Back in my home...

Long day of traveling. Arrived close to midnight at RDU. Currently it is 2am.

Back in the States

Landed at LAX at 7am, now in DFW, arriving in RDU at 11:20pm (i hope!)

Good be be home in USA.

Swimming results, pt II

What a day at the Brisbane Aquatic Center. I am so relieved to be finished, and very content w/ my results. 100 backstroke was the big event today, and my best hope of gold, so I thought. I knew Ran, Team UK, was up for it, since he had been smoking everyone in all his races, but was unsure of the rest of the field. I was in lane 4 w/ the outer lanes my primary concern. I had a good first leg of the 50, and saw Ran in the far lane turning just ahead of me. My plan was to build up to finish hard and overtake him. I really went all out and struggled to the finish, but it was a good finish. Unfortunately, Ran was already done and standing up, having absolutely swam his personal best and setting a new world record. My time was 1.24, and was good enough for a silver. Bronze was 1.30

I was in the finals for the 50 breaststroke, but totally ran out of gas. By about the mid-point, I wanted to go home and get my "bankie." I finished for a soggy 6th place, but not disappointed. The number of competitors in the 40s age group was very , and every event was full of medal contenders. Nothing was free. I have to say that as much as I wanted to win a gold, the healthy competition and bantering about w/ guys from all over the globe was worth all the energy to get here. A historic event in my life.

Jim Gill and Kim Estep from Team NC were absolutely blazing fast, each winning multiple golds and setting world records. Our state team has much of which to be proud. The meet was full of children, youth and adults swimming for life at an international level. How? Because transplantation works, and it works amazingly well.

Give life, be an organ and tissue donor.

Finally...Swimming results

This will be short, since I am exhausted

400 free - Bronze - 6.04
50 backstroke - Silver - 37.71 (beat bronze by .01)
200 Men's Medley - Silver

I am very pleased w/ the results, and left everything I had in the pool. More details later..

Tuesday recap

Today was an emotional rollercoaster, for sure. I accompanied the cycling team to their time trial event, and boring would be the last word to describe it. at the outset, it was obvious that the local organizers were in over their heads in trying to manage the race. There were no timing chips used, and one volunteer was responsible for counting each of the 100 riders laps, then signaling to finish.

There was quite the dust-up, including someone from the judicially committee coming to try to calm the angry crowd. Protests and appeals are imminent. Many of those who were given medals were deserving, but there were definitely 2-3 riders who had no business wearing any bling! The worst example is a male who won a medal who only completed 3 of 4 laps.
I spite of the poor organization, I enjoyed myself and learned a good bit about cycling. It was hot, record Australia hot! Don't they know how much I hate the heat. It is supposed to be cool here.

Swimming starts tomorrow, 400 meters, 100 breast, 50 back and the medley relay. At this time, I am swimming the back leg in the men's A medley relay. More pics to see...

Monday PM update

Wow, the Opening Ceremonies were absolutely magnificent!! The entertainment was stunning, singers, dancers, instruments & speeches. The pre-ceremony waiting time was not so magnicifent, 2 hrs or so, first for our Team USA picture then into the ceremonies. Seeing all of the other 50 country's flags flying at the same time was inspiring.

During the waiting period, I was able to visit other countries' team members, often exchanging pins and taking pics. A memorable moment was when a 9 yr old Japanese boy approached me to swap stuff. He gave me a paper Ninja star, like an Origami-type deal. Several recipients from Team Hong Kong were delightful, especially one who was enamored w/ a super-tacky "Party-city" patriotic flashing necklace.

Tomorrow, I will cheer for our cycling team in their Time Trial race. The team is well-organized and very fast, so I am looking forward to being a spectator & helping out. Yesterday, I practiced in a 50 meter pool, focusing on freestyle for the better part of my session. Team UK was also practicing, and are a big team. It is obvious they have come to the World Games to win, and there's significant chatter about who will win the relays. Trash-talking not in the open, yet.

