Just a Lazy Sunday?

Sometimes in life we fail. However, it is from that same failure that we rise to succeed. Over the past month my training schedule has had me riding 100 miles several times. I have never road 100 miles in one ride before and at the beginning of this day I still had failed to do so. This is a big mental and physical step in preparing for the Iron distance triathlon in Sandusky.

About a month ago I road 80 miles felt good and was well on my way to breaking 100 miles. Then I hit a wall. I kept getting sick during the long rides usually around mile 60 or so. I would try to push through the sickness but I just could not do it. Needless to say my confidence was shaky. If I could not do the bike leg of the event then I would never finish.

When my confidence was shaky Kay was in my corner to tell me "you will figure it out just keep trying". With a new nutrition plan in place thanks to Wayne and the moving of my seat up about a 1/4 of an inch off I went this morning ready to see if the changes would help. The air was cool this morning. The roads were quiet. I love riding in the morning when traffic is light. It is so peaceful. However, that did not last for long as peaceful roads gave away to hill climbs. As people woke up the quiet roads got heavier with traffic. With the temps and humidity starting to climb and eventually reaching around 90 degrees I knew I was in for a tough day. I told myself that I would not be denied today. At 60 miles I got a water and bathroom stop then turned around and started to head back towards Connecticut. Mile 87 and one more final challenge the final climb back over Mountain Rd. I had climbed the other side of this mountain 4 or so hours earlier but with almost 90 miles on my legs now and the sun out in full force this climb with its 6% - 13% grades was the final challenge standing in my way to reaching the 100 miles. Up the hill and over, YES. 10 more miles of rolling hills and 100 miles is now a reality. An average pace of 16.93 mph a little over 6 hours in total. A 7 mile cool down to spin the legs out, pedal home and reflect about accomplishing this milestone.

I could have never have done this if is was not for two people. Wayne who helped me figure out how to ride for over 6 hours and not get sick to my stomach and Kay well because when I was having doubts she never did. She believed in me the entire time. These 107 miles are dedicated to the both of them. Thank You so much for all of the support.

A day of reflection June 22, 2010. 82 days until Sandusky

This picture was taken at that start of the IronMan Mooseman 70.3. I am in the blue cap (haha)

Over the past 5 years I have ran a lot of miles, to many to count. I have accomplished things that I never thought I would and most of these endurance events have been for a cause. The cause is to do my part in helping to fight and find a cure for cancer.

Through these experiences I have learned that the body is strong and that the mind is even stronger. That what seemed impossible 6 years ago now comes a little easier. Perhaps this is the test. Perhaps this is the point.

I remember my first marathon I never thought the miles would end. The doubt in my mind of if I could drag my body 26.2 miles was with me every step of the way.

I am writing this because I feel that I am back at that place of the unknown again. A place I have not been for years. The place that I am sure a lot of cancer patients
experience. The fear of the unknown is a scary place. The thoughts of uncertainty that creep into your mind can be overwhelming.

It seems simple but for some reason it is not. You just remind yourself that up to this point in life you know that you are a strong person. You know everything up to this point has prepared you for the challenge ahead. However, for some reason the doubt creeps in. Can I truly do this? Am I strong enough? Do I have enough fight in me?

However, deep down inside we do know that the body is strong and the mind is even stronger. At the end of the day what seems to be impossible becomes a little easier. The challenge that was once unreachable is now in sight and very much accomplishable. I applaud you. I cheer for you. I want to be there for you. However, we also know that this is something that each individual must accomplish on his or her own. The cheering helps. It makes you smile and gives you strength but ultimately it is up to you. You must dig deep and find that inner strength that you did not know you had until that very moment.


One of my favorite quotes that has been posted on the website comes from Kornelia Moysis.

"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C. Clarke

My friends I ask that you reach out to someone today not tomorrow TODAY who is fighting cancer and say hi. The support helps. Friendly conversations help. Words of encouragement help. At the end of the day we know our body is strong and the mind is even stronger but we all can use a little help and a reminder from time to time.


A day of reflection June 22, 2010. 82 days until Sandusky

These are pictures from the Angry Moose event.

The IronMan Mooseman 70.3.

The first event of this year's challenge the IronMan Mooseman 70.3 was dedicated to the loving memory of Pigi Kontekakis the aunt of Kay Moysis (both in Picture).

Pigi Kontekakis - From the eyes of Kornelia Moysis
Pigi (pronounced pee-yee) Kontekakis (nona) was "my aunt" and was a kind, strong, and loving woman born on the island of Crete in Greece. She moved here to Massachusetts with her husband Stelios without knowing a single word of English. Pigi found work, learned to read and write English on her own, and raised her family which consisted of her two sons Dimitri and John the "Greek way" here in the US keeping her Greek Roots intact.

I say "aunt" because although she wasn't a blood relative she was still family. We did all of our holidays, birthday parties and vacations together as a family. Her house is where I felt most comfortable other than my own. When people left Greece to come to the US they left most of their families there. Here they formed "new families" being such a tight knit ethnic group. Pigi was a fantastic cook who enjoyed to cook for anyone and everyone! Pigi loved to care for people. She was a home health aid to many patients who adored her.

In 2005 she was diagnosed with myelodysplasic syndrome which is a bone marrow stem cell disorder that effects blood production. This syndrome often progresses to AML(Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) which is what she progressed to. Pigi was told that she had a few months to live and she should consider hospice. Of course being the fighter she was she wouldn't take that as an answer! So with the help from her son John, they looked for clinical trials for AML. Pigi entered a clinical trial at UMASS Worcester. She chose to fight rather than to give up. Unfortunately, Cancer won the battle as it so often does and it took Pigi from us on July 9, 2007...she was 69 years old.

I was at her side along with her husband, two sons and sister Georgia when she passed...one of the saddest days of my life. Life is never the same when you lose someone so close to your heart, but their memory lives forever. To this day I will never forget her hard fought battle.
Thank you for taking the time to read this...Thank you for supporting Shawn and helping find a cure for Cancer... With Love, Kornelia

The first event of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation Challenge 2010 - The year of the IronMan is in the books.

Hands down this was the toughest thing I have ever done year to date in this sport. The first event was the IronMan Mooseman 70.3 held at Newfound Lake in Bristol NH. For those of you new to this sport a 70.3 Triathlon is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles on the bike, and 13.1 miles run. I have only ever completed one of these events before. I did the FirmMan 70.3 last fall and had a great experience.

I will post the summary of this event later today.

Enjoy your Friday!!

The Year of the IronMan June 11, 2010

This Blog is set up to document the final months of my journey to complete my first Iron Distance Triathlon.