I think a lot about this as well as I've mentioned it several times on the blog.  Making the most of the moment.............realizing that things usually be a lot worse then they are.

One of my very first blog posts was about my thyroid issues.  Yesterday while riding and even more recently a little health thing with my wife reminded me of that time.

Several years ago, I believe it was 2004, we were out camping and out of nowhere I had this very weird feeling come over me.  It is so hard to describe, but it was one of panic and anxiety.  I wasn't flipping out or anything, it was just a weird feeling in my head that I had no explanation for.  It was about midnight and I had no explanation for what was going on.  I called the doc the next morning from camp and was given a million explanations.  Most were leaning towards gastric related causes (no clue why).  Odd as it may seem, my gallbladder became the focus.  Again, no reason or explanation why my gallbladder would cause these symptoms (cuz they wont:) )  I was scared to death to anything fattening as I didn't want to stress my gallbladder at all.

For several weeks I had very small episodes of the same thing.  I remember calling Dr. Robertson from the hospital one evening after finishing a set up on a patient.  I had noticed my hands trembling more and more.  I've always had shaky hands and never thought much of it, but he suggested having a thryoid panel done.   Of course all was normal. 

As time went on I noticed this feeling of my heart pounding harder.  Trying to sleep was miserable.  My pulse was normal, by blood pressure was normal, but the pounding feeling of my heart was driving me crazy.  By now I had been to 3 different doctors, all saying my thyroid numbers were normal.   One doc, again suggested gastric or gluten related issues.  When riding my bike I had noticed an intense burn near the bottom of my esophogus.  Reaching for just about anything, I went with this diagnosis.  I had an endoscopy done which did show some scarring on the esophogus from gastric reflux. 

Two weeks later I was having surgery to fix the problem.  I don't remember the name of the surgery but it's where they loop the bottom part of the esophogus (lap nissen or something like that).

Here's the weird part..........For almost an entire year, my symptoms were gone.  I felt great.  Another weird thing is that I could eat like crazy and not gain a pound.  It was my best year on my bike as well.  I was lighter and stronger than I had been in a long time.

Then one day while I was at the bike shop, I had another episode.  Only this one was a bit more severe.  I felt flush, my heart was racing, and again the anxiety.   Then it went away.  Once again, the pounding heart feeling came back.  And once again, all thyroid tests were normal.

This episode scared the heck out of me.  I called Kevin Earlywine who I had been riding bikes with.  Like him or not, he's an angel in this story.   I get to his office and they run all sorts of EKG's and blood tests.  EKG looked a little funny but at the time I didn't think much of it.  I left the office to go on another delivery and get a phone call.  I get a call from Kevin's office saying they had just spoken to Dr. Pearlstein (another even bigger angel) and he wanted stat labs including cardiac enzymes. 

Ok, I'm 30 years old at the time, worked in medicine all my adult life, and I know what their looking for when they order a cardiac panel.  My heart sank.  I kept a strong face as I was getting my blood work drawn, but as soon as I left the office I lost it.  I took every back  road I could possibly take going home and I think my top speed was about 5mph.  Was I really only 30 years old and possibly just had a heart attack???   Thankfully the enzymes were negative for a heart attack.  The problem was still undiagnosed. 

I'm compressing 2 years of misdiagnosis into one brief story.  Heres a few:  Gallbladder, Abdominal Cyst, Misfiring of the heart (don't know the technical term), pituitary, pulmonary hypertension, allergies................

The worst of all things begin to enter into your mind.  Especially when you have kids.  I spent countless nights just lying in my recliner scared and worried about the future.  For months, I still had no diagnosis.  The pounding feeling of my heart was the worst symptom.  I couldn't get away from it.  Sleeping(or trying to) or awake, my heart just pounded. 

Every thyroid panel I had ever done (and I had over 15 done) came back normal.  The numbers fluctuated but were always in the "normal" range.  I put "normal" in quotes because if you are one with a know thyroid disorder, you know what I mean when I say everyone has their own definition of normal. 

