Louisville

Today the Ironteam received the bad news that some of us were anticipating, there will be no entries for TnT into either Ironman Canada, or Ironman Lake Placid. We were all warned that this was a possibility about a month ago and were highly encouraged to make contingency plans to register for either the Vineman Full in Napa, or Ironman Louisville. To me the choice was simple, I want to do an actual Ironman event, not an extension of an existing shorter distance race not sanctioned by Ironman. I have been to Louisville before and I liked it a lot. Great night life with lots and lots of live music, something the bay area tends to lack. It's also a couple hours drive to St. Louis and a one hour drive to Cincinnati, two ballparks I haven't been to yet. Also, the people are very nice and have a really fun accent. One more reason to choose Louisville over Napa, you get two more weeks to train/procrastinate... So instead of "Beauty, eh!!!" I'll be hearing "y'all-most-there!"

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU!!!!!

On turning 40

40... I used to think that when you were in your 40's you were old. Maybe it's true but I sure don't feel old. I don't feel much different than I did when I was in my early 30's, really... I just can't believe I am 40motherfuckinyears old today! God DAMN!!!!

Some things have changed. I now pull for guys in their late 30's and early 40's who still try to play pro ball. I still like Rock music but I think all the new stuff is absolute garbage. I have no grey hair but I my sight is going. There are definite signs of aging everywhere, I guess I just don't feel like I thought I was supposed to feel when I turned 40.

When my Dad turned 40 he kind of went crazy and decided that for his birthday he was going to jump out of an airplane, just like he did when he was in the Marines. We all went out to Hollister to watch him on a Sunday morning. He leapt from the plane, the chute opened and he slowly floated back down to the ground where he proceeded to break his ankle. Right then and there I thought to myself "I hope when I turn 40 I don't get all weird and do something crazy to prove to the world that I am not over the hill like this jackass..." Seriously, no jumping out of planes, no gratuitous feats of strength or taking up any new endeavors just to prove to everyone that I can still hack it. You know what I mean?

Anyway, I gotta get ready for Ironteam practice, I'll talk to you guys later...


Others who share my Birthday include:
Ol' Dirty Bastard 1968
Randy "Macho Man" Savage 1952
Beverly D'Angelo 1951
Sam Waterston 1940
Yaphet Kotto 1937
Ed Asner 1929
Joseph Wapner 1919
Erwin Rommel "The Desert Fox" 1891
William Herschel 1738 "German Astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus" hehe, I said Uranus....

Frankly, I'm exhausted....

I have sooo much to tell you guys and so many pictures to share that it is rediculous, but I am really fricken tired. I am slowly uploading photos to my snapfish site so if you are interested in seeing everything, like this kick ass castle I hung out in one day (800 years old and wars were fought there! YEAHHH!!!!!) let me know and I will put you on the distribution list. Stories are coming, I just need a little time to get back into our time zone again. Jesus.....

Please try again on 11/05/07

I will be out of the country beginning 10/25/07 and returning on 11/05/07. Not only will I partake in the Dublin Marathon but I also hope to learn more of the land that my family came from, and maybe even a better understanding of what makes me who I am. Perhaps these photos will give you an idea of what lay ahead in the next week and a half...

Erin Go Bragh, Bitches!!!

Fun in a wetsuit

I ordered a wetsuit and got a great deal on a Zoot Zenith "WetZoot"! I tried it on as soon as I got it home and it wasn't long before I realized how fun it was! Check it out...









It wasn't long before it became very warm in the wetsuit...
Frankly, I was exhausted. That's going to be it from me for about a week. I am off it Ireland to run the Dublin Marathon on Monday the 29th and see the land from which my family came. See you all later!!!

HELLO, CLEVELAND!!!

Is there no end to these Chinese Toy Recalls???

You want this shirt!!!!

Before you roll your eye's and say to yourself "Just what I need right now, pictures of Barber in his pajamas with an image of the American Flag on the TV and his living room is a mess and, wait, what's in that bottle????"

Relax. It's only the greatest and best fundraiser in the world. Here's the deal. For a $20.00 donation, you get a long sleeve, navy blue, cotton t-shirt.

Full color Team in Training logo on the left breast with the good green and purple colors.

On the back, "Saving Lives.... One Mile At A Time!" with the swim, bike, and run logos.

But here is the best part. I have a friend who can do 2 for 1 corporate matching from her company, so your $20.00 donation turns into $60.00 to fight Leukemia, Lymphoma, and other blood related cancers. You do something good for humanity, and look damn good doing it...














