Pictorial Pumpkin Man Race Report

Sorry for the delay in updating my blog, but I was waiting for an update on Margaret before I posted so I could update those of you who have asked. She is still down at Duke. She just finished up a new round of chemo and is still in the Critical Care unit. On Friday, they met with the discharge coordinator and the neuro-oncology team down there, to figure out an "exit strategy". Plans ranged from a long term acute care hospital (LTACH) to home care with 24 hour nursing care and home ventilator support. She is able to stay off the ventilator for up to 11 hours now so that is great. Igor her boyfriend, has been great about keeping us all updated here in Boston. He has been down there with her since August 17th which was meant for a *weekend* for both of them at Duke and haven't been able to come back to Boston yet. Margaret has a feeding tube and a trach to aid in her breathing and nutrition. Everyone please keep sending those healing vibes.


1. We want a HIGH platlet count.
2. We want her to keep weening herself off of the ventilator.
3. We need this new round of chemo to kick in.
4. We want her stable enough to come home!

Is that asking a lot? I think not.



Pumpkin Man was the perfect race to end the season.

Here I am post race with some of my family that live up in the area where the race was held. A good choice given this great opportunity to gather up some of them over the weekend who don't often have a chance to see me race. My sister made the best lasagna for dinner the night before. Thanks sister Paular. Pictured is Big Ed aka my Dad, Mr. TGP, me, my sista
and my 16 year old nephew A. (Andrew) Isn't he cute?

And here's the offical race sag wagon parked at my sister's house. Big deal right? Well, I didn't know until the LAST MINUTE practically that Andrew was going to be driving the sag wagon during the bike portion of the race! He works at the LBS in the area all summer, Papa Wheelies, and they were the official bike mechanic/support for both the sprint race on Saturday and the 1/2 on Sunday. Tangent:Look how green and perfect my sister's lawn is. (eyes rolling)

Here we are before the swim start. I'm chatting with PureMadness Jen who was there selling her wares. Hey Jen... START POSTING ON YOUR NEW BLOG already.... notice the horns my sister has. Not out of her head, in her hand. ( just kidding big sister) Yes, she used them. A LOT.
Check out this nasty hill they had you run up to transition. I am RUNNING or attempting to do so as to not disappoint The Father figure who without a doubt would have given me GRIEF for walkin' up it. Don't my arms look like they are ready to rock climb?

Go go Gadget...

Bummer I don't have a picture of me road side changing my flat at 2:04/ 42 miles into the race. My fangs and claws came out for just a moment not soon after the wave of dread that came over me first when I heard the pop. I quickly regained my composure and reminded myself the day is about Margaret not me and to HTFU. Come to find out, I'm racing on Vittoria Crono tires which are in fact, time trial tires that are extremely light weight and fast but have very little puncture resistance. There ya go...live and learn! I had the sucker changed and on my way before Andrew ever came around with the sag wagon. Yippppeee!

When I crossed the finish line, my time was 5:04 and I was thinking wow, with a flat and plenty of hills I sure was speedy! NOT. The course was short on both the bike and the run come to find out. Both Kat and Jeff Donatello put tons of effort into making it a fun weekend for all with lots of attention to detail. I got lots and lots of comments and thumbs up on my Margaret suit. I thought of her often through out the race and was proud to be supporting her and racing for her. I spy RD Kat Donatello and female winner/LP ironman champion, Catlin Snow....and my big 'o butt. :-O I will leave you with this email I got from my one and only sister Paula who battled her own cancer at age 28.

How ya feeling racer girl????

I had fun waiting for you to cross the finish line at pumpkinman. I was just wowed by watching all the racers. It looked like fun and yet ....very out of your mind crazy all at once , you should be very proud of yourself, we are of you! ! I have to say, I did have a bit of a tear for Margaret when you came across the line.I saw the back of that suit and felt blessed to be healthy and given a chance to live on.