DNS FOR REDMAN 140.6, OR IS IT?

I guess technically it is not a DNS (Did Not Start) if I never registered for it, but it is as it reads, I am out for Redman 2015. This was the race that I was going to go mano y mano against Brad D from Brad's Ironman Journey. Here is the back story:

Brad D did IM Texas, I did Redman 140.6. We compared times. Brad D claims IM Texas is harder cause it is IM branded. I claim they are both 140.6 and are no different. Texas is flat, Oklahoma is flat. We beat our chest, we each claim we are badder than the other and from that I issued a challenge to him to race me one on one at Redman 140.6 in 2015, which he accepted. The table was set, the trash talk started and we were having fun with it! This was all beginning in 2013. So fast forward to 2015...

As you might remember from reading this blog, a few weeks ago I went to the Orthopedic guy to get my shoulder and my wrists checked out. At the time I was actually more concerned about my should pain than my wrists. It turned out that there was a touch of tendinitis in my shoulder, nothing that a shot of cortisone couldn't sure, which it did. The wrists however were a different story.

The doctor took x-rays and did some other tests and determined that I have moderate arthritis in my wrists. The keyword is moderate to me. Moderate is worse than some arthritis but is not as bad as severe arthritis. He wrote a script for some meds and then asked to come back in a few weeks. On my next visit, he suggested that I do Cortisone shots in my wrists, but warned me that once we start these shots, I was guaranteed to need to continue them until I was prepared to do surgery, which I am not.

So this leads me to my opening statement and title. Right now, I can not imagine being on a bike for 6 hours with my wrists the way they are. I know I could stay in aero the whole time, but that is not the way I am. My grip strength has diminished a lot already, and the thought of trying to hold on to handlebars for a race, including the months of training does seem to be in my favor. I thought this through and talked it over with my wife and came to the conclusion that an IM is not in my future this year in 2015. I am not totally shutting the door on another IM, but right now it ain;t happening. So I did what I had to do...

I called Brad D on the phone and let him know that I was not going to be able to race. This was a call I was dreading to make, but knew I had too. I started the challenge and I needed to end it. Brad understood completely since it was an injury issue and not because I was wussing out, and for that I am thankful.

Right now, I am good for rides under an hour, anything after that really starts bothering my hands, so it looks like a summer of sprint races. I still love the sport and I am not ready to give it up. So I will compete. I will swim hard, run hard and make it through the bike. It has been three years since I did a sprint race and I am looking forward to it.

Random Thoughts on a Tuesday...

Time to blog and I really do not want to try and make it all formal like (and Yes, I do try to make them easy on the eyes), so here are the things I am thinking about:

• Half Marathon training has been going well. I managed to get in 60 miles in the month of August, but I am already behind this month due to work commitments. Overall, I am pleased with where I am, and I think if I ran it today, I could easily finish in 2:05, so there is time to get that under 2 hours.
• I just found out that my hometown of Fort Smith Arkansas is having their first ever marathon/half marathon in February!  I am actually really excited about this and I am looking forward to running it.
• And just so you know, my 2015 rival Bradleyd3 is also looking to run to some half with JFord early in the year, probably want to scout me out and figure out a way to beat me, but I know his game... (notice the labels at bottom)
• Already got some trash talk texts from him, going to be a long year and I have a post in mind for all his jibber jabber
• I started toying with a race schedule for 2015 and it is taking shape. looks like I can do some long runs, a sprint triathlon and a full in 2015.
• It looks like another run at Ragnar TN is in the works
• I turned 43 on Sunday, which isn't a big deal cause I stayed in the same age group...
• On one hand I really like Memphis, but on the other hand we have some problems. From kids beating up people at Kroger to people shooting their girlfriends in parking lots, it is just crazy. So much bad going on in this world, almost makes me want to cancel my TV stations, at least then I would not hear about it as much!
• My Razorbacks had a huge win this week! 73-7!!!  WPS
• I got a Keurig for my office and I love it, actually thinking a getting a cup of Joe right now!

Bday present form the family!!!

Race Trash Talk and The Luck of the Draw!

Last night my wife and I competed in the first annual Dash N Splash. We had a great time, and it was a good race. I dashed and my bride splashed. It was her first race and I was very proud of the way she competed. We ended up finishing third in the mixed relay and we got medals! The run ended up being shorter than 2 miles (more like 1.6) but I still felt I had a good run and average 6:50 minute mile, which is fast for me.

The race had a lot of people I knew from previous races and a lot of people I train with. One of the guys I train with is named Greg and I will share a series of trash talking text messages I received, but going forward I am changing his name to Ricky to protect Greg's anonymity, so going forward, when you read the name Ricky, it does not mean Greg at all ;)

Greg, I mean Ricky: Wyatt (Greg's, I mean Ricky's son) and I are entered. You and wifey Poo are going down.

JF: We quit. Thanks, could have saved us $30

Ricky: We'll actually be in different divisions. Wyatt and I will be in the men's. You'll be in the mixed division, or the not completely manly division.

JF: Which knee was hurting you? no reason, just askin (I was gonna Tonya Harding his knee)

Ricky: both right now, I biked 38 today

JF: I am tellin my wife what you said...she played water polo, so tell Wyatt to look out.

Ricky: Essshhh Those girls are mean.

JF: That's why I married her!

The race was alot of fun. I could not tell if my wife was having a good time during the race, but afterwards she said she really enjoyed it. I am hoping this will get her into more races. I was so happy that we got medals!


Now to the luck of the draw part! I was notified today that I actually won the giveaway on the Steve in a Speedo blog! I won a Suigo bike bag, a pair of Rider sunglasses and a bunch of Monkey Shake recovery drink mix! I am very excited to get the gear. I am a sunglasses whore, so that was the main thing I was hoping to wining, but the bike bag is going to go great on my bike. I will update you all on the Monkey Shakes after I try them!

I had a good 25 mile ride today, rode a lot of hills, which will help me during Branson 70.3! Have a good weekend!