Michael Koppe's Blog – April 2016 Archive (2)

  As I write this my legs ache from a special blend of residual cramps, poison oak, mosquito bites, and minor scratches and gashes. Nothing significant- no blood transfusions, but I am sure I left a trail of DNA along the Sea Otter course. What a difference a week makes! The rain and mud at Napa Valley produced gooey hills of liquefaction, but at Sea Otter I experienced the dry, hot,and shifting sands of the Kalahari. Hence the cramps.

  I felt the race began at 4:00AM Sunday morning.…

  This was my first race since Downieville. After Downieville I noticed that I had a dull ache in my left testicle which I attributed to numerous crashes or near misses. When it didn't resolve I had it evaluated and found out that I had testicular cancer. I finally have something in common with Lance Armstrong! Although the surgery is more psychologically invasive than surgical, it still involves cutting abdominal muscles and a 8 week recovery period. I opted out of the optional chemo since…