Last night was in Scottsdale. On the drive in it was 45c or around 117f. Ouch. We stayed at the Marriott as we don't get our place until today.
Vegas went well. Overall I squandered $12 USD on gambling. I was going to do one more sports book yesterday but we were in a hurry to get out but all 4 of the picks that little Simon gave me to do won so I would have been up a bunch. Susan came out ahead with her sports winnings of $252 in which she bought a Pandora bracelet and yet another Coach bag.
Anyhow, today we are off to the Chase Field Tour (Where the Diamondbacks play) for 12:30. We have our game tomorrow.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Quick Update #2
Quick update #2. Last night was in Page, Arizona and tonight is in Flagstaff, Arizona. 38c here today in Page and 30c in Flagstaff.
Tomorrow we are off to Vegas for 3 wonderfully filled and excited nights. you can check out Susan's Blog for a more thorough update.
Have a great Tuesday.
Tomorrow we are off to Vegas for 3 wonderfully filled and excited nights. you can check out Susan's Blog for a more thorough update.
Have a great Tuesday.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
KMs
Quick update. Last night was in Butte, Montana and tonight is in Springville, Utah. 33c here today (Springville / SLC) with a hail storm outside Pocatello, ID on the way.
Tomorrow we are off to Page, Arizona.
Have a great Sunday.
Tomorrow we are off to Page, Arizona.
Have a great Sunday.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Hatched
I was sitting in the office this afternoon in a meeting when Susan calls up and advised that 3 of the 6 eggs that were in Kamden's birdhouse hatched. She said that they were just itty bitty things which I could understand as the eggs are quite small. When I got home from work tonight at 8pm she showed them to me and there was an extra one hanging out. I think Susan took some video of the jibbing and jiving in the house. I still need to get the pictures up (Follow the last link as Susan has made her Similebox). Susan's Dad who was over last week thinks it was a wren.
Susan and I finally have everything packed up. We spent last night doing the majority and then a little bit this evening on the entrails. Kids are pretty excited to get out of town but I think they forgot it's Stampede time.
Usually we would attend the Stampede parade tomorrow morning but I will work it instead with Anita in lieu of tomorrow afternoon. I will be able to get more done anyway without all the interruptions I get all day. I should then be able to get out at noon and home to depart by 1pmish.
I just finished watching a Carl's Jr commercial with Audrina Patridge eating this sick Terayaki Six Dollar Burger. When I saw this I immediately thought what crap advertising this is. Imagine this close to 100 pound model eating an 840 calorie, 43 grams of fat and 1,760mg of sodium. No wonder there is such a weight problem in this world when people see this little thing eating this ginormous burger. They actually think it's good for them. Susan and I have been to Carl's Jr once in San Francisco in 2000 and let me tell you that will be the last time. I am going to boycott that joint.
Susan and I finally have everything packed up. We spent last night doing the majority and then a little bit this evening on the entrails. Kids are pretty excited to get out of town but I think they forgot it's Stampede time.
Usually we would attend the Stampede parade tomorrow morning but I will work it instead with Anita in lieu of tomorrow afternoon. I will be able to get more done anyway without all the interruptions I get all day. I should then be able to get out at noon and home to depart by 1pmish.
I just finished watching a Carl's Jr commercial with Audrina Patridge eating this sick Terayaki Six Dollar Burger. When I saw this I immediately thought what crap advertising this is. Imagine this close to 100 pound model eating an 840 calorie, 43 grams of fat and 1,760mg of sodium. No wonder there is such a weight problem in this world when people see this little thing eating this ginormous burger. They actually think it's good for them. Susan and I have been to Carl's Jr once in San Francisco in 2000 and let me tell you that will be the last time. I am going to boycott that joint.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Concrete
Yesterday the formers came for the garage and managed to get everything done they needed to. I remember when I dug the 8 post holes by hand, filled them with concrete and put the posts in. I think I spent all day 9-10 years ago doing that. The Bobcat comes in and Susan said that it just bonked each post and up they came, piles and all. All my hard work gone...
Today I was working away at 7:30 this morning and looked out the back windows and the cribbers were back. After I got to work Susan advised that they poured the concrete and that by lunch time they were pretty much done. So when I got home from work today it looked fantastic. It's a pretty big slab they put in but it will be nice once it is covered and has walls and a door.
Susan and the kids took 3 garbage bags full of old clothing to Once Upon A Child to recycle. They dropped the bags off and then met me at Santa Fe Grill for lunch. Once done, Susan went next door and pocketed the $31.50 proceeds. What was bizarre is that they gave back 2.5 garbage bags full of clothes. There was some stuff in there with the tags still on them as sometimes kids get into a mode where they only where a few ensembles but they did not want them. Oh well. Someone benefited at the end of the day as Suz dropped them off at clothing recycling bin.
