Spring Has Sprung!

I had a super busy weekend, so busy some would say it was "spinning." I prefer to say it was "flipping amazing."  See what I did there?

I went to Patti and Ed's house for some training, laughter, and generally speaking a very nice visit.  I could tell they really liked having me because I am a real prize.  They were just as happy to see me leave for the exact same reason.  :) jk.

Lewis and Clark saw this same view over 200 years ago, think about that.

Patti urged me to bring my mountain bike so we could go on a bike ride together.  We rode for nearly three hours... yes, three hours.  How many 78 year olds ride a bike for that long, geez?  I could barely keep up with her and her let's-get-to-the-top-of-the-hill-before-we-rest attitude.  It's clear why we are friends.

*Two hours and thinking "What did I get myself into?" :)

*Two hours and still smiling.

Before dinner, Patti made us all go for a 2 mile hike around their house because in her words, "Ed needs his exercise."  It made me laugh that we all had to go with him.  I thought about Uriah's silent protest method of having collapsing legs.  

*We relaxed while Patti cooked a healthy dinner.  Just before this pic I said, "Act natural."

*Patti and I played ping pong going back and forth in marathon sets.  I played my hardest...and won every game.  I figured I'm going to do my best because Patti holds just about every swim record and she would be ashamed if I went easy.

*I generally dislike games, but when I have to play, I play to win...seriously.

*Ed and Patti built their own log house.  I slept upstairs in the loft guest bed.  

My sister, Mackenzie, is organizing a yoga camp and is in the process of writing yoga literature.  I let her take some pictures for her work while I did my best at the poses she instructed me to do.  Of all the things I am great at-- jokes, impressions, faking injuries to not lift heavy things, being dramatic, wearing sweet outfits-- yoga is not one of my bests.

*It's EAGLE!...wait no shouting in yoga...it's eagle (ssshhh).

*Standing triangle, son. lol

*The trampoline crew

*Uriah rode Patch

*Paisley rode a saddle on a hitching post. ha ha

*Uriah helped Papa

*and jumped on the trampoline

*Mackenzie and Uriah

*It's been a long time, but I still have it like it was yesterday.  When I was 10 years old my parents told me, "Bryan, no back flips on the trampoline."  I waited until they weren't home and back flipped my little heart out.  When they got home and asked, "What ya been doing?"  I said, "Oh...uhhh...hmm...nothing."

*Want to know what it looks like back-flipping 15 feet off the ground?  About like this.

After all those fun activities, my family fixed a gourmet dinner of all of our favorites.  My parents slaved all day cooking and preparing food for our big family dinner.  I went for 30 days without a treat, sweet, or dessert.  On the 31st I had some M&Ms and some chocolate pie. It was so delicious that I will probably think about it everyday of the next 30 days.  It was a great ending to a fantastic weekend. 

Thanks for reading, Spring has sprung!  

CDA Swim Meet: Part 2 of 2

After the most dedicated training of my whole life, the day was here and it was time to face my challenge.  

*The beautiful Kroc Aquatic Center

It was so great to have my parents and Uriah there.  My parents have been watching me compete for nearly 24 years and no matter what, I am always #1 in their eyes…except that one time my sister beat me in a triathlon…I’m not sure what place that put me in.

*First Uriah wouldn't turn around and face the camera...

Uriah, the turkey that he is, was going a million miles a minute and thoroughly enjoyed all his adventures.  I see a lot of similarities between us, mainly in the fact that we both have to have things our way J  A prime example was when we tried to get him to pose for a picture.

*After I muscled him around his poor lil' legs just couldn't stand, shocking.  This is what I call a "Silent Protest." He he 

*He cheered up when it was time to rock climb, what a character.

*Scaling that wall just like Mackenzie!  His shirt, shorts, and shoes match, who said I never taught him anything?

*All better :)

It was also great to have Ed and Patti at the meet.  They are some of my favorite people.  They adopted me as a grandson so they are my only living grandparents.  They are special people.  Patti holds just about every record in the Northwest and she didn’t disappoint with a break through performance in the 200 back and the 1500 meter freestyle.  She is an inspiration. 

*I wore camouflage for the first 4 events and no one saw me, they just saw phantom ripples in the lane. 

*Patti on her way to a personal best in the 200 backstroke

Ayla had a great meet doing her first ever 200 individual medley.  She totally rocked it and achieved her dream goal. Her parents, Terri and Lane, joined her and had a great time seeing what it is that we do with all of our time and efforts.  Ayla had a great day, she was part of the relay, and did awesome in her personal events.  I am very proud of her.

