WTF!

So it has been a very VERY long time since I've posted anything on this blog.  Ironically today was the day I planned too.  As I rolled my ever increasing waist line out of bed this morning to prep for another day at the office, I stood on the scale and was not happy with the number that was presented.  I have no reason to be terribly upset with this information as I have not stuck to any sort of training plan for more than 10 days.

As the day progressed and the drudgery of work ticked on, I was shouted at by my VP about 2ish, regarding the events that were unfolding in Boston during the 117th running of one of the greatest races of all time.  In an act of complete insanity the race took on a whole different meaning.  As the management team for the race stated, "What was intended to be a day of joy and celebration quickly became a day in which running a marathon was of little importance."  Tomorrow I will be wearing my run gear to the office to show in a united stand that we will not stop running.  We will not stop engaging in social events.  We will not stop volunteering at events.  And most of all, we will NOT live in fear of such cowards.  For those that might still follow this page, please join me in this stance and post a photo of you in your run attire on every social media outlet you are a member of.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those effected by these events in Boston.  God bless.

Its ON!!!!

This morning I spoke with my new coach!  Yes, thats right a coach!!!  I have hired Jennifer Harrison from the Chicagoland area to help prep me for the upcoming season.  I am not 100% sure what I have signed on for, but I am looking forward to the challenges and having a coach again.  Now I need to get starting on planning some races.  I have a few in mind and Kate is thinking of doing a number of road races this coming year.  The biggest struggle that I will have to over come with the training schedule is being able to get the swimming and riding in as I travel for work.  When the weather is nice, I can bring the bike with me and ride outside.  However, when it is poor I will have to stash it in the car and ride a trainer in the hotel room.....not overly excited about this little tid bit, but again I am excited to have the challenges again. 
Living in farmville USA, I am also in need of some new trainer/treadmill movies to help pass the time as I get back in shape.  I have done a pre-coach weigh in, and let me tell you it is not a pretty number.  I am certian I can shed a few of these unwanted pounds early on.  Now if I can just stop the pizza and beer diet, I will be good.

Harvest Season

Over the past few weeks I have traveled through the Midwest, yet again and seen the last of the farm equipment in the fields.  It always amazes me the hours that America's farmers put in, the amount of land they tend and what it takes to feed this country.  Living in IA I see my fair share of corn and ethonal plants.  The trucks are lined up waiting to drop their crop and head back to get more.  Its a never ending cycle of commerce.
This past weekend was Christmas and with it brings time spent with family and friends.  However this season we were blessed with an unaccepted trip to Ames to take Lola to the ISU pet hosptial for a condition they are still not sure of.  Poor Lola has dropped about 15 pounds in the last 4 weeks and looks very frale.  When we arrived at ISU on Friday we were told that she would be ready to get the following Friday.  The wonderful folks at ISU got her back to health much quicker and I was able to head back to Ames yesterday afternoon.  She was super excited to see me when they got her out of "jail" and she looked a little healthier.  She has/had a cone on her head creating a 50+ pound lampshade.  While at the vet we were also informed that she will need to have eye surgery for an issue that is causing some pain in her left eye.  On the bright side, Lola now has a contact lens to protect the surface of the eye until she is healthy enough to have the procedure. 
At any rate, as I was traveling back home yesterday evening I couldn't help but notice the harvest was done, the fields were bare of crops and farmers were busy repairing machinery and prepping for the coming spring.  It always amazes me the amount of time and effort it takes to get the crops from field to table and I enjoy being able to watch this process in action as I travel the Midwest.