More and more tests were done.  Finally Dr. Pearlstein took me on as his patient.  I had known Dr. Pearlstein from riding bikes.  The guy is like 60 years old and kicks butt on bike.  I had stress tests done (two of them) and a cardiac cath all of which came back normal.   Then one day he calls Kevin and says, I don't care what the labs say, I want an ultrasound on the thyroid. 

My life was changed from that day forward.   Dr. Cavanaugh got me right in (thanks Jones) and sure as heck, they found an autonomous hot nodule on one lobe of my thyroid.  This is a nodule that is unregulated and releases thyroid hormone into the blood without cause.   This rush of hormone caused rapid heart rate, anxiety, tremors, etc.  Two years in the making, I had a diagnosis.  Two weeks later I took the pill to destroy my thyroid.   

Now on a daily dose of Synthroid, my TSH at .8, I haven't had a problem since. 

Now back to the whole point of this post...................... This was almost 2 years of hell (just ask my wife).  I was miserable to be around and couldn't focus on anything.   I was scared to go anywhere and just became sort of a recluse trying to run a business. 

All I wanted was to be normal and healthy again.  So here I am several years later.  Normal (depending on who you ask) and healthy.    And once again, taking life for granted.   So ya see, life can always get worse.  Bills to pay??  Someone piss you off?????  C'mon,  pick your butt up and move forward.  Crap happens (it sounds better if you say "shit happens") but for the most part most of us are pretty damn lucky.  

Make the most of it people.  Maybe God brings these challenges into our lives for us to cherish the better times.  To cherish the life we have been given.  To love those around us.  To make a difference. 



Side note:  Like I said, this is a very compressed version to the entire story.  It was the most miserable time of my life.  To be doubted by doctors is the most helpless feeling.  In total I was seen by 6 doctors and specialists all who judged me by my lab numbers.  Over a 2 year period, I almost lost my company and became the worst husband and father possible.   I don't ever wish this on anyone.  What I did learn was that it's up to the patient to take control of his/her care.  If you doubt your dx or treatment, ask for a second opinion.  Or heck ask for 6 of them:).  To this day, I'm so thankful for people like Dr. Pearlstein, Kevin Earlywine, and Jones Cavanaugh.  All other docs were beginning to think I was crazy (I'm sure Jones was pretty close to thinking I was nuts)   They hung in there with me and kept searching until they found the correct diagnosis.  They weren't led by numbers on a paper, but by symptoms and the patient they had come to know.  To this day they have remained good friends.  Thx

Give me some topics

I just got a text from the lovely AW.  And I quote:
"your blog is boring he!! out of me.  You need a new post..."


I just got back from a good 36 mile ride and on the way back I was thinking about my next topic to write about.  I came up with absolutely nothing.  So any of you obnoxious ones out there that can send me some topics you would like for me to talk about, send me an email, mail@alphaoxymed.com  .

It can be funny, serious, whatever.  I'm game. 

So email me darn it!!!!

Nike Little League Bat Notice

This post is way off of any possible kind of work topic, but heck, it is most of the time anyway.

Not sure if any of you have any active little leaguers in the family, but just got this notice from Little League International:

"Little League Baseball, Incorporated has been informed that Nike Bat Model #Aero CX2-BT0636 has failed recent performance standard compliance testing. 

Effective immediately, Nike Bat Model #Aero CX2-BT0636, including all graphic variations, is not eligible, or approved, for use in any Little League program or activity."

I've tried posting pictures of the bats but no luck.  Here's the link to see what they look like.

http://www.littleleague.org/media/Non-ComplianceofNikeBatModel_AeroCX2-BT0636Photos.htm

So depending on who your umpires are for the evening, if you have this bat, I would leave it at home.  Pretty sweet looking bats.  Too bad too sad.

Better start for today. 5:45 am ride. 20 miles. 30 degrees. Rib hurts like a son of a gun, but the rest of me feels ready to face yet another day. Gotta go pick up Joanne's equipment today. Will be an emotional morning.

Hope you all have a great day.
Rusty-------Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Ever have days where you just really feel like this guy??

