Coast to Coast (and back?) with an Italian Supermodel

[TN3Sport]

Great report.
Assuming you did Escape from Alcataz Triathlon. What Ironman did you do?
It surprises me how many people I've observed that have cross-over interest in triathlon and adventure riding.

Guess the narcissistic personality normally associated with triathletes is the same in adventure riders...

Keep up the reports. Enjoying them.

[bmh]

Thanks for posting subscribed.

[AntiHero]

Originally Posted by TN3Sport

Great report.
Assuming you did Escape from Alcataz Triathlon. What Ironman did you do?
It surprises me how many people I've observed that have cross-over interest in triathlon and adventure riding.

Guess the narcissistic personality normally associated with triathletes is the same in adventure riders...

Keep up the reports. Enjoying them.

LOL! Funny....whenever I trained I always worried about riding. But in the end it was always mountain biking, cycling or running that led to injuries, not motorcycling. Did Ironman Nice, Coeur d'Alene, Louisville and Cozumel. You?

[TN3Sport]

Originally Posted by AntiHero

LOL! Funny....whenever I trained I always worried about riding. But in the end it was always mountain biking, cycling or running that led to injuries, not motorcycling. Did Ironman Nice, Coeur d'Alene, Louisville and Cozumel. You?

Dito. Motorcycle injuries zero. Running injuries/cycling crashes...too numerous to count. I've enjoyed trading 6 hour Saturday morning tri-bike rides in the aero position for 6 hour Saturday motorcycle rides.
Being 60 miles from home on a motorcycle is so much more relaxing than being 60 miles from home on a bicycle...
Have done countless 70.3 races all over the US including West coast, Northeast, Texas, Florida. Did Ironman twice, both FL.

I have much respect for you if you completed Louisville. Tough course with always tough conditions.

While doing your motorcycle touring, do you find opportunities to train? I would think adventure riding and touring would provide some great opportunities for epic trail runs in many of the locations you visit.

[Exile]

Nice trip and report so far! I have a 999 and I know what you mean about hotter than brass in hell. I am really surprised you're enduring on the 1199, the ergos much be better. I know after a couple hours, my knees cramp up and the back of my legs are leathered. But I wouldn't trade my Ducati for anything, except maybe another Ducati. Good luck on your journey...looking forward to more!

[AntiHero]

Originally Posted by TN3Sport

Dito. Motorcycle injuries zero. Running injuries/cycling crashes...too numerous to count. I've enjoyed trading 6 hour Saturday morning tri-bike rides in the aero position for 6 hour Saturday motorcycle rides.
Being 60 miles from home on a motorcycle is so much more relaxing than being 60 miles from home on a bicycle...
Have done countless 70.3 races all over the US including West coast, Northeast, Texas, Florida. Did Ironman twice, both FL.

I have much respect for you if you completed Louisville. Tough course with always tough conditions.

While doing your motorcycle touring, do you find opportunities to train? I would think adventure riding and touring would provide some great opportunities for epic trail runs in many of the locations you visit.

Nice--knew I'd run across another M-Dot guy eventually who also rode motorcycles! Would be cool if we'd ever done the same events (Boise 70.3 or Vineman?)

I brought some running shoes with me on the trip and have done a couple short runs since leaving, but had a curve ball thrown my way during / after IM Cozumel in 2010. Started with vertigo about 10 min. into the swim (vertigo as in holy shit I’m going to drown because I have no clue where up is). Got my bearings, changed my head position (used fingers to sight) and powered through. During the ride I thought I had Hyponatremia because my brain felt swollen. Just had this massive, massive pressure building up. And it kept getting worse from there. I really thought I was going to die, but that’s kind of how you’re supposed to feel, no? Couldn't use my fingers, couldn't talk, couldn't understand what people were saying, had major gait issues. I had had all the symptoms before, but never this bad and never this early. (Usually only on the last 1/2 of the run). Too bad, too, because I was set to PR based on my swim and bike times.
Anyhow, I ran literally with a bag of ice on my head to reduce swelling and just kept telling myself, “FUCK this--THIS is the last 140.6 ever.” Finished, got home, but the symptoms weren’t going away.
A couple months of tests (while I got worse and worse) and probably 6 different specialists and the end result: “you need to stress less and get some rest.” I went back to my sports physician, who ordered an MRI and…





Posterior Fossa Hemangioblastoma. A tumor right near the brain stem and cerebellum.


The whole "die without regrets" way I'd lived my life was coming about 40 years before I anticipated. I'd done a lot of what I wanted, and trust me--it bothered me a great deal that I hadn't ridden a motorbike across a vast distance. And I'd always thought to myself, 'if the Dr. ever calls and says, ok asshole, you have 2 weeks to live', I'd go out and steal a Ferrari, rob a bank, fly to Paris, and live the last of my days out memorably. I mean, aren't we free when we have nothing to lose?

