2013 Utah Half Race Report: There Will Be Blood

08.26.2013 | 12:49 pm

Prologue

This story has its beginnings just over three weeks ago. The Swimmer — whom many of you will remember from The Turkey Tri and last year’s Utah Half Race Report – had accompanied a friend on a long training run. A thirteen mile training run. And in spite of the fact that she had not been doing anything longer than short runs up to that point, she had finished it just fine.

And so she had an idea.

The Swimmer called The Hammer and asked, in a concerned voice, “Do you think Elden will feel bad if, instead of doing the Utah Half as part of a relay, I do it on my own?”

I thought about it. Would I be intrigued at the thought of her doing an endurance race when she had essentially no training in the two longest parts of a three-part race? I sure would. Would I be amazed at her tenacity if she could pull it off? I sure would.

Would I feel bad? No way.

And as for The Hammer, she was overjoyed at not having to do the run. With all the emphasis she’s had to put on bike racing this summer, she hasn’t been running much at all, and was not looking forward to racing a half-marathon.

“But before we sign you up,” The Hammer said, “Let’s see how you feel after going on a 50-mile bike ride, followed by a six-mile run.”

The Training

You see, up to this point, The Swimmer had never been on a bike ride of longer than 20 miles. But she was happy to give it a try.

And she did awesome. By the time she finished the fifty miles she was pretty cooked, but she did it. And then she did a six mile run-walk with The Hammer.

“OK, it looks like this is for real,” we said, and we signed her up. 

That, by the way, was pretty much the end of her training. She did another 30-mile ride, and a couple short runs, but three weeks doesn’t give you a ton of time to build up your endurance base.

The Dream Team

Meanwhile, I had an idea. 

“You have a friend who’s a really fast swimmer,” I said, “and another who’s a wicked-fast runner. All of you are in your forties. Why don’t the three of you put together an all-women, 40+ relay team that will almost certainly take the overall relay division, including beating all the men’s teams?”

The Hammer liked that idea, but her friends had other stuff going on that weekend already. Plus she was really excited to support and watch The Swimmer in her race.

“OK,” I said. “Do you mind if I get together a couple of guys and field a relay team?”

Nope, she didn’t mind.

So I called my friend Bry — who has qualified for and raced the Kona Ironman — and asked him if he’d like to go for a little swim. He was in.

“And do you have any ideas for a fast guy for a run?” I asked.

“There’s a kid — Vic Johnson — who works for me. He can pull consistent six-minute miles for the whole run.”

I started laughing. And laughing. I couldn’t help it. 

“Since two of us (Bry and me) average out to about 50 years old, and the other of us (Vic) is a college kid, let’s call ourselves ‘Two and a Half Grumpy Old Men,’” I said.

We had our team.

IMG 7147
Left to right: Bry, Vic, Fatty, the morning before the race.

The Swim

We got to the Utah Lake marina — from which all three legs of the race would start — at about 6:30. We formed a very carefully-thought-out team strategy: Everyone go at their absolute, utter limit. We knew that if we each had an incredible day, we had a shot at finishing in under four hours. 

Meanwhile, The Hammer was having a blast, fussing over and prepping The Swimmer for her race. 

Here, The Hammer is making sure every square inch of The Swimmer’s skin is covered in BodyGlide.

IMG 7143

IMG 7145

IMG 7141

As you can see, The Swimmer was really enjoying herself.

Then she was ready to go:

IMG 7150

The waves for the beginning of the swim started. Since The Swimmer was a woman under the age of 34, though, she had a twelve minute wait before she took off.

Then we had another four minute wait ’til Bry went — relays were the final wave to leave before the non-competitive wetsuit wave left.

Which meant that my team didn’t start until sixteen minutes after the pros and elites. Which suited me just fine, because that meant I was almost guaranteed to not run out of carrots.

After Bry’s wave started, I found an outhouse, pooped, and changed into my riding clothes, then hung around in the transition area near my seventeen year old boy, who had gotten up early to come to the race and provide moral support to both The Swimmer and me.

IMG 7144

He loves being photographed. Obviously.

If there was ever any question about whether 2.5 Grumpy Old Men was taking this race seriously, it ended as Bry came charging out of the water at an absolute dead sprint.

