Triathlon is a beautiful metaphor for life.  Three in one... and the one isn't complete unless you can function well on all disciplines.  Just like triathlon you exist three in one... Body, Mind, Spirit.  This is also the best explanation of the trinity.  We are made in the image of God, and He too exists three in one... Father, Spirit, Son.  And just like triathlon, to be able to function properly without injuring yourself or others, you must be able to listen.  In triathlon you have to listen to your body and know when to quit so you prevent injury.  That's why there is a rule in triathlon that you are not allowed to wear ear buds or listen to music.  If you're not paying attention to your surroundings, you're going to get hit or hit someone else.  In life, you must listen to the spirit of God.  He is always speaking, there are just certain factors that keep us from hearing him.  Unforgiveness, past wounds, wrong believing, these are all things that will keep you from hearing him.  When you do hear Him, it changes your life forever, you step into the kingdom, and you become who you are and were always meant to be.  Old patterns are broken and you start living in a manner that no longer hurts yourself or others.  This is the gospel... hope for a renewed life... and it only comes through Jesus.

Back at It!!

It's been ages since I've run or worked out... I'm about 20 lbs heavier and the achilles still hasn't healed. I'm planning on signing up for IMTX in 2013... but something's gonna have to give. either I find a way to get this thing healed or I'm not gonna be running anymore Ironman races. It does feel good to be running and riding again, I've decided that I need to make some major changes in my bike in order to be comfortable and safe. My torso is simply way too long for the Cannondale Slice. I would like to switch to the cervelo, but it would cheaper to put a giraffe-type stem on my aero bars. Which would look hideous. Anyway... it's spring... and the CBI triathlon is a couple weeks away... it's gonna be painful... and slow :)

Get Your Head Into the Post-Game

I've always heard it said that the pros work hard at their training and even harder at their recovery. Doesn't sound right. Recovery is just sitting around and resting right? Well, it's been a month since IMTX and recovering has been a lot harder than I thought. Not just getting rid of the post-race soreness and feeling fresh again, that part for me took about 3-4 days, I've had the hardest time keeping myself from pushing forward and continuing my training program. I kinda got hooked on the 1-2 hour workouts. It makes you feel good about yourself and the weight-loss benefits are unmistakable. In my case, I absolutely have to take 1-2 months off of running completely. I ran on a sore achilles the better part of 3 months leading up to the race, and now I can't seem to get it to go away. I know the best solution is complete rest. The mind-games have been horrible. Every evening I think about the training I should be doing, I fear that I am losing fitness every waking moment that I'm not exercising. What's worse... I'm a comfort eater, and without my daily endorphin fix, I find myself going straight to the fridge. I guess working hard at your recovery is more of a mental exercise than anything... create a plan, stick to it while listening to your body. I really want to go for a run tonight... but more importantly, I want my future to consist of pain-free running. So, I'm going to focus on enjoying my family and my friends and remind myself of all of the things I used to feel like I was missing out on because I "had to train for the ironman."

Ironman Texas - Race Report

WOW, what a day that was! And what a week it has been since! I have been telling everyone that I WILL NOT do another Ironman race again... too much pain. But I have slept since then, and good ol' Ironman amnesia is setting in I guess. Because, I catch myself thinking, "NEXT TIME I'll do *such and such* differently." Here is a summary of the race as it pertained to me.

May 21st.
4:20 am - I wake up ten minutes before my alarm clock goes off and I start getting ready.
I get dressed in my race kit and put on my Tevas.
I froze two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches the night before to place in my special needs bags.
I grab my wetsuit and my breakfast (1 blueberry muffin, 1 apple muffin, 1 32 oz Gatorade.)

4:40 am - My biggest fan, close friend, and car-ride to the race site shows up.
We sit down, read through my morning devotional scripture, and pray together before leaving.

5:00 am - We pick up another close friend and pray together in the car as we head to the race.

5:15 am - We park and walk 1/2 - 3/4 of a mile to the bike transition area.

5:35 am - I pump my tires and fill water bottles with Gatorade and stuff bento box with cliff bars

5:50 am - We walk 1 mile to the swim start and get body-marked. (at this point I am supposed to check in my special needs bags but in the excitement I completely forget.)

6:15 am - We walk around, chat, and wait in a porta-potty line for about 30 mins.

6:49 am - The pros are in the water, music is playing, and age groupers are called to the entrance. I realize that I am still clinging to my special needs bags (all the food I intend to pick-up during the race), and bolt off to the volunteer tent to turn them in... just in the nick of time.

6:50 am - Age-groupers are now being hurried into the water, and I suddenly realize that my group (which i hastily departed a minute earlier) were holding my morning clothes bag which had my swim cap and goggles inside. At this point, the entire crowd is moving and jockeying for position at the swim start to see their athlete in the water. I do not know if my party of friends realizes that they have my materials inside the bag they are holding or not. I try to find the same spot I had just left, but everybody is moving, and I have no idea where they might be. For all I know they assume that I have my stuff and ran to the swim start with all of the other athletes, and they have also started walking to the shore to get a better view of the race. I start to panic and I begin fearing that the race will start without me. I run to the water's edge and can't find them there either. I beg a stranger to use his cell phone, luckily Caroline is holding her phone in her hand so she can feel if it rings (at this point the Ozzy Osbourne song "Ironman" is blaring, so there is no way she can hear it). I give her my location and soon afterward I have my cap and goggles and am standing in the swim cue.... whew... crisis averted.

7:00 am - The gun goes off and the water turns white with arms and legs flopping around everywhere in the water. In the next 1hr 20mins I would end up getting kicked in the eye once, the top of the head three times, and in the jaw once (that one rang my bell pretty good).

7:30 am - I complete the turn-around and am heading back toward the swim start.

8:00 am - I complete the open water portion of the swim and enter the canal. At times it feels almost as if there is a bit of assistance from a current created by so many swimmers swimming in such a narrow canal. I looked to my right at the canal wall and I seemed to be moving faster than normal without any abnormally high output on my part.

8:21 am - I complete the swim and climb out of the canal. The swim exit was surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of screaming fans and clanging cowbells. Truly the most aesthetic and exhilarating swim course exit I have ever had the fortune to be a part of.

8:30 am - I exit transition, smeared with the most obnoxious sunscreen ever, and begin cycling

11:30 am - I pass the halfway point of the bike and I haven't had a single miss-step. I was able to eat and drink every 20 mins. according to plan and I felt great.

