Back in the Saddle

It's been a long time. Since my last post I've changed jobs, changed locations, started school, had torn achilles tendon repair, adopted a foreign exchange student (only for a school year) and changed jobs again. What a couple of years it's been!

I'm going to keep this short, don't want to hurt myself. I'll get more Autism info on the pages and more triathlon training info.

I haven't qualified for Kona yet. The achilles tear put a serious damper on my physical and mental fitness. Today I started training for 1/2 Ironman. It'll be held in San Diego on September 30th.

This blog helps to keep my mental fitness in order. My goal will be weekly updates.

From 1 in 150 to 1 in 100 One in a hundred
American children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Read more: here.
The question is WHY? I've been doing a research assignment as part of one of my college courses. Of course I chose the topic of Autism. I made an effort to keep an open mind while doing the research. Since starting the assignment, I convienced heavy metal poisoning (like mercury) is the cause. However, I'm not sure we can blame the governments vaccination plan. At least not totally. There's evidence suggesting we might be poisoning our children from within. Check back next week and I'll attempt to shed some light on the subject.

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading.

Run, Bike, Swim for Autism

Thanks to my 1st Sargent, A big step was made in getting the word out. If you go here you can view the news article that was printed in the Airlifter newspaper. The Airlifter is McChord Air Force Base's only newspaper solely covering airmen and their families.

I would like to thank Sgt. Avery for her efforts in helping get the word out. Also a huge thanks to Tyler Hempstreet from the Airlifter. He's the gentlemen that came to the base and wrote the story. You two have been a huge help and we now will be able to reach many more people and hopefully raise more money.

5 Mile Lake Triathlon

On June 9th I competed in the first triathlon I've done in over 20 years. This was a sprint tri (.25 mile swim, 15 mile bike and 3 mile run). My goal was 2 hours 15 minutes. I completed the event in just over 1 hour 34 minutes. I did learn a few lessons:

1. Red wine and Carrot cake is NOT the preferred meal to eat the night before the event.

2. It rains in the Pacific North West. The pre-planning needs to account for rain.

3. The swim is difficult. If you get out of breath in the water, there's no where to rest. Start Slow!

Thanks to my beloved wife, granddaughter and good friend Alex for being there to support me. These events are much more fun and exciting when you can share them with family and friends. Alex and Gina took a lot of photo's so I'll get some posted soon.

Do I Need to Vaccinate My Child

Today, according to the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule, a child receives 36 shots containing a total of 126 vaccines from birth through six years of age. This is quadruple the number of vaccines a child received in the 1980’s. In 1983 a child received only 10 shots containing 30 vaccines. Could this quadrupling of the vaccination schedule be responsible for the drastic increase in childhood disorders we are seeing today?

Today, one in five children suffers from asthma, one in six children is diagnosed with a learning disability, one in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, one in 250 children has some form of arthritis, and one in every 400 children has diabetes.


Are we trading chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, and other harmless childhood illnesses for a lifetime of chronic disease?

Did you know, If you have religious reasons or a family medical history that would give you cause for concern, your child may be eligible to NOT be vaccinated. Click HERE for a list of Vaccine Exempt Forms by State.

Keep in mind, you have legal battles ahead of you is you decide not to vaccinate. Please research thoroughly before making your decision.

I joined South Sound Triathlete club. This has put me in touch with a number of people who have successfully completed multiple triathlons of varying distances. They also have proven workout schedules to help me meet my goals.

My first day out with the club was most humbling. I really felt my cycling skills were above average for an old guy. But, my 50+ miles with the club was torture. These guys and gals, both younger and older, drove me into the ground. I had one of my best days on the bike and still was inadequate compared to the rest of the team. I'm excited because there's nothing I can do but improve.

I'll keep you updated on the progress.

Digestive Issues and Autism

Researchers are studying a gene that may cause both autism and gastrointestinal disorders, a study in Monday's Pediatrics Report. More than 30% of people with autism also have some kind of stomach or intestinal problem, compared with fewer than 10% of people who aren't autistic, says study author Daniel Campbell, research assistant professor at Vanderbilt University. Campbell is focusing on a gene called MET, which is involved in brain development before birth and in connections between brain cells after birth, as well as in the process through which the gastrointestinal system repairs itself. In his study, a variation in this gene was associated with both autism and gastrointestinal problems in 118 of 214 families.

