Some Thanksgiving Quotes

Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants. ~Kevin James

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now. ~A.W. Tozer

Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better time, or a better place to live in. ~Phillips Brooks

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. ~Seneca

O Lord that lends me life,Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.~William Shakespeare

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. ~Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. ~Author Unknown

The funny thing about Thanksgiving, or any huge meal, is that you spend 12 hours shopping for it and then chopping and cooking and braising and blanching. Then it takes 20 minutes to eat it and everybody sort of sits around in a food coma, and then it takes four hours to clean it up. ~Ted Allen And though I ebb in worth, I'll flow in thanks. ~John Taylor

The thing I'm most thankful for right now is elastic waistbands. ~Author Unknown

For, after all, put it as we may to ourselves, we are all of us from birth to death guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.... Shall we think of the day as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and to find out something of Him who has fed us so long? ~Rebecca Harding Davis

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ~Aesop

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

May your stuffing be tastyMay your turkey plump,May your potatoes and gravyHave nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner Stay off your thighs!~Author Unknown And though I ebb in worth, I'll flow in thanks.

Gluttony and surfeiting are no proper occasions for thanksgiving. ~Charles Lamb, 1821London Magazine, "Grace Before Meat," November 1821 and Essays of Elia, 1823; CTO-->But whether we have less or more, Always thank we God therefor.~Author Unknown

Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast. ~William Shakespeare

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William

A. Ward Turkey: A large bird whose flesh, when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude. ~Ambrose Bierce,

The Devil's Dictionary Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

Thanksgiving-day, I fear,If one the solemn truth must touch,Is celebrated, not so muchTo thank the Lord for blessing o'er,As for the sake of getting more!~Will Carleton

I love Thanksgiving turkey. It's the only time in Los Angeles that you see natural breasts. ~Arnold Schwarzenegger

For hearts that are kindly, with virtue and peace, and not seeking blindly a hoard to increase; for those who are grieving o'er life's sordid plan; for souls still believing in heaven and man; for homes that are lowly with love at the board; for things that are holy, I thank thee, O Lord! ~Walt Mason

It is delightfully easy to thank God for the grace we ourselves have received, but it requires great grace to thank God always for the grace given to others. ~James Smith

When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep? ~George Canning

Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often. ~Johnny Carson

Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year. ~P. J. O'Rourke

Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for - annually, not oftener - if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians. Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side, consequently on the Lord's side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments. ~Mark Twain

We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. ~Albert Barnes

Thanksgiving is nothing if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart to God in honor and praise for His goodness. ~Robert Casper

LintnerGot no check books, got no banks. Still I'd like to express my thanks - I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night. ~Irving Berlin

If you count all your assets, you always show a profit. ~Robert Quillen

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~W.T. Purkiser

Take a day off with your family and friends- Be thankful for everything you have and bless those who are less fortunate.

Have a Wonderful, Fantastic Thanksgiving Sunshines!

Ironman Everyday Hero!

Did you watch the Ironman yesterday? That was a joke, if you were watching it did you notice it was all about Andy the Bachelor and the Pro's, not the Everyday Hero or about Mike and Jeff the other 2 guys they should have been following, usually at the other Ironman's this is what they do but not yesterday. I have watch so many of the Ironman's and needed a box of tissue because of the Everyday Hero story yesterday was a HUGE Disappointment. With all the interviews I did I couldn't believe that was it, they didn't talk about my cancer, the hard times, getting back into training, my kids, helping others while I was sick, why I did Ironman's and why Ironman is a a huge part of my life. What a Huge downer that was!

Have you ever changed someones life?

Grant before the race!

I have been working with Grant the past 7 weeks. When I started with Grant I asked him what are your goals? 1. Lose weight 2. To run a 5K and do all of the holiday running series here at the YMCA 3. Maybe do a Triathlon. Grant when we started he weighed 374 pounds so my number one goal is to get Grant to eat healthy and start doing some cardio. We started run/ walking together doing 45 min. to a hour workouts everyday he does take off Sundays and he's righting down everything he eats and drinks. Grant is doing AWESOME he has lost over 55 pounds; Grant works at the YMCA he is asked everyday how much weight have you lost? This is by the members this has made him a happier person and more up beat then ever. I can go on and on about this but I have to get to the point this past weekend Grant and I did his first 5K the Turkey Trot here in La Crosse WI. He did awesome he finished it in 36 min. he blew his time away that he thought he would do it in. Grant had the biggest cheering crowed there. His next race will be December 8Th.

I tell Grant "You put your mind to it and you can achieve anything" He is doing that for sure!

Grant after the race.

My Eveyday Hero Tattoo!

A group of us got together this past weekend for our annual Ironman Tattoo party!

Jenni and I

Quote for the day!

"The five S's of sports training are: stamina, speed, strength, skill, and spirit; but the greatest of these is spirit."
Ken Doherty

Ford Ironman Lousville airs on Versus

Don?t miss the exciting coverage of the inaugural Ford Ironman Louisville race on the Versus network this Sunday (November 18) at 3PM (check local listings for the time in your area).