Joanne..............You will always be my favorite.

This weekend I was told that one of my very first patients was put back on Hospice care and was pretty sick.   Throughout the weekend and most of today I had planned to go visit her. 

While at the gym, I found out that she passed away today.  This is a pretty hard one to swallow.  Why didn't I go see her?  Why didn't I make it a priority?  

Joanne, I'm so sorry I didn't see you.  I know you're up there partying it up with Kermit.  May you both enjoy the heck out of Heaven.   This world was truly a better place because of the both of you.  God Bless you both!!!! 

Barry Manilow on the way to work. Yep I'm gay. No offense to any gay folks out there. I'm just sayin'

Rusty-------Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I'll be able to pay someone to do it for me.

I grew up working in a garage.  Saying I enjoyed it would be the biggest thing from the truth that I could ever imagine.  Maybe not every Saturday, but at least every other Saturday, we could hear my dad come in through the back door.  We knew his next words were gonna be, "you kids get dressed, it's time to get that garage cleaned up".    My dad was a great mechanic.  He could fix anything and he was as honest as the day is long.   What he wasn't, was a neat freak.  He never put his tool away.  Why should he, he had us to put them away, me, my brother, and my sister. 

I dreaded Saturday mornings.  I was never my dad's favorite.  I was his step son (he married my mom when I was 3) and he had no qualms of making me feel like the step son.  We have a much better relationship now, but when I was younger, it was everything but pretty.  It just so happened that on Saturday mornings, I had the crappy job in the garage.  My brother and sister had to walk around picking up the tools and putting them on the bench.  It was then my job to put all the tools on the bench where they belonged.   At the time though, I thought I was given this job because I was the smarter kid and could read the sizes on all the wrenches and sockets.  Later, common sense would tell me that I was just given that job because someone had to do it.

My dad always lectured us about how valuable it was to have a good work ethic and by God, he was gonna give it to us.  He always told us that we would appreciate all these lessons as we got older.  What I didn't realize is that by older, he meant much much older, like uhh say 40 years older.  I always remember telling my dad, (and he still reminds me of this) that I didn't need to learn any of this because I was going to be a doctor and could afford to pay someone to do it for me.  Ya, you can see where that got me (see pics below).

My brother and I always grew up working on our own cars, our own motorcycles, our own everything.  We thought nothing of it.  That was just the norm.  The idea of someone changing my own oil or putting brakes on my car has never occurred to me. 

Though we never talk finances, I'm fairly sure my little brother has made his first million already.  Yet, I know for a fact he doesn't pay anyone to work on his vehicles.  Like I said, it's not something we really even think about. 

This weekend, on top of being on call, I had to put on a full set of brake pads on one of our work vans, put a starter on our work truck, and put rotors on my wife's car.   I'm thinking that by doing all this myself, I saved maybe around $1000.00 in labor charges.  As long as I don't have a million other things to do, I actually enjoy doing these things (most of the time). 

My work truck just hit 290,000 miles.  It's an old Ford F250 with a 6.9 Diesel.  She's a dog, but she still runs and she gets the job done.  The downside to the diesel though, is that she leaks oil as bad as a Harley and this time she also had a fuel leak.  Diesel fuel and diesel oil.........the two messiest things and the hardest things to get off your hands. 

Now being that I was on call, I had to wait till evening time to do any of this work.  This would lessen the odds of me getting called and having to try and clean up before going to see a patient.

Oh and I have mentioned the little fact that I have a fractured rib.............ya, from sparring with Jay the Fat Butt.  He thinks he was a stud and got a good punch it,  but he didn't.  His ungraceful self tried taking me to the mat only to land with his elbow right into my ribs.  Sore doesn't even begin to describe it.

I bring this up because trying to lean over the truck while running new fuel lines was unbelievably painful.   The truck isn't short, so I have to stand on an old milk crate to reach the motor.  This was the easy part.  After the leak was fixed, I had to work under the truck to put in the new starter.  I didn't think much of it until I had to get up off of the floor to go get another tool.  This took my breath away.....literally.  I thought I was going to pass out.  The initial pain was unbelievable.  It felt as though someone had taken a sledge hammer and hit me right in the chest. 