*Two peas in a pod

*Ayla with her parents after her first ever 200 individual medley

*Ayla working the fly of her 200IM

*Get it girl, I think this is the 100IM...

I loved every minute of this meet.  Sometimes I find myself at competitions and because of nerves I look forward to getting things over with. That was not the case here.  I put in so much time in planning and in making every detail perfect.  I had one of the best days of my whole life and enjoyed every minute of it.

*The theme song was "My Songs Know..." By Fall Out Boy.  I listened to it on Ayla's phone before the 200 fly. 

For this meet I was swimming six events, 5 individual and 1 relay.  I started with the 200IM and swam comfortably hard in personal best time.  I followed that with the relay, which also went well.  I then completed the 100IM and 50 backstroke in personal best times without any major expenditures of energy.  I then had a pretty substantial break before the last two events.

*Ignite the turbos, it's warm up time, boy!

During the break I snugged back into my warmup clothes and relaxed.  I listened to the theme song 5 times and tried to soak it all in.  My moment was about to happen.  With about 30 minutes until the 200 fly I traded out my camouflage jammers and unveiled my special edition suit.  After changing I went back to the hot tub to start the warmup process.  After a short soak I went to the warmup section of the pool and did about 500 meters of  solid warmup.  My muscles coursed with anticipation.  I hopped out, it was time to do what I had come here to do.

*Patti and I just before the 200 butterfly, special edition suit.

*"Omg, is Uncle Doug really wearing that?"  Notice the attacking shark on the tshirt?

The officials called us to the blocks for the start of the 200 fly.  I knew this was going to be my hardest event.  I stepped up on the blocks and said to myself “GO GET WHAT YOU CAME HERE FOR!”  My friends and family were at both ends of the pool to cheer me on.  We dove in and the first lap was easy speed, I felt great. 

The second lap, same thing, I felt incredible.  Third lap is always where the struggle starts for me.  I started to hurt pretty badly at the 125 mark thinking I may have started a little too fast.  I stuck with it and finished the 3^rd of 4 laps.  I always break up the final lap into two lengths (rather than one lap) because it is tough.  My arms began to seize like they always do, my lungs begged for more air, and my shoulders burned badly.  I hit the final wall, got deep under the wave that I was pulling along, and made the turn for home.  My dream was 25 meters away and I was powering down and suffering…and loving it.

I touched the wall in personal best time. I was so tired and locked up that another 5 meters would have been impossible, but I wouldn't have it any other way honestly.  I would probably try to take it out a little easier and suffer less in the final 50 meters, but it makes for a better story to be locking up with strife bringing it home.  It was a huge weight off my chest to be done with the 200 fly, a weight I had carried for nearly 3 months.

My friends and family gave me some high fives, and a few said, “good job,” before I plunged back into the warmup pool to work out my seized muscles.  The 400IM was right around the corner.  Within a few minutes I was called back to the blocks for the last event of my dream day.

*These pics remind me of a shark attack:  165 pounds flyin' towards you pushing a wall of water with mouth agape ready to strike.

*Here comes the splash, watch out cameraman!

The 400IM went great.  So great in fact that a couple times during the race I thought to myself “You probably aren’t going to set a PR because the pace is too 'easy.'"  I had all but given up on going for my best time during the breaststroke because I felt like it was swimming way too smooth to be going fast. 

I have put in a lot of work on my back and breaststroke so I was going faster with less effort.  When I touched the wall I looked at the clock.  My time was 18 seconds faster than my time last year. I honestly felt like I should have left more out there in terms of effort and that I should have pressured the back and breaststroke more.

*Still in shark attack mode, breaststroke.

*Closing it out, smooth like Finding Nemo on the attack. ha ha 

*Can't win them all :)

I am beyond satisfied with everything about this adventure.  The 200 fly was brutal and the 400IM was a perfect ending to my dream swim-quest. After the meet we all celebrated over dinner and shopping at the mall.  I am super excited for Swim Championships!

*Post race dinner, so relieved it's over, and so satisfied with what we accomplished.

All the hard work, sacrifice, and even failure along the way were worth it in the end.  When people ask me, “Why do you like doing stuff like this?” My answer is a simple phrase, 

“Because this is what I do.”  

Thanks for reading, Dream On.

CDA Swim Meet: Part 1 of 2

I keep a big calendar on my refrigerator, in the spot for writing in the month I wrote, “March Is Always My Month.”  For the past few years I have had tough Decembers and Januarys.  February brings a little relief (and sun), but March is my month.  I want to do this race report in two parts because the journey I just completed is nothing short of a dream come true.

