Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Malarchuck
Pasted from Two Brothers, One Mission
I thought that I would go ahead and follow Sheldon's post with a brief introduction and some early musings on how I got here and where I expect to go over the next twelve weeks. Possibly the best starting point is to share with you that the first day of the twelve week training plan for Vineman 70.3 (a half-ironman distance triathlon - 1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike & 13.1 Mile Run) is a "day-off". What this tells you is that no matter whether you completed your one year racing anniversary today or are heading into you fifth year of training and competing, no one shows up tomorrow for their "day-off" not having already put in some serious mileage.
This all started for me on Super Bowl Sunday in 2005 when I posted a very solid 31:00 minute flat 5K, breaking the magic 10:00 minute mile pace barrier by a single second. The pictures are ugly (I ran with a jacket tied around my waist), the time was pathetic, but the journey had begun. I completed my first triathlon later that year in Laguna Beach and managed to complete the 5K that day (after the swim and bike) in 27:33. Progress! More importantly, I had discovered a real passion for the sport of triathlon. At the time I shared my brother's distaste for running, today... I can't live without it. I love my long swims in the pool and can't wait for warmer weather (and warmer ocean temperatures) and even longer swims in the open water. I have truly become one with my bike and wish that I could take it with me on business trips as easily as I can my running shoes and speedo (yes speedo) and goggles. It is a lifestyle and it has been fully embraced. Some of the body hair barriers have not yet fallen and I will probably never swim Masters at 5:30AM, but short of that, it is a huge part of my life and I hopefully will be pushing for a qualifying spot in Kona at 70.
I too have to thank the people around me for the support that they provide. My wife Susan is my biggest fan and has been joined on the course by our dog, Hunter and recently our 16 month old daughter, Jordan. My Dad has watched me finish a number of triathlons and provides a huge amount of support and inspiration along with my Grandmother who has pulled up a lawn chair roadside on more than one occasion. My Mom, as you can tell from Sheldon's post is our rock. I have however unfortunately provided her with the dubious honor of joining me in the emergency room at the Nations Triathlon last year after crashing on the bike course and breaking my collarbone. I'm not sure that she will make it back to a triathlon anytime soon believing that I crashed because she was there. Susan will not ever miss another one believing that I crashed because she wasn't there. I'm hoping for no more crashes and seeing them all at the finish line.
This has gone on for long enough. More on goals and thoughts about the next twelve weeks later. I will also post other notes and links on inspiration along the way. For regular updates and more information on what is going on around me you can also follow me on Twitter.
Faster not older! Thanks!
I thought that I would go ahead and follow Sheldon's post with a brief introduction and some early musings on how I got here and where I expect to go over the next twelve weeks. Possibly the best starting point is to share with you that the first day of the twelve week training plan for Vineman 70.3 (a half-ironman distance triathlon - 1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike & 13.1 Mile Run) is a "day-off". What this tells you is that no matter whether you completed your one year racing anniversary today or are heading into you fifth year of training and competing, no one shows up tomorrow for their "day-off" not having already put in some serious mileage.This all started for me on Super Bowl Sunday in 2005 when I posted a very solid 31:00 minute flat 5K, breaking the magic 10:00 minute mile pace barrier by a single second. The pictures are ugly (I ran with a jacket tied around my waist), the time was pathetic, but the journey had begun. I completed my first triathlon later that year in Laguna Beach and managed to complete the 5K that day (after the swim and bike) in 27:33. Progress! More importantly, I had discovered a real passion for the sport of triathlon. At the time I shared my brother's distaste for running, today... I can't live without it. I love my long swims in the pool and can't wait for warmer weather (and warmer ocean temperatures) and even longer swims in the open water. I have truly become one with my bike and wish that I could take it with me on business trips as easily as I can my running shoes and speedo (yes speedo) and goggles. It is a lifestyle and it has been fully embraced. Some of the body hair barriers have not yet fallen and I will probably never swim Masters at 5:30AM, but short of that, it is a huge part of my life and I hopefully will be pushing for a qualifying spot in Kona at 70.