11:40 am - a screw came loose on my rear bottle cage, and I eject both of the half empty bottles it was holding onto the course.

11:45 am - I stop and grab my bike special needs bag - I eat one peanut butter and jelly sandwich and reach for one of the two fresh bottles behind my seat to find that I have once again ejected both bottles. It is here that I realize that the rear bottle cages have been rendered useless. At this point I have a mouth sticky with peanut butter and I have essentially skipped the last aid station and must wait an additional 10-or-so miles until the next aid station. This is the beginning of my downward spiral of hydration, I broke from my plan and it would eventually affect my ability to run. It becomes difficult to stay out ahead of my nutrition at this point. No matter how much I drink and eat, I notice that I stop sweating, my uniform dries up and salt crystals are appearing everywhere. I continue taking two bottles from each aid station. Drinking as much from one as I can on the spot, and placing the other in my jersey pocket. I also back off the pace a bit in hopes that I could "catch up" and not out-ride my hydration... not to mention the slight headwind, and my lowered energy level on the return trip.

2:30 pm - I pull in to the bike to run transition and am blown away at the crowd that has gathered around the bike finish line. All my friends were there screaming for me. I instantly forgot any of the issues I was having on the bike, tossed my bike to a volunteer, and began running to the changing tent with my run gear bag.

2:46 pm - The leg cramping began instantaneously on the run. I grabbed as much sports drink as I could hold and walked onto the run course. I was able to sustain a maximum of about 2-3 mins of jogging at a 10 min/mile pace, before both quads, both hamstrings, and both calves, would all start locking up simultaneously, then I would walk for about 2-3 mins. Once the cramps settled down I tried to stretch my legs out. But as soon as I stretched a quad, the hamstring would flip out... and vise-versa. Stretching and stopping was not the answer, only walking would settle things down, and that's a good thing... I wanted to keep moving forward.

4:30 pm - I finished the first lap of the run. I felt terrible, but the crowd was amazing and I had a renewed motivation after seeing all of my friends and family again. The cramping, however, did not get any better. I continued alternating running and walking. I would pick a landmark out in front of me and attempt running to it before walking again. That worked fairly well for the second lap as well. Each time a cramp would flair up or a twinge would set in to my knees or ankles I would pray about it and it would end up subsiding within about 10-15 seconds. I was having a blast observing how the Lord was making it possible for me to keep moving forward.

6:30 pm - I finished my second lap. The split-off for the second and third lap is about 150 yds from the finish line. Passing it up for the second time was a very disheartening thing. That was overshadowed by the sight of my friends once again chearing me on. I took particular notice of Caroline on this lap. I could see in the smile on her face that she was proud of me. That look will remain in my memory forever.

6:40 pm - I realize that I started running the last lap and haven't had to stop at all in the past ten minutes. In fact, I begin to pick up the pace, and I feel looser than I had all day on the run. Well, apparently, thinking about it was a mistake. Because, once I began to focus on my pace, my legs won the battle once again and I was reduced to a walk. I continued walking and running, but each time I run I try and pick up the pace and see if that was just a freak occurrence or if I had actually succeeded in catching up to my hydration enough to run at a normal pace. I was able to keep it up for approximately half of the last lap.

7:30 pm - At this point the chafing from a full day of sweating and running in a relatively new and unfamiliar pair of tri shorts had gotten the best of me. But, I had half a lap left, I should be able to endure anything for one more hour in order to finish.

8:25 pm - I approach the 2nd & 3rd lap split for the last time and I am able to make a left turn down the finishers chute. I see the jumbo-tron with my picture on it. I see my friends, and hear them cheering my name, I run zig-zag up the chute giving all the strangers high-fives. I stand on the finish line and hear Mike Riley say that cherished phrase... "James Roberts, You, are an Ironman!" I was given a finishers medal, hat, and t-shirt and taken to the med tent where my temperature was measured at 96 deg. They placed blankets over me and gave me several helpings of chicken broth. I perked up after about 20 mins. At that point I had to pick up my bike, my run & bike gear bags, and walk another 1/2 a mile to the car. I passed out in the car and really don't remember much of the transition from the car - to the shower - and then into bed. The next day Caroline and I celebrated our 12 yr wedding anniversary with a big lunch at the Cracker Barrel. I was craving chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes. :) All in all, a very fun experience, I do not remember thinking even one time that it was too hot outside. I am fairly used to it, compared to a lot of people I guess. I do not plan on doing this race next year, or the next, but I will most likely do it again in the future. I enjoy being an Ironman.

Ironman Texas - May 21st - Let's Do It together!

Sponsor a Mile Today!
Sponsor a mile of my Ironman on May 21st and change a kids life for eternity! The sponsorships are starting to roll in and spots are beginning to fill up. Read about Camp 220 on their website TwoTwenty.org for more information. I am very excited about the race and it means that much more to me now that I see the support coming in. It will be hard to contain the emotion on race-day. I think about crossing the finish-line, even now after a years worth of preparation and struggle and I get a bit sentimental. There are still plenty of spots available for sponsorship. If you want to see your name listed below by your chosen leg of the race, send me a message and make a pledge today. Here's a quick and easy link to register and choose which portion of the race you want to sponsor. Sign Up Now! If there is a specific mile that you really want, and it isn't already taken, just leave a comment or send me a message and I'll make sure you get it. Take a look at the list below to see which miles are still available. Find out more about the race itself here at Ironmantexas.com .

SWIM LEG IS FULL! THANK YOU!

• Swim - Miles #1 & #2 ($290 - 1 mile)


• Mile #1 - Jim Roberts - Individual Sponsorship


• Mile #2 - Physical Therapy Assoc. - Corporate Sponsorship


• Bike - Miles #3 thru #114 ($25 = 1 mile)


• Miles #3 thru #22: TAS Commercial Concrete - Corporate


• Miles #23 thru #42: NBMC Inc. General Contractor - Corporate


• Mile #43: Geronimo Hilton - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #44 & #45: Abby Horn - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #46 & #47: Sherri Jones - Ind. Sponsorship


• Miles #48 thru #49: Ruth Hill - Ind. Sponsorship


• Miles #50 thru #69: Available


• Miles #70 thru #81: Andrew & Ruth Miller - Ind. Sponsorship


• Miles #82 thru #99: Available


• Mile #100: Dre Dupont - Ind. Sponsorship


• Miles #101 thru #110: Available


• Mile #111: Tim Griepp - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #112: Brandon & Brittanie Hennesey - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #113: Alfonso Lugo - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #114: David Johnson - Ind. Sponsorship


• Run - Miles #115 thru #140 ($145 = 1 mile)


• Miles #115 thru #136: Available


• Mile #137: Brynnley Trout - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #138: Bayley Trout - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #139: Sarah Trout - Ind. Sponsorship


• Mile #140: David Trout - Ind. Sponsorship

Ironman Texas and You!!!

