Day "Off"

You know you have a problem when you day off looks like this:

* 5:30 AM (which is sleeping in)
     Get up to go swim 2000m

* 11:00AM - 3:00PM
     Rush home to pick up wife.  Drive one hour each way to cycle 50 miles in 105F heat index weather.

* 4:00PM - 5:30PM
     Rush home, shower, eat and take a 30 minute nap. 

* 6:00PM - 10:00pm
     Rush to a special Rotary event meeting.  Complain you did not make it home by your 9:00PM bed time

Darn...I'm tired...  I need a day at my job!!

My ride through the zoo..

So this weekend I did 60 mile ride on the Van Fleet Trail.  It is a COMPLETELY straight 29 mile trail with a 6.9 mile extension.  There is not one turn on the entire ride (no exaggeration).  It is a great and safe place to ride with only three country crossroads to worry about crossing.  There is almost never a sole on the trail to be seen on it.  It a great place to train for long bike rides.  I am currently training there for a century.

Here is more info on biking the Van Fleet Trail can be found here and here

The trail is in the middle of NO WHERE.  It crosses right through Green Swamp so there is a TON of wildlife to be seen.  It's like riding through a zoo.

My "zoo" adventure ...

Not the place to be training for the swim!!

Yes, that's an alligator and yes
I saw him off the bridge during the ride.

I saw a ton of the alligators smaller cousin.
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The Florida grey squirrels LOVE to run out in front of your bike.
My friend hit one a few months ago and it bent his rear wheel.
I always yell "Crazy Squirrel" so they run off before I hit them.
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I also pass a llama farm.

Some fuzzy, Tribble thing tried to attack me.
 

These are Tribbles for those who are not "cool" like me.
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A Gopher turtle sitting on his porch.
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Gopher turtles passed me on the bike

 

 

I passed six snakes sunning themselves on the path.
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A deer snuck up on me also.
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A wild Florida panther also tried to attack me. 

See the anger in his eyes!!

Chewie greeted me when I got home from the zoo.
He got a hair cut.

My desert rose is in bloom

DIY Race Medal Hanger Ikea

DIY Race Medal Hanger Ikea

!!My Mr T Bling!!

 

The current medal hanger was no longer cutting it so I had to get creative.  I needed something that was cheap and could hold a lot of medals (over 25 medals).  So I took a trip to my third home, Ikea. I am convinced the order of my homes are Lowes, Ikea and then my house.  Yes, in that order. 

 

For only $12.99 at Ikea.
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At Ikea I found Dignitet curtain wire.  This stiff is awesome.  It's cheap ($12.99), easy to install, has a variable length and can go around corners.  You can hang your medals via clips (Quantity 25 for $2.99).  They also sell supports (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40078030/) that can be used to support the wire for long distances or around corners.  I did not know the supports when I ran my wire.  I used curtain supports due to my long wire run but I will be going back to Ikea (Bonnie will be overjoyed) to replace them with the Dignitet supports.  Be sure to use good anchors so the ends don't pull out of the walls.

A great and easy way to hang up new medals.
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Overall, I was happy with the result.  I will be swapping out the Lowes supports for the Dignitet supports sometime next week to create a more finished/professional look. 

 

Overall cost:

$12.99 for the wire and two ends

$2.99 for 25 hangers

$4.99x2 for two supports (un-needed for shorter runs)

$5.00 for a box of 25 wall anchors

_________

$30.96  

Growler Beer Cage

 

Forever expanding your hydration options on the bike
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Growler Beer Cage

If you want to carry a six pack of your favorite beer on your rides then this is your option (New 6 Bottle Hydration System)

"But Mr Half TRIing not all my favorite beers come in six packs!!"  I understand, sometimes your favorite beers are only available in a growlers. Well look no further your prayers have been answered with the new Growler Cage.  Now you can now carry one or two beer growers on your Ironman ride.

Give me some credit...I am always looking out for the best hydration systems for your next Ironman!!

What is your favorite beer?  If you say Bud, Bud Light, Miller, Coors, MD2020, Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, etc you will not be on my holiday list.  :-)

Miscellaneous

I'm having a blah week so I figured I would share some misc things in my life.

 

 

I planted a GIANT jalapeno bush in my back yard.
(and this is one of the smaller ones)

 

For those of you who have kids this
will give you a better idea on how big they get.

 

Next month starts the new Rotary year and I won an award
at the changing of the guards banquet. I will be
president of the club again next year.
"For exceptional service on behalf of Rotary"

 

 



A successful two week can food drive I put on for
Rotary.



 

Our Rotary club had a social night at the local ice cream store.
I thought this was cute.

Chewie learned a new trick (bad habit) from the cat.

$35 bed or on top of the clean clothes?!

 

The Southern Magnolias are in bloom.
I saw this one on my run this weekend.

Air Plant Porn from my lawn

It turns pink once a year on the first
day of summer every year.
The air plant above it turns pink and flowers only once
a year on the first day of spring. Natures calender.

 

Triston finally graduated high school and is on his way to

community college.  Now he is learning how the

real word works and does not like it.

KickStarter: Switch Aero System: One Bike, Two Rides

Kickstarter Link:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redshiftsports/switch-aero-system-one-bike-two-rides

This is a pretty need idea.  A better way to convert your road bike into a TT bike (kind of).

Jack Beattie's 24th Annual Lake Swim & Pancake Breakfast

Jack Beattie's 24th Annual Lake Swim & Pancake Breakfast

Jack Beattie is a Central Florida sports celebrity and swimming icon.  He is an NCAA All American, has won multiple national championships, set five national age group records, won 3 gold medals (including a world record in Tokyo).  If that was not enough he has also swam Maui Channel.

See summary of Jack Beattie's accomplishments here.

Growing Bolder did a special on him here.  I highly recommend watching it.  He's very inspirational.
http://growingbolder.com/media/sports/water-sports/family-friends-and-pancakes-641362.html

Every year in Orlando, Jack Beattie opens up his home for an open water swim and pancake breakfast at his house.  It is a one mile open water swim followed by a free breakfast. 

The 9 mile run to the open water
swim was HOT (like me)!!

This year I did a 9 mile run to Jack's house.  Bonnie and I then did the 1 mile swim.  Following this I stuffed my mouth with the free pancakes, sausage, muffins, juice, etc.  It was a great time.

 

I then came home and mowed the lawn and cut down my neighbors bushes that invaded my lawn. 

 

Thus is the life of a normal, average athlete.  I am not sure you will ever find a brick of Run, Swim, Mow and Bushwhacking in any training manual. :-)

 

 

Jack and I before the swim.
I'm the dork with the goofy off-center hat.

Everyone getting ready to beat me on the swim.

 

Everyone looking for the gators.

Watch out for the Florida Alligators!!

 

I'll skip the healthy stuff and go straight for the muffins.

Free, hot pancakes?!?
I'm so there!

Hot sausage also.

YUMMY!!!

Clearing the neighbor's rain forest.

It took over five hours to clear everything out.