One Little Run, One Giant Step

Today was a big day. Really big. Those of you who know me are probably thinking about how I ran at the Mid Winter Classic 10 Miler this morning. I did run, but this is clearly not what I am talking about (especially since I ran it as a workout). Actually, I won't even be talking about the Mid Winter Classic...for now haha.

What (actually, whom) I am referring to is my Dad. If you know the Kroots, you know we have skied since it was physically possible - I started in 1991, before I was even 3 years old. We've had a condo up there for two decades. It's in our blood. So, when injury or, for my brother, college gets in the way it makes for a struggle of a winter. I, to be honest, have diverged from my crack-like addition to skiing that I once had. I think you get the picture, so let's get back to my Dad. Today was the first day since his diagnosis of Leukemia that he skied. He tried to muster up the strength a few times between rounds of chemo and spikes of energy in Spring 2011, but it sadly was not in the cards. Then it was time for the bone marrow transplant and skiing wasn't a thought in anyone's mind. I know it was still something he would never cease to yearn for, but the focus was on life itself - not the smaller things in life that make it what it is.

Fast forward to fall of 2011, ski season approaches but he's still on a small chemo regimen that hurts the energy levels, attention capacity, and some motivation. Also, my Dad has always been a BEAST when it comes to the cold - it does not effect him. But after his diagnosis, even if the temp in the house is much below 70F he might struggle a little.Thus he was quite reasonably concerned with completely freezing and being miserable. On December 9th, 2011 my Dad was up at Sugarloaf and had the plan to finally go ski. His legs were somewhat swollen from edema (which eventually got worse, leading to his very recent hospital stay), and he simply could not - despite all his effort - get his damn foot into his ski boot. It crushed him, I talked to him later that day and he didn't have to say that it hit him really deep; he didn't want to think something so simple could hurt him that much. It did. It was something he's been waiting more than a year for, something he loves and that makes him feel at home.

After the hospital stay, the swelling was reducing and he was feeling better. Just earlier this week he finally felt that he could focus and he mentally felt good for the first time in just about a year. Then the weekend came along, he wanted to go up to Sugarloaf mainly as a getaway to relaxed after getting out of the hospital last Saturday (8 days ago). My take: this was the weekend he truly wanted to ski, but he didn't want to externalize it for concern that his swelling was still too bad to ski. I'm sure he'll tell me if I'm full of crap or not once he sees this haha.


He said he'd go out today if he could get his boots on and the energy going. I got a text at 8:44AM "If I can get the boots on.......". He wished me luck in the Mid Winter Classic 10 Miler and I told him to keep it for himself. I finished the race/workout, turned on my phone and didn't see anything from him. Then at 11:32AM I got the text: "RAMDOWN TO WIFFLETREE!!!!!!!!"

He was clearly excited out of his mind that he took a run: not just any run, it was his own Run For Glory - far bigger than mine has even been and will ever be. We texted back and forth and then I tried calling him after I left the awards ceremony for the race, but he didn't pick up (thanks to Sugarloaf's miserable cell service) so I told him to call me. He called me after 1PM when I was at work, and just talking about being able to ski I could tell he was tearing up. My brother had told me it was the happiest he had heard my Dad in a long time, but hearing it for myself was something different. I was talking to him and hours after taking one single run at Sugarloaf he still seemed to be in shock from the experience. He really was happier than I had heard him in years. Literally, that's how big of a moment it was for him. I was exhilarated from hearing him explain it all, getting emotional about something that he would do 20 times in a single normal ski day.

It was pretty cool: he skied with Jimmy Cliffe, the guy who essentially taught Jase, Lex, and I how to ski, and they went up Sawduster. Then the choice was Double Runner (pretty short) or Whiffletree (much longer, but still basic terrain). They went Whiffletree. Then at the top of Whiffletree Jimmy turned right to go down the trail (green circle - easiest terrain). My Dad didn't go with him immediately so Jimmy looked back at him, wondering why he wasn't going with him. My Dad said "Let's go left" - which means but one thing...he wanted to hit up King Pine, where there is no easy terrain; it has more vertical, less grooming, and is a lot tougher than Whiffletree. Jimmy was shocked: he was looking at this guy who had been crushed by chemotherapy, irradiated to the point of being dropped to nothing, had a bone marrow transplant, struggled all fall, and then just gotten out of the hospital a mere eight (yes, 8) days ago - and that very same person who had been through the ringer was suggesting to hit up King Pine. Naturally, Jimmy went with it. As it is clear my Dad does not budge - Leukemia didn't stop him. Just being there already made his year. They headed to King Pine, took the chair up, and then it was go time...