Ironman Texas is getting Closer every day and I couldn't be anymore excited. A couple of friends and family members have actually asked me how they could help me out during the race. After explaining that any on-course assistance would actually get me disqualified... I had an idea. Why not provide an opportunity for people to participate in the Ironman with me and change someone's life in the process. Every year, my wife and I volunteer at a summer camp that has changed the lives of literally hundreds of young people. I wouldn't miss it for the world. In fact, as soon as I finish Ironman Texas we will switch gears and go into full on camp-mode and start getting ready to minister to the hundreds of junior high and high school students that will be traveling to camp 220. Twotwenty.org is a non-profit organization that hosts youth groups from churches all over the southern United States and presents the gospel of Jesus Christ in an environment of worship and prayer. The kids come from all walks of life and many are unable to cover the complete cost of tuition but truly have a great desire to attend. If a kid wants to go to camp where they have the opportunity meet their savior and change their lives forever, they will not be turned away. That is where you can help. Your donations can help cover the cost of tuition for the dozens of kids each year that are unable to pay their way. I would like you to sponsor one or more of the 141 miles of my Ironman. I am running this Ironman for the glory of the Lord, and as a symbol of the well run race. Each mile represents an obstacle in this life and how with persistence and training; victory is a reality through Jesus Christ and it is available to each and every one of us, and each mile is an opportunity for you to get involved. Purchase one or more of the miles of the Ironman course I will be running on May 21st and not only will you be providing motivation for me as I run this epic race, you will be providing an opportunity for a young person to get the tools to run this race of life with passion and persistence.

I am offering three different levels of participation. Here is the break down.

Swim leg sponsorships (2 miles - two full sponsorships available - this represents 2 students)
Mile 1 - 2: 2 sponsorships available @ $290 each

Bike leg sponsorships (112 miles - 112 partial scholarships available @ $25 ea. - 10 students)
Mile 3 - 115 - 112 sponsorships available @ $25 each

Run leg sponsorships (26 miles - 26 partial scholarships available @ $145 ea. - 13 students)
Mile 116 - 141 - 26 sponsorships available @ $145 each

So visit Twotwenty.org and send in a donation with a note that says which miles you want to sponsor (first come first serve), and include an inspiring message for me to carry with me on race day. Feel free to contact me if you want more information on how to donate. I will post the list of sponsored miles right here on the blog.

Not Quite According to Plan

Finishing the Houston Marathon was just a landmark on my roadmap to IMTX. It was to be a celebration of the progress I've been making in my quest for weight-loss and fitness and a launching pad into phase two of my ironman training. Instead, it turned into quite a little battle in it's own right. Marathon training got interrupted four weeks before Thanksgiving when my appendix flared up and I couldn't run at all because of the pain... or a few weeks following the surgery once I finally got it taken out. That took me into Christmas and I officially had less than a month until the marathon. My goal of setting a pace quickly turned to "just finish". Believe it or not, I was making really good progress with my running partner. I was confident that I would have no problems finishing. I had cranked out several 12-14 mile training runs with no problem, and I wasn't having any issues with my joints. I had been struggling with some achilles tendinitis and decided to take the majority of the week prior to the marathon to rest and rehab before the run. I had no idea how much rest I would be getting. Two days after my best and last long-run, I came down with the Flu. I struggled through the fever for the rest of the day at the office on that Tuesday, and then spent the following Wednesday thru Friday in bed with a 102+ fever. Saturday I decided to venture out of the house and pick up my race packet and T-shirt. I had no expectations of running in the race. It was supposed to be rainy and cold the next day and I simply did not have the strength. But if there's one thing a pre-race sporting goods expo can do... it's pump you up. I decided to show up and support my buddy and maybe even jog a little bit with him before heading to the house. Well... like a jerk... I got caught up in the magic of race morning and toed the line with him. We approached the half marathon turn-around point and I told him I would see him at the house... no... I didn't pull out of the race... He went to the half marathon finish and I ignored all reason and headed out on the Full marathon course. No, I was not feeling in top form, and no, I had no idea what was in store for me after that. I am pleading temporary insanity brought on by a nice case of Flu-hangover for that decision. The endorphins were pumping, there was still a huge crowd, and I just kept thinking, it will be over before you know it. The first 20 miles I finished in 3:15... That was better than I had hoped for. I was moving right along. I figured I could start mixing in some walking at the aid stations and slow it down to a 10 minute mile pace and I would finish well ahead of my 4:30 goal. Not any sooner than I had made that plan... my gas light went on and I started running on empty. Every muscle in my body decided to cramp at the same time, I could see and feel my knees swelling, and my body wasn't responding to anything I was putting into it. I could not even manage so much as a shuffle. I could only walk. The most crowded portion of the race route, the home stretch, was lined with people cheering on the runners. That's when most people pick it up and jog it in... the pain was simply too much. I was starting to feel embarrassed, but I was scared that if I ignored this pain I may screw my knees up to where I would have to take the ironman of my calendar in May. I walked every inch of that last six miles and it took me two hours and ten minutes to do it. My finish time was 5:23... marathon fail. I got pwned. Here's the finish line video... I'm the big guy on the right side of the screen. I managed a sad little version of a jog in order to cross the line. So... now... three days later... I only have a slight limp from the soreness, and I have a LOT of work to do. I need to switch my focus to my biking and get in many hours of quality pool time. Here's a quick rundown of my training obstacles so far: tonsillectomy... back surgery... snake bite... hit by car while biking (separated shoulder and "near spinal cord contact in neck")... appendectomy... Flu... The worst has got to be behind me now... right?