IMG 7171

Bry had just done the 1.4-mile swim (longer than the 1.2 it was supposed to be) in 34:24 — making him the fourth-fastest swimmer overall in the race; the only three people who were faster than Bry were all men in the Pro / Elite category.

Our secret plan — of winning not just the relay category, but of having the fastest overall time of the day — was looking downright possible.

Bry sprinted the entirety of the longish run back to the transition area, then stopped, doubled over, while Vic moved the timing chip from Bry’s ankle over to mine. 

Looking at me — and I’m incredibly grateful there are no pictures of me here — you could see that I was absolutely happy to sacrifice personal dignity for speed. I had my Shiv set up with water in the in-frame fuelselage (no water bottles to give me increased drag), a skinsuit and time trial helmet on, and my legs and arms — yes, arms — freshly shaven.

But we’ll get back to me in a minute.

Just a few minutes after Bry came charging in, The Swimmer came running in, having just given a serious demonstration as to how she got her nickname: This seventeen-year-old girl had just clocked the fourth-fastest time in the swim of any woman in the race. Yes, including all women in the Pro / Elite category.

IMG 7176

The Swimmer made a quick transition and headed out on what would be the longest ride of her life (remember, she had only ridden 50 miles once before, and this is a 56-mile course).

The Ride

In 2012, I had done this ride in 2:19:47. This year, I hoped to do considerably better.

And so I kept in mind how hard Bry had gone, taking this race seriously. And I kept my effort right on the threshold of blowing up. I know where that point is; I can feel it happening when it starts. And I’ve learned how to back off just enough that I don’t crack, then hold that speed for a few seconds, and then start ramping up again.

And I started passing people. 

I’d see someone, and I’d reel them in, and then I’d be past them. Sometimes I’d say, “Hey.” Mostly not though. I just wanted to attack, catch, and demolish anyone I could see.

I didn’t think in words very often. But I do remember thinking to myself, “This is what bloodlust must feel like.” 

I was hurting so bad, but I wanted it to hurt even more. I hated it and loved it.

A full-on total-effort TT is a beautiful, purifying experience. (Or at least, that’s how I remember it now.)

Before I got even halfway to the turnaround of this out-and-back course, I had stopped seeing people in front of me very often. 

Then I saw the first racer come by me in the opposite direction. I started counting as I got to the turnaround point. 

I got to twelve, which dropped to ten within a minute of the turnaround. 

And then nine, and then eight.

With twenty-two miles left to go, I was in a non-adjusted ninth place. And I knew that every single one of those eight people ahead of me had at least a ten-minute head start on me. 

I looked up and saw The Swimmer. I got a huge smile, feeling so happy that she was doing so well. She was almost to the turnaround.

I caught one more. I had moved us to what was — worst-case scenario — eighth place. 

I focused on the road, watching it carefully. The road was in terrible condition, with lots of gravel, serious cracks and potholes, and numerous tight corners, many of which were in bad condition.

“This road is going to end someone’s race in a really bad way,” I thought. And I could see I was at least partially right already — I lost count of how many people I had seen on the side of the road, working on flats.

Then I saw something I’m still trying to work out. I saw a racer coming in the opposite direction of me. Just before I got to him, he flipped a U-turn and continued in the direction I was riding. Was he giving up? Cutting off a third of the course and cheating? Not even in the race?

I had no idea. I passed him, failing to read his number, and kept going.

I didn’t see another rider in the final fifteen miles of the ride course. It was just me and the course marshals and the road markings.

I am very pleased to say, by the way, that I did not make a single wrong turn this year. So, yay me!

I rolled into the marina, where I was blocked by a car — stopped — in the middle of the race course. Luckily, there was another road lane open, so I managed to swerve around the car, heard — but didn’t see — The Hammer cheering for me, and then I was in the transition area.

Vic swapped the timing chip anklet onto his ankle, and was gone at what would be a sprint for me, but what for him was his normal running pace.

I had just done my ride in 2:07:28, which means I had averaged 25.1mph for 53.3 miles (which is a few miles too short to be an actual half-iron distance race, but whatever). Eventually, we’d find out that only one person had been faster on the bike that day: Rory Duckworth, with a blisteringly fast time of 2:03:14 — on average, a whole mile per hour faster than me. 

Wow.

Endings, Some Happier Than Others

As I walked my bike back to my truck, where I’d change and then go cheer on Vic as he ran by at impossible speeds, The Hammer had some bad news for me.

