February Update and Team Continuum Video

As I enjoy a recovery week I look back on my last couple of months of training. Right now I am in my half marathon focus getting ready for the Famously Hot Columbia Half Marathon on March 10th. John Hirsch has got me in the pool a lot with a swim focus as well and I had consecutive 10,000 yard weeks in the pool. I hit a milestone last Sunday as I endured 3:40 minutes on my trainer in 23 degree weather in my garage. Insanity? Dedication? Or as coach likes to say "Eye on the prize!"

I have a charity event coming up in about a month at Village Idiot Pizza in five points and I want to thank the folks that have helped out with raffle prizes. I am still looking for a band and working with WXRYUnsigned to possibly get someone to play an acoustic set that evening. It will be shared with friends and will also be trivia night so come on out and learn about Team Continuum.

I hope you enjoy the video I produced about my journey. Until next time, Push On!

Happy 2012!

As I think about this last race of 2011 it really marks a beginning. The first of several small goals that I will have leading up to Ironman New York in August. This 5K was really a goal I set for myself to get me back into training. To make it interesting I made it something that was pretty far out of my reach. The result was an incredible PR on a moderate course.

From the beginning, goals have been the reason I have been so successful. Understanding the importance in making goals, and not being satisfied with mediocre results in attaining them. It is also important I have found is having milestone goals along the way to the overall goal that you set. This has been evident with my coach, John Hirsch's approach as well. The first conversation we had talked about breaking up the training into segments that were bench marked with different types of races leading up to the Ironman.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has contributed to Team Continuum on my behalf so far. I am honored to have the support that has been given to this important charity that will help so many people. During my big races I always put notes to myself on my forearms to remind me to keep going and remember why I am doing what I am doing. For this race, I will be making temporary tattoo's to put on my arms so I can see each individual that contributed and made this a reality.

Looking forward to 2012 I wish you the best in all your ventures, and I look forward to training, racing, and giving back in a way that makes a difference. Push On!

A focus on nutrition two weeks in!

This is what was waiting for me at the co-op pick up point this afternoon. A large box of fresh organic greens, fruits, and vegetables. I made some pasta tonight with marinara and veggies that was incredible. I could get used to this. I have been starting to focus on my nutrition along with the the training I have been doing for Ironman NY. I can't wait to mix up a green smoothie with some of these ingredients. I would like to lose some weight especially over the holidays since right now it is easy to gain if you aren't careful.

I have an 1800 yard swim I am looking forward to in the morning and then a run during lunch. I don't plan on eating before the swim but will probably make that smoothie to take to work and sip before the run. In 2010 I did really well knowing what I ate and how it made me feel. I felt great that year and had a real strong season. Training for an Ironman I am taking that same approach and I look forward to testing the waters and giving my body what it needs to succeed.

This week's training has gone well and I was able to complete all of my workouts. I also started the 100 runs in 100 days on slowtwitch.com. This seemed to help me out a lot last year in my running so I thought I would do it again. I asked my coach John Hirsch if it would be OK to add a 30 minute run the days I didn't have a run scheduled and he said it would be great but not to over do and keep it in zone 2. I agreed and think that it won't be a problem to get these runs in.


I think I did a good job juggling the family and training this week and I am looking forward to time off work starting this Friday coming up and enjoying the holidays with everyone. Push On!

Putting It Into Perspective

I ran across this picture while contemplating what to write about tonight. About a week into my preparation for Ironman NY with Team Continuum in August this really made me think about what I am preparing for. This picture was taken almost 2 years ago after my first and only marathon down in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. This was the bookend to my first triathlon season that I had started only in June of that same year and my first 5K was only 9 months before that. I remember saying not too long ago that if I ever did another marathon it would be at the end of an Ironman. Well, guess what?

I have to say that this whole experience even though it is in it's infancy, is very exciting and almost surreal. As I prepare for this event, in the backdrop stands something bigger than myself that I will make a difference in. Cancer patients who are enduring their disease will have resources to help them fight. I cannot describe how this feeds my discipline, determination, and desire to succeed first for them, and then for myself.

Having a coach for the first time was a bit of a challenge for me. When I first started I would find a plan stick to it exactly without much change. After my interview with the coach and my plan was ready I questioned him about the run portion. I learned quickly to let go of what I was doing at that point and trust that he would get me where I need to be. This is new territory and like most things I take on this way I know I will be successful.

I included a link below to a little video I took this morning at the gym. Excuse the lack of enthusiasm as I was getting some strange looks as I talked to myself on the treadmill. I look forward to updating everyone on my progress and until I run into you again. Push On!

Video Update #1 Team Continuum Ironman NY

Training with purpose for an outstanding goal!

As I endured the long line to the top of Rockefeller Center the day after Thanksgiving with my wife and three small boys, I didn't really know how much it would affect me. I had finished my first Half Irondistance race less than a month ago and every since then I had a taste for an Ironman. I thought about Cozumel then found out Arizona would be opening up soon and I had already started trying to talk my wife and family into the idea when something hit me. Since my start in fitness and triathlon I have believed in giving back and the importance of this journey being something above just myself. I had been following some folks on Twitter that have really guided me through my journey and found out about Team Continuum about a year ago. Something led me to their site and I realized that their cause was something I believed in. To top it off they were offering entry to Ironman New York for a commitment to raise money for their important charity. This was it, I thought, this was something that meant more than just a goal for myself. Thanksgiving day I had the privelege to get my father in-law out of the house for a simple trip to the Seven Eleven to get the paper with the Black Friday ads for my wife. You see, over a year ago he was diagnosed with cancer and it touched myself and family greatly. I talked to him about what I was thinking about doing and he thought it was commendable. He also mentioned to me how when he was in the hospital there wasn't a lot of communication and consultation about the disease for him and his family. He was really amazed how little of this support was available. I think during that conversation I made up my mind. Back at the top of Rockefeller Center where I started this blog and the view you see in the picture something changed in me and I committed to this great cause and epic event that will help those battling cancer with the non medical needs that are present as they endure their disease. I will be updating this blog as I complete my journey and I appreciate your consideration to helping me with this cause. Click the Team Continuum Athlete Page link in the top right hand corner of the page to read more.