ABOUT ME
I have always been told that adversity makes you stronger as a person, you may agree or disagree with that, but what I have discovered from my journey is that it makes your accomplishments, post adversity, that much sweeter.
Overcoming adversity and having safety in the sport of Triathlon is the reason I wake up every day not taking any training session or race for granted because you never know if it is going to be your last.
Life is never easy, but August 6, 2009 was the day that tested my attitude about life and family more than I ever could have imagined. The reason I got into triathlons was to complete an Ironman. Three weeks before trying to complete my 1st ironman I was hit head on by an SUV while on my bike.
I had never really been injured before, let alone break a bone. But I knew that day, lying face down in a ditch in the Montana summer heat, looking up at my leg with the Tibia bone sticking out that there was no doubt I had not only broken my leg, but it was shattered. The very first thought that went through my head was that all of my hard work is down the drain, I will never compete again.
But I did, and I was even faster, more committed and determined.
2013 was my first year back racing and things went pretty well and 2014 was off to a running start. Then I got terribly ill about mile 15 on the bike at Oceanside 70.3.
Several weeks later I was finally diagnosed with Pneumonia and Pleurisy. Then several weeks later I was hit by a car and when I was getting the stitches out my doctor said it sounded like I still had fluid in my lungs. The next day I had 2 liters (like a big soda bottle) of fluid drained from my left pleural space.
Another month later the fluid was back, and I ended up having emergency surgery – they thought I had cancer – but it ended up the pneumonia bacteria had crossed over and created an abscess on my lung and diaphragm which had to be cut out and I was in the hospital for 7 days with a chest tube.
My doctors said my race season was over... but it wasn't.
Less than 3 months after having part of my lung cut off, I won my first Ironman 70.3 AG World Champtionship.
WELCOME
Welcome to my webpage, hopefully I can help even one person to realize that they too can persevere and come back from any injury or adversity thrown their way.
THE 411
2014 AG
Locale
Occupation
30 to 34
San Diego, California
Insurance
Braveheart Coaching
THE STATS
Height
Weight
Calories
Shoes
6'3"
171 pounds - every ounce!
4,000 to 5,000 a day
13
BACKGROUND
First Triathlon
My first triathlon was in high school: no goggles, boardshorts, changed butt-naked into biking shorts, with a cut-off running shirt, helmet, gloves and sister’s sunglasses, my dad’s yellow bike and running shoes. T2 included another full outfit change into basketball shorts.
I dominated.
Running background
I ran Track and Cross-Country in High School and College in Washington.
I got interested in triathlon after I graduated.
TRAINING
Favorite workout
Master's swim, followed by 4x big gear repeats up Double Peak into an hour high tempo on Elfin Forest. Top that off with 4 x 10 minute hard running efforts.
Now, that's a good day.
Training Time
I train about 24 to 28 hours a week plus an hour a day of stretching. Wake up is around 4am, and in bed by 9pm.
Favorite Race
Vineman 70.3 is beautiful and set up well for my abilities.
Pre-race Routine
Just leave me alone and let me get in my zone, jog and stretch. i don't line-up, I run up at the last minute.
Racing Goal
Do my best every time I toe the line. I'd really like to stay healthy and injury free.
