Hi folks,
Each time I come to a race I meet inspiring people and take home some great memories. This year was no exception. My inspiration at this event (LPIM 2011) came from three guys, in a slightly younger age group, who chatted with me on the day after the race. One of them remembered my name and called me over to ask about how my race went. Then I noticed that one guy was covered in ‘road pizza’ (bike crash), the second had his arm in a sling (broken collar bone due to bike crash), whilst the third seemed fine, but then I remembered him telling me previously that he had two broken ribs (during the run). Three injured dudes! What was inspiring was their attitude. They were still with the program, not bitter, mad or blaming the poor road surface. I wasn’t happy with my time, but I didn’t say a word. People like that make the whole thing worth doing.
Now the memories, which were exceptional – racing with my son, Nigel, and seeing three of my grandchildren. What could be better than this?
The author and his youngest grandson, Nolan, looking out over Mirror Lake, Lake Placid, after the race.
I am one lucky SOB. Life IS good. Signed up for next year!
Lovely photo.
Will catch up with the editing this afternoon. Don’t know how you can write so much and do the Ironman too!
No editing.
Great pic FOD…he’ll be faster than his own dad before long…don’t tell Nige I said that:)
In the Royal Navy a key part of training a ships company is in damage control.
Each member of a crew has their “action station”. This gives each member of a crew a specific task in fighting the enemy. There are primary damage control teams made up of those with no specific task (cooks, writers, etc).
These are added to by survivors of any part of the ship put out of action as the ship takes damage.
On the Albion I was on the aircraft detection radar as my action station. Should the radar cease to function my damage control station was on the starboard waiste deck.
All over warships there are stocks of timber for supporting damaged sections, fire fighting equipment, isolation shitches and cables to bypass damaged wiring, etc,etc..
In my location one task was to seal the hatch to an anti-aircraft gun magazine. This was to be done in a fire and would seal in the magazine crew and seal their fate…
A ship with a well trained crew is harder to sink as it will keep control of damage and carry on fighting.
(An example of this was HMS Edinburgh. She was down at the bow and slowly sinking, her rudders were locked and she could only go round in a circle slowly. In this condition she fought off the Kreigsmarine destroyers sent in to finish her off.)
That stent of yours seems to be an excellent piece of damage control. Your regime seems to be an effective damage control crew of sorts.
I must admit I felt your Iron Man race seemed a bit much to me. Your regime of training and your mindset seems to have worked effectively.
(As fo my fitness levels I seem to be more like HMS Trinidad. She was famed as the ship that torpedoed herself.)
Nice photo
Hi Trevor,
Interesting analogy, though locking that hatch would live with a person for the rest of their life. Makes my stuff seem like child’s play, which in a way it is.
Nolan is a lovely little chap.
Cheers,
Kevin
Yep,
He looks like he’s got the curiosity gene. My Becca was like him but a darker red head.