I ain't gonna lie....

2011 was a good year. Not my best, but a good solid year. It was also a tough year filled with lots of hurt and pains (both physically and emotionally), but a few highlights sprinkled in here and there made it a successful year.

I learned a lot about myself and what I want and where I want to go with my life.

I finally hit a wall and realized that I can't avoid that balance of real life vs triathlon life. There is a needed separation between the two, and real life needs to take first chair. Triathlon is just a hobby, after all. (albeit a time consuming one!)

If you are unhappy, first figure out why, then change things so that you are happy!

If there is something that you want, GO GET IT!!!

I finally realized who "my people" are. If you are a beer drinking runner/swimmer/cyclist/triathlete dork who doesn't mind staring at graphs and nerding out over zombies, welcome to my club! (I am currently taking applications for membership....)

I realized that yes, you can spend $22,000 a year on Ironman and triathlon. I did not spend anywhere close to this much, but I realized that it is totally possible.

My pride has been my biggest downfall. My knee injury was prolonged due to my hubris and lack of respect of listening to others. I also wish I had a crystal ball.

Saddle sores suck, and yes, they do prevent you from riding at your potential.

ALWAYS wear sunscreen between the hours of 10AM and 4PM, even if it is pouring rain for 90 mins and even if there is a 5% chance that it will become bright and sunny for the next 4.5 hours. It happened, because there was a 5% chance.

Eating 11 Gu's in one day IS possible. I don't recommend it.

There is no one magic food. There is no one way to train. EVERYONE is different and has different needs/goals.

Going out of your comfort zone sucks, but in the end it bears fruit and you will learn something about yourself that you never knew you were capable of.

If you have a coach, listen to him/her! This is why you have a coach!

If I thought that I worked hard this past season, this next season is gonna make 2011 look like cake!

Don't always expect success 100% of the time.

I find it funny that you figure out how to do something properly immediately after you completely fail at it the first time. Learn from your mistakes, anyone? Unfortunately sometimes it takes 13 months before you can apply that learned mistake!

Avocado and red wine and dark chocolate are some of the best things on earth.

Meeting other bloggers is awesome. Nuff said.

I am proud to say that I have actual friends spread out all across the country, and a lot of them I have met through the internet. Creepy? Fortunately none of you are! (so far....) :)


Finally, I really just want to PR every single distance I attempt in 2012!

Wishing you a happy and fruitful and uber successful 2012!!!!

Random Friday Facts

Two guys standing next to each other in the bathroom should NEVER EVER talk to one another. It can wait! However, if the other is either an art director or THE director of the film, you HAVE to talk. Sigh.... (and yes, it's still awkward)

Steak + Avocado = YUM

The first time I ordered a Caesar Salad I asked if I could get Thousand Islands dressing on it.

For a time, I HATED Caesar Salad.

Now I LOVE LOVE LOVE Caesar Salad......as long as it doesn't taste "burnt."

I really hate responsible people. Why? They make all of us irresponsible people look bad.

I don't drink coffee in the morning. Unless its on a weekend morning and I am gorging my face with pancakes, bacon, and eggs.

I don't drink coffee in the morning because my AM workout usually wakes me up!

I only drink coffee with copious amounts of sugar (in the raw!) and heavy cream.

Coffee is a dessert on my personal menu.

Black coffee? BLECH!

I was once given hot chocolate in the form of chocolate nibs the size of almonds.

I ate all of the nibs, one at a time, paired with an almond.

I am a strange person when it comes to food, in case you didn't already know.

• Exhibit A: I would fly to Savannah, GA, eat a slice of Vinnie Van Go Go's Tomato Basil and Feta, then fly home
• Exhibit B: I would fly to Chicago, eat an entire pie of Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Classic, and fly home
• Exhibit C: I would fly to New Orleans, eat an entire plate of Beignet's from Cafe Du Monde, get powdered sugar all over me, and fly home

Does it bother you when someone says, "Oh, I LOVE food!" ?!?!

Doesn't this person say it like, "OH! I just reinvented the wheel!"....like they are the first person to ever come to the realization that they LOVE food more than the next person?

That being said....name one person you know who HATES food?!?

I hate biting into a soft apple, or an apple with skin that cuts your gums.

I can only eat an apple now if I have peanut butter to eat it with

I am off my "made at home" all natural peanut butter kick and am back onto the super processed "palm oil added" peanut butter

I can't stop eating citrus. It is SO GOOD this season!

Yesterday was Dec 22nd. The WINTER solstice and shortest day of the year. It also hit 54 degrees. I ran outside in shorts in the morning then went out for an almost 20 miler @ lunch. Isn't that GREAT?!?!

Everytime I go to Target, EVERY TIME, there is some kid SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER while mom and dad are completely oblivious. Target should be renamed to be 'ABC'.......Audible Birth Control.

I'm not gonna lie, I have been in a bit of a blogging funk for oh, the past 3 months. If I haven't commented on your blog as often, don't take it personally! Work has been El Nutso and keeping up outside of work has been even more El Nutso. I am REALLY looking forward to the New Year when everything can.just.calm.the.F.down.

That being said, wishing you have a VERY HAPPY Chrismahnakwanafestivus!

Wordless Wednesday: Chicago Edition

Visited my sister last weekend in Chicago! Awesome trip and I was even able to sneak in a 12 mile run along the lake. Truly one of the best runs I have ever done. Will be visiting again! Thanks Sis for having me!

