Steve's first "Ironman for Heidi" update:

For those of you interested, but not on Facebook or on FB, but not in the group, we now have 118 members in the Ironman for Heidi group. Steve cooked up a contest that I blogged about here:http://alschronicle.blogspot.com/2009/08/fun-fundraising.html
and the FB group is here:
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=123792910115#/group.php?gid=140579306281

I don't know if you are not a member of FB whether you can follow the second link and see/join the group. It may only be for people with FB profiles/accounts.

Steve and Laura are on the road...headed Victoria for the Ironman. Here's his first update from the road...good stuff, and some tips of what "not" to do. We are with you in spirt Steve and Laura. Just tell me what "plyometrics" is...or is it are? No clue...
Thanks for the update Steve, fun stuff! Keep it coming!

=====Begin Steve's update=====

Ironman for Heidi daily (ok, somewhat daily) updateTyping from somewhere north of Weed, CA

-- Saturday, August 22, 2009At 9:00 a.m. this morning, the Ironman for Heidi team was packing the car, preparing for the long drive to Penticton, for Ironman Canada. At 9:01 a.m., the Fed Ex man came flying down the street, screeched to a stop in front of the driveway, and delivered the last piece of baggage -- the Ironman Canada speedo. Like clockwork. Nothing stands in the way of the Ironman for Heidi train.Eugene, OR -- Later that dayStopped in at Home Depot to buy Off and some mosquito netting for the first night of camping.

Team Ironman for Heidi were both sick of being in the car all day, so Laura decided it was time to get in some training. We did a quick 3 mile run through the industrial section of town -- not really a triathlon crowd. Laura was getting catcalls from the locals, though I was looking pretty good in my compression socks, so who knows who they were whistling at really. After the run, I joined the other shoppers watching Laura do 15 minutes of plyometrics and push ups in the parking lot. We found a campground around 8:30 p.m. I’d be lying if I said it was beautiful, but beggars can’t be choosers. Laura reminds me that we need to be grateful for what we have and to stay positive, and she’s right. What great showers!

We moved all the luggage into the front seats and set up our sleeping bags in the back of the FJ. With the luggage blocking our side doors, we cleverly climbed in through the rear door and shut it before turning in. Around 1 a.m. I noticed Laura rustling around -- time for a trip to the potty. Unfortunately, the rear door doesn’t have an internal latch. I managed to McGiver us out of there in the nick of time, but that’s going to be a continuing problem if I don’t figure something out soon. Wilsonville, WA, 9:30 a.m. --

Sunday, August 23, 2009 Minor glitch during our second stop for Starbucks this morning. The FJ Cruiser has cup holders in the doors -- very convenient. Before you climb in, you can put your Grande coffee in the door so you don’t spill on yourself. But there’s always a catch. I jumped in, slammed the door, and created what I believe to be the world’s first coffee geyser. Yellowstone has nothing on a cup of coffee with a tiny little hole in the lid getting punched in the kidneys by a door mounted cup holder. No time to wipe up, though. We’ve got a 5:15 boat to catch. Victoria, Canada here we come.
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