I've attached some pics from my visit to a wildlife sanctuary this afternoon.

Up early this am

Well, my 2nd night's sleep is following the same pattern as many others, worse than the first. Went to bed later at 11pm, then up at 4am. My roommate is the captain of the cycling team, and they were all in here last night talking about the course and strategy and the like. Cool stuff.

Itinerary for today:
Team meeting at 6am (daily)
Swim practice at 7am
Breakfast/beach fellowship at 8:30/9am
Team pics at 1:30pm
Opening Ceremonies at 2pm

Also, my alma mater, UNCW, has done an article on the Tx Games at www.uncwsports.com. Check it out.

Some pics are up. Enjoy...more to come

Day 2 update

Well, some coherence has returned to my foggy brain and tired body. I just came from the Team USA meeting, meeting over 80 transplant athletes from all over the country, their loved ones, donor families, and living donors, for a total team of 164! A very pumped up team, btw.

I was able to sleep from 9:30pm to 5:45 am today (Saturday), though staying up til nighttime was a challenge. It was recommended to me by many people to get on the OZ schedule asap, to recover well from the monster trip on a monster 747 w/ 2 levels. First class was on top, in case you are wondering.

I enjoyed some Vietnamese chicken rice noodle soup last night, eating outside w/ fellow team members. I am on the 22nd floor in a corner room, w/ a view of the ocean and the strip, including hotels, lakes, shopping centers, and a casino, all beautifully lighted up at night. Someone has to suffer in a room, like this, why not me?

Hopefully some pics will be up later tonight! Special thanks to all my supporter!

I am officially in Australia!

Well, this will be short, since I am completely incoherent, confused and out of sync after that mammoth trip. Let's just say I am safely here in the hotel in one piece. The Gold Coast is beautiful!

Currently, it is Friday at 3:30pm. More to come...

4 days left...almost there

Well, 4 days left til liftoff to Aus. Wow, is this really happening?! Yes, it is, and I am happy to report that I feel prepared. I did a few laps and drills this morning, after teaching groups at Rex Wellness. Just feeling good and staying healthy. That's the goal. Stay healthy.

For transplant recipients, as well as anyone on immunosuppressants, extra caution is required to reduce risk of infection and rejection. That alertness, for some fear & paranoia, usually peaks at such a time as this, prior to a major life event. To further prevent illness now and in Australia, I've purchased some face masks, and have started a flu prevention medication, Tamiflu.

There are still many errands to run, laundry to be done, packing, praying, etc... By Wednesday am, I'll be ready. For those of you who are praying people, please consider praying for the health & safety of all Team USA athletes now, during and after the Games. Two more team members have had to withdraw due to accident and/or illness.

How am I feeling?

I have been asked this question twice in the last 2 days. My initial response was, I feel good. Are you ready? Yes, I am. For me, that is a good sign, since my reputation is not one of cup is half-full, Mr. positive, be happy, love my life, nothing gets me down...

Truth is, I do feel pretty well, as far as preparing for the Games. Yesterday was my last swim workout prior to departue in 6 days! I did some 50 yd sprints, as well as additional easy yardage and TI stroke technique drills. My heart rate was maxing a little higher than usual, and I wasn't feeling too weirded out by the increased rate. A good sign. When I hit the weirding out phase when exercising, breaking down is not far behind. I am committed to resting sufficiently and staying healthy til next Wednesday.

Big Day at Rachel's school!!!

What an honor for me today, being the recipient of such kindness and support from my daughter's 3rd grade class. Ms. Sadler's Shining Stars blessed me as soon as I entered the classroom, all holding up pictures they drew for me, and wearing their red, white & blue. Then, I saw the balloons, the cake, and was given a beautifully laminarted journal book, full of pictures and letters from the kids. I was touched, to say the least.