Great for lounging around or even doing Mick Jagger impressons... Regardless of your needs, YOU WANT THIS SHIRT!!!

Contact me at cbarber67@gmail.com to get yours today!!!

Picture of the day

"You just go hide that stuff, I'll deal with Po Po...."

I'll have the quad latte, please...

A few months back I reported that the results of my physical was a general clean bill of health but that I had a blood pressure reading that was borderline high, 120/90. At the time I was 173 lbs so the doctor told me to come back in three months and we would check it again, only this time come back at 170 lbs or less. Also, he wanted me to cut back on my coffee intake. Not by a lot, but maybe keep it to two cups a day.

Today I went in for my follow up appointment. I stepped on the scale and it read 170.1 lbs. He asked me about my coffee intake and I told him that I had been good, 2 -3 cups a day max. I also told him about the additional working out that I have been doing over the last three weeks and took all red meat out of my diet and I am eating a lot more vegetables. He proceeded to take my blood pressure and it read... (drumroll) 110/82!!!!

Here is the best news of all, he believes that my improved blood pressure reading was due to a combination of the lower weight and the diet lower in fat and more vegetables, and really didn't have much to do with my lower coffee intake.

I proudly marched out of his office and went straight to Starbucks. Make it a Venti Quad Latte, bitches!!!!

Luke's Run 2007

Every year the South Bay team puts on a birthday party for Luke Ydens, a young honoree who lost his battle with Leukemia 6 years ago. This year there were Four races, a 5K for adults, and then a 100 yard dash for age groups 0-5, 6-9, and 10 on up. Not only was it a great event for fundraising and celebrating a life that has now touched so many, but it was also a reunion of TnT alumi as well. The biggest winners of all were the kids who all got medals and treats at the end of the race.









John and Karen planning just before the start.










At the end of the National Anthem, a flock of doves was released by Luke's brothers, and later the race was underway.










While the race took place I had a chance to visit with old friends, and coaches like Anna Marie King. Once the race was over the kids took care of the extra balloons for us.



















This was also the debut of Anthony Martin, 5 weeks old.









Everyone loaded up with balloons in preparation to sing happy birthday to Luke.









Luke's mom and dad address the crowd, thanking them all for coming and then Luke's brothers led us in the singing of Happy Birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE!!!!

Bring it.

I bought my bike for Ironman today and it kicks serious ass. Check it out:

It's the 2007 Trek Madone 5.0. Full on Carbon Fiber frame, forks, seat stem, and neck. I saved a lot of money by buying last years model, and put that money saved back into the bike with some components that I though were pretty cool if not essential, such as:









a lightweight cage for my water bottle(they only had one in that style, I'll get the second one next week), as well as a nice seat bag for the spare tube and C02 tanks.









I opted for the Shimano Ultegra shifter and the Speedplay titanium pedals.









And finaly some Nike 10/2 "Lance" shoes with carbon fiber bottoms, and a yellow wristband with the words "cheat to win"

"Climb upon my trusted steeeeeeeeeeed...
then were gonna ride, gonna smoke some weeeeheeeeed...
Climb up on my BAD ASS steeeeeed...
and ride, ride, riiiiiiiiide...."

- Tenacious D

Uncle Chris Rocks

On Saturday I took my brother and my two nieces to the Giants game to reinforce the fact that I am the greatest Uncle in the land...

This is my niece Kaley( turns 5 next month) on the right, and a young Korean child named Annyong(9 years) who we brought along. He had this peculuar way of repeating his own name whenever he was called by it.

This is my other niece Lindsey, she hates having her picture taken...


We drove to the Milbrae Train station which is where the real adventure began. Keeping three kids from crossing the yellow line is not as easy as it sounds...











Once we got to the game we feasted on hot dogs, cokes, nachos, garlic fries, and hot fudge sundaes. It was nothing short of amazing to see so much food being inhaled by these little animals. I loved every minute of it.












STOP TAKING MY PICTURE UNCLE CHRIS!!!!!!
Later on we went down to the kids field to let Kaley play...











The train ride home was made especially fun by their insistence of rubbing their faces on the filthiest surfaces imaginable...

By the time I got home I was absolutely exhausted. Showing these kids a good time was a lot of fun for me but it was a ton of work as well. It also gave me a much better appreciation for what my brother and his wife go through everyday. Parenthood isn't easy, especially when it's regarding these two monkeys. Can't wait to do it again next year, but thank GOD it's a year from now.....