Now just because I grew up as a mechanics kid, doesn't mean I'm the best at choosing the right tool the very first time.  Oh heck no, that would be way to easy.  I have to get up and down several times just to get the right wiggle socket, the right extension, the right air nozzle.  By the time I was on my last bolt, I was rolling out from under the truck, then getting on my hands and knees, then using the mirror to pull myself up.  Sounds pathetic huh.  It was.

Thankfully, everything worked on the first go around.  The truck started right up and there were no more leaks. 

Two hours later, here's those clean, white collar office hands:)  .  Now don't you want me putting an oxygen cannula on your loved one tomorrow.

No comment on the crooked pinky.  High School baseball accident.

Tomorrow begins a new week.  I'm hoping and praying for a calm productive one.  It's almost midnight and I have to get up at 5:30.  Not the best way to start off:)

Anway, hope you all have a great week.  Later.

Don't ya hate when your ipod goes dead in the middle of your workout. Still have 1/2 hour left.
Rusty-------Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Excellent Article

Excellent Article

http://www.livestrong.com/blog/blog/the-decision-that-changed-health/

Someday Skinny

Wow!! SomedaySkinny is really bringing it!!  13.55% so far!  You not only have the highest percentage lost, but even the most pounds lost as well.  Do I dare ask what your percentage or total weight loss goal is??  Very impressive!!!

Not For Sale

Years ago, even before starting Alpha Oxy-Med, I read the book, “Raising the Bar”. The true story of the development, growth, and success of Clif Bar. At a time when energy bars were becoming popular, Clif was competing with the likes of Power Bar and Balance Bar. Most thought the only way to be competitive was to be financed by a corporate conglomerate. Power Bar was purchased by Nestle and Balance was bought by Kraft. How in the world was Clif Bar going to compete against such huge corporations?  Clif Bar owner, Gary Erickson, in 2000, was offered 120 million by the Quaker Oats Corporation. How many of you would turn down 120 mil?  Gary did and Clif Bar is still growing and thriving. 


Recently, my values as a business owner have been called to task. Out of nowhere, I’ve received various requests from investors and/or corporations asking if I’m interested in selling our company. Major instant gut check. Am I crazy to stay in this industry?  How sick am I of government regulations? How tired am I of dealing with endless Medicare guidelines and other insurance BS? How frustrating is it to go out of your way to help someone only to have them continue to complain?

There are a lot of frustrations and hassles that come with running a Medical Supply Company. Low reimbursements that continue to go lower, strict government regulations, growing corporate competition, all this and more make it a very challenging venture. Why in the world would I not sell to someone interested?

Because I haven’t even come close to doing what I want to do. I don’t even have insurance for my staff yet. There’s so much more that I want to do for both my staff and our patients. We are just touching the surface with regards to what we are capable of. Clif Bar, Zappos, even Google are what I want. The staff I have now is the foundation of something bigger. I see every one of my current team members, managing something bigger within a larger, growing Alpha Oxy-Med. I see Steven training drivers not only to be drivers, but to be the most caring, outgoing drivers any company has ever seen. I see Denice teaching Customer Service reps how to go out of their way to make the person on the other end of the telephone feel like the most special person in the world. I see Tracy, not only visiting with referral sources, but visiting with patients on ways we can make their lives better. Every corporate company is about profit, profit, profit. I believe in my heart though, that you can put patient care first and still profit. Never ever, will a patient of ours be part of a quota that we’re trying to meet.

The decision to stay a privately owned company is a scary one. With competitive bidding hitting Arizona next year, the bigger companies that aren’t given a Medicare contract will look to smaller rural areas to grow their businesses. This is not something we can take lightly. Companies with deep pockets can buy their way into any market. They can offer services that in no way a smaller company can afford. It all comes down to service. Just this month, we’ve had I believe 5 patients who have requested to switch to our services from another company. This is proof that we are making a difference out there. We haven’t even touched the surface of what we can do. Alpha Oxy-Med is only going to get better and better. As a place of employment, were going to start incorporating more education and more team building activities. We’re going to take our message and our care into more and more homes. I’m blown away at how my drivers treat our patients. They are always bringing up concerns with how to help make a bigger difference.

