Who is really in charge of Wanda Group and now Ironman.

About "owners":

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/world/asia/wang-jianlin-abillionaire-at-the-intersection-of-business-and-power-in-china.html?referrer=

About the sale:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/ironman-to-be-acquired-by-chinas-dalian-wanda-1440642571

Huge 920-pound gator captured in Alabama lake

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/23/giant-alabama-alligator/32242003/

Be careful where you swim in AL!!

Cyclist Hit By Chunk Of Concrete

Cyclist Hit By Chunk Of Concrete

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/08/09/answers-tough-to-find-after-cyclist-hit-by-chunk-of-concrete/

If you live in Minneapolis watch out and contact the local authorities if you have any information.. 

I would like to say this is rare but I have seen it in Orlando also.  I have had beer bottles thrown at me while cycling AND running.  I seen tacks throw onto the road. Car intentionally try to get close to cyclist.  At IM Chat they had oil and tacks on put on the road.

Watch out and be careful.

Saucony Ride 8 Review

Saucony Ride 8 Review

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Yesterday, I had the pleasure of trying on the new Saucony Ride 8 shoes and wow was I impressed!  They shoes are seriously comfortable. 

The Ride 8 is a much more plush shoe that I am use to.  I am use to running almost exclusively in the Saucony Mirage shoe which is a 4mm drop and is a firm and responsive shoe.  Usually plush shoes are not very comfortable on my feet but this is shoe is different.  I found it was not too slug like the other plush shoes I have tried on.  This was a little larger in the toe box than the Mirage 8 but still fit fine.

I did notice a slight difference in the 8mm vs. the 4mm drop that I am use to running it.  It was not a big deal though.  It's just something that I noticed.

They are also slightly heavier (14 grams more) than my current shoe but for a plush shoe I found them surprisingly light.

I have the Silver / Red / Citron model (see photos above) and this is a really cool looking shoe.

This a great overall shoe for someone who can wear a normal fitting shoe.  I highly recommend these shoes.  I they will now become my go to shoe for long training runs!

See other reviews here:

• GetOutThereGear Review
• Gear Institute

SPECS (From Saucony)

• Shoe Category: Neutral
• Pronation: Neutral
• Cushion: Plush
• Construction Type: Neutral
• Surface: Road, Track
• Arch: High, Normal (Mid)
• Water Resistant: No
• Waterproof: No
• Offset: 8mm
  • Heel Stack Height: 26mm
  • Forefoot Stack Height: 18mm

Garmin Varia Rearview Bike Radar

Garmin Varia Rearview Bike Radar

Edge computer or Varia head unit can show multiple approaching vehicles and indicates the relative speed of approach and threat level.

This is an new an interesting technology I would like to try out.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/prod518151.html

Cheap Medal Hangers

I got several "honey dos" done this weekend.  One tasks was hanging up both Bonnie and my race medals.  I used a curtain rod and clips.  The total cost was about $30 a piece.  I think they come out pretty nice. Each wall has about 40 medals hanging. 

 

The hand painted artwork was created
and gifted to us by a fellow Ironman.

Bonnie's has many more medals.  She focused more on marathons
while I focused on 70.3s.

 

Saucony Mirage 5 Review



Saucony Mirage 5

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Saucony Mirage 5 Review

 

Saucony Mirage 5 Details

SPECS

• Shoe Category: Guidance, Natural Running
• Pronation: Moderate
• Cushion: Responsive
• Construction Type: Natural Motion
• Surface: Road, Track
• Arch: Normal (Mid), Low
• Water Resistant: No
• Waterproof: No
• Offset: 4mm
  • Heel Stack Height: 22mm
  • Forefoot Stack Height: 18mm

 

Sorry this review is a month or so behind.  I've been training for the May Ironman TX, working and starting a new business.  Needless to say life has been very busy!

 

I have been running in the Mirage series of shoes since the first Mirage model.  I love this shoe model.  Every year I try on other models and brands but I keep coming back to the Mirage.

 

I have gone through three Mirage 4 and two Mirage 3 in the past year and half of two Ironman trainings.  I loves both models but I the Mirage 4 had some major flaws.  The first being they wore out really fast.  Keep in mind I am training for an Ironman though.  The uppers of the shoe has a fine white/silver mesh that "fuzes" out in the first several months (the Mirage 3 did not have this issue).  After that developed two holes in the fabric of the shoes.  The bottoms also wore out pretty fast.  Even with these issues I love these shoes.  I just wish they would have lasted longer.

 

 

Fuzzy Issues with Mirage 4

 

 

 

Mirage 4 wear and tear

 

 

I can not wait till after Ironman TX to put these shoes on and go for a long run.  Just last night I laced up a new pair of the Mirage 4 that will carry me through Ironman TX in May.

