2008-2009

Funny, after you do something enough it becomes easy... and maybe a little boring.  I am the type that always needs a new challenge.  That's how I discovered Triathlon.  I loved to swim but never did it in a lane or in a race... and a proper bike was foreign to me (big pizza/little pizza???) but it seemed like the natural progression of the strides (ha) I had been making on the road in my running races. 

I started with the sprint triathlons and if I did not come in the bottom 1/3 of my age group I would be shocked... but I found my new challenge.  I joined the local Triathlon Club (Tri Club San Diego) and dove right in (ha) to anything and everything Tri related.  Club Races, workouts, social events... anything and everything... good times!  My races increased in distance as my endurance and confidence was built. 

My times were still below average... that might not be true but I was never on the podium and I would look for ways to improve.  I would sit in my office the monday after a race and dissect my age group, my splits, my weaknesses. 

If you hate getting old... start racing triathlons or running races.  Nothing feels better than your "Aging Up" birthday party.  You are now the youngin' racing against father time and your elder peers.  Like a jockey getting to race with all other horses in the starting gate carrying that extra weight.

I noticed the longer the races, the better I did vs others.  Could be all the training I was doing, or the "mental toughness" I would like to think I had... It could be the longer the race the more important the run becomes.  I was starting to really enjoy running, I bet it was the later. 

I joked that my swim and bike was so shit that I gave everyone their needed head start once we started the run.  What I think it really was is the ability to set a task and get it done.  I would see the age of a competitor on his calf during the run and I would set my mind to picking him off (or any woman in the field that was ahead of me... something about "getting chicked").  One at a time.  This is the point of this post.  Set your mind to something and do it.  Running up hill is sometimes very difficult on your body... you will see people walking around you... but if you set your goals very short term you can mentally get it done.  "Just one foot in front of the other"  "Just get to that tree and then you can slow your pace"  "Do not let that 12 year old kid beat you to the top"... whatever works for you.

I got to the point of racing Half Ironmans which in the middle of a race it hit me... I am running a half marathon after all of that pain fest of a swim and long ass bike race... I bet I can do a marathon!

How did I choose to run Boston?

2003-2008

I started running at 40 years old... I was an average athlete as a teenager but running was something I despised and avoided by "fake injury" more than a handful of times at the end of football practices in high school.  I guess you can say, I'm lazy!  I still am... It takes everything I'm made of just to walk up a moving escalator.

My first race was a half marathon that was billed, "fastest half marathon course" (it was down a mountain)... I liked the thought of gravity helping me along.  I trained with my boss at the time and a few other work mates... My knees hurt after every run it would have been easy just to quit!  I needed wraps to ease the pain of every step (please note: 10 years later with ten times the mileage I have zero pain in my joints).  No one in our group came from a running background so training was just getting together on the weekends and running.  I finished the race and felt like I had really accomplished something.  I did a few more halves over the next year or so and one thing about each race that was just like the last was my thought as I crossed the finish line, "I cannot image turning around and doing that again".  I had a real appreciation for marathon runners.

Introduction

this is the start of my (blog/website/page) and i am sure, if you have stumbled upon this, you are asking, "do we really need another motivational spot?"  The answer to that very good question is, this is not for you as much as it is for me.

i need to post this site... if i "put it out there" i will be better.  if i give advice, share stories of my successes, assist friends, family and strangers that have a need... i will be better.  i will lead by example and be a better person.  so if not for you, do it for me!

my journey began 10 years ago... as i approached my 40th birthday.  you will come to find out that my start/stop dates always have a ring to it.  40th birthday, january 1st, september 14th (my birthday), a certain race day... whatever it may be.  i need to have something easy for me to say this is the start of a new challenge.  i had a friend say once, "why do you need a date to start?  start today!".  i hope you can do that and i encourage that... but if you are like me, pick a date take the time to get motivated for that date and work your way up to it and then start like a horse out of a starting gate!

in my next entry i will describe my story, so that you can possibly relate to things in your own life that have always gotten into your way... and seemed like a good excuse at the time.  i have had a million of them and i am sure we have a few that are exactly the same.  there are no excuses... we will tear each of them down... and with my help i look forward to hearing how you achieved your goals.