If that doesn't help me prepare to swim my best, nothing will!!!!! Special thanks to Akemi Sadler, my awesome daughter, Rachel, and her patriotic and encouraging class.

12 days...is this really happening?

What has happened since my last post? WHO issued an H1N1 virus alert for Australia, stating all the recent occurences of the "swine flu" down under. They are in peak season over there, while we are approaching ours. Obviously, as patients on immunosuppressants, extra caution is required. Lung tx's were even encouraged not to attend the Games.

As a result, I had to sign an additional waiver acknowledging I had been given fair warning about the potential flu bug/pandemic. Infectious disease at Duke also has recommended my taking an anti-viral during and after the Games. So be it. I am still going.

On a lighter note, the uniforms arrived yesterday, and they are sweet. Team USA logo is a kangaroo w/ blue & white w/ red background. Very nice. T-shirts are cool. Polo shirt is killer. Racing suit ok. Hat is good to go. Pins are on target. Swimming cap is cheap, latex not silicone, which lasts longer and reduces drag. The shorts we won't discuss. Warm up suit is good stuff. All w/ Adidas brand, which is much better than NIKE, in my humble opinion.

I have found myself in some disbelief, even denial, about the World Games becoming a reality. As a young man, I dreamed of Olympic gold in water polo, knowing it would never be possible. Yet, I remembered wishing if I had to choose the epitome of athletic glory, that was it. Olympics are not what they used to be, but as I was growing up, they were everything. Well, this may not be the fulfillment of that testerone-driven fantasy, but it comes close. And, it will have meaning that the former could never possess.

Victory is just being there, finishing the race, alive.

17 days...pressure mounts

Hard to believe my trip to Aus is nigh, but no going back now. I have had to admit to myself and others recently that I have overdone it, maxed out, pushed the limit, etc. After teaching at Rex Wellness last Saturday, the 25th, Caroline and I traveled to Chesapeake, VA. A new TI client assembled a workshop for me to lead for about 10 triathletes, many being members of the charity, Team In Training.

So, after 4 hrs of driving, I led a 3 hr session in a neighborhood pool, in the hhhhhhhhhoooooootttttt sun. After a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel w/ my bride, I was whisked off to the second session at a lake. The lake was ideally situated at the home of Karen Wuertz, DDS, and was great for an open water venue. This was my first time leading an open water clinic, and it was a great experience! It was very gratifying to lead the pack across the lake and back, total of 3/4 mile. I was blessed to see the improvement. Notably, Karen's 12 yr old son, Jason, swam the entire distance in freestyle, no breaststroke. This was a first for him, and his stroke was smooth, graceful and efficient. Nice.

Back to my confession. I returned late Sunday night, then proceeded to do a normal week, putting in another heavy week of yardage. Not too bright. During a workout at 6am on Thurs, I was hurting, and sloooowwww. There's a certain kind of tired I occasionally get, when I hit the wall. My term for it is "transplant tired." This condition is characterized by denying the truth that my body has undergone a heart transplant, and then behave like a 25 yr old strappping, ripped, studley beefcake of a man, who can leap tall buildings, fight in the Octagon, and train w/ Michael Phelps. The result, a good old fashioned anxiety attack. If anything can put me in my place, it is this event. A common occurrence in my sick years, and a terrifying one. Needless to say, I have dialed it down, and embraced my weakness.

I wish I could say that I am so relieved, that I am just going to the World Games to enjoy myself and live my life. This is true, to an extent, a small one. I am going to swim and compete for gold! How can I not? I was scouting the other country's teams today, and I sure found a fast backstroker who I had overlooked. Aahh!

I'll accept the results, and know I've done my best to train. Part of any victory, at whatever level on the medal podium I do stand, is to display that organ transplantation works, and amazingly well! There are over 100,000 people on the waiting list for new life in the U.S., and the supply is fatally low. Those of us who have been privileged to live miraculously on the other side of life-threatening disease, must inspire others to donate life, as well as honor everyone who has made that choice!