Setting Your Sights a Little Higher

I had the best bike ride the other day. A buddy of mine came over and we set our trainers up in the playroom upstairs and watched "Breaking Away" for the 500th time. It was too cold, dark, and rainy to want to ride outside, and I have never had a ride end up being that much fun. It's always easier to train with a friend, and when you decide to do something out of the ordinary (like running in the extreme cold or rain) it really makes for a memorable event. Especially if you can get your mind off of competition for a while and just enjoy the moment.

I started receiving "Lava" magazine in the mail this year. It was a surprise to me... I didn't order it. But I am enjoying it. It is a large magazine distributed every two months. It has thicker pages and seemingly more "photography focused" articles than a lot of other magazines. I do subscribe to one magazine... "Triathlete". I am enjoying their new format and likewise their new focus on the "images" of triathlon. Everyone likes pictures of fancy bikes and underwater shots of an open-water swim start. If Lava is sending me their magazine because of my subscription to "triathlete" in hopes that I will fall in love... enough to start paying for it... then they are simply brilliant, because it just might work. It really does the job of getting me motivated for my workouts. In the words of Belle and Sebastian, "Stars of track and field you are... beautiful people." Triathlon is like no other sport in the world. Where else can you pay your fee, show up, and race the same course the pros are racing... possibly even get passed by one (if your course has multiple loops). As far as total fitness is concerned there are no better examples than those seen in the world of Triathlon.

But don't get too excited and go "all-in" just yet. This world has too much to offer and there is way too much to lose if your priorities are not straight. Many people have jumped head-first into triathlon and ruined jobs, marriages, and friendships in the process. If you are not being paid (or hope to get paid one day) to race triathlons, then you need a quick reality check... triathlon is a great hobby. Period. Your job... your family... your wife... and your relationship with God are the only things in this world that truly deserve your affection. I'm not saying you shouldn't drop a couple grand on a tri-bike if you have the means... but I am saying that maybe you should also have a bike that you can chain up down at the park while you're getting dizzy on the merry-go-round. If you simply don't have time to spend with the family because of your required mileage... something has to change, and if you can't find time to spend alone with God or at Church because you can't afford to miss that long ride. Then consider this... what are you trying to prove? What is so important about that next race? Can you step back and ask yourself if this verse... Jeremiah 9:23-24... applies to you? Can you say that about yourself? I think I've finally asked myself that question, and I didn't really like the answer... so that... my friends... is my personal training goal.

2010 Year-End Winter Survival Guide

It's the week between Christmas and New Years, and if you're not on vacation you're not getting much done at work, because everyone else is. So, what do you do? Well my friend. You've come to the right place. Here's my 2010 year end winter survival guide.

#1. TV - The stalwart of time wasting devices. Tried and true. New and improved. And now more accessible than ever. You can watch your favorite shows at home on your 50 inch-3D-HD-LED-TV at your convenience on your DVR or On-Demand. But what should you watch. If you're like me, you're sick and tired of the manufactured drama of "Reality TV", disgusted with the ever-lowering content standards of prime-time programming, and tired of sitting through hours of commercials only to be continually bombarded with product placements in the few positive programs that ARE out there... i.e. "The Biggest Looser" and "Extreme Home Makeover". Sometimes you just want to laugh without being shocked. If this is you then you need to check out Psych. A show about a couple gumshoes who masquerade as psychics while using their intellect to solve crimes on a contract basis for the Santa Barbara police department. Watch it and try not to laugh... and instead of product placements, see if you can find the randomly placed pineapple in each episode.

#2. Internet - you can use the Internet to watch TV, but I like to watch my TV on my TV... the old fashioned way. That way I can multitask and keep the TV running in the background while I use my bandwidth for some good old fashioned surfing. Every cyclist can appreciate the revolution that the Internet has brought to the cycling community. Internet based cycling shops are a dime a dozen and force your local bike shops to keep their prices reasonable in order to keep your business. I always recommend supporting your LBS. Where would we be without them? Can you remove and clean an Italian-threaded bottom bracket on that fancy bike of yours, and do you have the proper tools? Probably not, so visit your LBS today!!! That being said, if you just simply don't have the money to pay retail for your dream bike or bike parts, and you don't mind buying an item that's had a previous owner, you can save some serious coin online. Ebay is always a fun place to search. Check out this nice set of wheels. Good solid wheels... great for the person trying to save some cash and still have a nice quick ride with the flashy look of a carbon aero wheel. Here's a tip for buying on Ebay. look at the feedback score, you can see this guy only has one previous sale on Ebay. So, either he just isn't a big Ebay seller, or there's something fishy about the sale. You can see that he is located in NJ.. that's good... it's not a foreign country... and Ebay has certain rules and policies to protect buyers. So, if you've paid with Paypal and haven't obliged any "special" requests from the seller you can be relatively certain that he won't run off with your money without giving you the product he has advertised. Rule number one on high-priced items like this... ask a few questions so you know he's a regular guy selling his own wheels. If he doesn't know anything about them, they are probably stolen, and if he doesn't respond to your questions at all, don't pay him.... period. Craigslist is another fun way to look for cool bike stuff, but the quality and variety of things you find there are usually a little less... let's say... regulated. These are usually local sellers, and it resembles a neighborhood rummage sale more than it does an on-line store. And these transactions usually mean you will have to arrange to meet and pay the seller somehow in person. That is the safest way. If you send money to anonymous people you have just met on the Internet... then you deserve to be ripped off... because that's just not very smart. But you CAN find some great deals. Like the one-year-old Cycleops Fluid trainer I got for my birthday a few weeks ago for $200. I love it. And like your local rummage sale, it's the best place to go when you really don't have anything specific you need to buy. Because its times like that you will find items like this motorized bike. ( Disclaimer: these are real ads... so I'm not sure how long these links will stay active.)

#3. Creative Cross Training - use this time to do some creative working out that you wouldn't otherwise have the time or freedom to do. I am not a type A trainer. I do not find comfort in a schedule. I do not get satisfaction from establishing a routine and sticking to it. Whenever I get the chance to mix it up... I do. Last night I knew I needed to get in some cycling and running. Normally I would push to make it home early so I could squeeze in one or the other and then work the remainder of the workout in around dinner and kid's bedtime. But not yesterday. I pulled the bike and the trainer into the house so I could watch a movie with my wife while spinning for an hour or so, then as soon as the movie was dying down, the wife grabbed a book and started reading while I went running for an hour... at 11p.m. That was fun. It was pitch black, misting, cold, and not a car in sight. My buddy and I ran for over an hour... talking and praying as we ran. The novelty of running in the middle of the night made it fun. We have also been know to put on our old shoes and pull off a 6 mile run in the pouring rain. In the heat and humidity of Houston Texas, I have had some of my more memorable runs and best running splits when it's raining out. A few rainy runs a year are a must... in my opinion. If it's cold out, wear a good ventilated running rain jacket, you don't want to get sick.