Epic Weekend

This past weekend was a balst! Kate and I loaded up the Mazda and headed to the wonderful world of Minneapolis. I've heard of this magical place in books and even seen photos of it, but didn't think in my wildest fantasies I would ever set eyes on this wonderlust!! After a short 3 hour drive northeast we had arrived at our final destination. It was all I dreamed of and more. They had sushi resturants on almost every corner; okay so that part is embolished but every corner Kate told me to head towards had a sushi establishment on it. Lucky me, I am a sushi fan and thankfully Kate allowed me to indulge. Make no mistake fellow followers, Kate is a HUGE sushi fan. Her favorite is still Norio's at the Fairmont Orchid on the big island. We stopped at this eatery twice in our 5 day stay, plus another stop to where Norio himself had been relocated to. After meeting Mike and Amy at Crave for dinner and drinks we went to get a solid nights sleep to prep for our morning of riding the 29ers at Lebanon Hills. We met a fellow triathlete friend and started out on the outer loop of the park. The trails and weather were fantastic. It was one of those days that I could have riden all day. The one downfall that was quickly brought to my attention, clearly a mountian biking newbie error, these folks all travel with beer and bloody marys!! When we finished the first loop and made out way back to the parking lot, a full fledged bar had developed in the parking lot. It was awesome to say the least. We set out for another loop and than off to, yep you guessed it, a sushi bar. After some fresh fish and a few beers we got cleaned up and went to watch the Badger/Gopher football and hockey games at The Golden Nugget. Sunday morning we packed up and headed to the river bottoms to get one last ride in prior to starting the drive south. The river bottoms is much less technical and a little less stressful for Kate. She is very new to mountain bike riding and still trying to get her wheels under her and feeling safe on her machine. The weekend was a total success and a much needed outdoor adventure as we've had many that have passed us by this summer.

Albeit sometimes a slow learner, not after Sunday's ride! Oh how I love a good Surly Furious

7 Months

So its been roughly 7 months since my last update....thankfully not much has happened in that time. I've been traveling around the Midwest seeing accounts, working expos and events and seeing parts of the country during my travels that I normally wouldn't see. I am currently getting packed (or at least should be packing) for Hawaii as I leave tomorrow morning to work the Ironman World Championships for the next 2 weeks. This year, Kate will be joining me at the end off the event for so much needed R&R!! It will be her first time to the island and we have done a ton of looking into all of the classic tourist things to do. I am most looking forward to some down time with her.


In the past 6 weeks I've been to Louisville and Madison to work both of the Ironman events, Des Moines for the Hy-Vee (and I raced as well) as well as Las Vegas for Interbike. Racing in Des Moines was my 3rd race of the season; and to train/prep for it, I decided not to have any beer for a week. I figured that would be enough training. And as luck would have it, it was. I crossed the finish line just like every other race I've competed in. Kate and the kids were there to watch and cheer me on as well. The only disappointment that I had all day was that they were in the finishing chute and I TOTALLY missed them. Apparently they were standing by the Mini Coopers, which I happened to miss too! Clearly I was dead set on getting to the line and calling it a day. It was a great race and an awesome course. I've done this race 2 other times (each time it was a different course) and this year it was moved back downtown. So in the 3 times I've completed this event, its never been the same. I was happy to see it back downtown as it made for a much more spectator/racer friendly venue.


The first race of the season was Kansas 70.3 and 2 weeks later we went to Lubbock, TX for Buffalo Springs 70.3. I was marginally under trained for both of these events, but again got to the line for each of them. Kansas was a blast as there were a bunch of others that Kate and knew racing it. Kate and I finished and got our medals from Chrissie Wellington and she called us out on our matching race kits. Buffalo Springs, well this was more of a death march than an event. Texas has/had been in a drought for a number of months so it was pretty dry. The ranchers were being told to keep their live stock in the shade and well watered, meanwhile roughly 1800 racers were out in 112 degree temps pushing their bodies to certain death. When I crossed the line of this one, I grab an ice cold Miller Lite and sat in the lake enjoying what might be the last calories of my life. Thankfully they were not. It took a number of days to regain proper hydration and to recover, but I had no other races on tap so it worked out well. Hy-Vee was a late in the game decision to do as Hailey was doing the kids race and I thought it would be fun to do as long as we would be in town.


So that is basically the last 7ish months, nothing exciting but that happens. I am going to try to make regular updates (I know I always say that) but hopefully I can stick to it this time.

