The 241

In October of 1983, while I was a Hospital Corpsman servine in the U.S. Navy, I was stationed at Atlanta, Georgia. One day I got a phone call from the Naval Hospital I was attached to in Jacksonville. I was told to pack my bags and be ready to deploy to Beirut as a part of the surgical support team there. I had a particular specialty at that time and I was needed. In a way, I thought "cool, I'll finally get to do something!" I had been married for two and a bit years and my wife and I had two kids, one almost two years old. I had been working in medical supply for the last 3 years and frankly, was really looking forward to a change. It was only going to be a temporary assignment anyway.

My boss at the clinic, however, was less than impressed to be losing me for any amount of time and he got on the phone to the Naval Hospital straight away. After a couple of hours on the phone I was told I was NOT going anywhere, and that another Corpsman would take my place. I had mixed feelings about this, part of me wanted to go, but I really didn't want to leave my family.

A few weeks later, we saw on the news that terrorists drove a truck with 12,000 pounds of explosives into the barracks, killing 241 Marines and Corpsmen that morning. It happened at about 6:20 on a Sunday morning, one of the few days servicemen get to sleep in. I was supposed to have been there...

For many years this event has haunted me. I have since been able to deal with the guilt I carry for not going, but on the other hand, I have had three more children since then. If I had gone, I wouldn't be here writing this now, nor would you be reading this. I have to assume that if there is a higher being, he/she has put me here for a reason.

After trying to deal with this by myself, I had to seek counseling (compounded by other events in my past) and this has helped greatly. To get out of the dark, I have started riding a bicycle (as you would have figured out if you've been following my blog). I wanted to do something to honour the fallen, those I could have been with. Quite simple was my solution - I put the number 241 on my bike. That is the number of men that died on October 23rd, 1983. So now when I ride and when I race, if the legs start to ache a bit, or my butt hurts, I look down and remember those who paid the ultimate price.

To those of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Semper Fi.....

Faster, fitter...

I have upped my personal training schedule. Where I was riding 20 km to train, now I'm riding 30+. I am feeling better and I think I have more spring in my step. I'm sure my family are getting tired of me telling them how great I feel and how well I did this or that section of road...
Anyway, I am feeling great, and my butt hurts less and less after each ride. The weather is warming up though, and now my real problem is sweat running into my eyes, which stings a bit at times.
I really feel the need to ride now, and cycling has helped me get out of a very dark place and into the light.
Till next time, keep an eye out for pot holes.

Time to set new goals.

Today I did my first ever Bicycle Time Trial, and it sure looks a lot easier from the other side of the track. This has been an interesting journey for me, especially as I have only been a "roadie" since July of this year. Prior to that time I rode a mountain bike occasionally (read: rarely), but I have been working on the exercise bike since April. I started out riding only 2 kilometres and that was an effort.

With the purchase of my Avanti Giro from Fleet Cycles in Perth and my oldest daughter as my inspiration, I started training. Originally, I wanted to be able to do the TT in less than an hour. After a bit of training out here in the bush, I realised that I could probably do the 20k in about 45 minutes. So I reset my goal to 45 minutes. The more I trained (and especially after I didn't train), I seemed to be doing worse. Holly said to me that I should ride for fun, not to do each ride like a TT. The only real hole in my training plan then was I was riding 20 kilometres to train.
This seemed to work okay for me today because I managed to break 42 minutes! I rode in 41:55 and I wasn't the last one to finish! Hey, I was second last, but it was a victory for me. A Time Trial, after all, is the "race of truth" and my only competition was me and the clock.
I am happy with my result, and considering I am carrying 30 kilograms of extra baggage, I can see that I will improve. I am now shooting for 40 minutes, and my next event is on the 1st of November.

I really need to thank ATTA for running a first class, top notch event. It's also nice that people know who you are, but I am sure it's because I'm "Holly's Dad". Maybe if I'm good, people will know me for who I am (that fat out of shape old man in the Cat in the Hat jersey!).

For complete results, you would need to go to the ATTA website and click on "results". Well done Anna and Bec! Thanks also to Caillan and Kaelynn for getting up so early to see the old man ride.