“The Swimmer just called,” she said. “She’s crashed.”

I immediately thought of all the gravel and potholes and bad road and corners and the fact that The Swimmer has ridden a road bike around five times in her life.

Evidently, The Swimmer had hit a pothole, lost control, and gone down hard on her left side.

“The handlebar is broken and I’m really scraped up,” she said (which makes two handlebars she’s broken in four months, versus the zero I’ve broken in twenty years).

IMG 7205

Yup, that’s broken (but The Hammer didn’t realize it was this broken during the call).

“But I still want to finish the race,” The Swimmer said, and the conversation ended there. The Hammer went to wait for The Swimmer at the transition area, and I went to cheer for Vic.

Vic flew by in moments, overtaking people by the dozens.

“I’ll see you at the finish line!” I shouted, and then walked back to the transition area to hang around with The Hammer and wait for The Swimmer to get there and see if she was well enough to finish her race.

But she was already back. The policeman and medic who had been close by when The Swimmer crashed had agreed: her bike was not safe to ride (I agree completely). Also, judging from the state of her helmet, The Swimmer had taken a good hard hit on the head.

And so they had given her a ride back. It doesn’t matter how tough you are (and The Swimmer is clearly just like her mom, toughness-wise); if the officials say you’re out…well, you’re out.

So everyone headed home, leaving me to stick around to watch Vic come in.

I didn’t have to wait long.

Only three people had crossed the line when Vic came charging in, running what I would have called way too fast for him to have just done a marathon. I joined him, thinking we’d cross the line together. 

But I couldn’t hang. Nope, not even for fifty feet. By the time he crossed the finish line, Vic was twenty feet ahead of me.

His split was 1:18:54, making him the second-fastest runner of the day. The only person to outrun Vic was BJ Christensen, the overall winner of the individual event. And that was only by 38 seconds.

More importantly, Team 2.5 Grumpy Old Men had just completed this race in 4:01, making us the fastest time not just of the relay division, but of the entire race. With six minutes to spare.

IMG 7186
Here we are with the third-place team, Team Darkhorse. Bry had to get home to other stuff, and the second place team didn’t stick around for the awards ceremony.

Not bad. Not bad at all

Back Home

With the race and awards ceremony out of the way, I came home to see how bad The Swimmer looked.

IMG 7188

Ow. That looks bad. 

And she’s got road rash pretty much all up and down her left arm, hip, and leg, along with cuts and bruising on the inside of her right leg, from being still clipped in when she went down.

And a very sore neck.

And a concussion.

And so I asked her, not waiting for the memory of the fall to fade, because that’s not my way, “Are you going to try again next year?”

“Of course I am,” she replied.

Which is exactly what I hoped she’d say. 

48 Comments

  1. Comment by Darren | 08.26.2013 | 1:17 pm

    Way to go Swimmer!!! Yes I mentioned her first, because of her attitude!! I have just signed up to do my first triathlon in less than a month. Granted it is only a sprint distance event, but for this forty something overly fat cyclist it will be quite the accomplishment. And way to go to you Fatty! You are an inspiration to me in both your athleticism and your humanity!!

  2. Comment by ScottR | 08.26.2013 | 1:21 pm

    Best wishes to the swimmer for quick healing – and hope the tri bug sticks with her, in your family it seems that she would get some fantastic opportunities.

    Regarding the guys, sounds like a very fun way to put together a relay team.

  3. Comment by Wife#1 | 08.26.2013 | 1:24 pm

    Okay the swimmer is new new hero! You are one awesome woman! What an effort and such a great attitude.

    Otherwise… I am still stuck on this line of yours Fatty… can’t get past it….

    “I had averaged 25.1mph for 53.3 miles”

    WOW!

  4. Comment by NYCCarlos | 08.26.2013 | 1:32 pm

    1) you’re ridiculous… 25mph for 50+mi
    2) the swimmer is an absolute champ.

  5. Comment by Daddy style | 08.26.2013 | 1:38 pm

    Well done all.

  6. Comment by Jeremy | 08.26.2013 | 1:40 pm

    Atta, girl! Failure is just motivation that lasts for an entire year, eating at your soul until you crush it into oblivion next time.

