49 Forever!!!!!!

Good Morning Vietnam!!!!!!

Today is my 49th birthday - and that's it...I am never, never having another one! Once you roll that first digit to 5 - you are just too frickin' old! So, I will remain 49 forever and continue to do triathlons, marathons, and just plain "thons" for as long as these very shaved and well defined legs will let me!

My oldest daughter informed me this morning that I seem about 37 and am still the "coolest dad" at Lakeside (her school!). My apologies to all the other dad's who may be reading this...but the title is mine and I don't intend to give it up lightly!

Had a doctor's appointment today to get the annual check-up - everything looks great except (I hate hearing that word at the Doctor's office) - I need to loose a few pounds and get off caffeine! The vitals and blood profile - however support my daughters review - I am 37 and still very cool!

Weak Week...

With the weather, my job interviewing, and my general lack of "I don't feel like it" - it has been a tough week of getting in my workouts. Anyone else have this issue??? (You know, this blogging pressure doens't help either...

Happy New Year - Here we go!

Happy New Year everyone...I hope everyone is safe and sound for their partying...we are having a pajama poker party at the Wecker household!

I am "blowing it out" tonight and then really getting tough on my nutrition, eating habits and training! No more sugar...soft drinks... sweets...anything good! After really not training too hard for about 3 months, it is now time to kick it in and concentrate on this Iron man event! I want to finish strong and not embarrass myself at this event!

Anyway...enough about me...Christmas was awesome at the Wecker household...Santa was disgustingly generous this year, with our biggest present being a baby grand piano for the family.
This has always been a dream for me...so now it is on to piano lessons!

I'll check in later after the hang over wears off!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Hey Everyone...

I hope everyone is enjoying their families and loved ones for the next few days! Go ahead...eat like a pig...sleep in (unless you are under the age of 10) and drink way too much! Forget about that training ride, run or swim...next week will come soon enough!

Lots going on at the Wecker household...anyone reading this blog is welcome to stop by for some holiday cheer... the door is open! We will be starting with wine and cocktails tonight, followed by Mimosa's in the morning...and the some great food, and hopefully a Cowboy victory!

News and pics to follow--- I need to start tracking Santa!!!!!

White Rock 2006 Was Awesome

It was a great day at the White Rock marathon. The weather was perfect and people were breaking records all over. Some of the people who hit their marks were:

Me!!! (ran the 1/2 -can you believe it - they won't get this horse to the glue factory just yet!)
Diana Stonecipher - personal best in the marathon!
Candy Sheehan - first marathon!
Jim Luchanich (1:28 half...second in age group!)
Cindy Coronado
Jeff Bennett - 3:05 marathon!!! Place 73 over all!!!

I am sure there are more...but just can't remember this morning!!

Some pictures below of the fun and love at the event!!!


Then we wrapped it all up with the Dallas Athletes Christmas party - lots of fun and a great way to send off the year!

Today really starts the Ironman IMCDA training...I must make it to the pool! I have gained a few pounds of the last few weeks and that will only make all this upcoming training worse - so it's back to the grind stone for my waist line!

I'm am finally feeling rested and getting ready to take on this challenge...I should, heck I haven't been the pool or on a bike since August! So here we go...and stay tuned..more to come over the holidays!

Proud Papa...two great girls!

Both my girls..."Moo" and "Bug" had athletic competitions over this last weekend. I am so proud of both of them....

"Moo" is State Champion for Vault at Level 5 (placement) and placed third on uneven bars in the same competition!



"Bug" had a cheer competition at the Dallas Convention Center...their team struggled a little bit, but "Bug" was terrific!


There is something special about seeing your kids doing something they enjoy and have fun at. I also think it is important that they get out in front of people and "do their thing" - it somehow opens them up and makes them better people in the end!

I am one "sappy" guy when it comes to my girls...you would of thought they won the Olympic Gold medal ...my eyes tear up and I get so proud of them. I am very blessed with two great girls and that is my "reason for the season" during the holidays!

Run,Turkey, Run...

Thanksgiving is only a few days away...I can taste the birf, dressing and pumpkin pie right now! We are headed down to Tracey's brother's ranch which is between Corsicana and Hillboro (in Navaro county). The girls have lots of fun because they get to hang out with all their cousins and play the entire visit. All the kids area about the same age and there is horse back riding, four wheelers and a big bunk house where 5they all sleep.

As for us adults, we chat, drink wine and relax - amid the cows, horses and open fields. It's a great place to relax and the Wecker's thoroughly enjoy our get await. We leave on Wednesday afternoon and will be back on Friday night.

I am hoping to get in a run or two - especially if I eat a much as I am planning! I have some work to do for the Dallas athletes Membership database - which is a blessing...it gives me a reason to run and hide in cse the "in-laws/natives" get restless!