So spend this week having fun and dreaming of what you want your life to look like this next year. And when you make your resolutions, do yourself a favor and consider resolving to make yourself available to God. If you consider yourself a good person who values truth above all else, then ask Him to reveal it to you... and then resolve to be honest with yourself. That's one prayer you can count on him answering... every time. The process of making things right in your life is hardly ever easy, but the finished product is worth it. So press on toward the mark of the high calling my friends!

Have a Wonderful New Year!!!!

Soulrider

It Hurts So Good!

Wow, after months of virtually zero activity, I am finally getting back after it, and boy is it painful. I am amazed at how much fitness one can loose in such a short period of time. Even more surprising is how much more time it seems to take to get it back than it does to lose it. I haven't completely rebuilt my bike after the accident (because wheels are quite expensive... in case you haven't heard) but it is functional, and even though it is getting cooler outside I've been able to jump right back into the saddle with my new trainer. I have a feeling this will end up being one of the best birthday gifts ever. When it's freezing outside and dark when I get off work I can still hop on my bike without giving it another thought. Better yet, no cars to worry about. The other night we were watching "The Biggest Loser" finale and I didn't want to miss it, or time with the family, because I needed to get in some time on the bike. So I wheeled the bike into the kitchen, laid down a towel, and sat on the bike instead of the couch. It was great. It's so quiet that it didn't even interfere with the show or any of our conversations. The biggest hurdle is going to be fitness. May 21st and the Ironman is just around the corner, and in exactly one month the marathon will be here. I don't doubt that I will be able to complete both of these events. Will it be tough? Yes. Will I walk a bunch... absolutely. But to keep things in perspective, whose asking me to do it? Nobody... that's right. So, the only thing I'm going to stress out about is how I can maximize my level of enjoyment while participating in these events.
There's that word again... perspective. I challenge you to think about that word for a while. Apply it to every situation of your life that you find stressful. In the grand scheme of things, how important are these things that we commit our selves to? The Bible tells us to cast all of our cares upon Christ because He cares for us. Do you believe that? Do you really believe that? If you do, then how does your life reflect that? The Bible also tells us to trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto your own understand but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Instead of being discouraged, or stressed, or upset, have hope in a savior that really does love you and has a great plan for your future.

The Waiting Game

After taking about a month off of training, you can probably imagine, I'm ready to get back at it. The Ironman is steadily drawing nearer and I'm not making any fitness progress sitting around the house. And right when I think it's about to get better... I start mixing in some quality 20 minute workouts and light strength training... then... I get yet another setback. I started having some strange stomache cramps with body aches and fever after my workouts. I stop working out... again... to make sure it's just a bug and give it time to pass. But it doesn't pass. So, two weeks later, I go to the doctor... again. This time the doctor sends me straight to the emergency room. Four hours later I'm changing into a surgical gown and getting prepped for surgery. Now... two weeks later (minus my appendix) I am about to crawl out of my skin. The doctor says I need to wait yet another couple of weeks before I start working out again. This is going to be brutal... I can't wait to feel the pain of training again.

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Teach me Lord to wait.

Are You Listening?

What do you do when you hear bad news? Do you dwell on it and let it affect your future? Does it make you want to fight even harder for what you want? What should you do? I think you have to find a healthy balance. You can't let your life and attitude be affected by things you can't control, and yet you must develop the skills of a good listener. History is filled with examples of leaders that pressed on in the face of adversity to accomplish many amazing things. Likewise, there are many examples of people who ignored the voice of reason and forged ahead... straight to their own destruction. This is the same in life and triathlon. God has a purpose for you and allows you to suffer trials so that you can be refined like gold being refined by the fire. His spirit, at the same time, is speaking to you. If you are not inclined to believe that, you might miss a blessing, or worse, plod headstrong into even more suffering. If you stop running the first time you get a stitch in your side, you're going to miss the fitness benefits that are gained when you push through the pain. And if you keep pushing through that strange little twinge in your knee run after run without giving it a rest, you might risk the possibility of not being able to run in the future. You must be able to listen.
I'm struggling right now with exactly that. I've set a goal of ironman texas on may21st. After being hit by that car during a training ride back in June, the doctor has told me to temporarily stop riding my bike and limit my running to a slow-paced 20 mins at a time. We don't exactly know why my hands go numb when I'm riding my bike, and apparently the doctor sees some lingering concussion symptoms even 5 months later. At what point do I decide that the ironman is no longer a realistic goal? I still have 6 1/2 months of training left , and I have already built my base level of fitness to a greater level than ever before. But... If I don't spend a TON of quality time on the bike over the winter, I will be in serious trouble come May. I guess I'll just wait and see... or... I guess I should say... hear.

The Joy and the Pain

At some point you're gonna have to learn to enjoy the suffering. As these old sayings go, "Nothing worth while is easy... If it were easy everyone would be doing it... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." The burning in your chest when you try to breath after finishing your very first 5-mile run doesn't mean you dying... It means you're finally living. And the funny thing is, that feeling eventually goes away. And that means you're getting stronger.

This is a concept that every successful triathlete is familiar with as well as every saint who has a rich and rewarding walk with Christ.

The Bible tells us that if we are to be transformed into something pure, righteous, and holy, then we are to be refined with a purifying fire. So... don't look at your life and let fear overwhelm you when you consider your future, don't stress about the things you can't change, and don't check out at the first sign of adversity. Lace up your shoes a bit tighter and listen to the voice of your trainer who promises he's not going to push you past your limits.

So whether in life or in your triathlon training, you should look at the pain as part of the process of becoming an endurance athlete. Like I said, this is not a new concept. Just check out this passage of scripture written thousands of years ago.

