2010 News and Announcement...

I don't think I have ever been so glad to see a year go by. As with most people, as I begin a new year I typically look back on the previous one and determine how I can improve. It is safe to say that I didn't need to explore my inner/deep thoughts or go soul searching this year! My 2009 was not the way I wrote it, but I guess you can say the same thing about life even when things are going "better than you expected." Right?

The reason I bring this up is because I believe that life is a lot like racing, yes call me a "tri-dork" or laugh that I am making this analogy, but in all honesty I think it does. In an Ironman, you never know how you are going to feel on race day. Will you be tired, malnourished, or will you just simply not have the legs that day? As in life and racing, no matter who you are and what shape (physical, mental, financial, emotional, etc) you are in, you have to be prepared to deal with the unexpected whether it is good or bad. In my case 2009 was a year that I had to simply "deal with it." As athletes, when we are told that we have an injury that requires surgery it is hard to take. Add on to that by telling us we can't have the surgery for 2 months AND it will take you 3 months to be able to train again, well that is just simply a HUGE pill to swallow. When this happened to me I officially said goodbye to 2009 and counted down the days until 2010. Life happens:) As in an Ironman, all we can do is "do the best we can because you never know what the day will throw at you." In the end, this is what makes us stronger people...

As of right now I am 90% healthy and have started to officially run. I have been riding and swimming for the past 2 months and will now focus my attention on running. Not only am I healthy but I also have a new sponsor this year, Quintana Roo. I am overly excited to be riding their new CD0.1. This year they have made two incredible changes from last year, High Modulus Carbon and a BB30 bottom bracket making this bike extremely stiff! I have added a picture of my new bike all set up and ready to be ridden! I will also be swimming in their new Superfull wetsuit which I can't wait to try out.

I have had a long road since June of 09, and I can say in all honesty that I could not have gotten here with out the help of my support crew. My surgeon Dr. Snibbe, Mike at SPI, Kevin and Dee Dee from Rausch PT, Mac Brown, Cameron from Tribuys, and especially my friends and family who given me the emotional and physical strength when I didn't have it. With all sincerity, thank you! You are special people and one day I hope to repay you for your kindness.

Michael Jordan said it best (and no, there will never be a better player than MJ)...

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."