Kindness of strangers!

Well, it has been a little while since my last post and i thought i'd just give you a few updates on how things are going. I guess the first update is the good and bad situations i'm having with support from others. As you will see, i am getting lots of support, but from unlikely places, and the support i thought i would be getting from familiar faces is not happening.
In my saga to try and get this bike together, i've been having many conversations with people (strangers and not) about my transition into paratriathlon, learning to race tandem, learning to ride the tandem bike (whenever it finally gets built) etc. What i am finding is, for the most part, the individuals who are complete strangers to me, either by facebook, my association with Team Blazeman, CDF (see below) or even a great guy out in Vancouver and fellow paratriathlete; these people are providing me with as much if not more support emotionally then my local circle of friends. DO NOT get me wrong, i have a handful of very understanding people around me who "get it", but many who do not, and are almost saying (without saying it) that i'm somehow faking or milking the system or whining and asking for things i don't need. What i've come to realize is that people will be people and that unfortunatley have a hard time putting themselves in the shoes of others. My wife's theory is that since they can't SEE my vision deteriorating, they just assume i've woke up one morning and said "you know what, racing by myself isn't fun, or i don't get enough special treatment, so i think i'm gonna quit that and go race as a para-athlete"... It sorta makes sense, i guess. What they DON"T see is the amount of stress i am under simply to go outside for a run and not step in a hole, or how i'm still dealing with a damaged back after a bike crash at 20mph last August, when i hit a monster crack in the road that anybody else would have saw a mile away--a crash that was my lucky escape from severe injury, and my realization that my days of independant riding was over. However i choose not to bore them with these stories, as they have busy lives....so onward we go.
Back to the original message in this post--support from strangers who have agreed to help me find sponsors, guide me through a race, give me information that is desperatly needed.

SO, i would like to use the rest of this article to thank the sponsors that i do have and hope that i can get many more like them.
The first is the C Different Foundation, which i am a member of. This is a group of blind and visually impaired triathletes who are close-knit and all strive to show the world that blind/visually impaired athletes aren't blind to what is around them, they just SEE the world a little DIFFERENT then everyone else; which isn't necessarily a bad thing, in fact it can lead to a more enhanced life. CDF has thus far provided me with much moral support, and information on what i need to obtain and do in order to race tandem. This info is very hard to get, and can only come from people with first hand experience. CDF are those people, that are fantastic support, and are also the ones who hooked me up with Griffen (bike compnay) to get a great deal on my new frame. Thanks CDF!

The second sponsor i would like to thank is a bit more of an "arm's length" group...they reside way out in California and have been so generious to provide me with $1000 in grant money to help with the large costs incurred this year. The Challenged Athletes Foundation is a foundation that provides financial support to athletes with all types of "challenges" in all types of sports. Some of the best para-athletes have been supported by the CAF in their racing, training, travelling, etc. Without CAF, many athletes would have NO chance to get out and compete, so support them, as they do great work! Thanks CAF!

This past week i received a third sponsorship from Rudy Project--these great folks gave me a 3 year sponsorship which entitles me to STEEP discounts on their sunglasses and helmets. Rudy makes some of the most technologically advanced eyewear for athletes out there, and at a fraction of the price of their competitors. As we speak i have a new helmet and kick butt pair of sunglasses on the way--i will share pics later. THANKS RUDY PROJECT!

A huge thanks to these three sponsors who have helped in this transition period and i look forward to representing them well.
Quick update on me---TROT TO THE BEACH 1/2 Marathon is this weekend, a beautiful and fun point to point 21.1km from Blenheim via backroads, trails, paths, to Erieau (for the folks reading in the C-K area). I've not been able to do this race in it's 6 year history i think...but i am pumped to give it a shot this year. Will keep you posted on that adventure! Anyone in the C-K area wanting to do it, come out this sunday to the Blenhiem arena and sign up.
AND-last but not least, you must keep saying "tandem bike, tandem bike...we keep hearing about this bike but have yet to see it ready to go or in action..." Well it is VERY close to being done, and by next weekend i hope to have the big green monster rolling through C-K.. I can't wait for the reactions!

