GALVESTON, WE HAVE A SERIOUS WIND

It has been very windy and somewhat cold today. The cross and head-winds hovered between 20 and 30 miles per hour and were especially noticeable during the bike training ride this morning. The Gulf also looked quite angry. The white caps did not look inviting, at all. Fortunately, tomorrow we will be swimming off the protected Palm Beach and the temperature also should also pick up. So, I am looking forward to my first triathlon this year as the season gets under way.

In the Ironman Village the flags are swaying in the wind

Not much need for sighting. The majestic Colonel Paddlewheel boat will guide swimmers to T1

Did I say the Gulf was angry?

With the Gulf Coast's "Ticking Tri Bomb" triathletes

EASTER THE NEW ORLEANS STYLE

Last weekend Kasia joined me for Easter in the "deep south." Saturday morning we drove to New Orleans, a great city pulsating with life at any hour of the day. We had a perfect day for exploring the city and visiting the famous French Quarters. In the evening we drove back to Biloxi and went to the Elton John concert. It was quite impressive to watch and listen to him play and sing, without an intermission, for over two and half hours. Something to remember, indeed.

Waiting for the famous New Orleans Gumbo

Visiting the French Market with our host .......

.... and tackling a reptile on-a-stick

One can never have too many t-shirts

Some of the beautiful architecture of the French Quarters ........

and mesmerizing street artwork

Music and dancing all day

The "famous" Bourbon Street. This was the only sign I could find that was undamaged or not fully plastered over with stickers. It was so different from how I have imagined it

And a touch of Poland

HAPPY EASTER

On this Good Friday Kasia and I went Easter-Egg hunting.

In the back drop of the beautiful Biloxi Bay

The weather has been terrific down here on the Gulf Coast. Beautiful sunsets and blooming Azaleas can mesmerize one's eyes. So here it is to all of you suffering from the winter-weather "depression." The cold will soon be over. Happy Easter and Spring.

No two sunsets seem to be alike

Azaleas in full bloom.

HAPPY EASTER

AS TIME GOES BY

I have realized that it has been a while since I blogged last time. Primarily, because the first three months have been very busy and exciting, and I will write about those in my subsequent blogs. I have been also rehabilitating from my October '12 surgery and have been busy training for the upcoming season (My 2013 Racing Calendar). Thus, I am very pleased to report that the physical therapy rehab has gone very well and that I have regained practically all the left shoulder range of motion and strength thanks to my medical/rehab team from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Cioffredi and Associates. In fact, things have gone so well, that my first race will be in about three weeks at Ironman Texas 70.3 on April 7 in Galveston, TX.

Over the past few months, I have also worked with the DHMC team on producing a short video and a story about my experiences as a triathlete and a DHMC's patient. I hope you will enjoy watching it.

http://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/news/newsdetail/63434/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLLsBXJ5TkA

THE END OF YEAR UPDATE

Well, another year is coming to an end, and needless to say, the time is flying. It has been already nine weeks since the surgery and I am progressing very well. My orthopedic surgeon has done a fantastic job operating on my shoulder and the physiotherapists were awesome returning it to the full functional level. After nine weeks, the clavicle has healed and the fracture lines seem to have disappeared. Thank you all very much!!! Although there is still some rehab work left, I am gaining strength, have returned to training in all three sports, and look forward to the 2013 racing season.


A big thank you to Troup for directing and editing the YouTube films

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND AN AWESOME NEW YEAR

Wishing you all the best this Christmas Season and a wonderful New Year 2013

Kasia & Tomasz

TO "BECOME ONE"

IT IS STILL A MYSTERY TO ME

Last weekend I finally picked up my bicycle from the bike shop in Boston where it was delivered from Kailua-Kona. This was also the first time I was able to thoroughly inspect it following the crash. Despite having high hopes for finding out what had happened it still remains a mystery to me. The only clue appears to have been provided by the shattered left side of the front tire (about 20 cm long), as if it were caught in a narrow pavement crevice, which would have forced me to loose balance and fall to the left side. But I can only speculate that. Other than that, the bicycle sustained a minimal “trauma” with no paint scratches or structural damages to the frame, wheels, or any other components. The only other visible and obvious blows seemed to have been absorbed by the left handlebar and the left elbow pad.

