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The Lava Report

Dave Ruby

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Posted on
Rock Star. That in my book is what Carlos Solis is. I train him just like I do any other athlete: To help them obtain their highest level of fitness they personally can. I emphasize personally. We are all different. What works for one individual could be a waste of time for another. Or worse: Damaging. Carlos is improving like there is no tomorrow. Dropped 50 lbs. Blood sugar coming under control. Joints, muscles adapting to the stresses his body experiences from training.
   Google his name along with CNN and you may think he is a movie star. They seem to interview and film him more than the other 6 CNN FitNation athletes. If you met him you would know why. He is one of the most selfless and kind human beings there are. Today he broke into tears halfway through our training ride. I could see him getting emotional as he spoke of his ailing brother. I was already aware of those unfortunate circumstances.. But when Carlos told me he would know tomorrow whether or not he was was a positive candidate as a kidney donor (he didn't need to tell me it could save his life) Carlos Solis raised the bar even higher. And it was already pretty high.



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And crackin' we are. With my gig last week behind and done all focus is on Jodi. I dished out a big leg whipping on the bike today and she gobbled it up. She is new to Strava. She see's the worth. Went hard for 4K of climbing and snagged four QOM (queen of the mountains) stretches. They will most likely get taken away some day. That's the fun. You have to work your ass off to get it back. Or not. We are heading out to desert now for a few big volumed training days. In the heat. The whole month of June is Jodi training. She is going to blow doors off. Wait. She already is.

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Pain drives me. It is my friend. I do not always get along with it but with friends that is natural. Last week my friend(pain) injected some. For the most part  the Alabama trip was beautiful. But due to lack of bicycle delivery to destination( this was a world championship race) two of us had to rent bikes from local bike shop. I grabbed the brand new never before ridden Niner Air Nine offered to me. Pavel got a close second with his Niner full suspension albeit: Used.
           But used and tested can be a good thing. My beauty of a bike had difficulty with the rear tubeless tire staying sealed to the rim. Flat tire came on after my first smack on the rocky and rooty course. A few CO2's and no tube later I just depressingly rode on the rim. At the World Championships. Far, far away from home. Very slow moving with lots of time to think (when pain appears) I thought about the run and figured I'd add a dose  more discomfort (the kind I really prefer). And that I did.
            In the pics are the bikes we shagged from local shop "Cahaba Bicycles". Great "Coates Cyclery" like- cool family vibe.
       With no team uniforms (and most race related necessities) we trained in board shorts (maybe that's underwear for Pavel) and borrowed running shoes. That is Roberts bike case being loaded as we laughed and kiddingly asked: Where's ours??
           Robert Little (fellow Team USA and amigo) was born and raised in Vestavia Hills which was only 10 miles away from Pelham. We drove through his old neighborhood, visited his high school and like a couple of 15 year olds challenged each other to a one mile race on his alumni high school track. That was a kick. And the sort of pain I prefer.


       Although we got holed up out of the gates and had to unexpectedly stay overnite in Dallas enroute, bikes lost, race gear too, flat tires and all............. we had one bitchen time. When life hands you lemons: Make lemonade. I made the best I could. And that tangy sting I felt earlier in the week? Getting weaker. The party goes on. Hard and heavy. Pain can be your friend...................................

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Great time had today. The TriEvents Crew put on another epic production. With ITU Worlds Cross triathlon in Alabama next weekend a non wetsuit  swim, I chose to go no wetsuit today for a little prep.. I learned I still swim real lousy without the use of my buoyant flotation devise of a wetsuit. I am estimating that less than 10% did not wear a wetsuit. The result splits are up and I was 37th out of the water. Jodi wore a wetsuit and was 10th out of the H2O. When working out in the pool we are typically the same pace. I felt as though my feet were dragging on the lakes bottom this morning. Sinking like a rock. And next weeks race is one mile swim. No wetsuits allowed. Uh oh.
                      I did lay down the fastest bike split entering T2 with a handful of athletes. I then ran my fastest 5K on that course by 15 seconds to take the overall win. Cool.
                      Even cooler is Jodi rocked the bike and then rocked the run with  hungry and much younger racers  on her heels the whole way as well. Two 50+ athletes winning the Los Angeles Tri Series Express today. The race director noted that was a first for a husband/wife to both win the overall in the same race in 28 years. That is even cooler still.
             

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In 2007 I was approached and offered to be part of the Nevada Passage Adventure show. Yes we got television exposure. Aired on national television.  Lots if you lived in Nevada and some if you were awake @ 2 a.m. in California.
          I will always remember one of the questions they asked on the application: Who are your favorite all time athletes and why? I listed three:
     Willie Stewart(aka: one arm Willie) because he is one of the most humblest, kind and selfless human beings I have ever met. Oh that and he kicks ass. With one arm. And I mean kicks ass. Won the Catalina marathon a few times. Several triathlons. I believe para Olympic kayaker. The list goes on. Willie lost his arm in a construction accident in his teens.  Fact is he ran to the hospital as he was so rural in the boonies he had no choice. 
             But just got this huge treat as I open and see he is in the photos Jodi was taking of me. Full on classic Willie Stewart: Look at the sequences.(they will blow up if you click on them) He notices Jodi is taking pics, he is in the backround and gets all Willie Stewart- like. Classic. Love the guy. He moved out of Cali, married, raising children............ And still kicking ass on race courses.
       I will not fail to mention my other favorite athlete whom was/is Terry Martin. Again total class act. Selfless, generous, kindest human being. And kicked ass on courses everywhere.  With zero, zilch, nada, no ego. One special human being.



       Look closely at Willies expressions. Everyone has their game face on. Willie? Being Willie. Then going out and kicking...................ass.   Yes. These two fellas (Jodi was/is a close 3rd) rate top of my best of athlete list. Not Lance. Not Macca. Not Koby. But Willie and Terry. By a long shot.

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Quick trip to race The Southwest Xterra Championships in freezing Lake Las Vegas. We got caught in that storm big time. Great to see and race against all of our  Xterra competitors from the past. Was surprised at how many flew in from around the country. I thought we traveled far. Great to see the entire TeamUnlimited. They wed us in Hawaii on the beach a day before the World Championships in 2001. Treated us like a Hawaiian King and Queen. Won my World Championship title that race too. Cool. They are a class act when it comes to putting on a big event. And they typically designed the course to be: Gnarley. Jodi and I both placed 5th Sunday. In a huge field of typically smoking fast Xterra competitors. Stoked with that. I am in the same zip code on the race course as the four just ahead of me.(and they know it :)

                        Raced LA Tri series # 1 Express the following day. Lots of La Verne in the top five on the results page! Jodi placed first female overall. Dillon first male overall. I was 4th overall and Devon fifth overall. Go La Verne!!!!!!  Robert Little raced "The Double" and earned some hardware at Sundays race too. Legs are naturally toast and will happily take a few days off from training. Sure is nice to be back on the Xterra tour again.  Still just as tough and challenging as ever. With more and more fast competition.............just how I like it.