The book of James, Chapter 1, verses 2-3. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

That brings me to this week's training. I finally got an MRI on my neck after being hit by that car back in June. I'm trying to figure out why I keep getting headaches and why my hands keep falling asleep when I ride my bike. After seeing the films, the doctor is referring me to the same neurosurgeon that did my lower back surgery this time last year stating, "near spinal chord contact". I know... kinda makes me nervous. I should be finding out this next week if I got something bad going on in my neck. So... no swimming this week, for obvious reasons. I've run about an hour every day and felt pretty good doing it. By the end of the week my knees were giving me some indication that they wanted a rest, so I took Thursday and Friday off. Today (Saturday) I went on a 4 1/2 hour bike ride and have been trying to shake the tingling feeling out of my hand for the past 4-5 hours, and since then my quads and I aren't on speaking terms... they say they no longer want to be my friends. This Ironman is truly going to be one of the most difficult things I've ever done. OH JOY!!!!!

Finding God in Triathlon

Ok, so I haven't posted in about three weeks. That's not because I haven't been training... or I haven't had anything interesting to write about... because I have. As far as workouts, just copy and paste the weekly routine and swap the weekend bike rides out with long weekend runs and that's basically what I've done for workouts. This past Saturday I ran the ten mile 10 for Texas in 1:23. Pretty happy with that. However, later that day I got sick. I rode the bike for an hour and ran 3 miles the next day to try and shake off the weakness and that pretty much laid me out for the rest of the weekend. So I've taken Monday and Tuesday as rest days, I've eaten a bunch of junk food, and now that I'm feeling better I'm gonna hit the road again today. But that's not why I haven't blogged. Not because I've been sick, and not because I haven't had anything interesting say. Believe me, I've thought about writing about the shin splint that I feel creeping in on my right leg and how I'm going to go about heading it off at the pass and keep it from derailing my training. No, I haven't written... because... I'm questioning the purpose behind the blog. I don't want to write a bunch of words that just a few people read and appreciate. I want to write something that is going to change people's lives. I don't say this to be arrogant. And I don't say this because I think triathlon has the power to change some one's life. If you do not apply yourself to triathlon and are not able to call upon some inner strength to be a success, triathlon will remain another sport or pass time that you used to think was the answer to all your problems. Much like that Solo flex machine or ab-lounger gathering dust in your garage. I don't want to be like Tony Little on his "Gazelle" and make you think that all you have to do is hop on this thing we call triathlon and all your problems will be answered.
I write about triathlon because it's a great way to recognize and have your life changed by the power of God. There is no greater metaphor in the wide world of sports for the idea of the trinity... Father, Son, Holy Spirit... than the triathlon. Three separate entities coexisting as one powerful being. So, If I am to continue writing about triathlon, I will not be writing so you can think that I am something special for attempting to race an Ironman. And I will not be writing so as to mislead you into thinking that this might help you medicate your particular emotional, physical, or spiritual needs. Much like planting a flag on a mountain, it represents a journey. This is my testimony of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the race that I am training to run victoriously. The opportunity that was made available to me is also available to you. Not just an opportunity to get in shape and do something that a lot of people will never do, but an opportunity to change your life and live for something bigger than yourself, a chance to live your life with purpose... whether you actually run a triathlon or not.

Week 3 - Ironman Texas Training

Week three of training for IMTX (ironman texas) was great. Not so much for the quality of my training performances, but more for what I'm learning each time I go out. I am learning to listen to my body. In fact, I'm learning that your body will speak loud and clear when you're doing something it's not quite ready for. Each week I look ahead and plan what my training week should look like. I try to consider what days the family will be home and what the weather is looking like to get the best combination of workouts. I don't want my cycling days to get rained out and force me to run every day of the week. From experience, I know that's the best way to get an injury that may sideline me for a few weeks. Week 3 looked like this:

Mon- rest day - (felt so good, however, decided to introduce my shoulder to a few easy pool laps)
Tue- 1 hr run
Wed- track workout
1 mile warm up jog, 1min sprint, 1min walk, 2min sprint, 2min walk, 3min run, 3min walk,
3min run, 3min walk, 2min sprint, 2min walk, 1min sprint, 1min walk, 1 mile cool down jog.
Thurs- Brick/Core- 1hr bike @ 18-20mph, 15 min run, then Weights: arms, legs, abs, back
Fri - Easy run - 30 mins 10 min/mile pace
Sat- Long Bike Ride - 50 miles at 19-20 mph pace
Sun - 1 hr long run planned - started running and pulled the plug after 18 mins.

The week went so well as far as being able to do the workouts I wanted to do on the days I had planned to do them, I did not feel bad at all about cutting Sunday's long run short. In fact, I didn't have much of a choice. My legs were mush after Saturday's bike ride. I had difficulty putting one foot in front of the other the entire time. I thought I might be able to stretch the soreness out when I stopped at the 4 min mark. Then I thought I might start to loosen up after the 8 min mark. Then finally, after stopping to catch my breath two more times before I had even logged 20 mins on the road, I turned the corner and took it to the house.
Overall, this week was a success. Or, more accurately, I believe the last few weeks have been a success. The sheer quantity of miles and hours accomplished is what I am most pleased with. it tells me that I am doing something right. I would not have been able to complete a week like that last month.

Things I've learned: 2 bottles of fluid & 1/2 a cliff bar per hour worked well on a 2 1/2 hr ride, and core strengthening makes a big difference on a bike ride, leg strengthening makes the knees hurt less on a run.

Now go push yourself and learn something about your body. Fall is coming, you won't have the heat as an excuse for much longer.

Soulrider.

ironman and pit bulls

The second week of ironman training is now in the books and it gets packed away with quite the exclamation point. Today was to be my long run at the end of a very productive week that only saw one rest day. But instead of a 2-hour 12 miler, I had to settle for 9 miles in 1 1/2. The credit and blame for todays performance goes to my amazing new neighbors throughout the community. The reason I am able to pull off a long run without any hydration issues is the fact that I can stash a couple of water bottles in my mail box and loop back around by the house as soon as I need one. But who wants to carry a water bottle the whole time they're running? Not me. But I don't have to worry about that... whether trash day was yesterday, today, or tomorrow someone somewhere will have there trash cans at the corner. Hooray for no deed restrictions... (note the sarcasm.) But seriously, here's the bad part about training here. Today I was attacked by a loose pit bull. I saw him run into the street ahead of me and tried to stay behind. He turned around and saw me... stopped... and waited for me. I kept my pace and decided to assume the best about this innocent looking puppy. Maybe he was just taking in the sight of a 6'5" human running past him at such blazing fast speeds (again... sarcasm). The instant I passed him I see him out of the corner of my eye break into a sprint heard him bark like he just found his next meal. In a matter of two seconds the following thought process went through my head. One... "I'm going to die." Two... "He can run faster than me." Three... " I guess I better attack him." At that point I started barking and running toward the dog. He wasn't backing down. we got 6" away from each other ... both barking... before he finally backed off and ran away...

what away to end week two of training.

