Dahmanator Blog

After spending Christmas Eve in California we headed to the airport on Christmas Day to fly back to St. Louis. Paige had a fun time with her cousin Colin, both sets of Grandparents, and even Great Grandma Gogi. I also went to two hockey games back to back. First it was the Duck’s and Maple Leafs then the Kings and Maple Leafs where we got to sit in our own private luxury box. I am diggin’ these kinds of events.

Paige was more interested in playing with her things then looking at the camera

Thankfully there wasn’t anyone in the middle seat so I could stretch out

We finally made it to a comfy couch

There is me, Mommy, Granny, and Great Grandma Gogi

Night one at the Pond —————-Night two at Staples Center

Taking a turn.

I figured I’d post some info regarding my first attempt at a triathlon.

But first, the thanks.

I have to thank my cousin Scott for getting me motivated to do this. His blog is here (he has a nice bike).

I also have to thank my brother in law Chris, because when he brought his Giant road bike down from San Francisco he let me test drive it and that eventually led to me getting a Giant to call my own.

I also have to thank Jim and Joe who have been putting up with me and keep getting me out on the bike almost every Saturday morning.

Finally, I have to thank Angie for watching over Paige so I can get out to ride/run/swim and allowing me to spend some money “investing in myself”.

Some race info.

The Newport Beach triathlon was held on 4/20/08.

The distances were advertised as:

SWIM: 1/2 mile.
Flat water swim in the Back Bay of Newport Beach.

CYCLE: 15 miles.
Scenic course through Back Bay Drive and Eastbluff Drive.

RUN: 3 miles.
Fast and scenic out-and-back course.

I completed it, so I guess that makes me a tri-athlete. I was pretty happy with my finish, but I have room for improvement.

I was 8th out of 64 in my group (30-34 year men) and 83rd out of 354 men. Not too shabby.

The groups were sent off as follows:
6:45AM - Elite M & F, Men 29 and Under, Collegiate Men
6:53AM - Men 30-34, Men 50+
7:01AM - Men 35-39, Men 45-49
7:09AM - Men 40-44, Clydesdale
7:17AM - Women 30+, Collegiate F, Athena
7:25AM - WOMEN 29 & U, RELAYS

The full results are here if you’d like to see how fast some of these guys are. My number was 145 if you want to search for me.

Here are my results:

The Course

Keep in mind the scale on this. The hills are by no means mountains, but you’ll have to work to get up them. I recorded the course with my garmin GPS a couple weeks before the event.

Course Profile

Swimming
I was in the Men 30-34 group with 63 other guys, but 50+ also started with us so I’m not sure what the total ‘herd’ was at the beginning. It was a bit tough to navigate the water in the crowd, but I think my days of cross country running in high school helped because it was basically the same concept - try and relax and survive until it thins out. I can’t swim in a straight line, but other than that I was ok. I rented a wetsuit and it kept me nice and warm. I don’t have any pictures of the swim.

Transition 1
Upon leaving the water, I had to step up a small sand embankment (probably about 3 ft tall), then jog through the parking lot, around the fence, into the transition area, and through the transition area until I came to where my stuff was parked. I was wearing a chip around my ankle, and that is how the my times were kept. Whenever you enter or leave a transition area, you go over a mat that reads the chip and sends a signal to a computer to let it know. After leaving the beach, there was a girl with a hose that hit my feet with a blast of water to get most of the sand off.

I was slooow in transition area 1. I was paranoid that I was going to forget something. I pretty much took my time getting the wetsuit off, drying my feet, getting my socks and shoes on, putting on my helmet and glasses, getting a drink of water and setting off. I jogged my bike out of the transition area and past the line where you allowed to mount your bike. A lot of guys were doing some crazy run and jump on the bike which looked straight out of Little 500, but I took it safe. I just stopped, got on the bike got up to speed.

Bike

I look relaxed

Not so aerodynamic.

I felt good on the bike. I was still wet from getting out of the water. I wore these clothes under my wetsuit. They actually dry pretty fast, but they stayed wet from my perspiration.

I kept a pretty steady pace and slowly and steadily gobbled people up. The course was a two lap course with a nice little wall to be climbed one during each lap. I’ve been biking a lot over the last couple of years so I figured I’d do ok on this leg. I was hoping to stay near 22-24 and when I looked down at my bike computer it verified that I was holding speed. I think the hill and U-turns kept my speed down. I think I could have gone harder, but I was saving some up for the run. I liked the little climb and got by a lot of people on it and the steady rise that followed it. On my way down it the second time, I saw a bunch of riders starting to get caught up in a mob on it. I’m glad I didn’t have to contend with that.

