Watched Stoltz powerfully claim a third consecutive Championship race in

A hand specialist earlier this week assured I’d need surgery on my wrist for guaranteed full recovery. Went under on Friday, and all seems successful. The post operation x-rays shows the bone linking, without displacement, and now just a matter of time and rehab.

Made for a frustrating week in

She’s a cancer survivor, and a close friend nursed her, drove her, waited at the hospital, and gave her all in support similar to Ann’s care to me. When I mentioned how I hope to be able to pay back the favour some day, she asked me instead to pay it forward to another when I get the chance as she has. Moving thought and hope I’ll be granted the privilege to some day.

Five magic weeks in the rear view mirror, countless superb moments, priceless laughs, encouraging breakthroughs, wonderful friends made, one and a half races experienced, and a broken scaphoid.

“Life’s like a box of chocolates, you just don’t know what you gonna get.” – Forest Gump’s mother.

Some chocolates sure are more of a toffee than others, but such is the game I’ve chosen to play. I’m more motivated and determined than ever, and grateful for my opportunity to have been over.

Lauren, Brian, Amber, Gia,

Checked course and conditions in Oak Mountain National Park just outside Pelham in the Southern Bible belt of the

Swam well, but couldn’t hang on the front few, being lead by American Craig Evans. The non-wetsuit dynamic spread the field more than in Temecula three weeks ago. Out fifth, alongside Australian Andy Noble. Was incredible being back down at sea level. Felt I ought to chew the air before swallowing from time to time. As if AT, the redline, is crossed less when coming back. Dropped Noble quickly, and soon passed 2006 USA series champion, Seth Wealing, to move into third. Was feeling great, pushing good gears and handling the single track well on my Specialized hardtail. Climbed well up the 3km drag with varying gradients, after which the ride is nearly done.  

The first section down from the crest, was the danger part labeled “Blood Rock”. Made it through well, just trailing second, with Conrad some 2:10 ahead. Twas about 12min from the end of the ride. I was having the break through race I needed.  Just after, in a moment of relaxing having made the hard part, I hesitated and misjudged a bump. Back wheel clipped it, knew in mid air I was in trouble. Going real fast, too much air, landed on my front wheel, weight too far forward. Held it a moment, then came crashing down, head first, shoulder, right side. Grinding to a hault, I tried to stand, grab my bike, and make up for precious lost seconds. Foolish. It had been my hardest hit ever. Couldn’t find my bike for a start, as it lay 15m away. Nor could I hide the pain building in my left wrist. Ambulance, morphine, hospital, and a cast for my broken scaphoid.   Conrad had another class day, with a tactically good swim, sensational ride, and solid run. What an athlete, what an inspiration. Read his tale at conradstoltz.com. And a real friend arriving at the trauma unit with plenty eat and drink and more understanding sympathy than any other could have. Seemed he had spent a few hours in an ER unit starving too.  

The end of a great spell for me, and have many positives to ponder over in my rehab. Even on yesterday alone, I have much to make my own in a positive light. I know that I know that I can put it together some day. And I will.

Was informed with a smile last Monday that we were off for a training camp in true Conrad Caveman style, being different from most high performance camps in that we do actually camp. What an experience. The art of Smores, a wafer biscuit smothering fire molten chocolate and a braai’d marshmallow. Enjoyed a pizza for breakfast, self-made as a fold over. All between stunning pines alongside Donner Lake. America and I like two peas in a pod.

There was some training in all this. Spectacular training, which started out at Incline Village, on the annual Xterra USA Championships course at Tahoe

Gary and Gia Mandy, and their little daughter Ella have just moved to Truckee from Hong Kong, and spent great time with them. Special people. Gary is South African, Gia American, and I am real excited to have them a part of a summer in

Went, dressed in usual three quarters, t-shirt, and Puma slops, to help a friend we’d met move some furniture on Tuesday. I could feel the temperatures plummeting, hair straightening, nose watering. A little unprepared and unexpected, but a special moment – my first. Snowflakes came down in graceful dances in every direction. Woke the following morning, to a blanket of white as far as I could see.  Wednesday was declared a rest day. Funny that, how exhausted I was slipping into my sleeping bag at 12pm, with a 4am alarm set to make our flight. Tis hard to explain, how normal days are busy, and rest days even busier…