The End

I have created a blog to document my end to the beginning. This first posting will document the end of my triathlon season and the beginning of my journey towards a 3 hour Boston Marathon time. I have set the bar high as a 43 year old dude, but if bars are not set high then I figure why even try? As I sit here with my youngest daughter, Ellie who helped me create this blog I gather my thoughts on where to start this end.

The best place to end is me standing in the Augusta Common area after the Inaugural Iron Man Augusta 70.3 event.

After a grueling race...

The reason this race was so grueling had nothing to do with physical fitness but mechanical and mental issues that plagued me during the race. I finished this particular event but some of the obstacles I ran into:

• Getting sucker punched in the river during my Wave by a swimmer swimming perpendicular to the flow of the river.
• Cleats that were too small for my Look Pedals.
• 3 Flat tires and running out of tubes, CO2 and having a broken regulator.
• Rear derailleur was out of line and chain kept jumping off the small ring.
• The aid stations running out of cups on the run.
• My mental facilities eroding on the first flat to when I crossed the Finish Line well over an hour + of my set goal time.

You are probably thinking, what? how? why? come on! There is no way all of this could happen to a single individual during a race. Well, it did. But, if it was not for an angel that came riding up on a bike, I would have had the letters; D-N-F by my name. That angel was Michelle an AG 40-44W participant who stopped to not only provide me the supplies I needed, but change my tire and pumped air as well. I am truly grateful for her unselfish deed. If it was not for Michelle I would have not finished that day and would have been devastated. For that I am truly thankful.


But enough about the negative. The positives:

• Building new friends during training that will last a life time.
• Understood more about what this sport is about than just a selfish race.
• All my friends PR'd or Placed at this event.
• Helped Michelle with her Grad Study Thesis during the event.
• Learned more about myself and how to overcome obstacles.

There are a lot more positives when you think about it than the 6 hours of negatives I encountered.


It is best to show them in pictures:

Todd, Jay and me at Luigi's

New Friends through training;

Jennifer, Randy, Susan and of course...Ann Marie

The Bike Gang

Rebecca, Jay, me, Melissa, Jennifer & Ann Marie

Ann Marie (She's turning Pro) & Brian the "Happy Dude" for a sub-5 70.3 event

So this is the end. It was the end to a great training season for triathlons and I have made some good friends along the way. Each one of these special people have a passion for doing their best in whatever they do and that is why I gravitate to them.

Tomorrow marks the beginning to a new journey. I am officially in "off season" mode until December 28th when I start Boston Marathon Training. In the meantime, I am going to do what I enjoy, drink beer, run, swim and most of all support the following people in their quest for the Holy Grail, the Qualifying time for Boston. It is my goal to see each one of them hit their qualifying goal a the Rocket City Marathon in Hunstville, AL on December 12th which gives me as much satisfaction as crossing the line myself:

• Sarah: My Wife and biggest supporter in the crazy stuff I do
• Wren: Sarah's Training Partner and her friend
• Tracey: My baby sister
• Jay: My arch-nemesis (the one that pushes me the hardest because he is always on my heels)
• Bob: The Bullet and an awesome running companion & friend
• Ann Marie: The most competitive, nicest athlete (person) I know, even though she kicked my behind in a 10K and won't let me live it down!