I have to admit that I came out around a turn a bit fast and overran the center dividing line. A guy coming at me almost messed his drawers. I calmly told him, “Sorry about that dude” and kept motoring. The course was a bit narrow and tight so I really couldn’t go all out and had to pay attention to my surroundings. I had a cliff bar with me on the ride and I took a couple of bites during the second lap. It wasn’t a lot but enough to keep a little something in my belly.

Transition 2
At the end of the ride, I braked at the dismount line. Some guy behind me didn’t brake soon enough and came skidding over the line. I thought he was going to eat it. I smiled, ran into the transition area, found my spot, put the bike up, took off my helmet, took off my shoes, put on my shoes, put on my running number, grabbed a little drink and headed out.

Run
The part I dreaded was here. My legs didn’t really want to run. I took small steps and tried to keep them moving. I just thought, 1.5 miles out and 1.5 miles back. No big deal. I was shooting for 7:30 minute miles so I just kept moving those legs. There was about 4 others leaving the transition at the same time as me. I tried not to fall back from them too much. I kept up my pace and I got passed by a couple of guys (and by some freaking little teenagers). When I got to the hill at the end I made pretty good time up it. I passed a couple of guys who were struggling on it. That cross country mentality helped me out. I made it up the hill, turned around and went back down it. I knew I was at the home stretch and the worst was behind me.

There is a bridge that crosses the bay and keeps it isolated from the boat slips and the rest of the bay that leads out to the ocean. On the way out, you run over the bridge and on the way back, you cross it as you near the finish line. I knew when I hit that bridge I was almost done.

Almost done!

I picked up the pace and caught up to the 62 year old guy who passed me about a mile and a half back right as I came up to the finish shoot. It felt good to be done, and all by about 8:15 in the morning. Time for breakfast in downtown HB with Angie and Paige!

The Finish Line

Its Over!

Paige continues to grow. Enjoy the pictures.

Paige was able to pull herself up and walk along the wall a couple of steps as long as she was holding on.

Paige is having a fun time pulling of the post it notes mommy uses to say how old she is

So we had to improvise…

What is that harry thing on your face?

These things are much smaller than my kitty cats.

We partied it up in our “best” sweaters with some friends

Our dear friends, the Carroll’s moved down to Florida this month. Casey didn’t want to leave the comfortable bed.

While we will miss them lots we had so much fun while they were out in California and we now have another coast to visit often.

Paige really started feeding herself this month-even though half of it would end up in her bib! She has been “talking” a lot and showing off her new teeth coming in-which will make 8 once they are all in. Paige loves to wave “bye bye” and sqeals when she sees pictures of herself
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Paige was a traveling girl this month. With a trip up to Paso Robles or wine country in Southern California for a grape stomp with our friend Rise’.

It was a fun day of food, grapes, and of course wine. Although Paige just got to watch she still had fun.

Our friend Kevin rented a Lambourghini for the day for a work function and brought it by for the kids to sit in the seats. As you can see Paige does not like being in the passenger seat.

Then a few weeks later we were off to Maui for a few days of relaxation with the family. We met up with our dear friends Kevin, Karyn, and their son Casey. Paige and Casey had a fun time playing in the pool and Paige had her first feel of sand at the beach. (Yes we flew all the way to Maui from Southern California for this).

Then it was back to Southern California for brief visit with Uncle Chris at LAX

and a trip to the fire house with Casey.

Some of Paige’s fun past times are going to the park with her buddy Casey and having pajama parties.

A lot happened in this month. Paige was in the starting phase of crawling. She would rock back and forth and then push herself backwards. She would rather hold on to our fingers and “walk” around. She did go to into a sitting position from her tummy for the first time which was neat to see. She also had two of her top teeth coming in within a week of each other.
Uncle Danny came for a visit and all of us, including Nanny Anna went to the Angels game. Paige took her first train ride with Uncle Danny too.

Mommy and Paige went to Houston for mommy’s work and Grandma T. flew in to watch Paige. We even spent some time with dear friends Matt & Becky and their two daughters. I know they had a great time.

Check out Angie and Paige representin’ Southern California Lab Rescue on The Pet Place. Ang is a regular, but this is Paige’s television debut.