I too have to thank the people around me for the support that they provide. My wife Susan is my biggest fan and has been joined on the course by our dog, Hunter and recently our 16 month old daughter, Jordan. My Dad has watched me finish a number of triathlons and provides a huge amount of support and inspiration along with my Grandmother who has pulled up a lawn chair roadside on more than one occasion. My Mom, as you can tell from Sheldon's post is our rock. I have however unfortunately provided her with the dubious honor of joining me in the emergency room at the Nations Triathlon last year after crashing on the bike course and breaking my collarbone. I'm not sure that she will make it back to a triathlon anytime soon believing that I crashed because she was there. Susan will not ever miss another one believing that I crashed because she wasn't there. I'm hoping for no more crashes and seeing them all at the finish line.
This has gone on for long enough. More on goals and thoughts about the next twelve weeks later. I will also post other notes and links on inspiration along the way. For regular updates and more information on what is going on around me you can also follow me on Twitter.
Faster not older! Thanks!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Turbulence
There is a lot to be said about a rocky flight over the Rockies as a parallel to life and the times that we live in. The view outside the window is of pristine snow capped mountains - a world that, on the surface from way up here, seems so perfect. Inside the cabin we are being shaken back and forth sometimes violently and for no apparent reason. The apology from the pilot rings hollow as you simply have to believe that he knew this was coming. It feels a lot like this on the ground today.
A colleague of mine, plucked from his sojourn in the desert a little more than a year ago to come and work for me in Southern California speaks constantly of his surroundings as "paradise". In many ways he is right but the fiercely paddling feet of the proverbial floating ducks that call paradise home are growing fiercer by the day. Home prices continue to fall in lock step with the market just as the once seemingly endless flow of cash into checking and savings accounts seems to trickle slowly to a halt. Scary times! The exit strategy of always being able to take our money to another State has almost vanished with the loss of equity and now even our own State Government is experiencing a financial crisis of it's own that rivals that of the broader US economy.
The flight had landed. Calm has been restored to the cabin and the view from the ground is just as nice. We can only hope that we land as smoothly and exit this recession as soon as possible.
Geolocate this post.
Posted with LifeCast
A colleague of mine, plucked from his sojourn in the desert a little more than a year ago to come and work for me in Southern California speaks constantly of his surroundings as "paradise". In many ways he is right but the fiercely paddling feet of the proverbial floating ducks that call paradise home are growing fiercer by the day. Home prices continue to fall in lock step with the market just as the once seemingly endless flow of cash into checking and savings accounts seems to trickle slowly to a halt. Scary times! The exit strategy of always being able to take our money to another State has almost vanished with the loss of equity and now even our own State Government is experiencing a financial crisis of it's own that rivals that of the broader US economy.
The flight had landed. Calm has been restored to the cabin and the view from the ground is just as nice. We can only hope that we land as smoothly and exit this recession as soon as possible.
Geolocate this post.
Posted with LifeCast
Any Closer?
What do you do when no matter how hard you work and how positive things you may be able to point to, you still can't answer one simple question - are we any closer to where we need to be?
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Posted with LifeCast
Geolocate this post.
Posted with LifeCast
Monday, February 02, 2009
Vineman 70.3 - Fundraising Effort
As you may be aware, I am currently training for the Vineman 70.3 event on July 19th in Sonoma, CA. The 2009 Vineman Ironman 70.3 Triathlon will be a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run triathlon which will be a qualifier for the 2009 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida. This event has become one of the most popular and highly competitive triathlons in the world. In addition, I am committed to supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation in raising funds for prostate cancer research.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting one in six men. Men are 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Athletes for a Cure, a program of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, is a new fundraising and awareness program to assist individual athletes in their quest to raise money for better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research with a simple, yet urgent goal: to find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer.
I am dedicated to this race and hope that you will support me in reaching my fundraising goal.
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting one in six men. Men are 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than women are to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Athletes for a Cure, a program of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, is a new fundraising and awareness program to assist individual athletes in their quest to raise money for better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research with a simple, yet urgent goal: to find better treatments and a cure for recurrent prostate cancer.
I am dedicated to this race and hope that you will support me in reaching my fundraising goal.
