My day in the downtown Miami underworld.

After 8 half Ironmans, 7 Olympic triathlons, a few Sprints and a couple of Overseas trips, today was one of my most interesting experiences.

I was ready last night, had everything I needed and had a good night sleep, I had a big training day today... 50 miles bike and 10 mile run.

I left the house early, ready for action and after arriving to the city parking lot which was going to be expensive, we moved to a better lot with a flat fee and security.

When we got there a drunk and not pleasant attendant asked us to park the car better, we told him we were OK where we were, he insisted, we told him it was not necessary and then se said, OK stay there.

So there we are, things are ready for the bike portion of the training.... and then things start happening,  someone reaches me, takes me out and walks away with me... in the mean time, my owner is happily riding his bike, looking for lost team mates, getting a flat tire repaired and coming back to get me and the things he needs for his next part of the training .... but I am gone.... I am heading to unknown territories, I am heading the the underworld... an innocent victim of my owners disagreement with "El Nica"

My owner arrives at the parking lot, opens the car to get me and a few of the things I keep for him... but I am not there... and I am terrified... I am being now held for ransom.

I knew my owner would do what he needed to save me, he even talked to the police that politely reminded him that the ticket of the parking lot where he left me would say that they are not  responsible if anything happens to me, that there was no point in writing a report because I was not that significant.... little did he know that me owner and me have been together for nine years, competed in many, many triathlons, traveled to Europe and the USA and had many, many training days together.

But my owner persevered, he knows a few things about the value of things and the art of negotiations, he offered the new attendants of the parking lot, the ones giving out pink tickets, instead of the yellow tickets given by the night shift, a ransom for my safe recovery. No questions asked, just bring us back together... for a good financial reward.

Rich from the parking lot was excited by the reward so he made some calls, after I left to have breakfast with my friends,  and told people about my disappearance, I think he knows people and he got things moving because, while in captivity, I heard this guy talking on the phone and saying: "Yes, I have seen the red bag...." me, they are talking about me.... yes, I am getting saved I thought, " some guy was walking trying to sell it and I said you ain't selling that bag, you owe me money, I am keeping the bag" so here I was now in the hands of a new member of the underworld that now kept me for ransom... I am getting more scared by the minute.  

In the mean time, my owner is having breakfast, barefoot because I have his crocks that he puts after he exercises.... so he is barefoot in the restaurant... how funny.... I should not be laughing, I am sure he did not feel to happy about this... anyway, the running shoes are now gone.... I do not know where they went ... I was so tired from all this and the early start, that I took a little nap and when I woke up, the shoes were gone.... I do not know where they went but they were not there any more. All of a sudden, my kidnapper starts packing me in a plastic bag and I think... holy smokes they are taking me to a hiding place and do not want me to recognize where we are going, little did I know until the last minute that a negotiation for my return to my owner had been negotiated and I was heading back to be re-united with him.... for more adventures and now with a big tale to tell about my morning in the downtown Miami underworld.