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..

We Survived!!!

Saturday was a successful day on a few fronts...mainly the fact that Mindy and I survived, and are still talking to one another:) Looking into tandem bikes, we headed 2.5 hours away to the nearest Co-Motion tandem dealer, for a test ride, and to ask the experts all the burning questions I had.
This particular dealer was a nice couple that had been riding and selling Co-Motion tandems for many years, and at one point were wheel builders for Cervelo (my retired solo ride). Co-Mo has a few choices for us int he bike department, in regards to looking great, but most of all, going fast!! The unique issue is that i am taller then the usual stoker, and Mindy and the rest of my captains are a wide ranging size. The dealers informed us that there is no real issue with the sizing, and worst case sceneria is an extra 450$ for a custom frame size. Tack that onto a 10 thousand dollar bike, and it isn't a big deal.
Off to the test rides!! First honours were myself and the gentleman going around the block on the tandem... and i'm very happy to say that i felt very comfortable. All those years of emergency riding, and accidence avoidance bike handling, has given me a fairly exceptional feel for the bike and how they move and react. Next up was Mindy and the wife...I made sure Mindy went on the back; after all she needed to knwo what it was like from my point of view. She came back with a new repsect of trust and how giving up a lot of control can feel. Now it was her turn to drive...hmmm, lets just say i am very happy she didn't dump their very expensive bikes... It was a wobbly and very nervous start, but she soon got the hang of it....and after a trip around the block by herself, she got an even better feel for the bike. NOW, let's put it all together...Mindy and i set out for a ride...
Let's just say communication is HUGE on tandems, and I think it comforted Mindy when i helped talk her through a few things..... another wobbly start, and we were off.
The funny things about tandems is that you can put as much or as little effort into the pedals as you'd like...when Mindy told me to stop "pushing", i had to show her that i wasn't, and what it was like when i DID push... All and all, a very good but short day on the bike.
Mindy walked away with a new respect for my world, a healthy respect for the tandem, and the fact that it is harder then it looks; in her defense though, the handlebars were definatley not set to suit her, which absolutely affected her control. Get some base bars and aero bars on there and she's rockin'. I walked away with a couple things:
1) I am very happy at how natural i feel on a tandem(hmm, it's like my body was preparing for this day?)
2) I know that teaching my captains how to pilot the bike properly is paramount, for OUR safety
3) I was VERY excited at the fact that when Mindy went lower on the handlebars, i could see over her head...gave me a bit of the feeling of riding my own bike again.
I think since it has only been 6 months since my last solo ride, my body isn't shocked or amazed at the feeling of being out on a bike...it is just going to learn that it gets less control over the situation.

NOW, waiting this week or next for the grant to come through, fingers crossed!!!

Why we fight..

Please check out our Stubborn Buffalo Event Series Blog.... http://stubbornbuffaloevents.blogspot.com

This blog is maintained by my sister (Addie White, a memeber of the commitee putting these events on).

I started directing these events a couple years ago, and now the family is all tackling this with increased vigor... below is a picture on the blog...this is why we fight... go read the blurb she has written. If you can look at this picture, read the blurb, and walk away without feeling a bit more grateful for your "everyday"....then you aren't human:)

Remember, our bad days really aren't BAD days in comparison to those with ALS...

New Gig

Well some neat news on my front...two items actually..

1--Our local online newspaper, which is an up and comer, has asked me to ba volunteer columnist. I will write pretty much the same stuff that I write on my blog; stories of me, triathlon, blind guy getting around in this crazy world, goals, dreams, inspiration, information and some fun.

it will be called ENDURANCE JUNKIE and featured weekly on http://ckdp.ca This stands for the Chatham Kent Daily Post. It is meant to give all the relevant news stories, plus some more local flavour and insight then you'd get with the normal hardcopy news. I have no idea where this adventure will take me, and have had no previous desires to write a column, but figured i have nothing to lose really. Pretty much only things to gain. Look for it, enjoy it; the column is a mix of actual Blog posts and freshly thought out articles

2---I received a call today to set an an interview for a nice new job I applied for. I love my hospital job, in the sense that it pays the bills, and i get to help people.....however this job will hopefully pay even more bills, be a lot closer to the public education/motivation/inspiration/coaching/teaching aspect of things. If i get the job, you'll hear more about it, but for now, let's just keep our fingers crossed for the interview to go well.

Anyhow, that's all for now...
Oh ya, forgot one more thing.....i don't know bout you. but I'm an animal lover, however they often do things that really gross me out..or i find super strange...

take a look at this picture of our cat Marbles.... man he's a weirdo!!



Does he not know what we do in that thing???!!!

That's it for now...check out http://ckdp.ca and hopefully we can keep this thing going...i think it is a great local resource.