A very long week

Started the interferon treatments. 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Side effects were really bad flu symptons, Nasty headachs, all around feeling like crap!!!! Hope it improves as we move forward. YUCK Sleep early and meds 3 times a night!!!!

Chest drain out

Finally the drains coming out and get back to light training. Drug treatments for the next 4 weeks to kill the cancer. Might get tired but at least I can get back on the road. This has been quite a battle, Tends to drain your energy but will overcome it......

Another week

OK, another week with this drain in. Getting real tired of it. It's putting my drug treatments behind schedule. Want to get going on it. I"ll only be working 1/2 days for 4 weeks. Work in the morning and treatments in the afternoon. It's going to be long days. I really want to get back running, biking and swimming. I hope I'm not to far behind in my training. Back to the Dr. Wednesday hopefully to get this thing out of my armpit. Very uncomfortable.

Kids Triathlon

Well, last weekend was the Marin County Triathlon. Volunteered and had a blast. They have a kids Tri and to watch 5 year old swim, bike a couple of laps on bikes with training wheels and then run a little is great. All smiles on these kids. I loved doing it. Can't wait till next year. Starting my imunotheropy next week. Wondering how that will go. I feel good about it so I'm very positive. Started a web page for the Melanoma Foundation so be on the lookout for that. I'll post it after treatments start so I have a better feel of whats going on. All the money goes to the Foundation. Target date is for the Alcatraz Triathlon. More info to come.

Fun time volunteering

Did some goodie bag stuffing for the Marin County Triathlon. Great people there tonight. Great cause that the Triathlon helps. Found out all proceeds get donated to the Lymphoma and Prostate cancer foundations. Pro winner checks also get donated. Fighting my own battle is a little easier knowing people like this are out there helping others. This weekend should be a great time for all. Will definetly be working more with this group.

Back to work

Looking forward to being back to work. Tried last week on Wednesday but should not have done it. Still have the swelling so afternoon Dr. visit should find out what were going to do. I'll also see the oncologist and will find out what our plan of action will be. I know we'll do the Interferon but we'll come out with a timeline. Don't think I'll be able to do the Marin Triathlon. If I get the drain out and soreness is at least bearable I might give it a try. I'll know Friday. If I can't I'll volunteer to work the Kids Triathlon on Saturday. I like working with the kids so it should be fun away. That's it today.

Feeling better.

Reconnecting with a friend from back home. Haven't seen each other for quite sometime. Great to catch up. This person makes me smile every time. Thanksgiving is going to be great this year. Family and friends is what is needed and it's what I am looking forward to. Can't wait!

Frustrating!!!

Left arm keeps swelling up. Gotta go back and get a new drain put in. Want to get healed so I can do the Triathlon on the 30Th. Just have to solve this problem. Walked a good 2 miles today and tried to jog but this swelling hurt. How do women do this. Even with a jog bra can't imagine it. Tuesday is results day. We know the answer but still getting anxious. Guess that's what it's all about. I'll call my sister after and then she'll make me feel better. She always does. Thank God for older sisters. Weekend coming so I'll have to get some good exercise in. Till later. Have fun!!!

Karma really working good right now!!

Just got an e-mail from Mark the Race Director of the Marin County Triathlon. I volunteered to work this event and also wanted to participate but with the medical issues going on and all the co-pays I have it was out of my budget. Well today I got an e-mail from Mark and he is waving the entry fee for me so I can compete. Now my daughter and others who wish can go and watch me do what it is I do and why I do stuff like this to push myself. What started out as one of the most terrible months ever is turning into one of the best.. It's all about attitude and how you direct it.

Serious man boobs

Wow , woke up this morning and the drain from surgery in not working right. Left side is filled up with fluid. Humm, Some women pay big money for this kind of boobage. Oh well, just have to go in and get a reduction. :-o Interesting situation to be going through. Minor thing in the long run. My daughter is taking me in today. Brothers got a bad cold. Funny, everyone around me is getting sick!!! Oh well. Off to the Dr. office. Can't wait to go back to work. Going nuts.

New Day to start new

Well, went out for a walk today. Wanted to run but it got a little painfull. Have to go back to the Dr. Wednesday just to get a little tweek on the drain from surgery. Got a present in the mail today. My own Tri wetsuit. Couldn't believe it. Wanted one and not the make I wanted but hey, it's great. Not going to ask where it came from but someone is pushing for me to go for it. So many people pulling for me I just don't want to let anyone down. More to come in the future.

New Challenge

Well, here we go on another adventure. You gotta love life. After the Pacific Grove race I was told my cancer came back. I ended up having surgery October 8Th to remove the tumors and am now home recovering. At this point were just trying to slow it down. I guess I'll start training next week. No time off this winter. To many events I want to do next year. I'm hoping for Kona next October. I want to do a full Ironman. I start Interferon treatments in a couple of weeks and not sure how that's going to affect me and my schedule. Not going to let this slow me down. I met a Elite athlete in Triathlon this Summer, Dan Mcintosh. Keep an eye out for this guy. Very inspirational and very positive towards me and his own goals. Very bright guy and dedicated. I'll update the site when I have more info on my own treatments. Don't worry about me always focus on your own goals in life. Mine only matter to me!!!

Pacific Grove Triathlon

Well, Pacific Grove was a blast. First Olympic distant tri. Successful day. Time was 3:29:11 Transitions were better, swim was good but need to work allot on bike. 3rd loop on the run was best time. I need to get more confident to push myself and improve. I hope to really cut my time down in my next event. Not sure where but have to wait and see. Probably will do a sprint and really push myself to gain more confidence. Will have some more news in a couple of days that will effect my training drasticly so stay tuned

Alcatraz Triathlon

Well, this weekend is the Alcatraz Triathlon. Not competing but volunteering to work at it. Also hosting and elite athlete. This is probubly one of the toughest ones there is. Being a rookie I don't want to kill my new found activity so I'll just observe and learn from these great people. I have my own event coming in 2 weeks at Pacific Grove. Stepped up to Olympic distance. Just want to go and have fun and again test myself. I'll post pictures after this weekend. Been doing alot of bike riding 35 and 45 milers just to get those skills up. Also rode up Mt Tamalpias. 2800' elevation gain. Now when I look at the Mountian it has an all new meaning for me!!! Well, more to come!!!

SF Marathon

Well, Tomorrow is the 1/2 Marathon for me. Want to do the distance because it's 1 part of the 70.3 Ironman. Can't wait to see how I do. Excited yes!! Doing allot of steps to see how far I can push myself. I was so sedentary for so long it gets pretty exciting to go on this challenge of myself. More updates to come!!!

Bill

Leaving the Swim

Leaving the water after my first Tri swim. Yes I am smilling because it was so much fun.

1st Triathlon was a success

WOW

What a day. 1st Tri and had a great time. Lots of hard work paid off. After trying to figure this out I only got and idea of what needs to be done. Found out what my strenghts are and also found out my weaknesses are. T1 an T2 needs lots of work. I shouldn't worry about speed but efficency. In the swim I went out to fast and had to slow to recover but still finished fine. T1 was slow, I have to remember to not rush but be quick. I'll work on that. The bike was ok and need to get better speed. T2 was good but not fast. Run was good. Need to pick up the pace. Great experiance for the 1st time. On to Pacific Grove Tri on the 10 of September. Keep you up to date on the training.