I hope everyone who reads this has a great Thanksgiving and relaxes....

Day 2...how's your breakfast?

Day two has arrived and I went for my first run since the NYC marathon. It felt surprisingly good -only did 5 miles though. My legs feel great and there seems to be no real good excuse for me to continue my "lazy ways"...which brings me to my favorite picture of the day ...having to train and exercise is like eating my breakfast above....all the experts say you should start you day with a good breakfast, but mine has been tasting funny ever since I started this training crap! I wonder why.....

The Road begins...

Yesterday was day 1 of my Iron Man training. I have not been in the water since August 6th (River Cities Triathlon) and last night I went for a swim workout. AS sore as my shoulders are today, I learned one valuable thing...never take that much time off!!!!

I swam about 1,000 yards - and died the whole way. Tom had me working on lengthening my stroke and relaxing (which is completely not in my vocabulary) when I am in the water. At the end all Tom had to say was "welcome back to the pool!".

I will have the same issue with the bike - which I have not done since HHH100 in late August - so Saturday is going to hurt. But, you have to start somewhere! I also need to start lifting weights - bit with Thanksgiving coming next week, I think I'll wait until until the following Monday to start.

They say the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step...who is the dumb A#@ who said that - they never mentioned the PAIN in the first step!!!!

Well, I'm off to the pool for workout number 2 - I can already feel the panick and pain coming...

From NYC to Oklahoma...

Princess campout - Archery, campfires, cookouts and fun!

My Victory Hugs!

NYC Photos...more to come!

 

NYC - Unbelievable!

What a trip - great weather (perfect for a marathon!), tons of fun with my girls and one of my top 3 cities in the world - New York was awesome! I took about 800 pictures - which is going to another day or two to label and post. Here is a sampling of our trip - much more to come.
Oh and for your serious athletes who are chortling about a 5 hour marathon - I ran for fun and took about 100 pictures during the run - time wasn't my goal on this marathon - just living the experience was! As the back of my t-shirt said during the run: "In my mind, I'm a Kenyan....In my legs I'm a slow white boy!"

More later!

NYC here we come...

Well,

The Wecker family leaves for New York City on Friday morning with the family. Lots planned for the kids...while I'm at the Marathon Expo, they are going to the American Girl Doll Store for tea, hairdo's, lots of money spending fun! Then following this, we are going to the Broadway show "Wicked" - my personal favorite! great seats, and if the girls can sty awake after catching a 6:30am flight from Dallas, they should love the show. The Broadway theaters are so small and intimate!

I am as under trained for a marathon as I have ever been. Getting ready to run this one has been the most difficult - just don't have the "eye of the tiger" in me over the past three months. I am sure I will get through it, but it probably won't be pretty. If I feel like dropping out, I will just think of Curt Leonard who just ran the Marine Corp marathon in DC with a stress fracture in his pelvis...and still qualified for Boston! Incredible! So, I'll finish for sure....


I am running with a camera, so I'll post pictures following the race! Can't wait to get this one over...then I get to start training for my Ironman in June -yahoo? I think?. Maybe I'll get some motivation with this new focus!

See ya from NYC...!

New Layout...Komen race...NYC Marathon

Well, I've changed some stuff up again, just to keep it interesting! Blogger has come out with a new "beta" version and I am jumping in - only because it is a lot easier! Hopefully this will make it more fun to post and read this "mind numbing, rhetoric, and utterly incomprehensible" banter posted here!

Other news...big Susan Komen race tomorrow. I want to thank everyone who supported me with donations - that was so inspirational and uplifting for me! I'll put my heart into this race tomorrow and hope that the money helps toward ridding this ugly disease.

Started the taper for my New York marathon race on November 5th. Feels great to "backer down" a little..only doing a 12-15 miler this weekend on Sunday. I need to start riding my bike and swimming again as base training for the Iron man training which will kick into high gear in December / January! My NYC marathon isn't going to be for time..I am carrying a camera and cell phone to enjoy the experience, take lots of pictures on the run have tons of fun! More coming on that as I get closer!

Race for the Cure - I'm in!

Side bar...

a little 3 mile race for the Susan G Komen foundation is this coming Saturday and I signed up just in time. I am not one to ask for help or money from my friends, but it seems that A LOT of my friends are dealing with cancer themsleves or with family members! So I decided to try my hand at fund raising...and my wonderful friends at responding unbelievable! There are lots of fantstic people out there and it is times like this when you realize how special they are!

Update on the race and fundraising after Saturday!

Sky Ranch Field trip

 
 
 
 

More to come....been busy with kids and job hunt! Was a charpone for my 5th grader at Sky Ranch...great fun...but now I know who my daughter can not date until she is 30!!!! 

HHH100 - Hot, Hot, Hell!!!