The kids are fairly excited as we have only 3 more sleeps until holidays. It is pretty exciting knowing that there is a road trip happening. The only thing I am not looking forward to is packing tomorrow night. We will get it done Wednesday and then remember things we forgot on Thursday night. All the hotels have been booked on the way down in Butte, MT, Springville, UT, Page, AZ, Williams, AZ, Las Vegas, NV (3 days) and finally to Scottsdale on the 11th. Scottsdale just happened to be 41 degrees today. I have yet to plan the hotel stops on the way home through NM, CO, WY and MT once again. Should put us home by Wednesday the 22nd or so depending on how the kids are fairing.
Our long bikes are no more from here until Ironman. We might be able to get a two to three hour bike in some hotel on their stationaries and we will have our Garmins for running outside.
Tonight is quite windy and it appears that it may rain. Tomorrow is Canada Day so it is a day off away from work. Only problem is that I will be working from home to get ahead whilst we are away.
Today I was working away at 7:30 this morning and looked out the back windows and the cribbers were back. After I got to work Susan advised that they poured the concrete and that by lunch time they were pretty much done. So when I got home from work today it looked fantastic. It's a pretty big slab they put in but it will be nice once it is covered and has walls and a door.
Susan and the kids took 3 garbage bags full of old clothing to Once Upon A Child to recycle. They dropped the bags off and then met me at Santa Fe Grill for lunch. Once done, Susan went next door and pocketed the $31.50 proceeds. What was bizarre is that they gave back 2.5 garbage bags full of clothes. There was some stuff in there with the tags still on them as sometimes kids get into a mode where they only where a few ensembles but they did not want them. Oh well. Someone benefited at the end of the day as Suz dropped them off at clothing recycling bin.
The kids are fairly excited as we have only 3 more sleeps until holidays. It is pretty exciting knowing that there is a road trip happening. The only thing I am not looking forward to is packing tomorrow night. We will get it done Wednesday and then remember things we forgot on Thursday night. All the hotels have been booked on the way down in Butte, MT, Springville, UT, Page, AZ, Williams, AZ, Las Vegas, NV (3 days) and finally to Scottsdale on the 11th. Scottsdale just happened to be 41 degrees today. I have yet to plan the hotel stops on the way home through NM, CO, WY and MT once again. Should put us home by Wednesday the 22nd or so depending on how the kids are fairing.
Our long bikes are no more from here until Ironman. We might be able to get a two to three hour bike in some hotel on their stationaries and we will have our Garmins for running outside.
Tonight is quite windy and it appears that it may rain. Tomorrow is Canada Day so it is a day off away from work. Only problem is that I will be working from home to get ahead whilst we are away.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Moneymaker
Today Simon had his year end soccer tournament and wind-up party. Last year I told Simon that for every goal he got I would give him a loonie. So far this spring (May 1 to June 27) it has been fairly inexpensive as he had not scored yet. That would soon end as in the 9am game he scored twice and in the 12pm game he scored once. So yeah, it cost me 3 bucks.
Crappy thing was is that I missed the first game as I was on my long bike. I hadn't really done a long one yet this year and as holidays start next weekend, I will probably not get one in longer. Today's bike was 123.40 miles in 5.5 hours. Everything feels fine except my right Achilles is a wee tender. I finished that off with a 20 minute, 2.4 run. Surprised my legs held in there for the brick.
For our week in Scottsdale (11th to the 18th) we have sourced out the pool which we will go to called the Cactus Aquatics & Fitness Center. Good thing it is only $3 each and it is open at 6am. I figure we will just go for 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour anyway just to keep our swimming arms going (This from the dude who has only swam once this year).
Other than that, not too much new. Tomorrow will be a 16 mile run starting at 6am. Then come home and go into work for 2-3 hours. After that is done we are off to Chestermere Lake a boating excursion which we won in the on-line auction. Who knows what time that will end at but then I have a few more hours of work after that.
Crappy thing was is that I missed the first game as I was on my long bike. I hadn't really done a long one yet this year and as holidays start next weekend, I will probably not get one in longer. Today's bike was 123.40 miles in 5.5 hours. Everything feels fine except my right Achilles is a wee tender. I finished that off with a 20 minute, 2.4 run. Surprised my legs held in there for the brick.
For our week in Scottsdale (11th to the 18th) we have sourced out the pool which we will go to called the Cactus Aquatics & Fitness Center. Good thing it is only $3 each and it is open at 6am. I figure we will just go for 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour anyway just to keep our swimming arms going (This from the dude who has only swam once this year).