I am going to have to prep Benny for the next 2 weeks while I am gone, he gets a little depressed

Still alive and kickin'

Good morning to the handful of folks that follow(ed) this blog. Its been more than a few months since my last post. Hell, its been so long long that Google changed all of my settings and I need to read the manual to figure out how to log in to it! And I am a poor reader, so you can only image how long it took. Apparently the log in email I was using is of "conflicting interests" now. I am not sure what that means, but I am assuming I am on the "poke, probe and prod" list with TSA now as well. I wished just once those people would let me pass with out having to talk to me. Come on guys....I am a good airline customer. Okay, so on my way to CA a few months back I had a knife in my bag. I am generally trying smuggle the left over water in my water bottle through and the latest was 3 new tubes of SBR Sports, Inc product through.....BUSTED! The life of an air traveler does have its advantages however. I enjoy to people watch when I am waiting for my plane and the odd balls that I see in the terminals are some times to much. Ask Kate, I will send Blackberry messages at Gatling Gun pace to help pass the time. I often find myself staring to long as to how people allow themselves to leave the house dressed in such a manner, or just simply laughing out loud. Now, those that know me, know I am not the flashiest of dressers, but I am not going to wear 2 different shoes, running shoes with khaki pants, a scarf, etc and head to the airport where you are under constant watch from the "eye in the sky"

Since my last post I have been around the country to some places that I have never thought I'd ever make it to; bonus of the job. I find myself thinking of how great a race would be in the areas I've been. Rolling hills, tree lined streets, flat smoothly paved roads, etc and wonder if they have any. Than as I get to the account to catch up with them, I find out that they usually do have a few races in the surrounding areas. This summer I will be putting the bike(s) on the roof of the car and riding, running and swimming whenever I get the chance in some of the these areas.

I do have a few vacations planned and am looking forward to them. Kate and I will be meeting the rest of the family in the Dells in a few weeks for our annual winter get together. This is a 3 day funfest at the indoor water parks, lots of laughs and usually an injury or 2 when my older brother thinks its funny to throw snowballs at me. I have a bit of a temper and it usually doesn't go over well, ha!! Than in April I will be heading to Austin for the MS150 ride with my Batteries Plus buddy and a friend that lives in the Austin area. I've never done a charity ride of this size and I am looking forward to it.

That's about it for now. I am planning on trying to keep this more up to date than I have been; perhaps even photos of where I am or have been. Plus, I have been granted access to my blog again....so that I got that going for me, which is nice!

Simple Joys

As I sit in my office prepping for the balance of the week I have this humming noise of active feet around me. Asking questions. Wanting to know what this button does. "How do we turn up the volume?" "What does this cane do anyway?" "Is this really an antique bank?" Is it antique 'cause your old?"

As Christian sit on the floor behind my desk chair, he is scolding the Uncle Sam bank that was given to me by my Grandfather for Christmas. My Grandfather was a collector of banks and one year, he decided to give a bank to each of his grandkids. I knew the one I was going to ask for. Each bank needed his approval prior to leaving the room and the house for the rest of the banks life. I have never left this bank behind on my moves through life and its never stayed packed in a box.

As I work and Christian asks questions on how to the bank works, how old it is, where did I get it...I simply pick off the top shelf of my desk and show him. As he continues to put the 1 nickel and 3 pennies through the bank time and time again; he giggles every time on how the cane moves. How Washington's beard shifts with his arm dropping the coins in the satchel labeled US.

I know this isn't one of the random humorous posts that you've (the 3 followers) come to read and chuckle at..but its the simple joys in life that keep me going everyday. I knew long ago this bank was special and I remember the day I received it as a gift from my Grandfather.

Christian enjoying the bank

Quick Update

For those that I have run into in the last few days, weeks and months....yes, I am alive and your all witnesses to that fact. To Ben and the others, I am sorry that you keep checking my posts only to read that I have still found my keys. It was quiet the find, so I wanted to keep it posted for a while, ha!! I have taken a new job with a mulitsports company and will be the Midwest sales rep and event specialist. Pretty excited about my new challenges and adventures that are set forth. I am also leaving the state of MN for IA. I know, some ask why would I leave MN. I am moving in with Kate and the kids and will set up my home office from there. I will still be in the Mpls area for my new job as well as Chicago. My 2 bigger markets. I will be covering ND, SD, IA, MN, WI, MI, IL and possibly IN and OH. I will try to give more up to date posts as my new journey will surely be enjoyable and give me blogging material.

