Hardware gone

One piece of hardware I was glad to get rid of was this plate I had placed when I obliterated my clavicle as a result of a bike accident a few years ago. It will be nice to pass airport security without constantly triggering the metal detector.

Merry Christmas!

Is there anything better than topping off a Four Seasons Xmas brunch with a strip of chocolate covered bacon? I think not.

Under the Knife

If you ever wondered what a torn rotator cuff looks like, here it is. I've been spending my Christmas vacation recovering from last weeks surgery. Still a little sore and stiff, but not too bad. Looking forward to the road to recovery. All this sitting around is getting a bit boring!

Santa Barbara Int'l Marathon

My 4 hour marathon condensed into 6 minutes. What a fantastic day!

Stillerstrong

The Giant Sequoia

The Holidays. Food, family, friends, the Giant Sequoia. My father in law, Vince, is the undisputed Giant Sequoia. The Giant Sequoia is a family tradition. My wife's crazy family's tradition. He who consumes the most food and drink during a holiday celebration will henceforth be known as the Giant Sequoia. A holiday dinner with Ellen's family is a day of loud talking, arguments, and confusion followed by voracious feeding. The actual meal lasts a brief 10 or so minutes. Chairs lean back as contented bellies are patted. A few deep knee bends to aid digestion, and it begins once again. Round two, and so it goes. Vince honed his iron stomach eating kielbasa and stale rye bread while growing up in the Polish ghetto of Lackawanna, New York. We are mere saplings in Vince's presence. He is truly the General Sherman among the redwoods. I love this time of the year. There is nothing better than watching a happy man attack a plate of food.

Lizard's Mouth

Great Fall Day

Ran 20 with my friends Fred, Troy, and Betsy, then it was off to see my Trojans play Oregon St. A great day.


-- Post From My iPhone

Foster Botanical Garden

Foster Botanical Garden is one of my favorite botanical gardens. It is a gem, hidden in downtown Honolulu.

Running in Waikiki

One of my favorite run workouts while staying in Waikiki.

Guilt Free Pleasure

I'm kicking back at the MaiTai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian not feeling a bit guilty about missing tomorrow's dreaded Rusty Snow run workout.


-- Post From My iPhone

Some work, mostly play

I've been off to Honolulu for the past few days attending my annual national meeting. It's a bummer they had to pick such a hell hole.

North Pole Swim

I am always amazed what the human body is capable of doing. Here is a video of Lewis Pugh swimming the sub freezing waters of the north pole. Pugh's talk is taken from this year's TED conference. TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an invitation-only event where the world's leading thinkers and doers gather to find inspiration. You can watch more thought provoking stuff HERE.

No Luck

Well, I didn't win my millions in the Lotto, so I'm back at work, slightly disgruntled.

Lotto Fever

For my birthday on September 9th, one of my hygienists bought me 9 lotto tickets at 9 am on 9/09/09. I'll know Saturday whether or not I start early retirement. Stay tuned...

Hurricane Harbor

Some of my office staff and I spent a day of fun at Hurricane Harbor.

Old Rincon Road

The Rincon Road, circa 1913

There were two ways for motorist to drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco during the turn of the century. One was through the Casitas Pass, which was considered treacherous and often times impassable. The alternative was driving along this rickety pier-like road which hugged the coast from Ventura to Rincon point.

Seven Blunders

"Seven Blunders of the World"

1. Wealth without work

2. Pleasure without conscience

3. Knowledge without character

4. Commerce without morality

5. Science without humanity

6. Worship without sacrifice

7. Politics without principle

—Mahatma Gandhi

Amazon Swimmer

You may remember my rant about Jennifer Figge's claim about swimming across the Atlantic ocean in 19 days. That one really set off my BS detector. Well, here's another one. 55 year old Martin Strel claims he swam the entire length of the Amazon River. That is 3,274 miles, 66 days, 10 hours per day, non-stop. Strel battled the constant threat of piranhas and crocodiles averaging 50 miles a day. Impossible? I'll let you decide.

Plantar Faciitis

Plantar Faciitis is one of those nagging injuries that can last for months. I haven't had a problem for years, but it reared its ugly head after my Ironman race. Here is how I handled the beast.

1. Ditch your old shoes and get some new running shoes.
2. Wear supportive shoes at all times. No bare feet or flip flops.
3. Self massage. I use these round rubber spikey things, but some people just roll their foot on a golf ball.
4. Stretch your calf and hamstring muscles
5. Ice your foot after every run and before you go to bed.
6. Dorsal Night Splint- It holds your foot in dorsal flexion while you sleep. It really helps prevent that initial pain when you first get up in the morning. I got mine from ActiveAnkle.com.

That's my secret. It works for me. It will work for you.

Susan Boyle you're not

First of all, I just want to say I am not anti-Christian or anti-religion, but I'll buy you a beer if you can watch this video all the way through. I dare you. Double dog dare.

Old Man of the Sea

My buddy Jim was quite proud when he landed this 42lb white sea bass while kayak fishing last weekend. I didn't have the heart to tell him I once caught a 400lb marlin armed with only an old inner tube, a spool of dental floss, and an earthworm.