Hopefully this research will begin to unravel the mystery of Autism.

My Ironman Competition has Gotten Tougher

Lance Armstrong has a new challenge, and it involves competing in Hawaii. The seven-time Tour de France winner wants to compete in the Hawaii Ironman in Kona, in either 2011 or 2012. Armstrong says the year depends on if this year or next year will be his final Tour de France. The 38-year-old says he wants to compete for fun, but thinks it's possible to finish in the top ten. He ran marathons, was a swimmer as a child, and a national-level triathlete in his late teens.

Product Review

This is a new section I'll try to keep up so you those of you who are ensured and motivated to take health and fitness more seriously can get my insite on products that I use.

First off, lets discuss hydration. (and no, I'm not this smart. I got my info from Hammer Nutrition - My preferred event supplement)

When we exercise, we burn molecular fuel, mostly glycogen, but also some protein, fat, and blood glucose from ingested nutrients. The breakdown of these energy providers releases heat that builds up and raises our core temperature. The body must rid itself of this heat and maintain a core temperature within a few degrees of the well-known 98.6 F (37 C). An active person needs a reliable cooling mechanism. Actually, you have several. You lose some heat through your skin. Blood carries heat to the capillaries near the skin's surface, removing heat from the body core. You breathe harder to get more oxygen, expelling heat when you exhale. But by far the most important part of the cooling system, accounting on average for about 75% of all cooling, is your ability to produce and excrete sweat. Your skin is like a radiator and the water you intake is like antifreeze. You run low on antifreeze, you overheat. So, you need to hydrate during exercise. All that to get to the product review....

I've used 2 hydration systems. The Amphipod Runlite Trail Endurance and the Nathan Speed 4R. Both are belt systems (you wear them around your waist during training/events) and both carry about 40 oz of liquid. The Amphipod uses bottles that clip into the belt where as Nathan uses silicon pouches to hold the bottles in place. To get to the point, I prefer the Nathan by far. The main issue for me is, the bottles on the Amphipod do not easily clip into place and you have to change your stride and slow down to get them in and out. Also, the belt on the Amphipod has to be adjusted and clipped into on. If you don't have it right from the beginning, it slides around and is pretty uncomfortable. The bottles on the Nathan are easy to get to and easy to put back. The waist band is a limited stretch elasticized material that works awesome. Both are equipped with attached pockets to store the ever important iPod and fuel gels.

The Great Graduate

I'm excited to report Isaiah participated in a graduation a few weeks ago. When asked if he'd like to say something Isaiah's reply "Time for Oreo Cookies". If he only knew, it's always time for Oreo Cookies!

A Lot Going On...
I've been in contact with the Autism Society of America (ASA). They're affiliated with American Research Institute. Long story short (a quote form Alex), I've added a link to donate to ASA of Washington. This is significant for 2 reasons, any money donated to the Washington chapter of ASA stays in Washington and they except PayPal (just for you Chris).

On the Fitness Front

On Sunday, May 2nd, I participated in and completed my first half marathon. My goal was a 10:45 mile pace. My actual was a 10:23 pace. I believe I could have done better but for this being my first time (ever) running that far, I'm pretty happy with the outcome.
For those who are interested, click here to view my race profile (thanks Garmin).

10 Things

I got the below list from an Autism workshop our church conducted. When I read the list, it made me very sad. If you know Isaiah, or any child with autism, it will make you sad too.

10 things every child with autism wish you knew:

1. I am a child with autism. I am not "autistic." My autism is one aspect of my total character. It does not define me as a person


2. My sensory perceptions are disordered. This means the ordinary sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches of everyday life that you may not even notice can be downright painful for me.


3. Please remember to distinguish between won’t (I choose not to) and can’t (I’m not able to).
   When you call to me from across the room, this is what I hear: "*&^%$@, Billy. $%^*&^%$&*" Instead, come speak directly to me in plain words: "Please put your book in your desk, Billy. It’s time to go to lunch." This tells me what you want me to do and what is going to happen next. Now it’s much easier for me to comply.


4. I am a concrete thinker. I interpret language literally. It’s very confusing for me when you say, "Hold your horses, cowboy!" when what you really mean is "Please stop running." Don’t tell me something is a "piece of cake" when there is no dessert in sight and what you really mean is, "This will be easy for you to do."