...and he loved every last minute, every last inch of that run.

The Big Guy - my budbud - just after tearing it up at The Loaf: 2/5/2012.

Tri Blog Gone Bike Blog!

Yes, it has been a while. And quite a bit has changed - in many facets of life. But first I must address the one thing that has been building and growing on me since I had my first taste: Cycling. This all started with one race last summer, which I did on a whim. And I have admitted (to my own surprise) on many accounts that I have never had a feeling as I did at the end of that race. No matter how hard I pushed in running workouts or races - track or XC - I did not get to the point of wondering if I'd actually finish without falling over. As I pushed for the finish, completely unaware of the location of any of my opponents, I was not sure if the effort would put me off balance enough to take me out. It didn't...and the insane feeling subsided slightly slower than it came on in the last 150m of the race. The feeling was a rush; not just the absolute fatigue or 'pain' of going all out to breaking point, but also the excitement of a whole 18 mile race coming down to fractions of a second. The most potent aspect of the feeling was it felt like everything I had hoped for knowing I gave it all, and the absolute feeling of muscular exhaustion and 'pain' was something I can't explain. It's just one of those things you know, if and when it happens. I thought I had gotten there in some killer interval workouts running, but it wasn't like that race.

Winter came along, and I kept doing my training for tris. I focused on running in the heart of winter to do my 22 miler on my 22nd birthday. It went great, and was an amazing experience on its own (see link). Then I kicked in the trainer, running, and swimming to prep for the tri season. For my enjoyment and improvement on the bike, I joined the UR Cycling Team and flat out had a kick-ass time with the guys. Did a bunch of races, learned a lot, and even became a bit stronger, smarter rider - feel free to check out the spring races recaps!

Anyways, graduation happened. I must have an aside to my senior week training...my most solid week training ever, by a longshot. By the numbers: Hours: 21.2 (all cardio), Mileage: Swim: 4.5, Bike: 257, Run: 44. The average run pace was 6:58/mile, and average bike was 18.8MPH. After graduation I was living in Brighton, MA with my brother - had no access to a pool, had no idea where to bike, and had the Charles to run along...plus days were pretty much taken. As you could imagine, that kinda took a chunk out of training. I was able to get some good days here and there - but only got one solid week until recently. With the clear idea that I had lost a lot in the pool and that I was loving cycling, the decision to take cycling head on seemed fair...and fun. Also, purchasing a tri bike was beyond a large reach - and I still didn't have a well-structured training program. What did I do?

So I took a massively down week. I mean MASSIVELY. For me, a day off was a rarity - last week had three (3!!) days off, and a total of 7.4 hours...in two days this week I have 7.0 - not including some core I'll do later on this evening. The down week let me relax and recover, before amping it up about 3 notches. I want to hit over 20 hours, peak 275 miles on the bike, get some running and core in, and enjoy every moment of it. I've started planning out what I need to do for workouts to make the time worth it, and - of extreme importance - maintain quality. More to come on actual training plan. This week is to feel it out, test out how I can use group rides as both recovery and workouts. Example for this week: Tuesday PVC = hard (first time this year, so 'nuff said about it being hard as hell). Thursday could be recovery if I try some intervals fun on Wednesday, otherwise will be steady, with a couple hard hills, and maybe some additional efforts if I feel good. Saturday PVC = ?, I would LOVE to get a really killer sprint in here...and I mean go for the 'win', which is beyond a reach but will be a lot of fun to make the effort at!

I just got a new drivetrain for my baby: chain, cassette, and front cogs...all thanks to the great people at CycleMania! Not only did the bike literally feel better than the day I got it, but my handlebar tape was cleaned up and retaped (without mention of it), Dave cleaned my front wheel hub because it was creaking, and I think (...but I can't verify) my front brake pads are new. These guys are great, and I'd hate if I ever find out that the geometry/fit of a Felt, Scott, Fuji, or any other bike they don't carry is optimal for me. Trek, Cervelo, Seven, or Cannondale.

If it weren't clear enough you'll be seeing more cycling in this thing - gonna try to get some running races in and a duathlon or three...and maybe a sprint tri if I grow a pair...

That's it for now. I hope to get back on track with more consistent posting! Feel free to nag me (if anyone is even listening out there) and I will be sure to get a post out. Could be about something other than swim/bike/run too...yes, I know, shocking but it's true.