Ouch that Hurts

Wow!!!! Where has the time gone? These last three weeks have just been crazy. Time has been a precious commodity. At work, I was finally getting in the groove on my new project….and here came the rain. First, we had something like 8 inches of rain in 36 hours, which caused me to stay up all night stemming the tide in the basement. Actually, it was a good challenge and I must say that I did one hell of job keeping the water confined to a very small area. No major damage was done other than I ruined a couple of towels.

On Thursday of last week, I receive a call from one of the Partners. The new project I am on is having funding issues. This is nothing new as this is the same client I have been supporting for the last 6 months and I am well aware of the half-assed way they go about funding their projects. However, there is a very high profile project that I am needed or wanted on. It is always nice to be wanted, but I liked it where I was. LOL So I close up shop at one office and start to move my stuff to my new location. As I was walking down the stairs with a box—boom I feel and my knee is a little sore. Damn, Columbia is Sunday and I think I bruised my knee.
In addition to all the changes at work, I am taking command of a Civil Affair Company in two weeks. I haven’t started the hard work yet, but laying the ground work. You would be surprised on much trouble it can be just sending out invitations.

On Saturday, my knee was feeling better, so I did packet pickup and bike turn in. We also went to Wine in the Woods. You know how wife’s love dates. Especially when they do not consider a triathlon a date.

I arrived at the park and set up my transition area. I puttered around and talked with some friends and then I went over to the Club Tent and Bus’s for a while. I watched the pros go off at 6:45 and then I got on my wetsuit. I was in the water about 10 minutes prior to start and it was effing cold. I swam around to warm up and chatted with some of the other swimmers.
At 7:15, the horn sounded and true combat swimming was on. Men 35-39 was the biggest wave of the race and it was pretty violent. I was actually having fun working around people and trying to get way. It was a little game that took my mind off the cold. Then all of a sudden I took a foot right in my sore knee. I tried to swim a little further and then I just swam for shallow water and removed myself from the race.

Having torn a rotator cuff and banged up my knee in the past, I don’t play with either shoulders or knees. I would rather be safe than sorry. Triathlon is not my living, nor do I have to participate to keep myself alive. I told the marshal I was out of the race and then I turned in my chip. I limped back to the tent and then back into transition to get some dry clothes.

When given lemons—make lemonade. I took out my camera and I was able to get some good pictures of the triathletes near the bike-in and bike-out areas. I have a couple of really good photos of Chris McCormack finishing the bike, however I can't get them to upload. I will post those later.