*Smiling because I like lime green run kits. Even while running I thought about swimming :)

First I owe a big thank you to my friends and family who love and support me.  I also owe a mention to my friends at Hammer Nutrition.  Their products are amazing and I am so very lucky to be one of their athletes.  After years of begging, they released lime green kits. WOW.  I combined their amazing products with clothing that feels good to wear for one of the best training phases of my whole racing life. 

A funny side note, a week or so ago I got a call from a restricted phone number from a girl posing as a representative of Hammer.  She was asking about another interview and about my favorite Hammer Products.  A couple minutes into the conversation I asked her with a laugh, “are you aware that I just had an interview for Endurance News, and I’m guessing people don’t want to see me again so soon.”  She in a somewhat snapping tone said, “Are you aware that you are hot?”  I was so taken off guard that I sat there silent… After she said that I heard an eruption of multiple sources of girl-giggling on the phone before she hung up on me.  It was kind of funny in a ridiculously immature way.  But, I can take a joke. Ha ha.  If that person is reading this….you’re a sucker J 

*Sweet pre swim meet bike kit, also sporting a longer hair style just for this adventure.

I am guessing people don’t come here to hear blathering talk about training, that’s all blah blah and if it isn’t your training you probably don’t care.  My training isn’t the message.  The message was dedication to what I thought was impossible.  That is the message and that applies to everyone in a variety of situations. 

One of the most satisfying things about this swim meet was the preparation and attack plan that I put on this adventure.  I did not cut a single corner, not one.  I even grew out my hair so I could attach something different to the goal. My life for the past three months has been very simple and very satisfying.  

I love what I am doing and I enjoyed everyday and every workout.  There is something special about dedication of everything you have; energy, time, diet, and focus to one thing.  I shared so many special moments with my workout friends.  Going to the pool to swim 5 x 400IM with Ayla was so rewarding. Those are moments we will remember for our entire lives.

*My diet included large amounts of a secret shake I call "Mean Green." I love lime green!

*I call the salad "Lean Green" Yep, more lime green.

Before starting this training I was terrified of how hard the combination of the 200 butterfly and 400IM would be.  Those two events happened at the end of the program and within minutes of each other. I knew I would be the only one at the meet brave (stupid) enough to attempt it…terrified.  That’s why it’s so rewarding.  

I went to the pool for the entire month of February and pounded out 200fly to 400IM combos in nearly every workout.  It was grueling, I had fear the whole time, and sometimes I failed trying to do it.  There was more than one occasion that I slammed the water with my fist after failing to do it, but I kept focused and told myself to take it day by day. March rolled around and after doing two and three sets of those back to back it wasn’t intimidating anymore. I had broken through.

*Swim Outlet sent me some great stuff right before the meet.

By the time the meet rolled around I looked back and realized that all those small moments of strength and sacrifice and even the small failures had added up.  They were now one solid foundation of strength.  The day before the meet I had one of the most amazing bike to run workouts ever, I felt so energized, so focused, and so ready to do what I had trained to do. 

I felt so proud of what I had done with my efforts and talents the past three months and so happy to just be me.  It is so simple. 

The morning of the swim meet I woke and got in a nice little trainer ride to flush my legs and prime my cardiovascular system in preparation of harnessing this monstrous goal I had been dreaming about since December. While I was pedaling away on the trainer I was shooting texts to Ayla and Deidre about our theme songs and the events.  It was clear that we were all very excited and ready to race.

*Pre race pedaling away on the trainer. I have lots of space, but I prefer to ride in the storage room where my bikes sleep, I don't know why.

*While in the storage room I don't watch TV, I just look at picture of the Murder Machine decked out in battle gear and listen to music and I love it.

We all have big dreams, mine are no exception, everyone has something that they want to do.  They might not all be swimming or triathlon related, but everyone has something that burns deep inside.  I wonder how many people have the desire to live it.  

*You are what you eat, drinking "Mean Green" after a run and turning into it.

My hope is that the people reading this will "get it."  I'm not sharing this adventure, or maintaining this website to say "I'm so cool," because I am no more so than any other dreamer.  If someone gets the vibe of self righteousness then I did a poor job in conveying what this is all about.  

This is NOT about being the fittest, fastest, or strongest athlete out there, because of which I am certainly NOT. This is about passion, dedication, and doing the things everyday that set you up to live your dreams.  It's about dreaming big and going for it.  

It's about Believing In The Power Of One.  Nothing more, nothing less. 

I am psyched....Can you tell?  :)