  7. Comment by JRGdeCT | 08.26.2013 | 1:44 pm

    Poor Swimmer, but great attitude. Fatty- Get her some Tegaderm. You can buy big sheets of it at the pharmacy. Best stuff around for road rash. Will stop everything from sticking to it and help it air out and heal.

  8. Comment by DrBryce | 08.26.2013 | 2:02 pm

    You’ve got some seriously tough ladies on your hands!

  9. Comment by jweb | 08.26.2013 | 2:07 pm

    +1 on the Tegaderm… that stuff was a lifesaver for me when I took a hard fall a couple of years ago.

  10. Comment by Jeff Bike | 08.26.2013 | 2:08 pm

    OMG! Your whole family rocks! Nice to see your boy hanging out and supporting the family adventures…

  11. Comment by rich | 08.26.2013 | 2:16 pm

    Wow….very impressive on the Swimmer’s part and awesome performance on your part Fatty….and like others have said, Tegaderm is the best. Hope she heals up quickly!
    I went 25 mph once….downhill….with a tailwind…

  12. Comment by Flyin' Ute | 08.26.2013 | 2:35 pm

    Good work guys!

    Bry, I didn’t know you could swim so fast! You are the man!

  13. Comment by Tiffany R | 08.26.2013 | 2:35 pm

    I was eating lunch while I read this race report(luckily I’m not too squeamish)The Swimmer is, without a doubt, absolutely badass!

  14. Comment by Wife#1 | 08.26.2013 | 2:39 pm

    @rich… LIKE! “I went 25 mph once….downhill….with a tailwind…”

  15. Comment by Heidi | 08.26.2013 | 2:40 pm

    What a report! I was on the edge of my seat reading it, emitting an occasional “WOW!!” now and again. Congratulations on your fantastic times, and best wishes to the Swimmer for speedy healing.

  16. Comment by cyclingjimbo | 08.26.2013 | 2:48 pm

    The Swimmer ROCKS! She clearly comes from good stock, and she indeed is our new hero, as @Wife#1 points out. What a great attitude! We’ll be hearing more about her, I am sure – and we are all sending good thoughts her way for speedy healing.

    Congrats to the 2.5 Grumpy Old Men in churning up the course the way you did. 25+ mph for 53 miles is an awesome pace. Sounds like the Tri version of the Dream team.

  17. Comment by MattC | 08.26.2013 | 2:48 pm

    Now THAT’S a broken handlebar! Kudos for Swimmer wanting to finish after the crash..that’s why they have medic’s on the course…somebody who knows things to make the big decisions that the athletes themselves won’t make. Heal fast Swimmer! As has been said, you are one badass lady (much like your mom)!

    And Fatty…what can I say…25mph for over 50 miles blows my mind. You guys beat ALL the PRO teams. No more needs to be said, other than Congrats to you all!(oh, and WELCOME BACK! We had to amuse ourselves last week…or more accuratly, I mean David had to amuse us).

  18. Comment by ClydeinKS | 08.26.2013 | 3:17 pm

    The Swimmer, also known sometimes as The Warrior, I can guess that she argued with the officials before accepting the stoppage? Either way – incredible swim!!
    Fatty (and team) great job on the relay! Pretty flat course overall? What was your peak mph? I can’t imagine sustaining that pace for that long!!

    This race is advertised as “the fastest half in the west” because they’ve somehow managed to come up with a relatively flat bike route and run route, even here in the mountains. The bike route has only 420 feet of climbing, which is as close to flat as you can get around here. My top speed was 33.6mph. Which probably would have been dropping down a short descent a few miles after the turnaround point. – FC

  19. Comment by Davidh-Marin,ca | 08.26.2013 | 3:21 pm

    First and foremost I have to comment on the topic. (MattC I’ll get to you later)

    @Wife#1 nails it! The Swimmer is our new HERO!

    Fatty’s exploits and accomplishments have become so consistent to become almost pedestrian by comparison. Our #1 Daughter took a pretty nasty road rash spill on the way to school last year, and us not being the habitted Nightengale The Hammer is… Oh! …no habits anymore. I date myself. Anyway there was no way she was going to let US treat that wound. Can’t wait for Team Twin(s) to enter the game..tandem effort in a Fatty Family Relay?

    As for Team Two and Half Tall Men hats off to you guys! That’s one awesome effort. Hope there will be pictures to share.

