Another Sprint - Small Hotel Room- Heat- Wind- Humidity, 2nd in Age Group.

 

Kona Eastside Triathlon

 

May 23, 2010

Baytown, Texas

 

600 Meter Swim-16 Mile Bike-4 Mile Run

 

There wasn't a host hotel so stayed at a hotel as close as possible to the race site-about 5-10 miles away. In all the times I have stayed someplace, this was the smallest room I have ever had. In fact, we stumbled over a chair just getting in the door. It wasn't that the room had too much furniture. Any furniture at all would have been too much for this walk-in closet. We put the chair in the cubbyhole that was supposed to be the closet. I had to put my bike and travel bag by the front door because there was no room anywhere else. At least if anyone were to break into our room, they would become entangled in my bike and gear and probably hurt themselves badly. The bed made me itch for some reason and the air conditioning had only one temperature: frigid. You could hang beef in that room the next morning it was so cold. The door to the bathroom was a sliding door without a track. That is, if you wanted privacy in the bath, you had to pick up the door a little and muscle it to the almost closed position. We didn't get a lot of sleep.

The next morning the wind was blowing strong already when we left for the race site. It all went easy getting set up and ready. When it came my time to swim, I was ready to go. It was a small lake, so the waves were not an issue. However, the swim support folks in the boats seemed confused as to what they were supposed to be doing. They seemed to be everywhere but where they were needed.

Transition went well, but when out on the bike (8 miles out-8 miles back), that wind was right in my face. It made for a little higher degree of difficulty than I had hoped for. However, I had been training in a lot of wind lately. I had thought that was awful, but now I could see it had been a blessing in disguise. I did well in the wind, and at the turnaround, I cut loose. At one point, I was coasting at 25 mph on a flat course.

The run was a different matter. It was hot by then, and the course was 2 miles out and 2 back on the feeder to I-10. The pavement seemed hot, and the air was humid and stifling. At least there was the wind. Being a Half Ironman hopeful in Oct this year, I tried out my half ironman running plan of walking the aid stations. This worked

 

better than I expected. I was pretty well beat when I finally got into the winding finishers chute and could tell I would need lots of work before I could seriously think I could finish a half ironman.

 

 

I did manage a 2nd place in my old age, age group. Not many in our age group and the ones that came out today must have found it too hot and humid and asked to be driven back to their nursing homes.

 

Another Sprint- "Mister You Rock," and "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be You."

 

CB & I Triathlon

May 1, 2010

Woodlands, Texas 

500-meter swim-15-mile bike–5K run.

It all seemed like I was not supposed to do the CB & I triathlon this past Saturday. Friday, it looked like we were going to have race-day thunderstorms. Then, in doing a final bike check, I find a sizeable slash on my back tire. I hate to do events on untried tire changes, so I did a quick road check Friday.

It was raining when I dropped my bike off late Friday at the transition area. This did not bode well.

The next morning though, it was just steamy; no rain. The swim went OK, though I took a shot on the jawbone from someone's elbow. The bike was just marvelous as it always is for me at this event. I held the tempo and finished in about the time I did three years ago on the same course. The run told the tale of my decreased fitness. Though it was not too much different than my other run times, it was worse than other times on this course. The main difference was the extent of determination and effort it took to just do average. Clearly, my overall fitness is not where it needs to be.

 

However, in that last mile, several runners, seeing my age of 67 on the back of my calf, congratulated me as they passed. One young lady passed and said, "67? Mister, you rock." Another told me, "When I grow up, I want to be you." The bottom line was, though, they were passing me as lots of folks were.

It was great at the finish with my family, my grandchildren along the sides cheering me on taking pictures. What a day that I am glad I have lived to experience and appreciate.

 

 

 

Not Yet

   

I watched a video of the start of a triathlon I have done.  Homesick. That's the feeling watching folks jump off into the water and swim toward the first buoy.   Wishes got heavy.  A sort of damp resignation just came in on me like some kind of happy killer fog.  

Everything seems to say it is time to let all that active stuff go and move on to tamer pursuits.  My age says that, and my  cancer diagnosis says it is that time, but my spirit says, "not yet."   Not yet; I have so much trouble getting past  the "not yet."  It haunts me like a ghost.

So, I just go on hanging on to memories and saying maybe one day.  I bet most people my age and with my diagnosis say something like that to avoid saying "I give up."  And I wonder which is true.  Is it "I give up," and resolve to face the circumstances head-on, or is it "not yet" and determine to defy the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune to find myself one day about to jump into the water and swim to that first buoy and all beyond.  Tell me God.

How Am I Doing With Multiple Myeloma?

 

I said no more daily reports.  But here is an update on my treatment as I enter month 9 of 12.  The oncologist says I am doing great. Thank God for taking me this far, thus far. Amen

Health,   Supplements,  and Medication

 Marvin Dittfurth

 

GENERAL HEALTH

Most days, I feel good and can almost do what I used to do before all this.  I have no pain except self-induced from doing too much physical work or exercise. Have not taken any pain meds (even over the counter) since the start of treatment.  I have not had a fever. Bowels are good, leaning more to the constipation side, but generally prunes and almonds are good enough. 