It’s not about the money (not that anyone has offered any). It’s about growing something that has tremendous potential into something that can change lives. Even if it’s something on a smaller scale, we have the opportunity to make a huge difference on levels that nobody even attempts.

So for now and the immediate future, WE ARE NOT FOR SALE. Give me a Lamborghini and a million for each employee and maybe then we’ll talk.   For now though, we've got too much to work on.  Too many lives to touch.  The future is ours!!   


On a side note.  Steven will be announcing the Flagstaff/Show Low baseball game tomorrow. Tune in and listen.  I think it's 95.7.   If you haven't ever heard Steven talk, the guy is a riot.  Blessed with the gift of gab, he is pure entertainment.  If the radio bosses don't hold him back, he will be fun to listen to.  I just sent him a text telling him that if I hear a plug for AOM I'll give him 20 bucks.  If he mentions how
great his boss is, I'll give him 30:).    

It's Close

Wii "NOT" Fit----------Avg   9.502%

Hungry Hippos---------Avg    9.075%

It's a close one!!!  OSSM job guys/gals!!!!

Cool quote

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even on life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rusty-------Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

It's About the Bike

I mentioned in the last post that something like cycling or anything else of the sort does not define who I am.  What brought this about, was having all these issues with my back and the fear of not really being able to ride again. 

Cycling has been an interest of mine from as far back as I can remember.  I loved watching the Tour de France with my grandma when I was a little kid.  Back then the only coverage was what you could find on a hour long version of NBC or ABC Sports.  In that hour they would cover 6-7 stages of the race so you really never got to see much racing.  Today, with all the cable channels and the Internet, you can watch many races in their entirety. 

I also remember watching them race down through Pinetop finishing the 100 mile loop from Show Low, through Eagar, and returning via Pinetop.  As a naive little kid, the thought occurred to me, "What an easy sport, you get to carry your own water and you can drink whenever you want".  This at the time meant, you never get tired.  Of course later I would find out that the ability to carry your own water doesn't amount to much. 

I started racing during my sophomore year in high school.  I quit baseball (my favorite sport) to focus on cycling.  This was not a popular choice with my dad.  It became even more unpopular when he found out that cyclists shave their legs.  When I say unpopular, I'm not kidding.  The words, "If any son of mine is going to shave his legs, it won't be under my roof" sounded through the house more than I want to remember.   Needless to say, there wasn't much support at my house.

My grandma was my biggest fan.  In fact, my first racing bike, which my grandma help me buy, is still hanging in my garage.   I still remember our first trip to Flagstaff to buy my first wind trainer and my first pair of cycling shoes.  Grandma was looking out for me.  I never had the best stuff, but I was never lacking in gear.  A blessing I'm sure I took for granted at the time.

Two friends of mine, Kevin McDaniel and Chuck Hess were instrumental in developing my love for cycling.  Kevin was one of the best riders in the state and that's saying a lot for a kid from Pinetop.  One funny story about Kev.  One day he had ridden up to the top of Hawley Lake.  If you've ever been up there, you know it's a windy road with some very sharp corners.  Coming down from the top you can really build up some good speed.  Kevin apparently had too much speed coming into one of the corners, hit some gravel, and flew off the side of the road.  Covered in road rash and unable to walk, he said all he could do was lie there and pray.  Not long after Kevin commenced his praying, two ladies found him and stopped to help.  And here's the power of prayer, the two ladies were nuns.  You really know God is reaching his hand out when he sends two nuns to find you:). 