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Prostate Cancer Foundation
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Paradise
Thought I would quickly post a note concerning the fact that I live in paradise. I ran to the end of the pier in Huntington Beach this morning turning to see the sun rising and painting the snow covered mountains of to the east in an amazing array of orange.
I'm leaving the office early, along with my team and two visitors from Europe, to watch that same sun dip into the Pacific and paint colors all over again. Nice!
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Day 1
I still have a lengthy post from yesterday that needs to make it's way here. Once posted, you will be struck by my characterization of President Bush and the title of Maureen Dowd's column this morning which includes the words "boy king". I believe Ms. Dowd has made frequent use of this with regards to President Bush but, at least in my mind today, it is more poignant than ever based on his behavior yesterday.
More later!
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Posted with LifeCast
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration Day
I woke up fairly early today knowing full well what to expect to see on the TV but surprised nonetheless by the shear mass of humanity gathered on the National Mall to witness this historic day. I spent a good deal of last night watching CNN and taking it all in as the momentum built. I was particularly struck by a piece that was put together by filmmaker Antoine Fuqua titled "From MLK to Today". It was an incredibly powerful piece that showed just how far we have come as a nation and just how powerful a speaker President Obama is and will be for this nation at a time of great need. There are many out there who will tell you that he is no more than a great speaker and will be an ineffective leader and will allow a very liberal Congress to run rough shod over his agenda and this country and set us back decades. Only time will tell but I for one believe that this President will continue to surprise people and has put a team of people together around him that simply will not allow an agenda to be dictated to the administration by Pelosi and Reid or anyone else for that matter.
This entry would not be complete today though without a mention of our outgoing President. President Bush is after all the man that inspired me to write this blog that, for a long time, was focused almost solely on supporting the Republican agenda and President Bush. The long slow march to full fledged Independent and votes cast for the first time that were not strictly along party lines was sometimes painful for me but always enlightening and has opened my eyes to the importance of opening ones mind to a different point of view and then forming ones own opinion.
One of my biggest challenges with President Bush, and I felt that it was captured at various moments today in his behavior, was that he never fully grasped the shear magnitude of the position that he held. It always seemed in some sense to be "dress up" for him. The kid born with the silver spoon in his mouth who seemed to shun the system at every step along the way and made fun of all the smart kids at Yale one day found himself thrust into the Presidency and into one of the most challenging chapters in our nations history ill equipped to deal with any of it. I was particularly struck by a sense that I had, watching him saying goodbye to President Obama, that he was most looking forward to returning to Crawford and being able to tell people that he had met the President.
That said, I did find myself feeling somewhat wistful watching President Bush step into the helicopter. His cooperation throughout the transition has been held up as a model for future Presidents and allowed him to leave with his head held high and a firm belief on his part, and one that may eventually become part of his legacy, that he always did what he believed to be in the best interest of this great nation.
Sleep well President Bush and Thank You!
This entry would not be complete today though without a mention of our outgoing President. President Bush is after all the man that inspired me to write this blog that, for a long time, was focused almost solely on supporting the Republican agenda and President Bush. The long slow march to full fledged Independent and votes cast for the first time that were not strictly along party lines was sometimes painful for me but always enlightening and has opened my eyes to the importance of opening ones mind to a different point of view and then forming ones own opinion.
One of my biggest challenges with President Bush, and I felt that it was captured at various moments today in his behavior, was that he never fully grasped the shear magnitude of the position that he held. It always seemed in some sense to be "dress up" for him. The kid born with the silver spoon in his mouth who seemed to shun the system at every step along the way and made fun of all the smart kids at Yale one day found himself thrust into the Presidency and into one of the most challenging chapters in our nations history ill equipped to deal with any of it. I was particularly struck by a sense that I had, watching him saying goodbye to President Obama, that he was most looking forward to returning to Crawford and being able to tell people that he had met the President.
That said, I did find myself feeling somewhat wistful watching President Bush step into the helicopter. His cooperation throughout the transition has been held up as a model for future Presidents and allowed him to leave with his head held high and a firm belief on his part, and one that may eventually become part of his legacy, that he always did what he believed to be in the best interest of this great nation.
Sleep well President Bush and Thank You!
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