Other than that, not too much new. Tomorrow will be a 16 mile run starting at 6am. Then come home and go into work for 2-3 hours. After that is done we are off to Chestermere Lake a boating excursion which we won in the on-line auction. Who knows what time that will end at but then I have a few more hours of work after that.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Birds of a feather
Things have progressed quite slowly this week. Yesterday was the only day I have done any training since Saturday. My back kinda went wonky from all the uphill running and what not (probably from my stellar hunchbackness). But yesterday being the only day was a milestone for the year, actually since August 24, 2008. August 24th was the last day I went swimming since Ironman Canada last year. I thought it was going to be October 2004 all over again where I was blowing bubbles with the 6 year olds (Susan watched me from the pool deck that year and gave up after 5 yards of debauchery. Kind of like a pig rolling in dust but me in the water). Anyhow it felt like absolutely forever yesterday but I managed 1,500m in 38:39. Ouch. That puts me at close to a 1:45 Ironman pace. I best be finding my gills me thinks.
Last night we emptied our shed out. It had stuff in there from a looong time ago. I managed to find new owners for my old Concorde Europa road bike and my Dyno Compe GT BMX. I still have an old Circa 1970's CCM Targa 10 Women's bike should anyone be looking for a vintage ride which requires a little bit of work.
Whilst we were cleaning out the shed, Susan mentioned to me that there were some eggs in Kamden's bird house. I didn't think anything of it until later in the evening I popped open the top to have a look and there was a new bird friend staring at me sitting on 6 eggs. I took a picture but they are on Susan's computer so I will post them tomorrow.
Susan's Dad came over and dismantled the shed and the fence around the parking pad. I have organized the 1-800-GOT-JUNK guys to come and pick up the remnants of the teardown.
We finally have confirmation that the garage will begin being framed on July 16th so the cement will be poured before that. I am really looking forward to the 24x22 garage. I finally won't have to fret about leaving the Porsche outside and the creeps who have staring problems.
Tomorrow Susan takes the van in for the front windscreen to get replaced. We have 8-9 cracks as well as countless chips. For the holidays we want to start with a fresh window to be a little more safe. Nothing like putting on 6/7,000km with broken glass.
Saturday I have a 6 hour bike & 30 minute run so I will need to start at 4:30 to be done by 11:30. Susan then gets to start hers. Simon has a soccer tourney at 9am and 12pm followed by pizza. Sunday is a 2.5 run and I need to go in to work to get payroll done. I don't really see 2.5 hours as that long. Yesterday's was 14.1 miles in 2:03 and probably similar for tomorrow mornings anyway.
Our prayers go out to those and theirs who have been lost this week, be it local or in the world.
Last night we emptied our shed out. It had stuff in there from a looong time ago. I managed to find new owners for my old Concorde Europa road bike and my Dyno Compe GT BMX. I still have an old Circa 1970's CCM Targa 10 Women's bike should anyone be looking for a vintage ride which requires a little bit of work.
Whilst we were cleaning out the shed, Susan mentioned to me that there were some eggs in Kamden's bird house. I didn't think anything of it until later in the evening I popped open the top to have a look and there was a new bird friend staring at me sitting on 6 eggs. I took a picture but they are on Susan's computer so I will post them tomorrow.
Susan's Dad came over and dismantled the shed and the fence around the parking pad. I have organized the 1-800-GOT-JUNK guys to come and pick up the remnants of the teardown.
We finally have confirmation that the garage will begin being framed on July 16th so the cement will be poured before that. I am really looking forward to the 24x22 garage. I finally won't have to fret about leaving the Porsche outside and the creeps who have staring problems.
Tomorrow Susan takes the van in for the front windscreen to get replaced. We have 8-9 cracks as well as countless chips. For the holidays we want to start with a fresh window to be a little more safe. Nothing like putting on 6/7,000km with broken glass.
Saturday I have a 6 hour bike & 30 minute run so I will need to start at 4:30 to be done by 11:30. Susan then gets to start hers. Simon has a soccer tourney at 9am and 12pm followed by pizza. Sunday is a 2.5 run and I need to go in to work to get payroll done. I don't really see 2.5 hours as that long. Yesterday's was 14.1 miles in 2:03 and probably similar for tomorrow mornings anyway.
Our prayers go out to those and theirs who have been lost this week, be it local or in the world.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
K-100 Race Report
Due to not having to start leg 5 until later on in the morning, I got to sleep in yet another race day (last time was in the UK till 9am!).