Holy... Hot...Hades!!!!

Well, after triathlons, marathons, and child birth...this was the hardest event I have ever done! Really, before my ranting goes any further, it was a great experience - but I never expected the body strain due to dehydration that I had. After consuming over 350 ounces of liquid and over 30 Endurolyte pills, I still had muscle cramps starting at the 85 miler marker - all the way in. It was interesting managing your body when it wants to quit (because the cramping doesn't stop), and still trying to drive the pedals forward! I learned about my body in this race more than any other race I have ever done! After reviewing my situation, it became apparent that I did not start my fluid intake early enough - hence I was always trying to catch up to my body and that wasn't going to happen with temps approaching 110F on the blacktop! Enough complaining Weckinator....on with the review and some pictures!!!




David Stoncipher (Cycling God) and I arrived at 5:00am to get in the starting grid. This was a great move because we were about 50 yards from the start-line and only had a 7 minute delay between the start of the race and our actual crossing of the start line. We chilled for a couple for hours taking in the sites and crowd!







The mass of cyclist is really something to see. There were about 12,000 participates in this year's 25th anniversary race. It took some of the people up to 1 hour to cross the START line once the race began. It takes a long time to get that many people with bikes headed down the road.

The longest ride I had done prior to this rally was a 78 miler in Dallas. We did this in the morning when the temps were in the low 80's. I think if I EVER do this race again, I would change my training regime. You really need to do some long, long bike rides in the heat. I had no idea that I would fall so far behind in my hydration. The picture below is right after crossing the finish line - I have even gotten off my bike yet. It looks like I am happy and smiling (which I was), but really it was wincing from the muscle cramps in my legs!




But...all's well that ends well! David and I had a great dinner and a few beers to begin the rehydration process! I know a bunch of HHH100 riders from Dallas didn't make the cut off at Hell's Gate (60 miles into the race). They closed this due to the heat and wind conditions on the course - their reasoning was good, but a lot people were not happy. I got lucky...my first 50 miles went by quickly, but I pay for it in the last 10.

More pictures coming, once I get them developed - yes I took a disposable camera on the ride with me. Until then, I would rather remember this portion of the day!



Here is my time info...

Chip time 6 hours 40 minutes - place was 78 in age group (although LOTS of riders did not wear timing chips.) My Garmin registered 5 hours 40 minutes of true ride time (average 17.8 miles per hour). The difference between these two times is the time I spent at the rest stops during the race. I didn't stop at all within the first 50 miles, but then stopped at 50, 70, 80, 90 mile rest stops. All-in-all it was quite an experience!

River Cities - A blast!!!

River Cities was great this year - and even more impressive if you were there the night before. During our pizza party at the race site, a huge thunderstorm blew over the lake with 50mph winds. This absolutely destroyed the race site preparation and blew over every tent, table and speaker in sight! The PA system was completely destroyed and it is a miracle how the race director and volunteers worked through the night and got it ready for the 1,500 competitors the next morning.

The Dallas Athletes had a great turn out and once again proved to be the club which outshines everyone else! Danny, Tom, Edward, Kuay and crew did a great job setting up our tent and getting everything ready for us! Our pizza party - albeit a bit wet - was terrific.

All that I spoke with had a great race - Tom came close to beating Jim Lukanich - the CT group did great and once again I am sure Candy was close to the top in her age group! My success came in the form of beating Danny Jones by 20 seconds...hey, when you are as old as I am, you take very little chance to brag!

Mt race was so-so...my swim was terrible, my bike was pretty good and my run was slow...I need to change my training goals. I haven't improved at all over the summer and I need to refocus on my technique and L/T threshold training. Since I only have three races left this year (HHH100, Texas Man Triathlon, NYC Marathon) I am going to begin a long period of base training to improve these facets. All of this is in preparation of next year's full Ironman in Cour D'lene, Idaho! Oh well, enough about me...take a look at the pictures below...River Cities was fun!

Party First.....Train Later!

It's official...the $450 has been sent and Idaho is the scene of the upcoming medical emergency - I have officially entered my first full Iron Man Event. I am assuming that, the deposit is the easiest part of this whole deal. I even think my family will be there to cheer me on!!! I guess the official training starts in November - right when I finish my NYC marathon. For sure the swim is going to be the toughest part - but like they all say - it all comes down to the run!

Just got back from a little weekend fun at lake LBJ Houston - down by Horseshoe Bay. This is about 1 hour west of Austin. We had five families in a very large house (slept 36 people) and had a great time with the kids on the water! The picture also shows the adults had some fun as well. I'm on the far left looking fairly concerned about the amount of working out I will have to do to get rid of all the "adult beverages" I consumed....oh well...I consider this my kickoff party for my ironman.

So bring it on....(I may regret I just made that statement!)...I gotta go work out!