Cav survives crashes and wins

Despite the fact that Quick-step pulled out all the stops, they could not secure the Scheldeprijs. The win, which came amidst a crash-fest that has become somewhat of a routine in Schoten, went to none other than Mark, the man-missile Cavendish. Wouter Weyland and Tyler Farrar hit the deck instead of the podium. Boasson Hagen hit a tree and broke three ribs. But all that pales in comparison to Sjef De Wilde from Veranda's Willems who broke two neck vertebrae, including C1 with a distinct risk for quadriplegia. Sjef flew over a fence and ended up with a cerebral hemorrhage as well.

Quick-step's Chicchi was sixth. Steegmans, Devolder and Boonen rolled in with minor delays, near the end at 75, 90 and 116 respectively.

Meanwhile, I'd like to draw every endurance racer's attention to the fact that TeamCindy, an organization that raises funds and awareness for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, has 3 open slots for Escape from Alcatraz. If you have a strong desire to brave the cold waters of the San Francisco Bay, now is the time to jump in. Everyone knows that swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco gives life-long bragging rights akin to having one's cobble in the window at the Ronde Centrum in Oudenaarde.

TeamCindy also has one slot open for Ironman Lake Placid 2011, another crowd favorite that is fully sold out.

For those of you brave enough to enter the waters at dawn, but somewhat tentative about fundraising for charities, let me assure you that TeamCindy will stand by you all the way to make both your race and your campaign a great success.

Let the games begin

I sure hope my extended blogular holiday is not an unnecessary test of the reader's endurance. Therefore I submit to you the following tidbits and photographic marvels.

-For you endurance racers out there, TeamCindy has one open slot for IM Lake Placid 2011, and two for Escape to Alcatraz 2011. Both races have been sold out for months. All you have to do is raise some money for charity.

-The Ronde is coming. But you already knew that. The question is now, will Fabian repeat or as some have suggested, produce an even more stunning victory a la Harelbeke?

The Koppenberg show is coming

-CAS/TAS will make sure Alberto does not start the Tour, thereby giving a much deserved chance to the soon-to-be-oldest winner of the event. Here's to you, mates!

You asked for it pistolero

-Gas prices keep rising, but rather than consume less, we prefer to drill more.

Up and up we go!

And finally, the obligatory April Fool joke: unemployment is down and the economy is on the mend. If you believe that you should buy futures on spaghetti. Rumor has it Italy is expecting a bumper crop this year.

Bumper crop

TeamCindy in the news

A story about TeamCindy at the Boston Marathon in the Examiner.

TeamCindy

On Monday I will be running the Boston marathon. I am dedicating my effort to the memory of Cindy Sherwin, a New York triathlete and runner, who died at the age of 33 from a ruptured brain aneurysm.

The Boston Marathon will be my third TeamCindy event. I finished the Arizona Ironman, raising nearly $15,000, two years ago. Then last year I raised another $3,000 at Ironman Lake Placid. This year I hope to raise $2,000 at the Boston marathon.

To support my effort and help raise funding and awareness for brain aneurysms, please visit

my webpage at TeamCindy. Any and all donations are welcome. No amount is too small or insignificant. All monies raised will go the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

If you want to find out more about brain aneurysms and their symptoms, please visit this page. Here you can learn more about a disorder that affects 1 in 50 people and often leads to death and disability. You will also learn that there are often warning signs that may help you prevent an acute incident.

Visit TeamCindy on Facebook.

Inclement weather

Back from DC where it was nice and warm, to San Francisco, where it is cold and wet. Yesterday we had a dry interlude in the rain although it was pretty cold. I went on a 30 mile mountain bike ride in Redwood and Chabot. This time I rode the Goldenrod loop and came back over McDonald. Overall it was pretty muddy and one could certainly tell that I had been off-road.

The trails were OK though and even though there was mud everywhere, nowhere was it deep enough to get bogged down or lose significant traction. I only "slipped" once and had to hop a few steps before clipping in again. At one point I had an encounter with a dog that would not stop and whose owner was clearly not in control. She was also deeply immersed in her iPod and was totally unaware of her surroundings. Not good.

Today, more showers with periods of clearing in-between. I swam for an hour and 10 minutes and covered 160 laps (or 3,200 yds, or 3/4 of an ironman swim). I had some minor trouble with pre-cramping in my right foot but nothing bad enough to make me stop. Although I was quite happy when it was all over. I did swim the first 53 much faster than the second 53, and then I slowed down some more on the third "set." Not that I stopped or anything and I did a continuous free-style from start to finish.

Added another 3/4 mile swim in the afternoon. In the driving rain, but it felt really good. I was going fast (I think).

I am happy to report that a second person has joined team Cindy. Eight more slots to go!

Ironman USA Lake Placid-TeamCindy

It's official. I am committed to compete in Ironman USA Lake Placid 2009 as part of Team Cindy. It will be my second fundraiser for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF), a charity in Hanover, MA. I just signed up and they already posted my picture on their site.

Today I swam 180 laps or slightly more than 2 miles freestyle, non-stop in the pool. I think I am getting better. Not faster perhaps, but better. An easier swim that is. And I can hold the freestyle for extended periods of time now. That is good.

Yesterday I tested Alistair's Tarmac and it feels really nice. We will cut the steering tube tomorrow and wrap the handlebars. I think it is pretty much ready for prime time. We rode 35 miles together and I burned in excess of 1,800 calories. My NP was 254 and the average close to 200W. The ride took 2:20, not including the stop at the bike store in Montclair. We climbed the Berkeley hills one extra time in this process.