    Now, MattC. I’m not going to go back and count, but I believe the majority of ‘entertainment’ last week was between you and Wife#1. She’s still talking about your brother bringing a razor along on a bike ride. Me, I’m fascinated by the snake bite(wasp sting) suction cup kit you pack.

    I hope when we get together as a group again the FoF kids allover will consider joining us. I know I would love to introduce them all to each other because they are the future of this great Fatty Family…… Bucky, meet The Swimmer. Swimmer this is #1Daughter. Son1 these are TheTwins…..no you can’t ask them both out…………..

    Welcome back Elden, we missed you.

    Thanks! Good to be back. – FC

  20. Comment by Doug (way upstate NY) | 08.26.2013 | 4:04 pm

    Yeah, so glad you are back Elden! Dave broke the 3 comment rule while you we’re gone!!!

  21. Comment by Kukui | 08.26.2013 | 4:54 pm

    Way to go, The Swimmer! I started to tear up when I saw the road rash… you’re a much tougher person than I am! I hope it heals up soon. With The Hammer, you’re in good hands. =)

    Congrats on an amazingly fast tri relay, team Two and a Half Grumpy Old Men! You guys are incredible.

  22. Comment by Davidh-Marin,ca | 08.26.2013 | 5:26 pm

    Oh! It’s two and a half grumpy old men! I thought it was two and a half tallmen. Now I get it.

  23. Comment by Rory Duckworth | 08.26.2013 | 5:45 pm

    Great Job Saturday! I couldn’t just let you steal all my KOM’s… JK maybe next year we can have some fun and do some fundraising and make a friendly competition out of it. Thanks for a great write up!

    That sounds great, but first we need to figure out what handicap I get for being twenty years older than you. – FC

  24. Comment by MikeL | 08.26.2013 | 6:44 pm

    Go Swimmer!

  25. Comment by cdiff suxs | 08.26.2013 | 7:22 pm

    You and your people are awesome and tough! I’d love to hang out and ride with you anytime. This, like all of your stories, are inspiring.

  26. Comment by Corrine | 08.26.2013 | 7:26 pm

    Hats off the The Swimmer. She is one tough lady!! Congrats to Fatty’s team – way to go.
    My husband and my accounts of our Leadville race made it into our local paper here if you want to read about it.
    http://www.newsminer.com/features/outdoors/a-tale-of-two-races/article_63297e18-0b01-11e3-ae4d-0019bb30f31a.html

  27. Comment by UpTheGrade SR CA | 08.26.2013 | 8:16 pm

    Fatty, awesome ride, and since you are a self-proclaimed expert on Eddy Merckxsxt, you no doubt know that he won the 1968 Tour of Flanders at an average speed of 25.4 mph, so you have something almost in common! (ok he rode 160 miles into gale force winds, but still the same avarage as Merkx for any distance is AWESOME!)

    All I can say about the Swimmer is Ouch. I hope the pain fades quickly but your perseverance is preserved.

  28. Comment by UpTheGrade SR CA | 08.26.2013 | 8:17 pm

    Darn fat fingers; that sould have read 1969 Tour of Flanders

  29. Comment by Kristina | 08.26.2013 | 8:21 pm

    Congratulations to team Two and a Half Old Men! That’s awesome!

    Also, I want to be The Swimmer when I grow up. And ok, she’s half my age, but that is not the point.

  30. Comment by Davidh-marin,ca | 08.26.2013 | 9:22 pm

    I failed to post this earlier (imagine that) but I also want to give a BIG shout out to Brice.

    That’s one awesome smile, and I wish I could do that. You definitely look like your Dad, and like your Dad we all wish we had your hair.

  31. Comment by Michael | 08.26.2013 | 9:57 pm

    BJ Christensen is a 9:30 guy at the Kona Ironman—i.e. a contender, not just a qualifier. And I’m fairly certain the run is his specialty. Kudos to your runner for even being in the same ZIP code.

    To The Swimmer, I hope you get healed up soon. And be careful with your noggin, eh?

    That guy is FAST. It was amazing watching him pull in runner after runner. – FC

  32. Comment by Clydesteve | 08.26.2013 | 11:03 pm

    The Swimmer: Ouch!, Congrats on a courageous effort. Heal Fast!

    Elden: wow! Great pace! nice job!