Well, that wasn't quite my reaction. Not as bad ass as I thought I was. Plus I could barely turn or move my head without the world spinning around me, so stealing a Ferrari was out of the question. I cried a lot the first couple days, not afraid to admit it. It's horrible, horrible torture having to face the possibility of dying.

[NewYorkLuke]

Best part about Kum and Go's is they know the name is funny why else would they sell t shirts haha

Originally Posted by limeymike

KUM & GO Gas station chain.

Yeah, my grandson needed some cash for gas so I flipped him a 20 and told him to go to the Kum & Go on the corner as its cheaper and he said "Oh, you mean the "Squirt and Split". My wife almost dropped the tray of food she was carrying in the kitchen.

[Lion BR]

Great story man. Reading it I realize everything I've done in my life so far is on a small scale when compared to your adventures. I did two mini-triathlons, raced mountain bikes, my Ducati is a Streetfighter (but it still is a babe magnet). Had my scares with health issues. Nothing as big or as serious as what you just described. But it helps me relate to your story. Not that I really need that sort of experience to capture your moment, as you tell it very well.

Have you seen the movie, "One Week"? The guy gets a cancer diagnosis, immediately buys a motorcycle, says good-bye to his girlfriend and travels from east to west (it is in Canada) all the way to the pacific. The bike was a Norton Commando.

Riding a motorcycle itself is a way to be in the moment, like meditation. Especially when we are busy with curves, speed, dirt roads, or traffic, anything that assists the motorcycle in monopolizing all of our senses. On that film, the character gets to Banf, checks in on a nice hotel and goes out on a hike, by himself. There he kind of gets lost and eventually meets a girl that is camping by herself in the middle of nowhere in the forest. They have a great time and he spends the night with her and at some point, before they say good bye, she tells him that to her all that matters is to live the moment. It was an important moment for him, for the story.

Although I have a feeling you took care of your health problem, your story is not too dissimilar to the story portrayed in the "One Week" film. And it is so much better to do it without that deadline looming closely, right? In my life I welcomed the opportunities, usually something negative that has pushed me to break away from my comfort zone, start something else, help me see how nice the other side of the mountain is. So please carry on. I'm on a vicarious mode, enjoying your writing and photos.

Lion

[OneBall]

Nice to see another couple of nutters.

Don't think there's ever a good balance between training and riding you always want to do more but there's never enough time.

I hardly did any trips on the bike last year, spent most of my time training for Ironman UK. First race after spending a few years being pissed while getting over cancer, lots of big hills on the bike so I thought I stood a chance of beating my mate but he still finished before me, the bastard. Anyway I'm going to give him some support on Norseman in a few weeks so I'll be able to take the mick out of him for a whole day.

This year I've done lots of riding and hardly any training, I've got a 70.3 at the begining of september, so looks like another year of being second best to a fat bloke.

[BSUCardinalfan]

subscribed to this one. sounds like the right thing to do at the right time for you!

[sk8rdi16]

Originally Posted by AntiHero

Nice--knew I'd run across another M-Dot guy eventually who also rode motorcycles! Would be cool if we'd ever done the same events (Boise 70.3 or Vineman?)

This is quickly becoming and Mdot RideReport! TN3Sport, when did you do IMFL? I was there last year, 2011. Finished in 11:30

Great Ride Report, makes me want to go out and get a Ducati!

If you find yourself in the South near New Orleans or the Coast of MS. Let's go for a run/ride!

[e rock]

Originally Posted by NewYorkLuke

Best part about Kum and Go's is they know the name is funny why else would they sell t shirts haha

Here's a KnG shirt on the bay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-KUM-GO-G...item4ab9c2610e

[vintagespeed]

jeez......okay so i'm gonna go smoke another cig and down a monster, while i'm gone you healthies wanna go run some laps, eat some granola or something?








jk. i'm glad someone has motivation, i've done my miles....usually with a ruck.

[TN3Sport]

Antihero,
Your screen name might be the antithesis of what you really represent to many of the readers of this forum.
Multiple international Ironman finisher and cross country motorcycle tourer. Both are super-endurance events. Both take diligence, determination, and a will to keep going...when your body is trying to tell you to stop. Probably not unlike your battle with your tumor. All that makes you more of a hero, than antihero.

Keep up the fight. Keep the riding. Keep up the reports, photos, stories.

[Blixa]

You can't leave us hanging on that note - I've read enough to be concerned. Hope you're doing a lot better and looking forward to the next update.