Tour DAY

So, today ends our 3 weeks of bicycle racing. OK, our 3 weeks of TV watching. But it is still an accomplishment. Here we are.... Gina, the sprint champion, wearer of the green jersey. And your faithful blogger, King of the Mountains, proudly wearing polka dots.

The team manager had to make strategic changes to the game plan. We tried to wake up each day at 5:00am to watch, only to fall right back to sleep. So we decided to tape. Then we had a couple technical problems. No, not like David Millar's carbon fiber bike falling apart (twice) in the time trial. But twice we watched for 3 hours, only to miss out on the end of the stage cuz the dvr stopped taping before the end of the show. A QuikStep call to our sponsor, Comcast, and we solved that issue. merci.

We are proud of making the gran boucle. Starting in London, over to Belgium, then to France, over the Alps, down to Briancon (oui actually have been there), a fast trip to Saugatuck, MI, past Marseille, up into the Pryennes, then back up to Paris. I'm exhausted thinking about it.

So, today we took our own real bike ride of 30 miles to Seward Park and back.

Yesterday we had a mini, well, almost real sprint tri with Coach Lesley's group, here at Green Lake. It was fun. and also an eye opener... I have adjusted all expectations for this year's Danskin Tri. I do not think I will be anywhere near the podium. Last year was a fluke.

Or was I doping?

CHEEZeS

Well, I should have a full report on all the family fun in Michigan but we spent the day watching tapes of the days of Tour DAY France that we missed. All afternoon cheering on Rasmussen. Only to go to the computer to get final time differences (yes, we need those #'s to discuss at dinner) and as they say online "WTF" ? Or our personal favorite "cheezes" . So Rasmussen is out of the race, not for doping but for not being available to be tested in the off season, and lieing, lying, whatever... telling lies about his whereabouts. And my other fav. Vino out for blood doping. Some say it was his father's blood. He says no way, or else it would have tested pos. for vodka. a little humor whilst going down.

So, the Tour Day Farce will continue. Tomorrow we will just wake up tres early to watch live. Just to see what happens.

The news does leave two Team Discovery guys in 1st & 2nd place. for now........

Reunion time

We head to Saugatuck, Michigan for a Rinehart family reunion.

The above photo is my dad and his sisters.... The ones responsible for all the cousins that will be gathering. Doris, dad, Barb, Phyllis, and Helen (ok, so Helen claims no responsibility for any)

We fly to Chicago, and drive around. Probably will stop for a visit to one of the sand dune state parks along the way. Should be good for a run. and photos.

And because I know you care............... a Frenchman won today's stage of le Tour. (Cedric Vasseur) This news is bon bon bon for those folks over there. Another frenchie, Sandy Casar, took second... and boy was he not happy about that. Used some "excuse my french" terminology to describe his displeasure.

Gina and I will have to hope that the Best Western gets the Versus channel.. I'm guessing it does not so next best hope is that the Detroit Free Press has daily coverage of the race.

Old Dog, New Trix

So, encouraged by Annalise's new blog... (see MY new list of links to the right) I've taken a few moments to learn , ok, point and click, a couple new features on my blahg. Wait til I start adding the Question of the Day poll.

You see I still like the colors and scheme. Some ruts are too deep.

Tomorrow we ride to Cougar Mtn. and then run on the trails for a few miles. Coach Lesley (see links) will be driving this train. That's new lingo learned by listening to Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin on the Tour DAY France. Today's an off day. Them from racing us from watching. whew.

Here's hoping we don't see any cougars or bears or straying/lost/just out for a run - husbands.
For those of you non-local, that story is dude went for a run... never came home, wife sends out search & rescue news news news... 3 days later he returns, just fine.. oh, fell and was in a coma for all that time , but did not suffer hypothermia, dehydration, anything. I'm thinking the "frost" from his wife might be still affecting him. As the commenters in the papers said "What's her name?"

Chef Gigi is calling le salmon is ready, time to dine.