There have been bouts of energy drops, but none in the last few weeks.  They had been diminishing in intensity and duration as I learned to adapt to treatment.  I scale the length and intensity of exercise and outside work, with treatment.  Going from less to more exercise from treatment and adding on as the week progresses.  

No bladder issues that I  know of. I drink a lot of water.  Blood pressure (at home) has been from 147/74 down to 112/68 this year. I do an average of about 10 hours a week of exercise.  (walking, indoor bike, weights, and stair climbing, plus outside working.

Supplements:                                                                                                  Daily

B-12                                                                                       Handful of roasted almonds

Zinc                                                                                       Handful pumpkin seeds

Magnesium                                                                            3-4 prunes

Omega-3                                                                                Sunflower seeds

D-3

Calcium Gummies (3

Medication:

Lenalidomide   14 days on 14 days off-  (Side effects: ankle swelling, which goes away with massage, raised feet, or sleeping overnight.)

Dexamethone (steroids)  ( very sleepy at first, then wired, shaky inside sometimes, restless sleep,   temptation to do too much)

Velcade (no noticeable side effects)

Darsalex    (some shortness of breath and congestion were noticed in the first few days after treatment, but none were noticed during the last treatment

Zometa (bone builder)  (no noticeable side effects)

 

Pepcid, fluid medication, and potassium

Montelukast (asthma)

Warfarin      (blood thinner)

Viral Medication

                             Temp   HR     Ox                                             BP                                                                      

Mon Jue 22	97.2	54	98	Treatment Darsalex, steroid, Velcade	126/69 home		213.8	At Induction

 

Tues June 23	97.3	55	97		136/68/53 am
Wed June 24	97.3	53	98	83 AM Glucose	125/69/39AM		217
Thur June 25	97.2	38	99		127/66/43am		216.8
Fri June 26	97.2	43	99	92 AM Glucose	127/63/41AM
Sat June 27	97.2	43	98		130/70/46am
Sun June 28	97.2	40	98		125/65/44 am		212.8

 

A Triathlon Just a Few Weeks After Rotator Cuff Surgery

 

Athens Triathlon

March 6, 2010

Athens, Texas

 

300 yd swim-14-mile bike-5k run

 

It had been 16 days since the doctor released me following rotator cuff surgery. My goal was to just get through this to see where I was at. It would be my 5th to have done this event so that lent some familiarity to the experience for testing my shoulder and level of fitness.

Seeding myself about 2 1/2 minutes slower in the swim seemed like the right thing to do considering my recent rotator cuff surgery, but I soon found that wrong.  I was in more danger with the shoulder from all the close encounters experienced with all those flaying about, having problems with the swim.

 

WARMING UP

 

 

All in all, my swim time was about what it had been in the past.

The bike was typical for me; start slow and build. A young man racked next to me in transition had followed my feet for the entire swim. Now he and I were on the road together, but he was pulling away. As I began to build my friend started coming back to me and I passed. I thought he was put away for good, having started too fast but on a hill later in the course, he passed. I yelled encouragement to him for his comeback.

A mile or two down the road he started coming back to me and as I started to pass, I asked him if he was going to let an old man like me pass him? Come on with it., son.   Less than 1/2 a mile and he passed me again and I encouraged him for it.

We were in transition together and both remarked about the fun we had had on the bike. I told him I was sorry, but I was almost sure he was a better runner, so the fun is all over between us. Sure enough, that is the way it went. My total running mileage for the year was only a little over twenty miles and I did not know what was in the legs after that bike leg. But I ran surprisingly well and never stopped. My overall time was not great but not all that bad either.

There were five of us in the 65-69 age group so when the third place was called and my name was not, I knew that I was out of the picture for a trophy - nice trophies too.  Number two in my age group was called and I clapped for him. Then, to my surprise, I heard my name announced as first place in my age group.

 

 

Almost in a daze, I walked through the crowd, shook hands, and picked up my trophy. In all of my 31 triathlons at that point, I have never finished first in my age group.  Now, coming back from surgery, wondering how able I was to even do this, I had finally claimed this prize. Maybe this time I was humble enough in this endeavor to be exalted.

 

 

 

 

After rotator cuff surgery only weeks before, praise God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, What a Memory - Ironman Texas

  

 

 

When routine and predictability seem overcoming, stifling, and slow, I find my photos and revisit, and smile contentedly with the awareness that "I was there."  I  lined up with some of the best athletes in the world and took myself from can to can't in a beautiful struggle.  I am blessed.

IRONMAN TEXAS

A Day Unlike Any Other Day by Marvin Dittfurth

https://booklocker.com/books/12152.html

Other Good Moments at Burnett- Feels Like Coming Home

 

Burnet Tri Hard

September 20, 2009

Burnet, Texas

 

800 Meter Swim-16 Mile Bike-5K Run

 

Back to the beginning.  This is not the most organized event, but it has a laid-back feel to it that seems to override the lack of bells and whistles.  Besides, it had been my first and it always feels like coming home when I do this one.  That being said, the event usually has all kinds of glitches, which I have now learned to smile and say are “Burnet moments.” 

 

The swim buoys looked a long way off for an 800-meter swim.  Based on my times and the times of the swims of other competitors, the swim course was much more than 800 meters.  An old friend of mine helped get the safety monitors on the course get their kayaks out onto the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Me and my Pat post-event.