Seeing The Light At The Tour Of Flanders (Part 2)

My health takes a turn for the better, and suddenly the Tour of Flanders is a go.

I’ve always dreamed of riding the Tour of Flanders (aka the Ronde van Vlaanderen, or “de Ronde” to cycling fans). Since 1913, this 242km cycling race has etched its serpentine path across the cobbled fields between Bruge and Oudenaarde, Belgium, a bone-rattling “Monument” Spring classic that offers its winners a piece of immortality. Eddy Merckx, Lotte Kopecky, Tadej Pogačar…this is where the greats come to become greats. I was supposed to add my name to the list of finishers in 2025, but then…

….the EYE THING happened.

Sudden black spots and light flashes, two emergency surgeries, and many days blindfolded on the couch, all in a desperate attempt to stop a detached retina in my left eye from blinding me permanently (see Part 1). Riding Flanders would likely remain a dream, as would many life ambitions being swallowed by this growing darkness.

But in one doctor visit, everything changed. [continued here]

You'll Go Blind If You Keep Doing That (Part 1)

Can running cause blindness? In my unique case, the answer appears to be yes. "Too much bounce, bounce", they say.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my left eye was having trouble focusing. No problem, I thought - it’s about time to update my eyeglass prescription anyway. For us 50-something aged people, this is a common ritual.

But then my vision got worse. Much worse. And in the strangest of ways.

While out on an early morning trail run, a constellation of small black dots appeared in my left eye, floating around the edges of my vision. When the sunlight was bright, the black dots drew like light pens, temporarily flashing white scribbles in my peripheral. After a few minutes of this, I came to a full stop. The black dots did not. They instead began growing in size, ever so slightly, moving towards the center of my eye like an eclipse.

Um, yeah. Can someone please tell me…WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS HAPPENING.

My brain spun up the denial engine right away. I just need rest. Maybe better sunglasses or new swim goggles. Too much screen time. Yeah, that’s it, too much screen time, for sure. But it was hard to ignore this black planetary system, present with eyes open or closed, darting around at will. The panic washed over me in increasing waves. I sat on the trail, anxiously fidgeting my phone, and booked the soonest ophthalmologist appointment I could find.

Not much later, I was at the doctors office in Vienna, a bit more composed, but still haunted by the ever-present celestial carousel... [continued here]

Racing The 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in New Zealand

It has been a few months since my family returned from our monster trip around the world for the Ironman 70.3 Worlds in New Zealand last December, and quite honestly, I have needed that time to fully absorb it. Turns out, circling the globe for a race does more than test your endurance—it rearranges your soul, your time zones, and your tolerance for airplane food. Our planet is a vast and diverse tapestry of cultures and rituals, stillness and movement, explosive flavors, smiles and laughter, architectural marvels, weird animals, and more - all mysterious and new, yet at the same time, oddly familiar. Osmose it all on one trip, and you are forever changed. 

And change was something I needed desperately. 

Roughly 30 days to cover Vienna, Dubai, Singapore, race in Taupo, Auckland, Honolulu, Santa Barbara, and then return to Vienna...(full story and photos on Substack!).