We had our first day of practice on the full road course for the hand-cyclists. The course incorporates elements from the Olympic triathlon course. It is located at the Ming Tomb Reservoir.
I have been meeting physical therapists from around the world. Most of the world calls physical therapists, physiotherapists.
Today was hot and somewhat humid. Hydration strategies for all athletes are a must. First day on this course helps establish familiarity with corner, climbs and descents. There are hardly any straight sections on the course, so it may help a possible breakaway stay away.
This was also our first day to try out the Paralympic mass transit system to the venue. We previously had been renting a bus for private shuttle. Now it is a little more challenging trying to get the team all placed on a bus to ensure they get the venue. All in all, the transportation has been great. It is challenging to move all types of disabled athletes, wheelchairs and racing chairs. The Chinese have been very helpful.
All the participating teams are assigned tents/shelters at the Reservoir. The USA team gets a “double wide” due to the number of entrants we have. We have three more days of practice before the competition will begin.
The President of South Korea was here today. I almost got run down by his motorcade while heading over to lunch.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Some Photos
Here's a hand cycle.
Training in Colorado.
For pictures from the opening ceremony in Beijing, go to this story from the Seattle Times and click the photo gallery link.
Let the Games Begin: Opening Ceremony
Just got back from the opening ceremony of the Paralympic games. Game on!
It is midnight here in Beijing. Well past my bedtime. The opening ceremony was great! The stadium is huge! There are many, many countries represented. We have one of the largest delegations, just over 200 members strong.
The stadium was packed! Australia and the home team (China) got the biggest cheers. The program was outstanding. It included many performance elements surrounding disabilities. Very well thought out. I hear from home that some of the opening ceremony was covered on television by the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC). Seattle gets this station being so close to Canada.
The lighting of the Olympic/Paralympic flame this evening means ... Game on! .
Competitions start tomorrow. Our velodrome bike racing starts tomorrow. We have track people doing pursuits and a kilo. I am going to the velodrome with the tandem riders (sight impaired) for the kilometer race.
We were also at the road course today. I began talking with a local Chinese gentleman who knew English. Many Chinese youth are taking English language in school and take on Western names. Turns out his name was Leo! Leo is my son’s name. Weird! Out of all the Chinese population, I find a Leo. I told him how big my Leo was and he thought that was pretty big for an 11-year-old.
Just a reminder, take a look at the links I provided on my first post. These links will get you towards live event coverage via internet.
It is midnight here in Beijing. Well past my bedtime. The opening ceremony was great! The stadium is huge! There are many, many countries represented. We have one of the largest delegations, just over 200 members strong.
The stadium was packed! Australia and the home team (China) got the biggest cheers. The program was outstanding. It included many performance elements surrounding disabilities. Very well thought out. I hear from home that some of the opening ceremony was covered on television by the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC). Seattle gets this station being so close to Canada.
The lighting of the Olympic/Paralympic flame this evening means ... Game on! .
Competitions start tomorrow. Our velodrome bike racing starts tomorrow. We have track people doing pursuits and a kilo. I am going to the velodrome with the tandem riders (sight impaired) for the kilometer race.
We were also at the road course today. I began talking with a local Chinese gentleman who knew English. Many Chinese youth are taking English language in school and take on Western names. Turns out his name was Leo! Leo is my son’s name. Weird! Out of all the Chinese population, I find a Leo. I told him how big my Leo was and he thought that was pretty big for an 11-year-old.
Just a reminder, take a look at the links I provided on my first post. These links will get you towards live event coverage via internet.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
The Routine
I have settled in quickly to the routine of pre-competition life:
1. Load up the cooler with ice, drinks and food.
2. Get the athletes loaded onto bus.
3. Drive to the venue.
4. Assist riders preparing for the workout.
5. Hand out water/nutrients after workouts.
6. Perform recovery tissue work for athletes.
7. Meetings.
8. Eat, ...
The day goes by pretty quickly! It is amazing to see how many variations of hand bicycles, tricycles and bicycles that will be used in the road race. These guys and gals are all fit and fast. Not your average wheelchair ride in the park!
1. Load up the cooler with ice, drinks and food.
2. Get the athletes loaded onto bus.
3. Drive to the venue.
4. Assist riders preparing for the workout.
5. Hand out water/nutrients after workouts.
6. Perform recovery tissue work for athletes.
7. Meetings.
8. Eat, ...
The day goes by pretty quickly! It is amazing to see how many variations of hand bicycles, tricycles and bicycles that will be used in the road race. These guys and gals are all fit and fast. Not your average wheelchair ride in the park!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Our Travels to China
All said, it took us about 25 hours to get to Beijing from Colorado Springs. The process started September 2 in the evening. Our first step was to get our bags packed into trucks by 7pm. This included all the racing hand cycles and bicycles. We took a quick nap before awaking for a 1 pm bus departure from Colorado Springs.
Our goal was to get to Denver for a 6 am flight to San Francisco. Our travelling group included 14 people; seven from cycling and seven from fencing. You might imagine the logistics of moving such a group and their equipment. We arrived in San Francisco just in time for breakfast. We had a 3-hour layover prior to our departure for Beijing. The flight to Beijing lasted about 12 hours.
This was my first flight of this length. Quite a challenge in many ways. We finally arrived in Beijing at 2:25 pm the next day. I followed the suggestions made by US Olympic Committee sports scientists regarding travel and jetlag, which included hydration, compression stocking, getting up to move and minimizing your attempts to sleep on the plane. All said and done, I was able to fall asleep quickly at 9:30 pm and sleep soundly until 6:30 am the next day. Giddyup!
Our goal was to get to Denver for a 6 am flight to San Francisco. Our travelling group included 14 people; seven from cycling and seven from fencing. You might imagine the logistics of moving such a group and their equipment. We arrived in San Francisco just in time for breakfast. We had a 3-hour layover prior to our departure for Beijing. The flight to Beijing lasted about 12 hours.
This was my first flight of this length. Quite a challenge in many ways. We finally arrived in Beijing at 2:25 pm the next day. I followed the suggestions made by US Olympic Committee sports scientists regarding travel and jetlag, which included hydration, compression stocking, getting up to move and minimizing your attempts to sleep on the plane. All said and done, I was able to fall asleep quickly at 9:30 pm and sleep soundly until 6:30 am the next day. Giddyup!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Games
Today we will be traveling from CS to Beijing. More details as soon as I can find some connectivity in Beijing. Until then, please check out the link to the Beijing games. Great information and history!
http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml
http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/index.shtml
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Shock and Awe
I have made several observations after having followed our amazing crew of cyclists through the streets of Colorado Springs for the last four days. First of all, our cyclists rip! They are amazing athletes. People stop and stare. They do so for various reasons I can imagine. First is that these athletes don’t have typical bicycle equipment (more on that later). Second, these athletes are pretty fit looking. Third, they are not used to seeing people in hand/leg adaptive propelled cycles go so fast!
We have had great support from the Colorado Springs community. They have been friendly, cheered us on, engaged us in friendly conversations, and kindly shared the roads.
I help people with “disabilities” overcome their barriers on a daily basis, so I am not quite shocked to see such an accomplishments, however, these Paralympic cyclists really are very inspiring!
We have had great support from the Colorado Springs community. They have been friendly, cheered us on, engaged us in friendly conversations, and kindly shared the roads.
I help people with “disabilities” overcome their barriers on a daily basis, so I am not quite shocked to see such an accomplishments, however, these Paralympic cyclists really are very inspiring!
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