My story
In 2002, I had just become a father and quit smoking. My wife bought a running stroller and we started jogging a couple days a week as family. I, of course, got to push the stroller. I loved the way I felt when we were done running and my daughter loved going for a ride in the stroller. As the next couple of years past, I started an Electric and HVAC business, bought 2 rental properties and was working 2nd shift as a electrician. I barely had time to sleep. Oh yeah, and had a 2nd daughter in 2004.
As you can expect, I got away from running and family time. I also gained 40 pounds and was always tired. I was very stressed and needed a change to my life style. I quit my 2nd shift job and started to sell off some of my rental properties. But this still wasn’t enough, I was still stressed and overweight and I decided to set a New Year’s Goal in 2008… to do a triathlon that summer. I had to get to work since I did not know how to swim. I found an adult swim class at the local YMCA and learned how to swim. While at the Y I met an athlete, who recommend a triathlon to do. As the weather started getting a little nicer, I began riding and running a little.
The day of my first sprint Tri arrived quickly in June. The gun sounded… I jumped into the water and started to swim as hard as I could… I started to get a little winded and second guessing myself out in the deep lake so I looked up to see how everyone else was doing and I realized I swam the wrong way. So, needed to get back with the pack and slowed my breathing and tried to relax and enjoy the moment. I completed the swimming and biking, then the run. It was hard, I was not in good enough shape yet and needed to stop for a breather here and there. I found the finish line and what a great feeling to finish. I was hooked! What a cool thing 3 sports in 1. It was a huge challenge, but I knew I could do better and could not wait for the next one to see if I could improve.
So now, years later, I have taken on countless training classes to improve my swimming, biking and running. I have worked with 4 different coaches, and also trained and raced with some of the grittiest and talented athletes around to try to hone my craft. I have now completed 2 full distance triathlons, 12 halves, several international distances and 100’s of sprints.
Now, I am in the best shape of my life and still love the sport as much as the day I completed my 1st one. The past 9 years have the best of my life. I love being active, setting goals and working to accomplish them. My big goal in triathlon was to do a half in 5 hrs. It took me years of training and racing to figure out how to complete a half in 4:45.
The fact that triathlon does not come easy to me has made me work hard at it. I realized I CAN do this, while my wife and I are working and with 2 daughters doing travel sports proves that it can be done even if you are busy. Being active helps keep me in shape, feeling good and healthy.
CERTIFICATIONS
- Full pr 12:04
- Half pr 4:45
- Won the HVTC race 3 in 2016 (53:10)
- USAT All American
- USAT Level 1 Coach
- Mark Wilson Certified Coach
- Travel Softball Coach