Diversions

Diversions...Not the type you create to take attention away from something else, but the type when you're on a commercial flight from San Diego to Chicago and one of the engines fail, so you have to divert the flight to Amarillo, Texas. No joke, I'm writing this post from the airport in Amarillo, after my flight to Chicago made an emergency landing here. I was sitting right along side the left wing, when the left wing engine died.

When we landed, there were emergency rescue crews, fire engines, everything, waiting for us on the runway. I took some photos, but don't have the adapter to download the photos yet. Plenty of people checking out the plane, making sure there was no damage or fire.

The pilot did a great job of salesmanship, downplaying the situation and keeping everyone on the plan calm.

Ironically, we were not even the first plane to have an emergency landing in Amarillo. When we landed on the runway, and exited out the rear emergency exit to get on a bus, there was another propeller plan parked next to us. On the bus from the jet to the terminal, some of airport crew were telling me the other plane had smoke in the cabin, and we were the 2nd emergency landing of the day. Crazy.

I'm about to get on a new flight after a few hours waiting here in Amarillo, and will be in Chicago until Monday. I'll be working with athletes at a big TrainingBible Coaching clinic on Saturday, and a speaking to a bunch of local coaches on power and training with technology, on Saturday.

Stay tuned for more. I'll try to upload pictures as soon as I can, but it may not be until Tuesday, if my adapter is at home.

Vance

New JimVanceRacing.com

The new site is up...I'll continue to use the site, whether I'm still racing professionally or not. I assume I will return at some point.

Check it out!

www.JimVanceRacing.com

Send me some feedback on the site.

Vance

New Supplemental Training Plans

Hopefully if you read this blog, you read my coaching blog as well. I just announced a new style of training plan today, which I call the Supplemental Training Plan. If you haven't read about it, check it out...

http://coachvance.blogspot.com/2009/01/introducing-supplemental-swim-training.html

Vance

What is the word for...

Not quite retired, but not racing? I keep finding myself in a position to explain to people where I am at, and I end up either being asked, or pressured to say, "I'm retired."

I'm not really retired. Retired in my mind means you have no plans to return the daily grind of the profession. I can't say that. I can't say I will return, but I know I also can't say I won't.

The best alternative words for retirement that I've found are:

Semi-Retired - This doesn't even make sense. If I'm not retired, how can I even be semi-retired?

Suspended Indefinitely - True, but it always sounds like you did something wrong. I'm not Plaxico Burres here. I didn't shoot myself in the leg and commit a felony to be suspended from racing. I just don't want to train and race right now.

On Extended Vacation - Perhaps, but that makes it sound like I didn't enjoy my gig. I did, at least for the most part.

Leave of Absence - Perhaps this works, but I always think these people are sick. I'm not sick. At least, not that I'll admit to anyway.

On Hiatus - This one seems to work, as it's the most neutral.

So that's it, I'm on hiatus from racing. Till when? Who knows. I'm not worried about that right now.

The past few days I've actually gotten out on my mountain bike, tooling around. One of my clients is in town staying with me, and I'm working with him, riding here and there on the Look 986. It's such an awesome bike, I enjoy riding it a lot. I'm looking forward to actually getting back on some trails to ride and just mess around. I think that will be a lot of fun. (NO, I am not going to race XTERRA!)

Today I rode with my client Adam, and some fellow Nebraska boys, up to B+L. They did the Swami's ride, while I rode back on the 986. I noticed the tide was out, so when I hit Torrey Pines State Beach, I hit the sand and rode that almost all the way to Scripps Pier! Cool ride, as I have never done that.

Beautiful day here, over 70 degrees. I am blessed by the choices I have made in my life, especially the one to move here!

In the meantime, things with coaching are going extremely well. I continue to gain more clients each week, and I've also seen a huge jump in my writing opportunities, that have really changed my financial situation, and things are moving up! I have 3 articles due by the end of the month for various publications, and I just turned another one in on Thursday. All good signs.

My clients are all seeing great gains, and I am happy to be more focused on them, rather than trying to balance them with my training. Life is good, even if it is while I'm on hiatus.

Vance

Tressa Follow-up

If you've followed this blog for awhile, you'll remember my old Nebraska teammate, Tressa Thompson, and the February 2008 post about her fall from Olympic stardom to drug addiction.

The other night, the A&E show Intervention did a follow-up on her, and it was good to see. I am happy for her. (I still can't believe she missed the Olympic Trials by only 6 feet, after nearly 8 years of intense drug use and breakdown of her body. Just goes to show how damn gifted you were.) This is the summary, and follow-up story, to how she's doing now...





Best of luck Tressa...I would love to see you again, and wish you well in person. You're only up the road from me, but I've had trouble finding out how to contact you. Hopefully, it will happen.

Vance

Competitors Radio Show - Sunday night

I will be an in-studio guest on The Competitors Radio Show with Bob Babbitt and Paul Huddle, on Sunday evening. For those of you who won't be watching the Chargers game, or if it ends early, feel free to tune in and listen to the program. I'll be on the air discussing XTERRA Saipan, and the Tagaman Triathlon, both races held on the island of Saipan, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. I blogged about this trip back in March, so check the archives for photos and reminders.

It's an epic race, and one I would encourage people to try, especially if you love the adventure of off-road triathlons.

We might also be talking about other topics, but this is the main one. I'll be on around 8:20 or so, on the local Mighty 1090 AM, or you can listen in a podcast later...

http://www.competitorradio.com/

Have a great weekend, and GO CHARGERS!

Vance

Happy Anniversary!

2 years ago today, I married Orlanda. I love her more today than even then.

Here's to 2 years!!!

Vance