1 Year Today

I was beating around what to write about for a few days and nothing sounded right. Was gonna have another throw back Thursday, like I had last week but something just hit me. Today it has been one year that I had to make the toughest call of my entire life. I had to put down my best friend Ticket. She was by far the best dog I have ever had and would give anything to have her back. That dog understood everything about me and never left me no matter what. I have never had or will ever have a dog like her again and I was so lucky to get her. I never meant to get her, it just happened one day while working with some horses. This pup covered in mud came up and the girl that had her coulndt keep because she was growing to fast. So I put that Black and Tan Coonhound in my truck and away we went. She had never been in a house and was given up from her litter because she was gun shy and wouldnt hunt. Long story short, she was fine one minute and then next had some spine issues. Surgery was an option but they was not sure if she would ever walk again and for her not to go out and run that big nose across the ground would have been like killing her. So i laied with her as the vet put her down and did m best to ease things up for her. I was not gonna be in there but as much as she laid with me when I was hurting there was just no way I could not be there for her. Now she sits on the piano at my moms where she should be. Although a pain in the butt sometimes here is a few of her better pictures.

Throwback Thursday - Chasing the 140.6

Been thinking about this year and whats coming up and it made me think back to my first year in triathlon. I waited almost 2 years before I could race, I needed a bike and didnt have the money for one. So December 2007 I got it and that same month I was at my first sprint. Before I started I knew what I wanted to race, it was the 140.6 I was after. Well 10 months and 3 ( one each distance ) races I had to get into the only one I could. It was the 2008 Great Floridian in Clearmont FL. I had to pick this because we was already starting workups for deployment and I knew that 2009 was gonna be shot and I would not be around much. I got into the military division figured why not and it was a little cheaper. I thought I knew what to expect and in all I was pretty close ! No expectations that was my day, only to finish what I waited almost 3 years for but really only been traing for 4 months ( Didnt start till after May at HIM FL). Anyway it was such a great day, met this guy from GA on the run and we talked most of it till mile 15, then he stopped to see his wife and I never seen him again. That day I went through every emotion I have at least 5x, happy, sad, depressed and overwhelmed at times. I relived my entire life starting back as far as I cold remember. This good and bad I have done over a lifetime and when I seen the 20 mile marker on the run I almost fell apart. Not from anything but purly knowing I was gonna finish and at that moment I was chasing the setting sun. My goal changed to finish before sunset, didnt make it but I was damn close. In the end I finished 1st in the division, forget overall I could look it up in scrapbook but that dont matter. What did I learn ? That the 140.6 distance is by far my favorite and really do not wanna race anything else. From that night on, through pre-drployment and 2 years in the desert I could not wait to get at it again. Now well nothing has changed, only that now I have a great wife who enjoys them and I believe is her favorite race too. Never would I have expected all this in 2008 but I love my life and enjoy every day chasing the 140.6 dream again.

Another Week Down

Been a OK week all around but wanting more. Training has been good although last 2 days I been out of town. Had made plans to run over in West Palm but as normal they got shut down with a early morning formation. Not sure still why I was but I did get some stuff done I needed to. Glad to see that storm got torn apart over Cuba and hope to get in a few hour ride tomorrow followed up with a long run Sunday. Getting ready to go out now for some speed work and Nadine just asked if we was going to pool tonight? Damn I aint been in town 1hr yet and get hit with a pool trip. Don think she knows im running. Feeling sluggish after 2 days of paperwork shuffling, defiantly gonna need a kick in the pants with some X2PERFORMANCE before this run. Been thinking a lot of some OWS but I usually do not do many unless I am kinda dragged into it. I just do not get into them much these days unless its race day. Hoping for a good weekend, least with a few hours of no rain for some bike time.  

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Training Coming Back Together

Been hectic around here since being back from AAC. I have had a few decent workouts and things seem to be coming around best they can. Back in school full time and leaving again this week but just for a couple days this time. Finally back in the water for swims, been 3 weeks and I have been feeling it. X2PERFORMANCE is helping with the workouts and recovery. Did a 65 and 5 brick Sunday and been waiting for DOMS to kick in but nothing!! It has been months since I been on the bike that long not to mention running after Nutrition was way off, water mostly and I was feeling it. Should have stopped at park after my run north but got caught chasing a roadie down and forgot about the water stop. That mistake didnt allow me to get water for 2 hours and with temps in 80's with damn near 100% humidity it was a lose lose situation. Came off bike after a hella fast ride (then what I expected) only to find myself dry heaving by mile 2 and then throwing up soon after. Regrouped with walk and water and finished the run. Not as long as I wanted but longer then it could have been. I really been liking using X2PERFORMANCE everyday and it keep proving to me its legit !! Looking forward to more training and see where it takes me. This weekend looks BAD that tropical storm is gonna keep things windy and wet it looks like. So working on swim and run this week and will get back on bike once it passes. Maybe I should have gotten that trainer cycle when I was going to!! Well have to deal with it for now. Looking for a race, I got the itch and it needs to be scratched. Missed this weekend in Naples just cause I had gotten back from 2 weeks of school a day before the race. No worries I got a few soon Im looking at.

12 Days of Army Air Assault School done!!

AaaHhhh WOW that was a long 12 day, really seemed like I was gone for a few months. I really dont know where to start, I have been wanting to go to that school since I was 14. Now that I have completed it is just awesome! I wish I could start at the very first day and just write abou the entire class but it would be a short book. Days 1-4 was by far the worst I have had i a long long time. I was mentally and physically beat. We did pushups till couldnt get off the ground, flutter kicks for I'm not sure how long and Mt climbers for what seemed like hours. That was all before the sun came up and we had a 2 mile run followed with the confidence course. Before noon on day 1 we had lost 35 people out of the 250 that started. By the end we graduated 196. Some was medical drop, others for failing tests and some just quit. The course is nicknamed the 10 toughest days in the Army and for me I agree. Not sure if it beats some days I had in the USMC but Army YES !!

 Neither of these pics are of me but I found them off the FLANG web page. In all I am glad I got to go and even more I made it through and got my wings. At the end we got to rappel out of a UH60 from about 90 feet and it was so cool. The last day was a 12 mile road march in full gear with 40lb ruck sack, my feet could have done without that cause IMFL training is back in full swing. But I will be good in a few days soon as things quit hurting.