Friday the 13th

Nothing unlucky going on here.

This week we had a visit from Torian Thirdgill. The sweet little almost 4 year old son of Traci. I don't thing they've been here for 2 years, but Tory went right up to Gina to give her a hug. He is a gem. Chip off the old block.

Let's get some photos posted here.

And sorry to say to you old Husky fans, I don't have a shot of Traci. She was here, filling me in on life at the Parks Dept. Next time I 'll get her to pose. That should be easy.

Ichiro

Inside the park home run in the All Star game !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The even better news? It seems he will sign a 5 year extension to his contract with the Mariners, and not become a free agent and go running off to the hated Yankees or the not so hated Red Sox.

Milo's not dead....

Or maybe he was killed off so that he could get over to Europe in time to win the prologue time trial of le Tour. What !!? And omigod he wins Stage 3 in a long sprint finish today?? Talk about defending le maillot jaune.

Yes, Fabian Cancellara and Milo, the CTU agent, seem to be look alikes.

Ahh, "24" is still on my mind. Especially since one of my favorite bloggers, Martin Dugard, http://dugardsports.typepad.com/ who actually does live blogging from the tour day france, and is there and told us that they are practically twins. Martin is also a "24" fan. His blog postings give an interesting view of the tour. Mostly because he spends a lot of time describing the towns and sites as he drives everyday with the race. And he has some inside scoops.

What time of year is it ??

Tour day France time !!

I should have lots to say about this but my computer is having a rough week. Could it be that the guy that came to "fix" the printer/network problem did something? probably cuz the timing is correct. We love Kolt but fortunately he is returning on Monday to install the switch. And if he doesn't fix this 'speed' that my machine is having I may have to use the switch on him.

Anyway, it's making it a D R A G to use the computer.

And I've had a knee ache for a while now. I think I've got it figured out and thru an exercise and constant icing it might be getting better. Oh, and no running..... so you know I am cranky to the max. No running and a computer that is injured? What's a girl to do? Yes, I've gone swimming, and done yard work.

So, check back next week for all the biking stories you'll ever want. Maybe I'll even get a surreptitious photo of our local bikey-boy. Nut job in full bike gear.

Running in Paradise(s)

The Bender-Browns headed to Kona to run races. Of course, I think it was all a ploy to get to Hawaii. Denise ran her first (and she says last) half marathon. Traci and Annalise ran the 5K. I'll upload the photos from the race site, but I think they are tiny versions. Guess they want you to buy the size you can actually see.

This past weekend Gina ran the Shore Run in Seattle,(our running paradise) and it was a nice cool day. Perfect running temp's. (I pulled out with minor leg woes) She did great ! finishing in 7th place, in just under an hour for a 6.7 mile race.


And our race buddy Judy Fisher, the 60+ runner, went by with a nice wave.


Gina on the Madison Ave. downhill. She knows that little pack of runners is back there but no way they pass her. Me, I've just come out of Starbucks to snap the photos. Carmel frap, please.


Denise, in Kona, in the dark colored COTTON t-shirt. a runner NO-NO. Coach Lesley would just shake her head.... But, DB, you are awesome! Finishing that race in stellar time, 2:28. Wasn't that way more fun than playing soccer? come on, you can tell us. Kristine Lilly might still be kicking it around but you are diversifying your sporting experiences. I await the boogey board photos.


Traci Lyn Brown... we know you picked that baby blue shirt to match your eyes. Nicely done. Finishing on the even #'s.
And I know it was more than a 5K as you went to & from the car for phone and cameras. Get healthy and next year we are both running that half.


ABB.... I'm crying, I'm so proud of our Godchild, just for making it look like you had fun. What a good sport. Next time bring your drum and do cadence the whole way. Trust me, you will be the lead story on K-ONA channel 7.