Got 'em

I am writing about a recent accomplishment that I've had. A few months back while wrestling with the kids in the snow (see older post) I lost my keys. I am happy to report that I have successfully found them!! As expected, they were in the area where I tackled Jack, even with hours and hours of archaeological type searching, Mother Nature has assisted me with warm weather and rain to return my keys. Now, being in IA with 2 sets of keys doesn't mean I will make it home with both sets, after all; it is me!!

Whats worse....running next to someone with to much perfume/lotion on OR excessive B.O.?
Why do some guys choose to run in tights BUT wear running shorts over them?
As a cyclist, are you suppose to have a kit that matches or is it not an issue?
Can you wear navy pants with a black belt and black shoes?
Better question, why would you own navy pants to start with?
How big does a pothole need to get before MN Dot will fill it?
And yes, I do understand its that time of year...I am talking about mid-summer ones
I live across the street from a World's Strongman competitor, who makes up these lifting events they compete in? Hey you, pick up that car and carry it up that hill...I'll time ya!!!
How dirty must your vehicle get before it needs a wash?
Why do Buick's form long lines of traffic?
How far past the expiration date can you drink milk?
Or eat eggs for that matter?

"The Pacer"

I just got home from the Y and have to post this. As I got out of the pool and headed to my locker, I had to bob and weave around a guy that seemed to be lost in the rectangular shaped locker room. So as I dance around him and head to change, he follows me. He has apparently now located his brain and found his locker as well. Lucky me, right across the aisle. This is where it gets rather interesting. He starts talking to himself, he is pacing and in a borderline rant. I do my best not to look in his direction fearing he might want to have some sort of conversation with me. He's grumbling about his towel, his deodorant, really just about anything he is able to see. I am just trying to get the hell out there as quickly as I can. As I grab my bag and head for the door, he's still walking around like he is in some sort of courtroom debate and clearly work like mad to win the case! For those keeping score, he was winning. And seemed to have whatever jury he was talking to rather convinced, I just haven't seen a lot of unda-pants lawyers. Maybe he's a trend setter

Gut Check = Hurt Locker

Now I know that there is a movie out called "Hurt Locker" Hollywood clearly has stole this title from the buddy of mine. But at any rate, I loaded my gear bag and headed to the Y last night for a little run and swim session. Its been a few years since I've been a Y memember, but I need a place run and swim. With Lifetime being so expensive, and fake to me, I rejoined the Y. Plus, if I am in WI or IA, I can use the facilities there as well.
I get a treadmill in the back of the of the room, plug the iPod in and select Gut Check from the playlist, turn the channel to the Olympics and off I go. "Prayer" by Sevendust comes on and this sets the tone for what is going to be a great 40 minute run. It gets better from there and as Eminem's "Lose Yourself" comes on we are full speed ahead at a break neck offseason pace. Now, the treadmills I am running on are new to me. They have these goofy touch screens and hand controls, similar to an X-Wing Fighter. I was able to figure them out pretty quick when I first ran on them a few weeks ago, but the older lady next to me was lost. So with my HR about 223 she decides its a good time to start asking me how to use it. WRONG! I am a breathing like a clydsdale, stopping snakes with every stride and generating some of the best runners form seen in a long time. You know, the classic over striding, reaching every step....no really, I've heard its a very very efficient way to run. Knowing I am running so poorly, I try to shorten my stride, adjust my breathing and settle into a good rythm. By the way, I am singing "Lose Yourself" this entire time.....probably failing at that as well, ha!! I am able to keep my pace, assist the lady next to me, only to watch her walk for another 30 seconds and leave. That was time well spent to show her, maybe I was sweating or stunk to much?!?!
It was a good workout session and the pool set was so so. I was tired from the run, lack of food and some mild dehydration. Best part of the workout was finding out that "Slapshot" was playing on Versus (thanks for the text) and that the front desk attendant told me where the nearest Chipotle was located!!