Keep safe everyone, train hard and say a little prayer of thanks every time you step out the door for a workout, we are lucky folks who are fortune to get to do what we love.

Trot

Going Blind is Expensive! :(

As a note to the beginning of this message, I'm not whining, I'm just sighing loudly, with hints of anger, hints of frustration, and bits of pent up energy.
Last October, when I stood at the start of the Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, I knew it was my last hurrah as a sighted athlete, a solo triathlete, my final solo bike ride.. Needless to say my fairytale ending didn't...well...end in a fairytale!! However, I still made the decision and promise to begin my new life/career as a Paratriathlete (blind triathlete), and outwardly blind member of society; not that i was hiding it, i just wasn't doing a good job at informing people about it.
The loud sigh and sense of frustration you hear is the noise of all our (Mindy and I's) hard earned money disappearing into my Paratriathlon career. I often remind Mindy AND myself that, I'm not doing all this on purpose, I'm not trying to spend money, I'm not enjoying this....I would very much like to just keep all my stuff as is, get out and go racing. This is not to be, so i need to adjust and get on with the new chapter.
It is sad that all the things that I've loved and found function in, with regards to my solo career, many are now useless or need a good deal of tweaking. This all adds up as well. We're not talking 10's of thousands of dollars, but all and all we're talking close to 10 thousand dollars...which for us is a lot of money.
Oh c'mon, it can't be that much? Well not yet, but i can see it becoming that in a very short time. Here's a rundown of the money put out so far or needing to be put out shortly:

Tandem Bike --$5000
Car Rack--$850 (because the regular rack won't work for a tandem)
Bike Box--$400 ish (i own a regular bike box, but this won't hold a tandem.....)
Shipping--$300 a trip (i'm guessing, as i can't take the tandem on the plane, it now must go UPS)
Travel--$ whatever a plane ticket is worth (i'm not going to ask my guides to pay for themselves, not yet anyways)
Computrainer and Real Course Videos ---$2000 (becasue when others are outside riding, this is my method of enjoying the outdoors)
OK, so the last one was because I wanted it anyways, but the premise holds true though.

I find it funny that people think I'm buying all this just on a whim, but really looking at it... $9000 roughly has or will be spent within a year solely for the reason that I'm going blind.
BUT, remember this beginning of this note, I'm NOT whining... just stating fact that many don't really think about. The beauty of all this is the fact that I'm taking that frustration, pent up energy, card that I've been dealt, and I'm using the fire it's lit under my butt; to be productive, driven and highly motivated to get back on the scene in a big way.

So...what's my goal?
Attention all buisnesses great or small!
I'm offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity to get on board this fast moving train of positive energy.....C'mon, you know you want to!!
I've always wondered how people go about asking for assistance via sponsorship... and for the life of me I can't figure out how people get so good at selling themselves...
Point of the fact is, ya, I very much could use some local companies to get excited about me, about my energy and the positive impact I can make for the C-K area, but don't worry, I won't be knocking on your door....this is the best my plea gets...

C'MON!!! PLEAAAASEEEE, YOU KNOW YOU WANNA!!!

Hey, at least I tried!
How cool would it be if somebody(company) would send me to the World Championships, back to Ironman, to races big and small. I believe that all that is happening to me in life is for a very specific and positive purpose; I believe too often we look at the high priced athletes as our heroes or role models, when most of the time you simply need to look to your parent, friend, neighbour, or fellow citizen for the highest level of empowerment that money can't buy!

I hate Back Ordered Products!!

So a quick update from my world..
Spring is springing, and i'm getting over a week long bout of flu/food poisoning which my wife and I caught from Paris (we think).
Anyhow, i'm getting VERY antsy to get out, get riding, set a race goal, and get rolling. Part of me really wants to get out and get racing as a Paratriathlete, to make my mark and show the world how being blind is NOT bringing me down, it's pumping me up actually.

My tandem frame has been sitting in the bike shop for about a month, sitting, sitting, and more sitting, looking lonely and bored. We are waiting on various bike companies getting their product out to us... and being backordered for 3-4 weeks is killing me.