 

The Mirage 5 looks like a big improvement on the Mirage 4.  The Mirage 5 has a completely remodeled upper.  This upper no longer include the "fuzing" mesh (with was only cosmetic in nature).  My first impression of these shoes are they are gorgeous.  I love the colors.  The new upper material no longs has the fuzzy mesh (so it should last longer).  I have not had much time to run in them yet because of Ironman TX training.  I do not want to switch shoes this close to the race.  From the time I have had in they the are very comfortable.

 

The uppers are made out of a seamless breathable mesh that is extremely comfortable and breathable.  They will not cause any hot spots or toe nail issues.  The mesh makes them feel like putting on slippers.

 

The shoes has 4mm drop that seems to be my sweet spot for comfort.

 

From what I can tell the men's Mirage 5 comes in two colors red/black and navy/citron.  The red/back are really awesome.

 

These shoes are awesome and I can not wait till after Ironman TX to put these shoes on and go for a long run.  I highly recommend the Mirage series of shoes.  They are lightweight and very comfortable.  The Mirage 5 looks like it fixed all the minor issues I had with the previous model.

 

 

The Mirage 5 New Uppers

 

 

Orlando City Soccar Inaugural MLS Game

They dressed up the Citrus Bowl.

 

On Sunday (after our 85 mile bike ride) Bonnie and I went to the inaugural MLS game of Orlando City Soccer (err.. football).  It was the second largest attended MLS EVER!!  The stadium as 60K seats and 62K people attended the game.  2K people bought standing room only seats!!

 

The fans were wild.  I have never been to an MLS game but I have a feeling now that Orlando has hit the big time we will be attending many more.  We had a great time.

 

 

Our seats at the 50 yard line
(hey, it's football right)

 

 

The crazy people section

 

Cool banner

 

LED Score Board

IRONMAN HUNGRY!!

I don't know what it is about Ironman training that turns me into a bottomless pit but I am ALWAYS hungry.  I have turned my desk into a grocery store.  I bring enough fruit for a week but I eat it all in two days.  I eat my lunch for breakfast.  I can not seem to get enough food down my mouth.  What is it about Ironman training that makes me turn into a bottomless, crazy, bacon (hamburger, steak, ice cream....) craving, maniac?!



I smelled bacon on my run today and felt EXACTLY like this!!

 

 

80 Days Till Ironman TX

I have only 80 days till Ironman TX.  Even before IMTX I have the following let to accomplish:

• 03/14 - Ride to Remember Century
• 03/29 - Gran Fondo, FL Century
• 04/12 - IMFL 70.3
• 04/24 - Brake the Cycle Century
• 05/02 - Hurricane Man Marathon Swim
• 05/16 - IM TX 140.6

I have no clue how I am going to do it.  I SO TIRED!!  Bonnie yelled at me in the morning because I did not sleep all night.  I just tossed and turned and talked in my sleep.  At work I am a functional zombie.

 

 

 

 

Ironmann Texas 2015

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Guess where Bonnie and I will be this May?!  Anyone going to be there? 

 

Bonnie wants to finish the race in her boots and cowboy hat.  I just want to cross the finish line not requiring another surgery.

 

I've been training with two new coaches. 

 

My new master's swim coach seems to think I'm a swimmer (not a triathlete) and has proceeded to pound me into submission.  I keep telling here I AM NOT A SWIMMER but she does not listen.  I can not keep up with all the real swimmers.  Many of them swam in college (I just drank and struck out with girls in college).  One tried out for the Olympic team and another holds a breast stroke record.  I do not stand a chance!! But it does make me a faster and better triathlete "swimmer."

 

My new run coach seems to think I'm a slacker and am holding back.  On Thursday we did a tempo run with about seven people.  All but two (one was me) of these people are Boston qualifiers.  My warm up was at a 7:15 pace (which I held for a little then proceeded to dropped like a rock/bolder).  I think she will make me a much better runner.  This is one area I could really improve in.

 

Hope everyone is doing well.  Hopefully I will see some of you at Texas this year.

 

 

Goofy 2015

Unshaven Tired Self



!!! Squirrel !!!



Our bling



Bling Selfie



Half, Full & Goofy medals



Very cold Saturday Morning



The crew after the event

Feeling Goofy 2015

 

Guess who was crazy enough to sign up for Goofy 2015 and will be running it this weekend?  For those of you who don't know Goofy is where you race the Disney 13.1 on Saturday followed by the 26.2 on Sunday followed by hating life on Monday.  :-)