My Big Island blog assistants cannot remember the race # of their buddy Cindy so I can't post photos... but we do know she kicked some butt running a 2:11 half mary. The real test of her endurance will be lasting the week in the condo with Traci and gang... Just kidding.

Good job all !

From our Oregon blog assistant that is not Joan

Randy managed to take this photo of Greta, Emily and Jr. with no "thumb prints". show off.

arrgghh, just shoot me

so, this picture might look like a thumb covering the lens but what it is REALLY is Ken Griffey, Jr. swinging and connecting on his first home run of the game. NO, REALLY.

I REALLY need to practice with this thing a bit. Yes, really.

ahh, the excellent photo quality of the phone camera. in case you can't guess , it's Junior coming to bat. We were there to see him get 2 homers, and wave goodbye to the crowd. He looked directly at Gina and me, I know he did.

JUNIOR's home again !

Ken Griffey, Jr. will be back in Seattle this weekend. And the town is all atwitter. (ok, the Mariner team is, in hopes it will help sell tickets) Gina and I will be there on Sunday and we gave our Saturday tix to someone who cares.

Some folks are holding a really long grudge about his departure (get over it), but for the most part I think people are excited to see him. He was THE REASON to go to M's games in the '90's. You just KNEW something exciting would happen with him in the game. Just don't ask Greta for her memories cuz inevitably she was in the rest room when that something exciting happened. It got to be where we would buy her beers and make subtle suggestions, just so she would have to GO ! we needed homers.

Here are a couple shots of mementos from those glory days. Gina can't believe I have the hat still, but it was part of the birthday package for Greta and myself, the April 1st that our names made it to the big screen. OH YEAH !!!!

The Jr. candy bar has been in our freezer(s) for years now. You never know. But you can tell it's been a while, look how skinny he is in the picture.

Some would say Griffey for President in '96 would be better than what we've been experiencing for the past 7 years . You can form your own opinion.

You might be wondering about the Bernie Kosar bar.... long story involving God knows how many bloody marys and Sunday mornings at the the Univ. Sports Bar and the Browns Backers....

The Joey Cora bar ?? well, he did cry in the dugout... and we did go to a Joey Cora gala event that he sponsored to raise funds for an AIDS organization.... but God knows where or why we got that candy bar.

And of course, don't we all keep some chocolat from Paris in our freezer? oui ! we do. but God knows how long those have been in there? Quel something or other?

And here are the items that are crucial.. Margaret's Citron vodka and the frozen water bottle to ice various body parts.

No, no frozen pot pies, or hamburger meat, or burritos, or pizzas, or popcicles, or leftovers, or.............. just un-edible chocolates, and un-drinkable fluids.

Failure

The grand plan of taking no med's for my undiagnosed allergies and breathing woes has been a colossal failure. I was so hoping that it was the mold under the old bedroom that was my problem and since the remodel took care of that issue I should be able to breathe easily.

NOT !!!

Below is a shot of just some of the kleenex's I went thru last night. Like a tenth of the total. The node wood dot stop running. Of course, we did do a swim at the pool that day. And on other days when the air has been blizzard-ing some sort of pollen (huge white fluffy things) I did not fair so well, either. The chlorine seems to have affected Gina, too, as she had her own dwindling box of tissues.




I had stopped taking my singulair cuz it seems to be a lungs type of med. and my biggest problem is my schnoz ola . I've been congested for 2 months now. On the worst nights I pop a sudafed, which works, but also keeps me awake. On the positive side, I think it really HELPS my running speed. Must be why it's on the banned list at the Olympics.

Last night was the final straw. I'm in to see the doc tomorrow and at least get some new prescriptions for whatever can solve the sinus issues ( tissues ? ) ( tissue ? I hardly know you ! ) I presume they'll want to send me back to the sinus doc who would love to do some sort of operation. Up his nose with a rubber hose !!

Meanwhile I sit around looking muy intelligente, breathing thru my mouth. I try to keep the drool to a minimum.

