Friends,

I wanted to give a quick update on what is going on. As I mentioned in the last update, I had signed up to be a mentor in the San Diego Tri Classic program. We started our training a couple of weeks ago, and I am very busy helping the participants with their training. As part of my program, as I said, I have to raise about $1000.00 or so. Some friends have already committed to a fair part of that total, but any help that you can give would really be appreciated. The link to the web site is:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/sdtrcla10/twilcoxzdf

On that site you can make a credit card donation.

The training is going really well. Our first track workout was last Tuesday, and we started with a 1 mile time trial. My last time trial in the Lavaman program was completed in 12:43. I did the time trial on 11:00 Tuesday! I was so jazzed!!! I am feeling stronger and stronger on the bike too, powering up hills faster than I ever remember going on the same hills. It is so amazing to be feeling strong again. Our swim workouts have been good too. Instead of working to get up to a mile swim, I can now work to go faster on the mile swim, so I have really been working on my speed and efficiency for the swim. Yesterday, I ran 4.2 miles on a local trail. It was a slow base building run, but I finished in a little over an hour. For the Lavaman program, I walked the same route. It is so amazing to compare my abilities now with what they were just 6 months ago. It is also amazing to feel well instead of feeling like I am just functional but still sick.

I love not feeling sick. It is so tiring to feel sick all the time. I still have problems, of course, but I am working to overcome or ignore them. For example, I have started walking around bare foot to try to toughen up my feet a little. It is VERY painful, but it seems to be working. If I can swim and walk without debilitating foot pain, it will really help. I am also practicing balancing on one foot. One of my challenges for Lavaman was putting my shoes and socks on. I had to use a little stool to sit on in the transition area. I am practicing putting my socks on while standing now, to try to eliminate that requirement. I am also learning to swim with my teeth in my mouth. This will also help my transition times, because I need my teeth while riding and running so that I can eat. If my teeth are already in place, I don’t need to worry about that. I found some long solar swimming pants, so I don’t need to apply as much sun block to my legs. Another huge time savings.

I recruited a girl on to our team the other day. She started out saying she couldn’t possibly do a Triathlon, because she wasn’t strong and fit like me. Big mistake to be talking to me! It was hard to keep from howling with laughter. I told her what I have been through and where I was just a little over a year ago, and how our training program got me to the finish line. She then asked me how she could sign up. When the team coordinator asked why she was signing up, she stated that I was so inspirational she couldn’t help it. That was gratifying on one hand, and it was also a little strange to be seen as a person who is strong and physically capable. I guess it just shows how we can overcome huge adversity if we put our minds to it.

I hope this letter finds you well, and living your life to it’s fullest potential.

Ted
http://www.wilcoxent.com
http://www.wilcoxent.com/mzima/health.php
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/sdtrcla10/twilcoxzdf

Friends,

Just thought I would send an update since it has been a while. I have not had a doctor appointment or any problems. As I reported in my last update, I had surgery below my ear at the corner of my jaw to remove a bit of skin cancer. We have not heard from the dermatologist, so we will take that as a positive sign. That incision is pretty much healed now.

Menchie and I spent a week in New Mexico remodeling our house. It was great fun, but a lot of work. We moved the water heater then painted the walls in the utility room and laid a subfloor and tile where the water heater stands, then we put the heater back. Then we finished tiling most of the utility room floor and covered the tiles with boxes of books.

The back door was a mess, so we got a beautiful mahogany door cut to size and installed it. The door frame was shot and the floor boards under the threshold were rotten, so I built a new door sill out of red oak, finished it and installed it with the new threshold. It is beautiful! The door latch wasn’t working too well, so I cut out part of the door frame and put in a waste piece of the red oak to hold the striker plate, then I cut the holes for the dead bolt and installed that in the door. It was a lot of work, but we had a great time. We also got a mirror for the bathroom that tilts, so both Menchie and I can use if effectively.

I have not found a job yet, and Menchie is not working either while she waits for new doctors to arrive at the office where she was working. It appears that she will be starting in June again. That will be good. I have some prospects, but nothing really hot at the moment. I apply for at least one job a day usually. I am also looking for volunteer work that will help me fill my time.

I have been speaking at Team in Training Info Meetings. I tell a little about myself and try to convince people they should join us for a marathon or triathlon. I was at the society office the other day and the director called me their “closer". That was nice. We usually sign up almost everyone each meeting so that is gratifying.

My personal Team in Training plans have also solidified. I am riding my bike in the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon. We will be riding with the hand cyclists and wheel chair competitors. We start 5 minutes before the elite runners so we have to move along pretty well to avoid getting caught by them. Fortunately the route is pretty flat so we should do OK. I have to do $250.00 in fund raising for that event. If you would like to help, the web site for that event is http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/ambbr10/twilcoxzdf.

In addition to the marathon, I have also registered to be a Mentor for the San Diego Triathlon Classic, another olympic distance triathlon that is held right here in San Diego. I need to raise about $1000.00 more for that event, and will post more information about it if my application is approved.

I am going to try to find a corporate sponsor for my TNT events so I can do more events without having to worry so much about fund raising. If you know of any company that might be interested, please let me know.

Menchie and I have continued to train, still running, riding and swimming. We did 75 cycling miles in three rides, a 5K run and a 1/2 mile swim this last week. We are resting today and it is nice.

Our spirits are good and we are doing well. I have a doctor appointment on the 17th of May at the VA to arrange for my medications through the VA. I still take CellCept, and a month’s supply of that is over $1200.00, so I can’t possibly afford that on my unemployment pay.

I hope this note finds everyone well, and we appreciate your thoughts, notes, and prayers. Take care, everyone!

Ted
http://www.wilcoxent.com
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/ambbr10/twilcoxzdf