5. Be patient with my limited vocabulary. It’s hard for me to tell you what I need when I don’t know the words to describe my feelings. I may be hungry, frustrated, frightened or confused, but right now those words are beyond my ability to express. Be alert for body language, withdrawal, agitation, or other signs that something is wrong.


6. Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented. Show me how to do something rather than just telling me. And please be prepared to show me many times. Lots of patient repetition helps me learn.
   


7. Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do. Like any other human, I can’t learn in an environment where I’m constantly made to feel that I’m not good enough or that I need fixing.


8. Help me with social interactions. It may look like I don’t want to play with the other kids on the playground, but sometimes it’s just that I simply don’t know how to start a conversation or enter a play situation.


9. Try to identify what triggers my meltdowns. This is termed "the antecedent." Meltdowns, blowups, tantrums or whatever you want to call them are even more horrid for me than they are for you. They occur because one or more of my senses has gone into overload. If you can figure out why my meltdowns occur, they can be prevented.


10. If you are a family member, please love me unconditionally. Banish thoughts such as, "If he would just ..." and "Why can’t she ... ?" You didn’t fulfill every last expectation your parents had for you, and you wouldn’t like being constantly reminded of it. I didn’t choose to have autism. Remember that it’s happening to me, not you. Without your support, my chances of successful, self-reliant adulthood are slim. With your support and guidance, the possibilities are broader than you might think. I promise you I’m worth it.

It all comes down to three words: Patience. Patience. Patience.

Training Update

I've increased my cycling and run miles considerably. However, my weight loss has hit a standstill. My guess is, with all the cardio work I do, my lower body is getting stronger (more muscle) but my upper body is getting weaker (less muscle). I'm going to begin an upper body strength program designed to make you stronger and leaner. I hope the extra muscle mass with aid in fat burning.

Also, I've entered the Tacoma half marathon. 13.1 miles! This will be my longest ever running event but it's the next step in the progression. My goal will be 10 minute mile pace for the entire run. If I break 9:45 I'll be stoked. Wish me luck.

Why do you do it

I watch a lot of cycling and triathlon shows on TV (that you Universal Sports). As Gina and I watch these shows she will frequently make the comment "Those people must love pain". I don't really know how to respond to that statement so I don't. But, while talking to my friend Sean yesterday, he made a statement that really defines why people do these crazy endurance activities. As we were discussing my grandson Isaiah's nightmare life and how he goes through each day, I said "if Isaiah can wake up in the morning with a smile on his face, then I can endure a little pain to try to help him". Sean's reply was this..."It's great that you found the thing that motivates you. Now, I just need to find MY thing". That's when it hit me. The answer to Why is different for me than it might be for you. I have a young boy who gives me strength through a handsome, toothy smile and a two simple words, "Hi Papa". I challenge you to do something to make a difference to someone. I promise it'll be one of the most rewarding, life changing acts you will ever do. With that, I'm going to make an effort to motivate you through this blog with stories of people who found their motivation. Most of what I find will be sports/endurance related because that's what most interest me. However, I'll be happy to add a motivational story of other interest if someone sends it to me.

MEET HARRIET ANDERSON

Harriet has competed in the Ironman World Champ 18 times. Since her first race in 1989 she's missed triathlon’s most famous race only three times. She’s won her age group nine times. Anderson has never failed to place in the top five.

In the 2009 Ironman, eighty miles into the bike, Anderson is riding along smoothly. The 5:30 p.m. bike cutoff is a non-factor. Then, out of the blue, a male cyclist drifts beside Anderson from behind, clips her on the left side and knocks her to the ground.

“He didn’t say ‘On your left,’ ” recalls Anderson. “He just bumped right into me and I went sliding down on my right side.”

Anderson stopped to assess the damage. Her shoulders and ribs were sore. So was her right thigh where she landed. The bike took a hit, too. The brakes were rubbing on the rim of the tires. She released the brake lever and after at least a 10-minute delay, on she pedaled.

She still beat the bike cutoff by nearly an hour.

Harriet Anderson is 74 years old! How old are you?

For more on Harriet Anderson you can go to Unstoppable Harriet Anderson.