PIcture this

This is a picture from a bar located in a cave. Pretty cool. As you can see me and my fellow gringos are sunburned and slightly borracho.

After years of hiding like a coward and letting fake Waldos take the fall, he's finally brought to justice. We can all sleep a little more soundly knowing this rat is off the streets.

Holy health issues batman

That's right robins, I have been backhanded by the cold ice queen that is health related issues. The last month has been a literal hell on earth. Allow me to bring you up to speed. This blog will in no way do it justice.

1. Dengue Fever- also known as bonecrusher disease for how it makes you feel. Cute. My experience this pleasant little jungle fever (grow up) was a 7 day suffer fest. I had about 17 episodes of 5-6 hour fevers in that time span. It got up to about 101-103 and my back felt like someone hit it with a hammer and my eye sockets felt like they were in a vice. I couldn't imagine being sicker.

2. Food poisoning- after eating at places that would give you tetanus just looking at them, I got horrific food poisoning from a yogurt stand in a mall in the richest part of town (imagine a baskin robins in the hamptons or something). I think the frozen coconut was rotten and it took a while for my body to register what was wrong. OH when it did. There were serious fireworks. 6-8 hours of puking. (dry heaving/ legit pukes). That coconut got so deep into my GI tract that by the time it was out, I had strained my lower abs so bad that I am feeling it 5 days after.

3. I am currently sitting here, desperately hoping that I can make it to the bathroom in time in case a certain ... ahem urgent, frequent, and unpleasant issue arises. Let's just say this problem is not conducive to being stuck in a third grade classroom without random bathroom breaks. Dios mio.

there are several others little problems that will be divulged once a battery of blood work comes back. Stay tuned as my body falls into disrepair.

Whoa

2 huge whoas...

I just got over this horrible jungle disease called dengue fever (not jungle fever)

It is a high fever for about 7 days with bouts of intense eye socket, joint pain, and sweating... Oh my word. Nothing has ever been harder for me than teaching with this little illness. I didn't miss a day because it was exam week and I was compelled. I don't know why. I don't think I will be teaching again because I am too scared of getting sick and doing this again.

Second whoa was kona... holy shit. Chrissie was on fire. She shamed half the pro men's field and all the women's field. Someone should go after her and blow up like crazy... why not. Guaranteed Macca (if he had breasts) would be blowing to bits going after her. What is the deal? Anyway, Mirinda had a stellar marathon but was such a non factor after t2 that it was silly.

What can I say about the men? Chris Lieto broke my heart. What an amazing race. Huge courage and he almost got it done. Macca was amazing with his huge bike to make up for a poor swim... Should have had the race but a huge Mid Run BLOWUP (see my blog prediction) was certain... rallying from this was one of the most impressive things on the day. Raelart was stellar and Alexander is a machine and a bit lucky as it was Macca and Lieto's race to lose. A 12 minute deficit in t2 is something you shouldn't be able to get away with and I don't think he will again.

Potts? What the hell happened with the bike? Look at his splits in any tri and he should be up there. Who knows... but I still think he can win this thing.

I think I am signing up for IM florida.

Kona

Excitement...

Kona is coming and I am majorly pumped because it is probably the best field the event has seen in history. There are probably 10 men who all have legitimate shots at the overall. No way of predicting this race but I'd like to toss out a couple names that have been of particular interest to me and could do damage.

Ronnie Schildknect- After a ridiculous bike run combo that left him in forth by seconds to Rutger Beke, he knows that he lost the race on the swim. Biking in isolation much of the day had to have made an impact on his swim training. Look for him to hang on in the chase pack and be in the hunt on the run.

Andy Potts- After a crash in Chicago, his name dropped from the contenders list. I don't think potts will have a problem. Huge performance last year in first Ironman on almost no specific training. People also forget his drafting penalty last year. Look for him to lead from the gun and dictate the first half of the bike. The run will be a shoot out and potts will be there late.


Usual suspects-
Macca, Llanos, and Crowie

Macca- ridiculous racing this year, but my I think he may have overcooked it with too much variety, racing, and travel in his lead up. Also, a damaging Ironman Germany took him very deep. My favorite athlete and I hope he smashes everyone but I am concerned.

Llanos- People say he lacks the head to win... great performer in the heat can never be overlooked. Also took it incredibly deep in Ironman Germany

Crowie- Sharp in the majority of his races. Smacked Macca early in the year. No ironmans and very stable year. Can he be the first to defend since Tim Deboom? My gut says yeah, looking at the field, probably not.



The record will fall this year... The swim will be faster than ever with ITU guys (bozzone, henning, and potts pushing)

The bike will see lieto, stadler and new man 20 yr old phillip graves pushing hard.

The run will have a pack of brilliant foot speed come into t2 together (llanos, beke, macca, crowie, henning, potts, schildknect, bracht)

people will be shelled by mile 10 as Macca will take it out very hard- llanos doesn't have the speed to hang but will stay steady to finish 3rd, beke will fall off, and bracht will let them run away.

Henning's inexperience will show, Bracht and Schildknect will fade.

Macca will pop from pushing too hard too early.

Crowie and Potts will kill each other. Potts wins with surge in the last 2 miles.

Potts will split 48, 4:30, and 2:43 for roughly an 8:06

Women? Chrissie and she'll destory the record and will terrify the mens pro field.