Sunday, July 25, 2010

can you write?

I write for many article sites on the internet. It helps me to continue to hone my writing skills.

I was told by a very accomplished writer many years ago that "writing requires daily practice and just like training for an athletic event, a writer should write for at least an hour or so every day".

It makes sense, because every time I write about triathlon or anything for that matter, my articles are often checked by others or by spell check and it all helps me become better at what I love to do.

Most of the time I write for free to my own website or blog or to ezine sites with the only payment being a link to my website. However the other day I came across a site that will pay for well written articles........

"ON ANY SUBJECT"

Wow! A great opportunity to be compensated for sharing what I know.

If you are interested in writing, do yourself a favor and visit this site and see what you think...

Write and earn at Fortitude

Ironman Canada a Month Away

It sure does have a way of sneaking up on you. I remember when I was entered in IMC year after year and how the days would drag by. This was especially true once the Christmas season was over.

Maybe it's because in Calgary we often get our worst weather in February and March and it seemed like Spring would never come and we would never be getting outside on our bikes.

Once summer arrived it was always a different story. June and July seemed to go by in about a week.

Then it was August 1st and the taper was on for the big race. Actually one of my favorite experiences from those ten runs at IMC was my ritual of leaving town about 4 a.m.

I would be hitting Rogers Pass just after dawn and often it was just me and the truckers out on #1.

I always stopped at Three Valley Gap for breakfast. I always sat at the same table by the window so I could keep an eye on my bike. Well, you know how attached we can get to our bikes.

Sicamous, Mara Lake, Grindrod and down to Vernon and Kelowna.

As soon as I got within 50 miles of Penticton I would begin to spot obvious Ironmen who were out on the road hammering on their bikes and burning themselves out in preparation for the big race.

Go figure.

Actually, I can't really talk, because when I was new to the sport I did the same thing. It took a lot of years to figure out that I should be resting and not getting all beat up and dehydrated just days before one of the toughest races in the world.

I had my trip down to a science. Taking into account my stop for breakfast, I would get to Penticton about 1 p.m. or so, just in time to check in at my motel.

You simply are not going to believe this, but in the late 1980's I usually had a fully equipped kitchenette on Lakeshore for about 40 bucks a night.

Now a kitchenette with a knife, one bent spoon and a cracked plate is about $180 plus tax down on Lakeshore.

I know because I inquired just two months ago when I stopped in Penticton on the way back home from the Vancouver Marathon expo where I had a booth.

I talked to the guy at the Black Forest and he said they were $180 and they didn't believe in gouging for Ironman.

If that's the case, it does not bode well for what the others on the strip are charging during Ironman week.

By the way, I could have had a room at that same Black Forest Motes for about 55 bucks the day I stopped by in May. All the rooms were empty. I probably could have talked him down to 1984 prices.

So if it's $55 in May and $180 on Ironman week where does the "we don't believe in gouging for Ironman" come into play?

If you like camping, there are a fair number of campsites around Penticton. I stayed at one two years ago on Skaha Lake. It was great. I payed for a tent site and put all my stuff in the tent and slept in my Honda Element. It was $35 a night.

Of course I wasn't racing and was in town for book signings. I really think you have to get excellent sleep on Ironman week if you are entered and a real bed is the only way to go.


I just read that "KINDLE" outsold hard copy books last month for the first time.







In the event that you would like a less expensive option for my three triathlon books they can be found at Kobo.com in Kindle format.

Ironstruck(book 1) is selling for $8.50 as is "Triathlete In Transition(for the new triathlete) and Ironstruck (book2 Q+A book) is about $9.50 as it's over 100 pages longer.




If you want to hold the actual book in your hand you can find the two Ironstruck books on Amazon and Lulu.com. Triathlete In Transition for the beginner triathlete is on Lulu only(or on Kobo as a download)