My Brother Pees After The San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Oct 152011
 

Because my brother had his appendix removed the day before The San Luis Obispo Triathlon, he could not complete our second triathlon.  Fortunately, the Triathlon course took me right by the hospital my brother was staying at and I was able to complete it and still be close enough to my brother in case he needed me. 

My brother was hoping he would be released on the day of the Triathlon, but unfortunately the anesthesia they gave him made it impossible for him to pee.  The doctor’s needed to make sure that he could pee before they could release him from the hospital.

When I came to visit my brother the next day, he was proudly displaying his urine for all to see with a huge grin on his face.  He was going to be released from the hospital.  After a wild and adventurous weekend The Running Brothers left San Luis Obispo with one 60th CSPA Anniversary under their belt, one completed Triathlon and one less appendix then they came with.

The SLO Triathlon is Over…Off to Visit the Other Running Brother in the Hospital

Oct 092011
 

I had just completed the San Luis Obispo Triathlon and went to visit my brother in the hospital, the day after his appendix had to be removed.  I came into the hospital full of sweat and came running into his room to see how he was doing.  He smiled upon my arrival and I detailed every aspect of the race I had just completed.  I could see in his eyes how proud he was of me. 

Once my family arrived I decided to honor my brother by bequeething him the medal that I had just received for completing the San Luis Obispo Triathlon.  He put it on and smiled.

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Swim

Aug 272011
 

Before I could get into the pool, I had to wait for another competitor to finish his swim.  His wife was his counter, meaning she was counting the amount of laps he had completed.  The second he finished his 18th lap, he sprung out of the pool, ripped off his goggles, threw them at his wife, and ran to the transition area.

With that, I lowered myself into the pool and put my goggles on.  I was ready.

One of my concerns coming into this race was knowing what to wear.  I looked around and saw a bunch of people in ridiculous looking triathlon gear.  Which was much smarter than what I had decided to wear.  I was wearing soccer shorts into the pool and that’s what I planned on wearing the entire race. 

I quickly realized this was probably not the best idea.

As I pushed off the ledge of the pool to start my first lap, my soccer shorts were pulled down from my pelvic area.  I was sure I was mooning everyone who had come to watch the swimmers swim.  Nothing like showing some ass crack to a group of strangers.  But, I continued on anways. 

Every few laps or so I found myself, pulling up my shorts, but other than that, everything was going smoothly.  I was keeping a strong steady pace and in comparison to the other competitor in my lane I was flying.  I was completing two laps for every one that she was completing. 

The swim felt good and, as my counter, my Dad was yelling out the lap numbers as I completed them, always telling me to pace myself.  I must have been hauling then, considering he was contuinually telling me to slow down, but I felt good. 

I heard my Dad yell “18” as I reached the edge of the pool.  For the last lap, I gave it all I had and pushed for my last lap in the pool.  I had plenty of energy and completed my swim powerfully.  I hoisted myself out of the pool threw off my goggles and ran to the transition zone, ready to hop on my bike. 

 

 

 

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Beginning

Aug 252011
 

My Dad drove me to the race and we got there 30 minutes before my scheduled race time and we realized really quickly they were running behind.  Basically, we waited one hour and 30 minutes before my race began.

The San Luis Obispo Triathlon started in the SLO Swim Center, oddly enough, this was the same pool where I had learned to swim probably 25 years ago when my mother signed me up for lessons there. 

They were able to fit somewhere between 30 to 40 people in the pool at the same time and we swam the width of the pool, which was 25 meters long. 

As I walked to the starting station, my Dad gave me some last minute advice.  “Be sure to pace y0urself,” he said.  Apparently, we were allowed to do some warm up laps.  I didn’t need them.  I was ready.

Race Day – The San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Aug 232011
 

Just one day before my brother had surgery to get his appendix removed.  And today was the San Luis Obispo Triathlon.  I was without my other half . . .

It was a beautiful day in San Luis Obispo and I headed to the race early to check in.  The check in was easy and I was able to inform the race officials my brother had his appendix removed and would not be able to enter the race.  We asked if a refund was possible and they kind of shrugged me off.  I thought having an appendix removed was a bigger deal than they seemed to think it was.

My sister and I went for breakfast after I checked in to the race to this nice little Mexican restaurant and I ordered a breakfast burrito.  My Dad suggested I order something light for the race and when I ordered the breakfast burrito my sister reminded me of my Dad’s advice. 

I explained to her that running is a lot like golf.  I used to be a really good golfer and when I was playing golf every day, I needed to maintain my focus through the entire round and practice between rounds.  Since I can not play golf every day anymore, I am not as good as I used to be.  Now, when I go out and play golf, I do it for fun.  I don’t concentrate or focus on my game, I just go out, hit shots, hang out with friends and have a good time.  Running is a lot like golf, sometimes you do it competitively and sometimes you do it for fun. 

Today, since I knew I wasn’t in peak physical shape, it was going to be for fun. 

The breakfast burrito tasted great!

I drove to the hospital my brother was staying at, just two blocks from the check-in area. 

Were my eyes seeing what I thought they were seeing???

They were!  The racers in the SLO Triathlon were running right past the hospital my brother was staying at.  What are the odds, I thought to myself. 

I went in to visit my brother who was eager to be released from the hospital, but it didn’t look likely that he would be able to.  The doctor told him he had to pee on his own in order to be released.  He could not. 

We talked strategy about the race and I headed for the check-in area, ready for my race to begin.

 

Rocky’s Surgery was a Success!

Aug 202011
 

The last time I saw my brother, I whispered in his ear, “Just in case . . . I love you.” 

You never know what could happen in surgery after all.

The surgery went extremely well and Rocky seemed to be doing just fine.  The doctor assured us his appendix came out smoothly and that night we sat by Rocky’s side until visiting hours were over. 

The next day was the San Luis Obispo Triathlon and to be honest, I didn’t really want to do it without my brother.  But my Dad encouraged me to do it anyways and, deep down, I knew my brother would have wanted me to continue on without him.

I had one of the latest start times and knew I could get a good nights sleep in order to rest myself before the race.

Racing in San Luis Obispo

Jun 112011
 

The Running Brothers are returning to their roots. We started our running in one of our favorate Cities, San Luis Obispo. You can read our previous running advantures in SLO, all the way back in December.

That was our first real training day and I think we have come alot. Now we are going back for our second triathalon. The 32nd Annnual SLO Triathalon will be on July 24, 2011 and the running brothers will be there ready to run, bike and swim.

You may have read that our family has a pretty close connection to San Luis Obispo. Our mother grew up in SLO, our father attended the California Scholastic Press Association Workshop and subseqently lead for work show for nearly 30 years. Our parents meet at that workshop at the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. My brother, Sister and I all attended the workshop. Our family made regular trips to SLO to see our family. So needless to say SLO has a special place in our hearts.

If you want to join us let us know, if you want to make the drive or are a local and want to cheer us on that would be fantastic.

WISH US LUCK!!!