Recent Accomplishments

1) Shoveled the driveway, and I happen to think its the nicest on the block. I may be a little bias
2) Resigned up to become a YMCA member
3) Shoveled the driveway
4) Cooked a nice stay at home dinner
5) Shoveled the driveway
6) Went to a new eatery in Northeast called Victory 44, it was great. Kate and I had blast and the food was amazing
7) Still shoveling the driveway

So it could be worse, I could live in DC which is getting more snow than Houghton/Hancock is this year...or worse yet, in CA with all the headcase nut jobs out there!!

Its started

Everyone has signs that indicate their training has started for whatever joy in life they pursue. This is one sign for me that I am getting back into it.

First would be the unopened beer

Second would be the jug of Hammer Gel

Cottage Cheese

Carrots

Broccoli

And the fact that the fridge was stocked full on Monday, its now Wednesday....good thing I live close to three grocery stores!!

Question?

How much lint does one need to carry in the crack of their butt in order to leave a sample of it on the toilet seat? I am wondering if your plan was to knit a scarf or a sweater?

Heeeellllllllooooooo!!!!

Now picture Jerry Seinfeld saying that in the episode with the Tweety Bird Peez dispenser....funny now, huh?!?!?

Just a quick update to let EnJ know that I am alive...heck, I talk to my family so they know I still breathing, but its EnJ that I am worried about.

Since my last post I have ran 42.4 miles in 3 days, the 5k on Friday was more than I'd ran in a month, so the pending half marathon and marathon were a little daunting. I have jumped back in the pool and slowly started to find some sort of swim stroke again. Maybe you don't know this, but swimming is hard. I am working everyday to find the motivation to train in some way as I am going at this season solo...no coaching for this guy. It will be a change, but I think it will be good. I used to stress about getting a workout in and often missed out on much funnier group rides, runs, swims, happy hours, etc. Last I checked I wasn't as close to that pro card as I once thought, ha!!

I have a new ride, it s Ford Edge. Well, just for the next few days, which might turn into spring.

Prior to this photo I actually had keys in my back pocket. Now Big Red is stranded in IA, thankfully Boo had the Edge ready to head north for me, otherwise I might still be in IA raking and shoveling snow looking for my danged keys. The kids and I had a blast that weekend and the weather was perfect.I have a co-worker with a metal detector, so hopefully I can find them when I am south this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed.

I was in WI for Christmas and had a great time. It was so much fun to hang out with the family and see everyone again. Even though everyone lives in WI, except me, we aren't always able to get together as much as we'd like to. Prior to Christmas, I was able to see my sister and her family for Octoberfest in LaCrosse. This is a must trip for every year going forward, Bryan's I hope your prepared!!

I mean, how can you not have fun with this group; at the end of the night they fry bacon over the fire!!

Saved, but by whom?!?!

You ever have one of those surpirses that make you wonder? Wonder why its been done? Who done it? Well this evening when I rolled upon the homestead, via Ruby the Redline of course, the yard had been taken care of. I mean really taken care of. Kate and I spent a better part of Sunday morning raking the back yard and formed 4 HUGE piles. Lola was getting lost in the smallest piles and Benny in the bigger ones. I was struggling to see Kater if she was behind one of them....shes not so tall, ha!! Well, some kind folk took care of the front yard, the back yard, the flower beds and proceeded to give me the nicest yard on the block, now only if the house itself would transform for me tomorrow. It was a nice surprise to know that I don't have to worry about dealing with the yard anymore this year.

Its Always Something....

....today's adventure started out with my morning commute via Menagerie with a brisky air temp of a balmy 27 degrees. Watching the weather prior to departing, it said a chance of rain this afternoon. The thought of grabbing the cross bike today was an option. An option that was probably better than taking Menagerie the road bike. So the morning goes on at the office as usual. Nothing exciting or out of the norm. I decide against the turkey and cheese sandwhich and apple for lunch and go with some co-workers to the food court at the EP mall. I start with chicken and brocolli with an egg roll. I wash that down with a medium Oero blizzard. Still hungry. Off to McDonalds for more food. A double quarter pounder, should have gotten the meal, but got just the sandwhich...damn tape worm. Back to the office and what appears to a pending rain storm.