MY STORY ON IRONMANLIFE

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon-news/articles/2012/10/ironmanlife-jankowski.aspx#axzz2Az41Jlky

THE BIONICTOM

Last Thursday, I have undergone an "ORIF" surgery to reduce the displaced fracture of my left clavicle. The surgery went very well and took about 1.5 hours to complete. For the first time I was brought into the operating room and positioned on the table while being totally conscious. Shortly after that, the nurse anesthetist placed a mask over my face and asked me to take a a few deep oxygen breaths. Obviously, it was not oxygen. So, I started counting my breaths to remember how long would it take me to go to sleep. Well, my "scientific" research reviled, it took five breaths for me to be out cold. And no, the OR tables are not very comfortable.

I woke up  in less than an hour after the surgery in the PACU with a manageable pain level despite electing not to get a nerve block for pain management - it was a good decision. This has also allowed me to better assess my recovery process. So for now, I am restricted to gentle shoulder "pendulum" exercises and elbow/wrist flexion and extension motions. If all continues to heal well past November 9th, I will begin formal rehabilitation.

The "bionic" shoulder which brought my body back into symetry. This made me also realize that the total number of the hardware pieces in my body equals the number of Ironman races in my racing portfolio.

Dressing change time. The surgical site is healing well three days post surgery

This is my rehab for the next week - the "pendulum" circles feel really good.

THE BIG ISLAND THROUGH ANOTHER LENS

We are back in New England and re-living our Big Island experience. We brought back with us many great memories and stories. So, before closing the Kona chapter, I wanted to share with you our few days in Hawaii through a different lens. Without the pressure of racing, Kasia and I had an opportunity to travel the island and soak up the beauty it has to offer. So, here it is through a collage of pictures.

A rainbow that could be seen almost every day in Waimea. This picture was taken from the "dry" side of town. One can almost draw a line where the rain stops.

On our way to the Akaka Falls Park in the northeastern part of the island. Lush greenery and forests, palms and unending views of the ocean.

The palms and the cloudless sky

The palms, the constant winds, and the Kamuela Mountain

"Lost" in the rain forest

In front of the Akaka Falls

The Akaka Falls up close and personal. The water drops further than in the Niagara Falls

A breath-taking view of the open ocean from where the road ends past Hawi - It takes about 30 minutes to get to a beautiful beach down below and surf the waves. This will have to wait until the next trip.

With our Hawaiian Ohana, Alison and Kukui, at the end of the road

 Here we are driving up the Kamuela Mountain to the majestic view of the Island of Maui

It looks like a huge dark cloud from the distance

One of the beautiful art works found on display in Hawi

And the local musicians entertaining visitors

Final moments in Hawi. Kasia is letting it go in the local gallery

Back on the west side of the island. A picturesque sunset over the ocean and the lava fields

And their beauty during the day

And this is my favorite sunset picture over the Waikaloa Beach

Neither of us can bend the fingers for the Hawaiian Aloha. On that day, we had two fully functioning hands between us.

Probably the most valuable real estate off the coast of Kailua-Kona

For a moment I thought it was me climbing that little tree

Or wearing this King's Hawaiian Rules shirt

Back in Kona indulging on some "dragon fruit"

With the former world champion Mirinda Carfre the day before the race. She was one of the favorite females to win the race.

With Lisa Bentley from Canada. She is a multiple Ironman champion and a triathlon icon.

A part of the closing ceremony. An incredible display of art, history, and culture.

These guys were a little taller than us

Volunteering means working. Even the guy on the right was impressed.

Spotting athletes in need of assistance

With two future pro triathletes Rachel and Bryan in the Ironman Village

And with Viktor Zemtsev from the Ukraine. One of the best in the sport among the pro triathletes. An awesome runner.

The final meal in Kona. This place can rival the Lava Java hands down.

In the end, yes, I was supposed to be there ........

.... and bring home one of these. Well, I will have to wait a little longer ;o)

The final look at the Kailua-Kona Bay. Thank you all for your support.