Here's the breakdown...

Monday - 2 hr bike ride

Tuesday - 1 hr run

Wednesday - rest day

Thursday - Strength training/Core workout & short fast run

Friday - 1 hr run

Saturday - 2 hr bike ride

Sunday - 1 & 1/2 hr run + a single canine fartlek (yes I just invented that)

1 week down 35 to go

The thought of training for an Ironman can be a bit overwhelming. Eventually the soundtrack from last year's NBC coverage of Kona stops playing in your head and you actually have to lace up your shoes and go out for the first of your 100 or so upcoming hour-long training runs. The negative voice inside your head needs little encouragement, but nevertheless, continues to be fed. Whether it be through comparison with other more accomplished athletes who consistently perform better than you, non-athletes who insist that the distances you are attempting are unsafe (if not impossible), or setbacks when evaluating your own training expectations. I am quickly realizing the importance of racing your own personal race, and training accordingly.
One only need to visit slowtwitch.com and drop into the forum for a matter of minutes before getting a taste of training-geek-paradise. Anyone and everyone has an opinion about what YOU should be doing, and are more than willing to offer you their advise. If you have some serious questions, it's a great place to bounce some ideas around and hear some suggestions, but by no means should anyone automatically assume that what works for someone else will also work for them. At some point you must do the work for yourself and find out what will work for you. The good news is that there is a good little voice inside you as well, albeit much less boisterous at times than his evil twin, whispering a quiet truth.... "You CAN do it."
Here's a snapshot of the first week of training. I decided going up front that I did not want to miss out on my daughter being 3 yrs old, and I could not afford to miss out on sleep and have my job suffer, so my training needed to be the flexible variable in this IM equation. This was put to the test right at the beginning. My flexibility has never been an issue, or has it? The true test of an object's flexibility is the ability to bounce back. Otherwise the object is not really flexible is it? It's more malleable or pliable. So being willing to cancel my workouts for family events or other occasions is not the true test of my flexibility. The true test is my ability to re-arrange the rest of my week to achieve my training goals. My personal training goals for each week include 2 run days, 1 run/cross training/core strength day, two long multiple activity SBR workouts on the weekends. This would give me two rest days per week, which I have found that my larger frame responds quite well to when doing that much running. So what am I faced with the very first week of training? My favorite people in the world (my mom and dad) came into town on the very first day, and were able to spend two days with us. I am not going to miss out on quality family time like that for something as selfish in nature as Ironman. Nope, family comes first, and what an amazing time it was. My dad and I got to talk about the Bible, our faith in Christ, and all sorts of things more important (in the grand scheme of things) than triathlon. But nevertheless, I do have some training goals. If I am going to be truly flexible I needed to set a precedence in the first week of training and not simply cancel these two workouts, but fit them in somehow.
Day 1 Mon - rest
Day 2 Tue- rest
Day 3 Wed- 1 hour run
Day 4 Thur - Brick - 45 min bike - 15 min run
Day 5 Fri - 1 hour run
Day 6 Sat - 2 hr bike (40 miles) - 5 min run
Day 7 Sun - 30 min light run (easy day)
It was a little more difficult than i thought it would be to get motivated for each workout. I was a bit more sore than I expected. But it definitely started to prove itself worthwhile. On my two run days, i found out that i lose approximately 6 lbs. per hour running when it's hot and humid out at 10k pace. That's valuable information I did not know beforehand. This lets me know that I am on the high end as far as hydration needs are concerned in the IM. Gonna have to work on ways I can stayed fueled. This just might be the source of my cramping calf muscles.
Now go outside, exercise, and learn something about yourself, before it starts getting cold out there.
Soulrider

Ironman Training For The Type B Personality

It's getting close to commitment time. A typical ironman training schedule is about 36 weeks. So right now, I'm not beating myself up if I miss a workout, or if I have the fried rice instead of steamed with my triple delight and egg roll. Those that know me, know that I rarely beat myself up over that stuff anyway. But, things are going to have to change. Or are they?
I've been searching for a training program online that will fit me perfectly. I'm still searching.
The typical ironman-in-training may or may not have a job that requires 50+ hrs a week (like me), may or may not have a family (like me), and may or may not care if he finishes under 12 hrs with enough energy to skip across the finish line in the daylight (not like me). I am playing referree to an internal battle between my heart and my mind. The majority of the training programs out there are written by and intended for type "A" personalities who really enjoy counting their calories, logging their workouts, and monitoring their progress searching for "trends" that will help them alter their training, fueling, recovery etc. to maximize their performance on race day. These programs START at 12 hrs a week and move up to 16-18. Well, what if you truly just want to finish before the cutoff with a smile on your face and walk away with a great story you'll be able to tell the rest of your life. Where's the training program for that? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying one should not approach an ironman without a great deal of respect and seriousness. There is a lot at stake. You can really hurt yourself attempting one of these. And I believe I have an appropriate amount of respect for the sport to know what I'm getting into. This is not a decision I've made on a whim. I've been involved in the sport of triathlon for almost 5 years and while an ironman may be on my "bucket list", improved fitness is not. Fitness is more of a lifestyle commitment that I have to make every day. It's an investment in my future with my family. Besides, an Mdot tattoo just wouldn't look right if it got all fat and stretched out, HA!
I could stress over finding and committing to the right program a bit more, but that would take a bit of the fun out of the process. Coach K (of the Duke Blue Devils) says that champions aren't just passionate about competing, they are passionate about preparation. He's right. But I'm not trying to qualify for Kona. I might not ever do anything longer than Olympic distance tri from here on out... who knows? My point is this, unless I find a program that will allow me to train before 6:00am (I work construction) and after 8pm M-F (my daughter's bedtime) and squeeze in long bricks on the weekends, my daughter will be 4 by the time ironman TX comes around and I will completely miss out on her being 3... and I am quite enjoying her as a 3 yr old. And I'm sure my wife would like to see me every once in a while. I've had a bad habbit of letting my hobbies get in the way of what is truly important to me, and that's NOT a part of the plan this time around. Discipline (the character that every triathlete recognizes as a virtue) is primarily about improving the quality of your life, not mis-aligning your priorities so that your life and everything truly important in it begins to suffer.
So train, and train hard. But put it into perspective every once in a while.