As the day apporaches quieting time, its getting darker and clearly raining at this point. Not so bad, its a short 5 mile ride home. Its one of those rides thats almost not worth getting all of the spandex and riding gear on. But I am dork and dawn it anyway. Lots of wise cracks from the not so in shape co-workers and off I go. The weather isn't so bad, a little rain and what feels like sleet in the face, stings a touch...but I have no choice but to carry on. As I apply the brakes for my first big turn, the back tire fish tales and I am heading street side and in a hurry!!! I am some how able to keep the rubber on the road and am now taking a different way home. This way is a less traveled and newly paved road, so it actually worked out better. I keep on my way, now getting very wet, my shoe covers are no longer keeping my feet warm, or dry for that matter. About 2 or 3 miles from the house my back tire is getting really spongey, kind of like when you know your getting a flat. Sure enough, FLAT!! So off the bike and time to run it home. I keep my shoes clipped to the bike and start to hoof it homeward. Socks are completely soaked, feet are freezing and feel like cinder blocks. I make it home, almost biff it on the tile in the entry way, grab a beer and let the 8 of you that read this know about my day. Hope everyone else had just as much fun today!!

The bike I should have taken

Oh Crap!!! Hang on!!! Sonofa.....

Well, big red isn't nearly as tough as I thought it to be. If you "bump" a Chrysler Aspen on 494 while taking your brother and sister in-law to the airport, it will wrinkle, dent, lose pieces, etc. I've always tried to convince myself that I am a really good driver, had this been true, I would have missed this guys bumper and not cracked up the truck....PISS!!!
Yes, it does seem to always be an adventure with me. I got the truck off of 494 and beat on the bumper to try and successfully get my riders to the plane on time. Hell, I even went to Walgreens for a hammer and Jiffy Lube for a pry bar to try and bend the bumper away from the front tire so it wouldn't pop. Alas, no luck. A cab was called for the travelers as well as a co-worker for me so I could attend work. No injuries other than bruised pride, so that's a plus. I will be a biking everywhere until I get big red back though, no worries, much like my running, I just need a reason to get back on the bike.
The worst part of the whole deal, I spilt my coffee on myself and needed to stop home to change!!!

What the?!?!?

Another long day at work. Another night I come home and want to kick my feet up and hold the couch down as some tv show lulls my into a daze. Another night I am not looking forward to cooking, cleaning, doing laundry; you know all of the standard life and household crap that one has to deal with.

So tonight, other than just having the thought of running, I actually put my gear on and out the door I went. What a great night for a run. Cool, a slight breeze, colorful trees and just me and my thoughts.

The first thought: as I am running past a small road construction project (I should stop and wish a fellow buddy happy birthday, his house was on my route tonight)...than what exactly are they doing to the road? The boulevard looks the same as it did earlier this summer...dug up with pipes resting near holes and cables/wires shooting out of the ground. Clearly something is happening to the area, I wonder what it is.

Second thought: why am I running? What am I running from? What am I training for? Why can't I go home and hold the couch down? I am running to relax, I know it sounds odd. I am running to prep myself for the coming Goofy Challenge, this weekend's Monster Half and the 2010 Mpls Marathon.

3rd thought: When will I turn around and head home? I wondered around the local park and paved trail system and even did a section of cross country running....my favorite by the way.

4th thought (by far the best of the run): when did the church behind my house put a concrete buck statue in the parking lot. Wait? What the?!?!? I stop running and watch an 8 point buck stand perfectly still in the parking lot. I must have watched this deer for 10 minutes, thankfully I was almost home. As the cars zoomed by and went along with their busy lives answering cell phones and text message or the mother yelling at the kids...I stood and watched this gentle looking animal. He didn't seem scared, worried or even concerned with the cars passing by us. As I walked around in the grass getting closer, he simply watched me. I told a fellow walker about what I had been watching, he grumbled some comment on how this animal is impeding his space; that guy was an ass. I ran the rest of the way home and entered through the back door thinking I might see the deer one last time. I walked to the back of the property to the church parking lot; sure enough there he stood on the hill looking back at me. It was a great way to end the run!!

5th thought: during my training this year, I have probably seen more deer than my dad will all year hunting them, ha!!

Michael and I stopping for a photo opt along the run course of IMOO '09