Before posting my previous journals on this site, I re-read them all. It's funny how all these big races bring out very similiar emotions. Maybe that's what keeps us coming back. I also noticed that the last race that I completed really is the one that holds the most value mentally, when approaching the future. This is why I believe you never put your triathlon journey on hold if your last race was subpar. Anyway, hope you enjoy reading them.
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Tupper Lake 2005
Excerpt- Sunday, the day after competing in the Tupper Lake ½ IM, I’m making the long drive back home from Lake Placid, thinking about my race and finishing 4th, while listening to the audio from my kids 50th viewing of Dora The Explorer. After a race, we all think back to how it went, and more than likely the mistakes we made. I would have liked to place three higher, but I got what I deserved on Saturday. Read the Journal
Winter Blues
Excerpt- It’s been a long winter! I’m not one to complain about the weather. In fact, complaining about the weather is one of my pet peeves. What can you do about it? So why complain? To be a bit hypocritical though, I’m longing for some warm weather. The past many years, we have managed to escape New England in February or March to some warm weather for a small hiatus. We skipped this year due to a big trip Lisa and I have planned for our 10 year anniversary – we are going in late May to the Canadian Rockies. Yeah, probably more cold weather! We are staying in Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise and it looks amazing. So I think missing that winter warm weather trip might be the culprit for my tiredness of the New England cold this year. Read the Journal
Kona 2004 Wrap-up
Excerpt- Lisa and I are aboard our flight from Kona to LA. We just finished eating a great dinner at Huggo's in Kailua before boarding, where we polished off a bottle of wine, so this may be a long journal. She's already sound asleep, 5 minutes into the trip. In fact, the majority of the plane is. I can't sleep on planes, so I will try to put my Ironman 2004 experience into words. Read the Journal
Kona Pre-Race
Excerpt- Thanks everyone for your contributions in support of Rick Moisan and the Harold Leever ceneter. We are raising some good cash for them. Rick and his family won't be able to make the trip. Last Wednesday, he had some more tests done and they found some more cancer in his brain. He is undergoing an intense round of radiation therapy for the next ten days. I think about him and his family all the time. It certainly keeps things in perspective. Read the Journal
Florida 2004
Excerpt- Soul Coughing's "Silent Kit" is drumming through my brain: "Move upside, and let the man go through…Let the man go through". I have half a mile left in the race, and I'm so fired up. Not because I'm having a good day. Well that certainly helps, although it's secondary right now. This is the first big race that my son Ryan has been to and I told him to be ready near the finish line to run. "You gotta run real fast daddy, because ok!" He said to me before the race. "Are you going to run across the finish line with me bud?" I said to him. "Yah, I'm real fast," he said. Read the Journal
Random Thoughts
Excerpt- Another tri season upon us, and I once again find myself in that situation of a race approaching and feeling behind in training. With the increased responsibilities in life each year, it certainly doesn't get any easier to fit things in. My passion for racing and this sport still remains strong however. This year should be particularly interesting. I am at an age now where physiologically I can still shoot for some PR’s, but the window is closing. I feel as strong as ever. I still don't feel like my strength is slipping. If I can muster up the time to train consistently and seriously enough, I may just turn in my fastest times this year. That's always motivating. Read the Journal
Raising the Bar
Excerpt- I recently began working with two 13-year-old swimmers, Eric and Lenna, once a week. They are very close to qualifying for nationals in a bunch of events, and wanted to see if I could assist in shaving a few seconds off their times. They are very disciplined and dedicated, especially considering their young ages. Their swim form is so efficient – enough to make most triathletes very envious, but that’s not what this article’s about. Read the Journal
Kona 2002
Excerpt- Well, what an interesting journey this has been. With myself and all the athletes I train, I like to place the main focus on the journey and the growth and lessons we learn about others and ourselves along the way. Sitting on the beach two days after my fifth Hawaii Ironman reflecting on my journey, I didn't expect it to go as it did, yet I learned more than I bargained for. Read the Journal
Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon- “I’m Back, Baby!”
I'm writing this on my flight back from Lubbock, Texas. I was thinking about the sport of triathlon, how much I love the lifestyle, and what a great vehicle its been in the never ending self-learning quest. Funny, a month and a half ago, I was sitting on a flight back from St. Croix, thinking maybe I needed a long break from the sport.
Read the Journal
This is my fifth year training for Ironman distance races. I train mostly alone. It's not that I'm non-social, in fact, I like company and training with others. It's just that I have specific goals for myself and for every workout. I know what I need to do and I have limited time to train, so I need to make the most of this time. Training for Ironman races, as well as working more than full time and trying to keep balance in the rest of my life can be wearing. Read the Journal
Kona 1999
Eight and half-hours into our ten-hour flight from Newark to Honolulu, Lisa turns to me and says “I can’t take it anymore, get me off this plane!” My quick response was “suck it up, we’re going to freakin’ Hawaii!” I mean, one of the biggest draws of doing this race is that it’s in Hawaii. I don’t think the attraction would be quite as awesome if it were the Indiana World Triathlon Championships. Read the Journal