It’s amazing how fast she is changing. At about 5 1/2 months she started cutting her first tooth. The second bottom tooth was not too far behind. At her 6 month check up she was 26 3/4″- 80% percentile 16#4oz- 50%, I like to say long and skinny like mommy. Her Dr. was surprised to see teeth so early (so was mommy). Paige has been saying lots of Da Da’s, Ya Ya’s, and Ga Ga’s. Enjoy these pictures of her!

Paige was so happy to be out furniture shopping and loved sitting in her mini leather chair

Little Sassy Girl

The cute couple!

Paige had some new milestones this month. She started to sit up unassisted if only for a few moments and she also started on rice cereal. By the end of her 5th month she was sitting up pretty good. Here are a couple of pics for month 5.

Paige eating rice cearal for the first time

Paige sitting up

We are sorry it has taken so long to get a new post up on our site but as you can imagine things have been pretty hectic around here. At Paige’s 4 month check up she was 14lbs. 7 oz. and 25 3/4″ long. She is definitely long like mommy. We have had a busy month. Paige went to an Angel game and saw the Duck’s win the Stanley Cup all in one week. She has been doing a lot of rolling over-we often find her on her tummy in bed. Paige is currently 5 1/2 months and is almost sitting up unassisted. She started doing that a couple of weeks ago when Granny and Grampy (Angie’s parents) were in town. We are getting ready to start her on rice cereal and will be sure to post pictures and a video. I hope these 100 pictures will keep you busy until the next post!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8CZtXLhw4bMMM

Love, Angie, Mike, and Paige

5/19/2007 - Paige rolled over from her tummy to her back. We only caught the tail end of it the first time, so Angie reset her into position and got it on video the second time.

I figured I’d throw in a picture of Paige and me just to let everyone know that I’m still here. Angie went to run some errands but upon leaving she asked me to get a picture of Paige’s outfit. This was my first attempt. You should have seen me setting the timer on the camera and running over to try and hit my mark. Paige seemed to enjoy going back and forth, of course the smile went away when I stood still for the camera.

Mike holding paige up for the camera.

Angie and Paige in the back yard.

Paige is now starting to wear some really cute outfits. I have promised myself no more clothes for Paige but they are too hard to resist. Luckily she is very good about letting Mommy put her in just about anything. At 13 weeks she is making a whole lot of noises and can lift her head up pretty far when she is laying on her back. She loves sucking on her hands and likes to shove them all the way in her mouth which of course causes her to cough. But it doesn’t stop her!

Paige loves to sit in her Bumbo. Here she is with a classic look on her face. She is 11 weeks old in this picture.

Paige has started to drool a lot and loves putting her fists in her mouth. She has also discovered her feet and likes to stick them in the air. She is “talking” to us and smiles and laughs (and snorts) all the time. She has also started reaching out for mommy wehn she walks by. Mommy and Paige have been going on walks, riding in the car, and enjoying the California frigid winter of 70 degrees. Mommy goes back to work next week but Grandma T. is coming in for a week to help make the transition a lot smoother. Paige will have a nanny starting soon-we’ll get her picture up as soon as we choose one.

(This is Angie’s first of many posts)

We are pleased to announce that our dear friends, Kevin and Karyn, had a healthy baby boy on Friday. We were in approach to John Wayne airport returning from St. Louis when “Baby Doots” was born.

Here is a link to their web site.

Some Pics from Paige’s first easter.

It has been too long since the last post. Sorry. We have been busy and will get everyone updated real soon. In the meantime, enjoy this video of Mike pushing Paige aorund in the stroller.

Time is flying by.
Week 1: I had a week off
Week 2:I worked from home
Week 3: I crawled back into the office.

Things are still going pretty well. Thanks everyone for all the gifts that have been pouring in. We really appreciate it and Paige certainly enjoys the wardrobe variety.

We had some friends over for the Super Bowl and that was a good time. Then later in the week Grandma and Grandpa T. came into town and have been helping us out around the house and in the kitchen. Angie’s aunt and uncle came down from Santa Monica with a great dinner. Uncle Chris stopped in to visit since he was town for business one last time before settling down in St. Louis (we’ll sure miss his visits, but he’s agreed to come visit us with Colin and Erin in the summers.

Paige had some firsts in the last couple of weeks.

Here is the latest set of pics.

Enjoy!

What does Paige do besides sleep, eat, and ah, dispose of the food?

Not too much at this point, but here is a little sample.