Its Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I posted last. Well who am I kidding it has been 2 years. A lot has changed in those 2 years. For starters I have a new job, lost 55 lbs, completed 3 half IM's, ran dozens of races, made new friends, joined new teams (go Big Shark), got more involved in St. Louis Tri Club, shaved my head (& legs but whose looking), and the list goes on and on. Oh yeah my wife Beth, would like to throw in there that she taught me how to swim. She no longer is embarrassed to go to the pool with me. I used to think that swimming 5oo yards in an hour was good. I would get so excited to tell her when she got done coaching that I swam 500 yards during her high school swim practice never realizing why she was laughing at me and had that smile like oh geez if he only knew. I now realize that swimming 500 yards in an hour is not really that good I would venture to say terrible. I have cut that time down to around 8 minutes or so. I just can't wait for the day that I actually beat my swim instructor. I know Beth is dreading that day (it's closer than she thinks though).

With all of the changes along the way I would not have been able to do it without the support of those around. There are way too many people to mention, but I have learned that importance of support. Support from Beth, my brother, friends, teammates, and really just anyone who screams "keep it up," "this is your last hill," or "one more mile." Those are the people that keep me going and get me involved in things I never thought possible a few years ago.

After a long ride with a new friend, Mattn, I have taken the plunge and signed up for a full Ironman, Ironman Coeur d' Alene (IMCDA). Really the fat guy that swam a 60 min 500 yard is now doing an Ironman. Who woulda thought that? Truth is I enjoy it. I enjoy the time and effort put into planning out the 8 months of my life in terms of training blocks. It makes those rest days every few weeks really enjoyable and the final race a day of celebration and not anguish.

With IMCDA in June of 2012 I had to find something that would keep me busy through the fall and winter. This is where I found two things, cyclocross and a marathon. One is going to be a lot more enjoyable than the other, but I will leave it up to you to decide which one that is.

Cyclocross has taught me that my bike handling skills are horrendous. I am very good at going in a straight line without drafting. Throw dirt, off camber hills, crowds of riders, and obstacles in the mix and I have a lot of work to do. Truthfully, cross has been one of the best things I have decided to do. The relaxed but intense atmosphere at each race has been awesome. Too bad the season is so short.

Next week should bring tons of adventure with my first full marathon St. Jude's Memphis. I am looking forward to racing and spending the weekend with my brother Brad and his wife Heather. Brad and I have been going through most of the triathlon adventure via phone and text with him living in Austin. The nice part is that we choose races that we can do together. The last race I saw them at was Rev 3 Cedar Point in September. I am however upset that Beth will not be racing as she has had some recent bad luck with allergies and a lack of time with her final two semesters of grad school.

I do love the taper week before races though and this is no exception with Thanksgiving thrown in there. How can you go wrong with a lack of exercise and extreme amounts of food?

-Be safe, wear a helmet!