Tests are Back

And according to the doctor, I am "normal". I never would have guessed it, but if the doctor says I'm normal, then it must be true.

Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers, all.

"I am the CEO of My Own Life"

I thought this was a cool article on personal responsibility, written by Steven. While he comes at it from the perspective of a person who stutters, I feel we can apply it from the vantage point of our own lives, whatever that place may be.

Thanks, Steven. I am the CEO of my own life.

Testing...Testing...

Time once agin for the annual CT scan, blood work and all that. Everything went normally, for those of you keeping score at home. Results will be out soon...

I Need More Cowfields!

Further proof we nee more cyclocross in our lives...

World's Greatest Athlete?

It's one of those things that people sometimes debate simply to prove their point. Who is the world's greatest athlete today? There are those who would argue Tiger Woods, and I think it's a start. Roger Federer certainly comes to mind as well.

All that being said, I think we are in the midst of a performance by the world's greatest athlete, and most people don't even know who it is. In fact, 99% of America could sit right next to this person at a cafe and have no idea they are in the presence of an extraordinary talent who is redefining what is possible in their sport, as well as with the human body.

Chrissie Wellington burst onto the Ironman scene three years ago, coming out of nowhere to obliterate the field at Ironman Kona. That's the triathlon world's version of the Superbowl. Think 2.4 mile swim. Then a 112 mile bike ride. Then follow that up with a full marathon, another 26.2 miles. All of this occurs in 100+ degree heat and winds that have knocked bicycle riders over. Wellington won last year too, even though people knew her and what she was capable of. Her second victory came in spite of a flat tire on the bike (Rebekah Keal, in a display of sportsmanship that defines Ironman, gave Chrissie her extra CO2 canister so Wellington could get back in the race).

So you had to figure this year everyone was gunning for her. They were. The problem was, no one could catch her. She swam and biked her heart out. At one point, she was in 11th place. Not 11th woman. 11th person. To put that in perspective, these are the best of the best in triathlon today. If it were the NFL, she would be a starter. With the men. She got off and ran 26.2 miles through that 100+ degree heat and never stopped smiling. As she approached the finish line, she high-fived volunteers along the course. And she never stopped...wait, was she smiling? Why, yes, she was. She was smiling at everyone, because she knew just how special her performance was.

She set a course record. She beat the next nearest woman by 20 minutes, an eternity in Ironman terms. And, after she rolled across the finish line in a salute to Jon Blais, an Ironman finisher who passed away from ALS but forever left his mark upon the race, she left the finisher's area, took a shower, then returned to pass out finisher's medals and sign autographs for hours, revelling in the spirit of just what it means to be an Ironman Champion. Mahalo, Chrissie.

Uh Oh...

I mentioned a while back that I might need to buy a mountain bike. It looks like I might need a cyclocross bike too. Tell me this doesn't look like fun (courtesy of KRAM, who rode LiveSTRONG with me)...


Don't mind the music, though. I personally would have gone with Yakkety-Sax with this video.

Amazing Melons!

These are just amazing. LINK HERE.

Debate: Finished

Finally, an end to the debate "Who would win in a battle between a shark and a bear?" Answer? The Bearsharktopus. BAM!

A Career in Bikes? Sign Me Up...Maybe...

The Art of Manliness has an interview with Luke Elrath, product manager (design and marketing) for Breezer Bicycles in Philadelphia, offering insight into just what his job is like. It certainly sounds glamorous and fun...

On the 15th day of a recent trip oversees I found myself atop Five Finger Mountain above Taipei beginning a descent where I would hit speeds exceeding 40 mph. The sun was just coming up and burning away the mist in the valleys below, and I was doing what I truly love to do in a beautiful, exotic locale.

...but, of course, there's the other side, too...

The time spent away from home for factory visits, trade shows and promotions leaves less time to spend with my incredibly supportive wife. Though few and far between, the best trips have been the ones in which she joins me.

I think I'd miss the Fish Family too much to travel the way Elrath does. Read the FULL ARTICLE HERE.

Want...

I'm not a fan of huge extravagances, but I am a fan of clever, incredible design. This yacht fits the bill....



Just WOW...