Chuck, even to this day, is one of the most talented athletes I have ever met.  From wrestling to cycling, the guy had a heart and lungs that could go forever.   I remember our first race together, the start line was only about 100 yards from a cattle guard.  I reached down to get a drink at just the wrong time.  As I reached for my bottle, we hit the cattle guard.  I guess it was nerves, but I foolishly dropped my only water bottle with 30 miles to go.  Chuck, who of course was already out front, rode back to me, gave me his only bottle, and not only finished the race, but won it without ever taking a drink.  

I was pretty good on a bike back in high school.  Never as good as Chuck or Kevin, but I consistently placed in most races.  If Chuck and Kevin were there, I could usually count on 3rd place.  If they weren't then I was hopeful for 1st or 2nd.  Those were the good ol' days, then you start to get older:).

Once I left for college, I rarely placed in the top 3.  In fact I was lucky to place in the top 10.  I found that I was starting to enjoy the riding more than the actual racing.  Partly because I didn't have the motivation to put that much time in on the bike.   Working full time as well as going to school full time just didn't allow for much workout time.  There's no way to compete when you can't commit to riding 5 days a week.  Over time, riding started to take a back seat to college life.  Not partying, but studying and working (yes I was a dork). 

It wasn't until after I got married that I started riding again.  I was amazed at how uncomfortable I felt on the bike.  Thankfully, it all came back fairly soon.  Being back on the bike, I remembered how good it felt just to be out on the bike.  The burning in my legs felt exhilarating. The more I did it the more I enjoyed it.    Over time, cycling became my way of escaping the stresses of everyday life. 

Over the years, cycling has become a huge part of our family.  Everyone in the house (including little Keevan) has at least 2 bikes.  One for the pavement, the other for the dirt.  I know it sounds insanely pathetic, but it's really the coolest hobby we can all share.  In fact, for Spring Break, we'll all be doing South Mountain together. 

Even more...........uh....pathetic.. I have 5 bikes of my own in the garage.  I have my commuter bike (aka the Dork Bike), my Trek Madone (my racing bike), my Gary Fisher Rumble Fish (mountain bike), my Beach Cruiser, and my Schwinn Prelude (my first racing bike 1987).   I don't need this many bikes I know, but other than the Schwinn, they all get ridden at some point.  I actually want two more, (my wife will kill me) but I think I'll will have to wait for a while.  I want a cross bike and a Surly Fat Tire.  A cross bike is like a road bike with skinny mountain bike tires and the Surly, well it's just flat cool.  Check this bad boy out http://surlybikes.com/bikes/moonlander.    Neither would probably serve any more of a purpose than my other bikes, but someday, I'll have em:).

My back has taken a lot of enjoyment out of riding.  I'm hopeful though that with all this therapy (physical, not mental), I'll be as good as new someday soon.  I'll once again remember and experience all the reasons I love to ride.   Riding 40mph with a tailwind while all you can hear is the whisping of the tires floating effortlessly along the pavement.   The intense burn you get in your legs when summiting a  steep climb, then the excitement of flying down that same steep climb.  Hauling ass at 50 mph and pedaling to see if you can hit 51.   Hitting a corner without touching your brakes.   Feeling exhausted  after a 5 hour ride, but feeling great knowing that you did it. 

I may claim that riding does not define me, but it has become a huge part of my life.  An important part of my life that I would never change.  It's taught me about hard work, dedication, commitment, and desire.  It's a feeling you wish everyone could experience and enjoy.  I can only hope that my boys will find the same joys and accomplishments on the bike as I have.  Lance Armstrong's book "It's Not About the Bike" is only partly true, because to many of us, it truly is all about the bike. 

Carve the Life you Want

TGIF!!!  I thought I was going to Phoenix tonight, but I just found out that a neighbor friend of my son's is coming over as his parents are coincidentally going to Phoenix.  My wife is running in her first half marathon so the boys and I were going to surprise her at the finish line.  I guess we will just have to congratulate her when she gets home. 

I've got a ton of things I want to write about but don't want to scatter one post will a million different things like I normally do. 

I've been thinking a lot about riding.  Riding my bike.  Why do I do it?  With my back being in the mess it's in and cycling really being the thing that aggravates it the most, it scares me to think that one day I won't be able to ride. Cycling is really my out.  It's my way of regaining focus and alleviating whatever stress the world may throw upon me. 