I'm getting more anxious and looking forward to choosing one or more of the following races:

New York City Tri-USA PC Championships (july)
ITU World Tri=Gold Coast Aus. (sept)
ITU World Du=North Carolina (sept)
Ironman 70.3 Augusta GA (sept)
Ironman 70.3 World Championships (nov) clearwater Florida


This year is supposed to NOT be about me racing, picking a large race to aim for, so i'm trying to do at least ONE of these races, and on the cheap.... SO, i'm trying to find ways to approach companies to help flip the bill...any suggestions? I am mostly teasing, as i really don't have anything to "offer" them as incentive... but man would it be nice to get some free plane tickets Down Under...ooooo baby would that be sweet..

oh well....it's just the racing itch getting to me.... i'm a VERY much goal oriented person, and i need a race to shoot for...so i can go work hard to get ready for it, and let it all fly...

time will tell, i'll keep you posted!!

check out a fellow CDifferent Team member and an AMAZING triathete
AARON SCHIEDES (www.cdifferentwithaaron.com) this kid can fly! he holds the world olympic distance record for a paratriathlete...

FAKER!!

Ok, so if i didn't laugh, i'd have to cry?

I find it really interesting, more on a humerous side, the reaction people have when told that I am buying and riding a tandem bike. Not random strangers (well some, but i don't mind them), but the individuals that know me, that know my visual impairment, and it's degenerative nature. I've gotten plenty of reaction for sure, a lot has been supportive, but the funny/sad ones are those that somehowe seem to think of me as dorky, or a faker(withou saying it directly).

They seem to think that becasue i could ride solo for the past 15 years, and that all of a sudden within 6 months after Kona i need to ride tandem; that i'm just being a baby or that i don't REALLY need to do it. HMMM, well, let me borrow the keys to your car then.....we'll get a little demonstration of exactly how much i'm being a "dork" or "faking".... My lower back doesn't seem to think i'm faking, it seems to think the bike crash i had last August due to me not seeing a crack in the road, going 20mph on my bike, flying through the air, slamming into the pavement; is a pretty real indicator that my vision has led me to this point.
I really don't get all that upset, but i do get frustrated, as it is paramount to calling me a liar, or a sissy. If anybody knows me, they know what calling me a sissy, or wuss, or wimp would mean to me....them's fightin' words:)

I have come to a realization in my life that things are going to get tougher, that in my disease, small losses are seen as big losses (when you lose 10 percent of 60 percent, you are not left with much)... I have come to realize too that people in my life who are used to seeing me do lots of things withou much hiccup, or troubles---as i've been able to cope pretty seamlessly---will get quite the shock. Shock? When i show up to a ride on a tandem, to a run or open water swim with a tether, to work, gym, social outing with POKEY (my cane)--will fill you in on that later. I know that i need not feel bad or embarassed, as i've not been hiding this from them; everyone around me knew my situation, but i think they didn't realize the extent of it. SO, i plug away, swallow a bit more of my pride, and whip out POKEY, my tether, my tandem, and i continue to do what i've always set out to do---Prove that anythign is possible with a positive mindset, look for the silver lining, use perspective, and be thankful for what i've got.
POKEY--In Paris i broke out the new cane that i got from the CNIB... I've always had a cane (since i was 17) but never used it, never saw the need to use it...however last year after Kona, i started to practice only a couple times, as social outtings with my other cane... I didn't really like the cane, the noise it made, the way it looked...it did make me feel dorky. Therefore i said to Mindy that if i'm going to "be blind'...then i'm going to try to do it as comfortably as possible... went out and got a new cane, that for cane's sake, is pretty coool.. It is collapsable like tent poles, white with some red on the bottom (as 99% of blind canes are)...has a rolling tip, and is mica pigmented, so it is a bit reflective. In Paris i figured i didn't know anybody, had not worries of embarassement, and used Pokey freely....to my wife's delight, i found it very comfortable and very very helpful (dammit she wins again).... so as with anything in my life, i had to give it a nickname (still up for debate)...you can chime in if you like...options so far:
Pokey
The Stick
The Rod
Jabby


If you have any thoughts/suggestion, i'm open for changing it:)

A couple Paris picks....Paris was fun, not the super most awesome place i've ever been, but lots of history and very pretty; just too many pushy people and food wasn't all that fantastic either...