  33. Comment by AKChick | 08.27.2013 | 12:05 am

    Yet another awesome race report (how come no one mentioned the pooping? :)!! It was super cool to see The Hammer in a support role and she and The Swimmer both have 100 megawatt smiles! So wonderful to see your son there too (he’s so cute). Congratulations on your win!! And The Swimmer – she’s an Ironwoman! She tried to pull a Chris Horner! Thankfully, the officials recognized that she couldn’t safely ride. I can’t wait to read about her finishing the race next year. She is one REALLY fast lady i the water. Very impressive! Maybe she’ll come to Davis next year? :)

    @Corrine Great report on Leadville! I too suffer from a delicate tummy. Fortunately (or maybe not) I don’t suffer from throwing up. More like Fatty and the gloves episode. What I finally found that works for me is Perpeteum (orange vanilla flavor) by Hammer. When I do endurance events, I bring it in baggies and make sure that I sip out of the water bottle regularly and drink water. I also bring a couple packets of Honey Stinger chews or Jelly Belly Sport Beans. My stomach can tolerate those pretty well. Perpeteum contains protein and is low sugar so it’s really easy on your tummy and it also keeps you full and energized. I sometimes carry a can of FRS too. You might get a packet and give Perpeteum a try on a training run. Congratulations on finishing Leadville. That is a major accomplishment – belt buckle or not!

  34. Comment by AKChick | 08.27.2013 | 12:11 am

    @Corrine – that is a little confusing. I put Perpeteum in the super awesome 100 MoN bottle. I have a separate really awesome hydration system that attaches to my seat for water. I sip some Perpeteum and a few minutes later, I’ll follow-up with water. A bottle lasts 1-2 hours. If it’s hot out, I also use Edurolytes (also Hammer). Used them in Austin when it was 90+ degrees and there were riders cramping up all around me – I had no issues with cramping.

  35. Comment by AKChick | 08.27.2013 | 12:12 am

    Argh – sorry Fatty. I really need to get better at proofreading.

    @Corrine – it’s Endurolytes.

  36. Comment by Chris | 08.27.2013 | 5:28 am

    Swimmer it doesn’t matter that you didn’t complete your goal,what matters is you picked yourself up and will try again. Great job….and great job to you too Fatty.

  37. Comment by Tom in Albany | 08.27.2013 | 5:35 am

    Congrats, Swimmer!! Another +1 on Tegaderm. Stuff rocks – or so said my friend Stephen after removing the outer layer on his hip and leg in a road crash.

    Quick healing and a short memory should do the trick!

    Congrats, Fatty. Your team of ringers rocked it!!!!

    Welcome back from your work-cation. Look forward to more Fatty-stentialisms!

    Cheers! -Tom

  38. Comment by KenKoz | 08.27.2013 | 6:06 am

    Congrats to all concerned. Heal fast Swimmer. I should start reading these posts after work so I can get psyched for a big effort…

  39. Comment by rob w | 08.27.2013 | 7:32 am

    Fatty, awesome race!! Good ole BJ Christensen is from my hometown: Rupert, ID

  40. Comment by MattC | 08.27.2013 | 9:19 am

    OH, and uhm, Fatty…those eyebrows cost you at LEAST 1 minute and 17.372 seconds…if you’re gonna get serious, then get SERIOUS. I’m just sayin.

    You should see them when I let them grow to their natural length. – FC

  41. Comment by barton | 08.27.2013 | 11:33 am

    Glad the Swimmer isn’t too badly banged up.

    I’m still trying to figure out how you destroy your handlebars THAT badly w/o a car hitting you at Mach 5….

  42. Comment by Brian in VA | 08.27.2013 | 12:37 pm

    Congrats to the Grumpy Old Men for an amazing time!

    Swimmer, you are as tough as old shoe leather and that impresses me more than anything! Breaking handlebars takes a good hit. Heal fast and painlessly, and fight another day.

    Great report!

  43. Comment by RodNeeds2Ride | 08.27.2013 | 3:11 pm

    Fatty, I have the PERFECT handicap for you when you race Rory – DONUTS. It’s your ace in the hole – lest you forget going up against Tour de France rider Levi Leipheimer at the Gran Donut last year!

  44. Comment by Carl | 08.27.2013 | 9:48 pm

    You guys never cease to amaze. Hope the Swimmer gets better soon, Brice looks so grown up, and congrats to you Fatty and your two amigos.