I arrived at our team Captains house at 8:20am, signed the waivers, picked up the gear and were out the door by 8:30am. The drive was about 1.5 hours to meet up with the first few legs of our team. We arrived about 25 miles in as the 3rd leg was half done.
A few weeks back our team captain asked what time we estimated to finish our leg. As per my previous post, with the 7% grade, I knew I was in for trouble. I scanned last years finishers list and picked the 50th percentile which would have been 1:38:31. The other teammates thought I must be a ringer or something but little did they know that the guy who is doing the hardest leg of the day does not train on hills.
As I was getting ready to do my leg it was announced that team 208 is one mile out. So I got all nervous and excited and what not as I had no clue what was in store for me. Our team capitan tagged me and off I went.
The first mile was done in about 7:55 and about 60 feet of elevation gain. Second mile was 8:23 with about 90 feet of elevation gain. This was somewhat how the race went dipping in the 6 minute miles for 1/2 or so and back again. I was quite jovial until around 8 miles and then I lost the only friends I had, my legs. A new friend Deb gave a shout out to me as she cruised by me on the steepest part of the 7% grade. I looked at my watch at that point in time and I was only doing an 11:20/mile.
As it was a supported race, every km or so my teammates and the vehicle were there for motivation, water and anything else I needed. Jason and Jodi did a fantastic job pushing me through to the end. Thanks team!
When all was said and done for my leg I placed pretty close to where I estimated. I believe my placing was 70 out of 158/9. Time for the 10.93 miles was 1:35:21. It was one of the slower races I have ever done but given the elevation and the non-hill training I was ecstatic. Our team placed 89th of 158/159 so I was quite proud of those on the team who don't do as much running as others and pushed through there leg.
On a different and quite sad note, a gentlemen who was running the second leg collapsed and past away at the race site. Dale Masson leaves behind his wife and two young children. Unfortunately I did not know him but I am sure he was a terrific father and friend. RIP.
Thanks to Nathan and partners for the support for the race.
I arrived at our team Captains house at 8:20am, signed the waivers, picked up the gear and were out the door by 8:30am. The drive was about 1.5 hours to meet up with the first few legs of our team. We arrived about 25 miles in as the 3rd leg was half done.
A few weeks back our team captain asked what time we estimated to finish our leg. As per my previous post, with the 7% grade, I knew I was in for trouble. I scanned last years finishers list and picked the 50th percentile which would have been 1:38:31. The other teammates thought I must be a ringer or something but little did they know that the guy who is doing the hardest leg of the day does not train on hills.
As I was getting ready to do my leg it was announced that team 208 is one mile out. So I got all nervous and excited and what not as I had no clue what was in store for me. Our team capitan tagged me and off I went.
The first mile was done in about 7:55 and about 60 feet of elevation gain. Second mile was 8:23 with about 90 feet of elevation gain. This was somewhat how the race went dipping in the 6 minute miles for 1/2 or so and back again. I was quite jovial until around 8 miles and then I lost the only friends I had, my legs. A new friend Deb gave a shout out to me as she cruised by me on the steepest part of the 7% grade. I looked at my watch at that point in time and I was only doing an 11:20/mile.
As it was a supported race, every km or so my teammates and the vehicle were there for motivation, water and anything else I needed. Jason and Jodi did a fantastic job pushing me through to the end. Thanks team!
When all was said and done for my leg I placed pretty close to where I estimated. I believe my placing was 70 out of 158/9. Time for the 10.93 miles was 1:35:21. It was one of the slower races I have ever done but given the elevation and the non-hill training I was ecstatic. Our team placed 89th of 158/159 so I was quite proud of those on the team who don't do as much running as others and pushed through there leg.
On a different and quite sad note, a gentlemen who was running the second leg collapsed and past away at the race site. Dale Masson leaves behind his wife and two young children. Unfortunately I did not know him but I am sure he was a terrific father and friend. RIP.
Monday, June 22, 2009
K-100 Results
Diligently I await the results from the race on the weekend. For now, here is a picture from my teammate and 3 partial leg runner Jason Deis:
Yes that is downhill behind me and I am going up, up and up! Not too sure where on Leg 5 it was though. Click on the picture to get the full spectrum of the mountains in the background!
*** UPDATE *** Finally up here
Yes that is downhill behind me and I am going up, up and up! Not too sure where on Leg 5 it was though. Click on the picture to get the full spectrum of the mountains in the background!*** UPDATE *** Finally up here
Saturday, June 20, 2009
K-100 Pre Results
The K-100 2009 edition results are not yet posted but my leg 5, 17.6km is unofficial at 1:34:25.
Report & Pictures to follow!
Report & Pictures to follow!
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