Lessons Learned - Be Prepared!

It's been way too long since the last post... sorry about that. But, the only thing I really want to talk about is bike safety and I've been so worked up since the bike accident I probably would have lost my composure all together if I had decided to write about it before now.
If you've decided to ride a bike, you are assuming a bit of risk... period. Just like riding a motorcycle. It is legal to ride a bicycle, and there are laws that protect our rights as cyclists. However, 65% of all americans eat approximately three meals a week behind the wheel of a car while talking on the cell phone and driving with their knees (Don't research that statistic... I just made it up, but you get my point). People don't pay attention while they drive. I don't consider myself any different. If anything, this accident has made me aware of how fortunate I am as a driver to have gone so long without any serious incidents. I drive at least 3hrs a day for work and understand how easy it is to get comfortable while driving. Have you ever gone through a signal and not realized it was yellow... or worse... RED until you were already in the intersection. We've all been there. The scary thing about this realization is the fact that if you were to change any one of a few variables in the situations we face each and every day while driving... in the blink of an eye you could find yourself responsible for taking someones life, or even your own. Riding a bike comes with it's share of risks. The fact that most drivers are not looking for cyclists is the most important thing to understand. That way you don't go putting yourself in situations that make you vulnerable. The second most important thing to understand is that the motorists that do see you are not usually 'happy' to see you. You are usually going to be taking up "their" space in the road... going under the speed limit... or causing them to miss the next light because of your slow start and clipping in. So don't go doing anything that ticks them off even more. Just because nobody else is coming doesn't mean it's OK to roll through a red light. Traffic laws are there to protect us, so don't abuse them and give anybody reason to hate cyclists even more.
If you're being safe, smart, and courteous then you've done the best that you can do. Still... even if you have done all that (as is my case) people will still fail to see you, and may drive their cars into you. At that point, you just need to be prepared. Here are a few things that you need to know that will help you out.

1. Have good insurance. Most insurance carriers do not provide cycling insurance. However, a good unsurance company will cover the replacement of a bicycle under a homeowners policy at the cost of your deductible. This is usually not worth the hassle unless you just bought the bike of your dreams... like I did =(. Hopefully you will not have to use your insurance at all, assuming the wreck is not your fault, the drivers auto insurance should at minimum cover the price that you paid for all damaged equipment. If replacement cost ended up being more than what you paid, like mine did, don't hold your breath.
2. Call the cops. No matter how big, or small, the accident may have been. If there is any sort of bodily injury or damage to property the authorities should be notified and a report should be filled out. If you decide to file a claim with that motorist's insurance, even a day later, and there is no police report on file, the insurance will smell blood and end up claiming it was your fault and deny the claim... like mine did.
3. Write stuff down. If there are any witnesses, get names and phone numbers and ask them if they saw what happened. You might need to get ahold of some of those people later if the driver that hit you tries to claim that they didn't actually hit you... and say "it was the guy behind me that hit you"... like mine did.... =(.
4. Identify yourself. You need to get on the internet right now and buy a RoadID. This is a wristband that has your name and address and emergency contact information. You can customize these bracelets (or anklets) to carry even the most specific information... such as blood type. If you are rendered unable to speak for yourself, the RoadID will speak for you.
Nobody does an ironman, half, olympic, or even a sprint distance triathlon without doing a bit of training and preparation. Don't let your preparation fall short. Prepare for the unexpected. Protect the most valuable asset you have in this life... you. God has given you a great life, and other people don't always do the right thing. These tips will help you hold them accountable, and help you get the treatment you need if you find yourself in this situation.

And wear your stupid helmets people... geez, They're not that hot and uncomfortable!

Real men shave their legs

I should be writing a race review of the Sylvan Beach triathlon last weekend. Instead... bicycle safety. Last friday night, I headed out for a medium intensity brick workout. I had planned a fast paced 12-mile bike before a transition to a med paced 5 mile run. I didn't quite make it to the run. At mile 10 of the bike I approached an intersection, checked to make sure that it was clear, and then accelerated to make it through quickly. Little did I know, coming the opposite direction, a lady made the decision to try and beat out a yellow light. She made a quick left turn and managed to put herself directly in the path of my bike before I even knew what was going on. The most dangerous aspect of training for a triathlon is riding in the aero position. I need to spend a lot of time in the aero bars to simply get used to it. This is my first tri bike, and with a back surgery just 6 months ago, it is taking lots of practice and adjustments in spacing to find out how to be the most comfortable. The dangerous part about the aeros is your ability to react. When training, you don't have the benefit of a closed course like on race day, and when a driver gets careless your hands are nowhere near your breaks. By the time I saw the car, I knew I was going to hit it. Naturally, I swerved anyway, and was able to minimize the damage (namely staying alive). Instead of a direct impact with the side of her vehicle, my handlebars suffered the biggest punishment when they plunged into her tail-light. This wrenched my front fork, ripped the front tire off the wheel, and threw me over the back of the car into the middle of the intersection. So instead of the car stopping me in my tracks I was able to slowly decelerate on the pavement... hehe. But seriously, this was probably the main contributing factor for me walking away with zero broken bones. Instead, all of my clothing was ripped up pretty good, I separated my shoulder, got some pretty decent whiplash, plenty of road-rash, and a great little knot on the head. The helmet definitely saved my life, the tri-shorts and top absolutely minimized the amount of road rash, the gloves kept my hands from getting chewed up, and the fact that I had just shaved my arms, legs, shoulders... and well, just about everything, saved me loads of discomfort after the fact. When you have a particularly hairy disposition, such as myself, road rash is a fearsome enemy in the immediate days and weeks, post crash. Wound care is miserable when the adhesive tape is pulling out hundreds of hairs each time you change a bandage. And as the wound dries out and scabs start to form, you know your on the road to recovery. The funny thing about wounds.... the scabs seem to shrink as they heal, and this pulls out even more hair. So, you're fighting the hair pulling battle literally with every step, bend, lunge, and turn. So, If you're going to ride your bike, by all means... gear up, stay alert, and go to your bathroom right now and shave.