I asked my cycling coach (he's became more of a life coach than a cycling coach) the same question.  I appreciated his answer and asked if he cared if I posted his response here.  So here ya go. 

 Great question. I am at a unique point. I mean my competitive past thoroughly explored and exhausted my performance potential and interest in racing. These days I ride sporadically. My main motivations are to ride with a friend or go out on an interesting day as I love weather and natural beauty. Every so often I take on a challenge like a trip to the dolomites in Italy (last year) and the training camp upcoming this May that provides a great goal for me to work towards. I do not need riding as an outlet as I find sitting in stillness to be similar that way. I do not identify with being an athlete and I enjoy the movement of riding or running on trails just for the experience itself.
I do feel fortunate for a couple of things, I am unable to carry extra weight so I don't have to maintain that through riding and also I get fit very quickly. These 2 things really afford me to put more energy into my diverse and modern "renaissance" works of writing, visual art and installations, coaching and being a partner and a parent. I just really enjoy a mix of things rather than repetition although I did manage to ride my bicycle around the Earth 8x or so ;-)
I do find the majority of family people with careers ride for health, weight management, time alone, stress release, socializing and taking on a warriors challenge. I am always carving at the life I want ;-)
Thanks for the reflection. Why don't you take the first live look of anyone at my new website: www.athletesoracle.com
Scott

I don't know Scott all that well except from the million Emails we have exchanged over the years.  He recently put out a book called "Power to Awaken".   For a simple minded guy like myself, it's a pretty deep read.  I'm currently in the middle of it but I think will have to read it again to get the full meaning and benefit that I think is possible and expected.  Just read one paragraph and you will see what kind of thinker Scott is. 

I bring this up because in every email I have every received, you can tell Scott is content and at peace.  I think it's something we would all love to attain, but the secret is how.  Of course I have no clue because I am the king of stress.  Even if its something that shouldn't be stressful, I find a way to make it stressful. 

He sent me something earlier that he also posted in the email above......."Carve the life you want to live".    I think that is part of the secret.   If something doesn't pertain or help you reach the life you want, why keep in it your life?  This is something you can only decide on your own.  What's important, what's not?  Don't let the little mundane things clog your life. 

I mention this along with the question of 'why do I ride" for a reason.   Cycling has always been a part of my life, but I'm realizing that it's not something that defines me.  I of course always want to have the option of going for a ride.  I love the way I feel after a long ride or a ride with friends.  I love what I have gotten to see while on the bike.  I hope my boys can find that same enjoyment, but I've learned and almost accepted that life is so much more.  It comes down to Scott's saying, "Carve the life you want".  

This is hard to explain, but a couple of weekends ago, Ryan my oldest had a basketball game.  I missed the game so that I could go for a good ride with friends.  This bugged me for days.  While I enjoyed the ride, I missed something that is way more important.  I can ride tomorrow, I can ride the next day, but I can't always see my 12 year old compete in a basketball game.   I'm sure he will never remember the day I missed one of games (or maybe he will), but you can bet I will.  So back to carving the life............I want a life carved that shows a dad who drops everything for his kids, that sees what's important to his wife, to have a positive effect on the lives he comes into contact with.  Cycling has nothing to do with my life's plan.  Sure I love it and will continue to do it as long as I possibly can, but I've realized life or what you want out of it is more important than I bike hanging in the garage, or 2 ,or 3:)  .   

Is any of this making sense?   You have complete control over the life you want to design.  Plan it then build it.    No excuses.  Sure there are obstacles along the way, but again, those obstacles are not what define you.  They are just the bump in road. 

Anyway, I could probably going on and on about this, but start carving that life that you want.  No better time than the present. 

Skipping Rope

I once thought I was pretty good at skipping rope.  It's a great workout, but after watching this guy, I've got a long way to go. 

Tabata

Maybe some of you have heard of this, but I hadn't. I'm gonna give it a shot tomorrow.

TabataProtocol.com