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