Health Food

Who will benefit most by national health care? The residents of Wisconsin for one. Here is an amazing article about a new food sensation sweeping the state: chocolate-covered-bacon-on-a-stick.

The Monkey King

My torn rotator cuff aches just watching this video.

Mr. Cricket meets Morgan

I hope PETA doesn't see this video.

Frannie and Zooey

There is nothing better than waking up in the morning to a double dose of dog breath. Frannie and Zooey need a home! Call Andre at 310-428-6690 or email at andre_walsh_1999@yahoo.com

Summer Time

The great thing about cutting back your training after an Ironman race is you have time to enjoy life's pleasures at a more reasonable heart rate. The dogs, Ellen and I strolled on the beach during a typical summer evening in Santa Barbara.

Magnetic Personality

Long before Dial soap and chicken knuckles, my favorite father-in-law, Vince, dabbled with the amazing power of magnets. Energizes the blood, claims Vince. Blood has iron, magnets attract iron, you get the picture. In an attempt to cure various aches and pains, Vince adorned himself with various magnetic bracelets and patches which had the curious side effect of picking up random metallic objects. Vince was slightly annoyed by this, but it did come in handy if he was in sudden need of a paper clip or safety pin.

6 mile Swim

Here is the video I shot from last weekend's Semana Nautica 6 mile Ocean Swim. I shot 90% of it with my iPhone and edited it on my Mac. Not bad for a camera phone!

Nice digs

My friend Kim who moved up to to Washington a few years ago, sent me this picture of the lap pool she just built. Kim lives in quite a spread. She once sent me a picture of herself and her boys sitting in front of what I thought was resort. Turned out it was her house. Wow.

Packing for Ironman

Yaba daba doo

Here you go. If Fred Flintstone had an Ironman tattoo. This ink comes courtesy of a caveman of another sort, Nick the Wad. Cook managed to hunt Nick down while visiting the in-laws in Boulder.

Representing the LB

-- Post From My iPhone
Chip and I came home with the hardware representing Los Banos lane two at this morning's 1 mile swim. It was a brisk 58 degrees. Brrrrr.....

Tattoo You

My buddy Cook says if you are going to get an Ironman tattoo, you better damn well put your time underneath it. So in honor of Cook, I went into undercover stealth mode. A lot of IM tats, but alas, no finishing times.

Canine Adventures

The Cost of Ironman

Ironman Registration Fee- $525
Airfare for 2- $804
Tri Bike Transport- $250
Rental Car- $186
5 nights at Host Hotel-$2,100
Food and other goodies- $500
Crossing the Ironman finish line- PRICEY!

Terrorist Threat

You never know when a crazy triathlete will hijack an airplane brandishing his finisher's medal.

Ironman is like a box of chocolates

No, I didn't need an ambulance but at one point of the bike I thought I might. I was having some nutritional issues on the run and by mile 10 I thought I was about to faint. One thing I can guarantee about ironman races is you never know what you are going to get. You just have to go with the flow. It is a lot of crisis management, trying to figure out how to rally from a sometimes desperate situation. I was able to slowly titrate some calories back in and eventually I was able to run and finish the race. 11:36. So when is my next Ironman? Probably in a couple or three years. I know I need surgery on my torn rotator cuff. That injury really has hampered my swimming. But I can assure you, I'll be back toeing the Ironman line.

Race Day Photos

Elda, Marie, and Chris race morning. The weather was a little breezy, but nice. It turned ugly in a hurry.

Dan getting bodymarked by one of thousands of great volunteers

Off for a long bike ride

It actually looks like I'm running here

Looking a little dazed, but happy

Race Morning

The great thing about staying at the host hotel is you can hang out until the last moment. The skies are clear, a little wind. Any ironman day is a perfect day. Now ask me that halfway thru the marathon... I'm off!!

The Night Before

-- Post From My iPhone
A little TV, room service, and a good night's sleep.

Checked Out

We checked all our gear in this afternoon. Did I forget anything?!

The Bike, of course

-- Post From My iPhone





Here are some views from the bike course. It is pretty awesome.

Gearing Up

-- Post From My iPhone
Here is the gear I'll need to get me thru an 11 hour day. Getting ready is really a pain. I hate that about triathlons.

The Day Before

-- Post From My iPhone
The Bridge right before the run turnaround. Ellen and I cruised around the course this morning.

Nice Rides

-- Post From My iPhone
There is no shortage of cool bikes at Ironman.

Get Shiggy with it

-- Post From My iPhone
Romey and Shiggy. Shiggy runs like the wind. Expect him to podium on Sunday.

Waiting game

-- Post From My iPhone
The registration line. Hoping I get thru before the rain.

Post Swim

-- Post From My iPhone
Slightly chilled Elda, Marie, and Chris after our morning swim.

Two to Go

-- Post From My iPhone
They'll try to sell just about anything here at Ironman.
I'm off for a morning swim with some of the SB gang.