The Dogs are Tired

After 4 with Darcy, 5 with the coach and a swim, another swim, 5 at the track, and 14 (at or near 8:30 pace) my legs are officially tired from the week. So of course I hopped on the bed to watch Tiger, in hi def.

Tomorrow we're supposed to ride bikes for 30 miles, but the weather forecast isn't looking great so might re-think it.

We will need to put some miles in on the bikes, though, cuz we are participating in some gig at the gym. It's a Ride Across America thing, celebrating our buddy Cheryl Marek's record ride some 20 years ago. or something. Anyway, each team totals their weekly mileage and they sketch your route on the map. Gina and I are team ARMY. Plus one. That's right, Coach Lesley is on our team ! She is in Ironman training so she's putting 200+ miles/week in the saddle. Gotta have a ringer. Esp. to cover my lame butt.

Dad week

It's Father's Day and some special dads' birthday week so here are a few.


Blogger and her dad.
His b-day would have been yesterday....all my troubles seem so far...sorry, just the way the mind works.


Mr Bob B. my biggest fan ! Happy birthday TODAY !!


Traci's dad, Verl.... the drummer's grandad. Would have been his b-day today,too.


Daddio and daddio, junior a.k.a. Jim

Drum Roll, please

Well, I guess I should ask the person who the drum roll is for to give us a drum roll.... Congratulations are in order for Annalise. She tried out for tenor drums for next year and just got word, she's in! Yippee..... get some other sucka to haul those big bass drums around.

And for anyone who needs to know, the tenor drummers are the ones with 4 drums. The only bad news is that setup is heavier than the big bass drum. But ABB is tough and will do her gym workouts to prepare.

Of course as soon as my assistant blog photographer in California sends me the pic's, I will post them. ahem.

Back to the 13th inning, M's vs. Cubs.

Dippin

We got our first lake swim in this evening. Hold all applause.
We met Coach Lesley at the G.Lake beach. The water is fine.. just like Darcy and Lesley and Tai and Rock all said. ok, ok

I also did a "easy" 5 miles with Lesley this morning. and I use the term easy loosely. for her, maybe.

O sole mio

Here is our gym buddy, Rock, on his new toy.

A big time surfer, he usually does normal surfer paddling drills on the lake. (like there's anything normal about surfers) We'll look up from dinner and see some crazy dude way out on the lake, oh, it's just Rock.

But now he's got a new angle on it all. Standing and paddling

Toot Toot

OK, race season is on.............

The intrepid Val, aunt of Rookie of the Year Indy Car driver Phil Giebler, entered her first sprint triathlon of the year last weekend. With no time in the pool yet, a chain falling off in the BIG gear on an uphill, and her infamous bad heels limiting her run training.... well, "how'd you do?" The notoriously modest Val gives all the above excuses.... And of course, she was 1st in her age group. Congrats to her.

Last night was the Fremont 5k. And it does have a beer garden at the end so you know I was signed up. Gina, too. A 7pm start time does wreak havoc with our schedule/system/couch potato-ing but we try to go with the flow. At least it's in our neighborhood.

With a 7:05 pace at the first mile mark I thought oh oh.... actually I thought that the mile mark was short . I did slow a bit but remembered a recent article that said it's not such a bad idea to really go out hard on a 5K. I passed a couple people I really have no business passing, then when the last .2 was uphill I really had to keep pushing cuz I did not want those folks passing me back. Anyway, 22:34 was a great time for me.. Can't remember my 5k PR but it always seems my time is closer to 24:something so I was very happy.

Then I waited just a couple minutes for Gina to come along. and with a 25:50 time was very pleased with that 8:17 pace. What with her year long struggle with the feet (and recently renewed hamstring issue). Everybody was happy.

I found the beer garden YAHOO !! Heard my name called out as age group winner. Drained that recovery drink and we headed home for pizza. Life is good.

We got up and did 8.5 miles this morning and they felt great, so let's all get together and knock on some wood. Things (body parts) are going good.