But i had fun, my wife ws happy, a vacation is always nice, and gave me time to not think about triathlon/running etc...for a week at least.Mindy in Toronto airport--a pre flight snack:) She's thinking "put the F**ing camera down .."


The Eiffel tower isn't THAT big...what's all the fuss about?

Ryan Van Rocketship!

As per a nickname i was given a couple years ago at our local Triathlon as i led most of the 40k bike ride, only to fall 2nd in the event to a fast runnign friend...i neglect to tell people there were only like 15 people in the whole race...but hey, i was WINNING a race...i've never done that before:) hehe.
Anyhow, since i don't have pics yet, i'll keep this post short, but Ryan "Van Rocketship" 's new ride came in yesterday... a tandem frame/fork from Griffen... pre-build for a charity ride, i was at the whim of whatever colour it happened to be...but it is sweet looking..i'm happy with it..very styled out for sure..

Leaving tonight for a week in Paris with my wife, so leaving my local bike shop to buy and build the bike for me....will have pics when i get it built.

Hope to have some paris pics up when we get back..

train safe everyone!!
ps-my back still hurts, this sucks:( But i've decided that after my longest time away from swimming (6 months since Kona) i'm getting back at it when i get home from the trip:)

First paying gig...

Sorry if i've already mentioned this, but i thought i'd let you know that "moving forwad--Life & sport" got it's first paying gig last friday.
I was asked to speak at a local corporation regarding learn to run programs..... pretty cool, had a crowd of about 20 people at the lunch n' learn... lots of positive feedback..for sure...

First race of the season, Mindy's first 10k

Well it's been a little bit, but a couple exciting things are happenign currently...

1) I bought a frame/fork from Griffen...apparently they are going out of business, and they had a premade tandem frame that was used in a charity event.. The 8000 USD$ frame was sold to me for 1000 USD$ plus shipping.... so it should be on it's way to Smith's Cycle (our local, kick butt bike shop) soon...today i hope...

2) Myself, my cousin Brad, my wife Mindy and a good friend Jason, all went up to London on Sunday to take part in the Run for the Retina Research 10km. This event has been on for several years, but have never done it... so we all decided to go up...

Sparing much of the detail, Mindy ended up running a 1:02 for her first 10k...187/279 participants... she did awesome and is quite happy... i know a sub 1 hour is in her immediate future...

My cousin Brad did the 5k on an injured ankle, but survived...
It is funny,as i've run on these particular trails a million times while i was in university in London in 1998-2002, and last time i was on these trails was in 2002 during my first marathon. 7 years later, wow how things have changed.
I am very thankful that Jason was runnign with me, and helping me througbh te crowded and visually challenging conditions... He could easily have went sub 40 minutes, but chose to run with me...at a tortoiuse-like 45:13... seven years has changed my life a lot, and that day proved it...BUT i was still happy to run with him, and we had a great day..

20 and 21st out of 279 participants...so we had a great day... he of course let me cross the line first...or shall i say ROLL across the line.

Doing the Blazeman roll for ALS is easier to do in triathlon when you are coming in a bit more spread out..but in a runnign race you have to hit the ground rolling and get up quick...but i got it in.

Many people don't know or understand what it is, or represents...i've gotten lots of laughs and snickers, but i enjoy the opportunityt to tell people what it represents.

anyhow, that's what's new here...will let you know how the bike is comign along...am SUPER excited to get out...

Get used to hearing more about Jason as well...he is a superstar athlete, taking on his first Ironman this year (i'm coaching him through it--sorta)...and he'll do amazing...but he is the kinda guy that would completely give up his race to run with you....very very cool.. if he wasn't there on sunday, i'd have been at least 2 minutes slower...trying to avoid "groin highs!!" yup, the poles that mark entrances to paths or stores, that are just the happy groin height...yikes!!

will get some pics up soon..