2012 Race Schedule

Here it is! My 2012 Race Schedule:

NYRR Joe Kleinerman 10K 1/7
NYRR Manhattan Half 1/21
NYRR Gridiron Classic 4 miler 2/5
National Half 3/17 (or whatever it is now called?)
MonticelloMan Half (70.3 distance) 5/6
Tri Ridgefield Sprint 6/3
Ironman Mont Tremblant 70.3 6/24
Sobe Mossman Sprint 7/15
Ironman Mont Tremblant 140.6 8/19

It is going to be a progressive race season much like my 2009 & 2010 campaigns where I started out the winter and early spring with running races, then progressing into triathlon season, ultimately ending with the grandaddy of the season, Mont Tremblant. It is going to be a fun season of invading Canada twice, and! what is really cool is that I will be doing a race ON the Ironman course, just only half of it 8 weeks out from the full distance! How cool/awesome/spectacular/rad is that?!?!

I am still on the lookout (first invite wins!) for an April (either sprint/olympic tri or running) race.  Not too worried about that right now, but its looking like my triathlon season opener will be down in Virginia this year in early May (unless I get reserved for an April race). Even though it is not a race, I will again be attending my coach's June Lake Placid camp. Hello volume and beer!

Here is to a busy 2012!!!

What about you? Have you shored up your 2012 schedule yet? Any big races? New distances?

(random) Wordless Wednesday

This is what finally got me from Fort Meyers to Key West after a LONG day of travel

Age Grouping UP!: 29 going on 30-34

Thank you USAT for the wonderful gift of giving me 5 new birthday presents ages today!

Happy 29th
Happy 30th
Happy 31st
Happy 32nd
Happy 33rd
Happy 34th!

To me!!!

This is actually the first time I am age grouping up. Been battling it out in the 25-29 age group my entire triathlon "career", not its time to show all of those old guys how its done! ;)

Happy 29th, uh, I mean 30th-34th birthday to me!!!

Kidnapped: Tri Key West Spectator Report

From the Associated Press

A 28 year old White Plains man was abducted at gun point last Friday morning and flown thousands of miles south to a remote island in the Florida Keys where he was held captive for nearly four days until a ransom request was met.

Monday evening Jon Campbell was found unconscious in a remote regional airport in Allentown, PA and quickly transported to the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. After an interview with local police detectives in Westchester County, police now have an idea of why Mr. Campbell was targeted and why he was brought to such a remote location.

The suspects are currently on the loose and are believed to be a gang of triathletes and runners abducting those in possession of a new street drug called "Peanut Butter Gu". Police Detective Chris McCormack was quoted as saying, "This new drug is found to greatly enhance one's abilities to compete in a succession of sporting events, such as going from a swim to a bike ride to running a marathon run distance of about 3 or 6 miles. It appears to be the new golf."

A list of suspects was made after Mr. Campbell's interview.

They include mostly DC area folks. A reward has been posted for any of the followings eventual capture and arrest, but unfortunately no last names are known. This is the info Campbell provided:

"Katie"

Did the bike portion of one of two relay teams. Her face has never been seen. She is only known by her backside. Despite thinking she had a poor bike split, she wound up with one of the faster female bike splits of the day and propelling her team into first place in its division.

"Thom"

Married to Katie. He ran and has recently evaded capture at the Philadelphia marathon on charges of literary plagarism. This was his first run since the marathon. Even with a bright orange running shirt, authorities still can't catch this man.

"Beth"

She is known as the "planner" and "brains" behind this troup of criminals. She is known for her "great ideas" and "minimus" training plans. Beth swam and finished with the 6th fastest female swim of the day. She also did NOT use a wetsuit. Her swim set her relay team up for a great win and finish.

"Amy"

Amy was the only member of this crime team to not relay. She did the sprint all by herself. She still can't fool anyone as upon entering the run, her true identity was revealed when a possible bounty hunter yelled, "Wow! There goes a REAL runner!" She did, in the end, fool everyone by taking 2nd place in her age group.

"Lauren"

Also known as the "doctor" and "healer" of the group, her PT background keeps these kidnappers and theives in tip top condition fixing "broken asses" and "disconnected hamstrings". She did the swim for one of the relay teams, also forgoing the wetsuit,

"Liz"

Liz ran the anchor leg of the first relay team, which ended up taking first place in the division. With the cops hot on her trail, she literally burned them up in her red CAR top!

"Wes"

This Rock n Roll Criminal might distract you with his charming music ways, but he can still out bike you! The authorities hope to arrest him at his next show, Jan 10th in Arlington, VA. Hopefully this is enough info to bust him?

Be on the lookout for beer drinking people bragging about margarita trophy's.

Chances are they are this is the group of fast mastermining kidnappers and extortionists.

Finally, another man, who didn't race, and is simply known as "The Spectator" is believed to be the group's "Bag Man" who transported supplies and gave moral support.

Mr. Campbell is still in the hospital undergoing a possible liver transplant and second degree burns from sun exposure. He was quoted as saying that he was "forced to lay in a hammock for hours on end while drinking sweet tropical drinks."

The staff at the associated press wish Mr. Campbell a speedy recovery :)

Mystery Friday: Where Am I?

Jeff, you don't know! ;)

Three Things Thursday: PEANUT BUTTER GU!!!!!

Am I going to regret posting this?

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Someone should auto tune this! haha!

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