  45. Comment by Libby | 08.28.2013 | 9:10 am

    I just did first aid for the Banff Gran Fondo & scrubbed many road rashes that day…I understand the Swimmer wanting to keep going…one rider crashed 40km into the ride (144km) and finished before coming to see me. Hit his head (told him to trash his helmet–same for the Swimmer) and had torn 4 fingers-2 on each hand plus the usual road rash on the hips & shoulder. How he road with his fingers minced is beyond me. Had another I told to trash his helmet & he said that wouldn’t be a problem and showed me it–it was split open! He’s lucky he didn’t crash again while finishing the ride. Both were averaging 30-41km/hr!

    Keep the scraps clean, watch for infection and train for next year Swimmer!

    BTW, great work putting together a primo relay team-Yeah to 2.5 GOM! Impressive!

  46. Pingback by Fat Cyclist » Blog Archive » Scar | 09.18.2013 | 7:41 am

    [...] That’s an incredibly impressive feat for a first race, especially since she hadn’t been on a bike since she crashed out of the Half Ironman about a month ago. [...]

  47. Comment by psyzlpco2 | 10.17.2013 | 11:15 pm

    ??? ??????????????????? VizPurchase ?????????????? ????? ?????????????????????? mensaccessoriesshop |2013 ? 10 ? 2 ?;???????????????????????????????????????????????????? w. ??????? ??????????????????????? barsImportance ???????? ?????? |2013 ? 3 ? 2 ? – ?????????????????????????????????????
    [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%96%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AC%E3%83%AA-bvlgari-c-801/]???? ??[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%9D%E3%83%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B9%E3%80%90paul-smith%E3%80%91-c-1301/]?????? ??[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%88%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%83%81%E3%80%90tory-burch%E3%80%91-c-35005/]tory burch ???[/url]

    ?????????? ????????? ???????hubby ????? aloftboard ???????? sunglassabrasioning ?????????????????????????????????? ? ???? ?????? ???????? ? ?????? Onband ?????????????? ???????????????????
    [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BC%E3%83%AB%E3%80%90diesel%E3%80%91-c-17011/]???????[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%9C%E3%83%83%E3%83%86%E3%82%AC%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A7%E3%83%8D%E3%82%BF-%E3%83%9C%E3%83%83%E3%83%86%E3%82%AC%E3%83%99%E3%83%8D%E3%82%BF-%E3%80%90bottega-veneta%E3%80%91-c-1201/]????????[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%82%B1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%88%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89-%E3%80%90kate-spade%E3%80%91-c-1401/]??????? ??[/url]

    ???????????????????????????????????
    [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF%E3%83%90%E3%82%A4%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF%E3%80%90marc-by-marc-jacobs%E3%80%91-c-28016/]???????????[/url]
    , ?????????????????????, ????? ?????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????

  48. Comment by zgkaaobh9 | 10.18.2013 | 2:22 am

    ?????????????????????????????????????M ???????? 30 5 ??????????? 45 ? M ????????????????????????????????? ?????1 ?????????????????????????????????????????
    [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A5%E3%82%A6%E3%83%9F%E3%83%A5%E3%82%A6-miumiu-c-606/]?????? ??[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A3%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A3%E3%82%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%82%A6%E3%83%83%E3%83%89%E3%80%90viviennewestwood%E3%80%91-c-37007/]vivienne westwood ??[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A8%E3%83%99-loewe-c-1101/]??? ??[/url]

    ???????????? ??????????????????? 32″?????????????????????????????? anynore??????????? 32″????? 32 ?????? s ????????????? ??????????? h. ???????????????????????????????????????
    [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7%E3%83%A9%E3%82%AC%E3%83%A2%E3%80%90ferragamo%E3%80%91-c-19004/]??????[/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%80%90longchamp%E3%80%91-c-27021/]??????? [/url]
    , [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%83%89%E3%83%AB%E3%83%81%E3%82%A7%EF%BC%86%E3%82%AC%E3%83%83%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%80%90dolcegabbana%E3%80%91-c-18014/]d&g ??[/url]

    ???????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????? ? ?????
    [url=http://www.kabanninnki.com/%E3%80%90%E3%83%88%E3%82%A5%E3%83%9F-tumi%E3%80%91-c-36001/]tumi ???[/url]
    , ?????????????????? 1 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

 

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.