The show will be re-aired on Wednesday, November 21 at 4PM.
Published on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 at 01:06 PM.
The brand new Louisville event featured almost 2,000 athletes from around the world taking on a scenic course around the Greater Louisville area and finishing through one of the sports most spectacular finishes at ?Fourth Street Live,? a closed off street area in the heart of Louisville?s downtown.The men?s race features a battle between a group of evenly matched Ironman competitors ? Alex Taubert, a fourth-place Kona finisher in the past, is a logical favorite, but he?s sure to be pressed to the line by the likes of TJ Tollakson, Petr Vabrousek and Chris McDonald.
The women’s race is likely to be a closely fought battle between Nina Kraft and Heather Gollnick. Gollnick has a history of winning inaugural events at Ironman races in the United States – she won the inaugural (and second) Ford Ironman Wisconsin and the very first Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene. Additionally, several inspirational athletes are profiled to include:
Andy Baldwin - An accomplished age group athlete and former reality star from the hit show, The Bachelor, Baldwin boasts nearly 10 Ironman finishes, five Ironman 70.3 finishes and three USA Triathlon All-American titles under his belt. Baldwin participated as a representative of the US Navy, finishing with a time of 10:02:15.
Daniela Nichols - Nichols is a two-time cancer survivor and single mother. A multiple Ironman finisher, Nichols participated in the inaugural Ford Ironman Louisville proving that "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.(tm)"
Mike Demko - Demko completed the 140.6 miles wearing bib number 179 in memory of Ford Ironman World Championship finisher, Jon Blais, who passed away from ALS last May. A resident of Birmingham, MI, Demko participated to raise money and awareness for finding a cure for ALS.
Jeff Schneider - Schneider, from the Greater Louisville Sports Commission, played an integral role in bringing the event to the city of Louisville. Watch as Schneider, also a cancer survivor, finishes his first Ironman.

More Ironman events on TV:NBC’s coverage of the Ford Ironman World Championship airs on December 1, 2007 from 4:30pm-6:00pm EST (Schedule subject to change, check your local listings.)Other shows on the

Versus network include:Sun 12/02/2007 3:00 PM Ford Ironman WisconsinWed 12/05/2007 3:00 PM Ford Ironman WisconsinSun 12/16/2007 3:00 PM Ford Ironman FloridaWed 12/19/2007 3:00 PM Ford Ironnman FloridaSun 12/23/2007 3:00 PM Ironman 70.3 St, CroixWed 12/26/2007 3:30 PM Ironman 70.3 St, CroixSchedule subject to change, check your local listings.

A Quote for the Day!

"Any idiot can train himself into the ground; the trick is working in training to get gradually stronger."
Keith Brantly

Some Photo's of my fun race!

The Swim Start mmmmm salt water!

Danni thanking god I'm out of the water!

This is the start of the bike if you look at my mouth I'm ready to puke

This photo was taken right at the begining of the run the only 1 mile I ran.

Jenny and I sharing our life stroies because we only had 20 some miles to go... Look at my tummy I couldn't even suck it in.







Thank Gosh we are done!

We had to get our finishing photo together!

My day in the sun Florida IM

left Onalaska WI at 1:30 am drove to Madison WI. This is where I was to catch my first flight to Texas. My plane ride was perfect. When I got to Texas I was walking around checking things out and a man said to me, “Are you going to do Ironman Florida?” I said, “Yes, how did you know?” He looked at my shirt and noticed that I had on an Ironman Kentucky shirt. I was introduced to his friend, Wally, and we sat and talked before we were to get on to our next flight to Florida. This would be Ken and Wally’s first Ironman and they were going to do awesome. They had a plan and they were going to race their plan. The plane ride was so beautiful! It was so cool flying to an event I love to do. Seeing the sights and the beauty of the land that God made for us! OK enough of that! However, we landed in Florida and I got an awesome greeting from Dorothy, Ron’s wife “Welcome to Florida!” with a box of Alligator gummy bears and “wowza, they were great”! It was an hour drive to Panama City. I was so tired I had to sleep instead of see the sites. However, that lasted 15 min. My phone kept going off it was my family did you make it, are you ok, Yada, Yada, Yada." In a nice Polite way" We got to the Ironman and we needed to register or check in. It wasn't’t too crazy but then again I wasn't’t driving."Thank God" We finally found a parking spot and walked to registration. I was so excited this was going to be my fourth Ironman: WHOOHOO!! and in the ocean with the Sharks, Jellyfish and whatever else is out there… After we were registered, we walked around. I saw so many people I knew, from past Ironmans this is going to be great!We went to the Condo and that was so cool! It was unbelievable! You looked out the back door and there was the ocean…so very, very cool! I have never seen anything like that with exception of TV.
We didn't have to much to do that first day so Taylor, Ron and I decided to go for a very, very, very VERY long drive. We were going to check out the bike course. Now, the key word there is (WERE). We got lost. "Great Job Ron and Taylor "Just Kidding :)" I kept falling asleep in the back seat. I tried to stay awake; however the beginning of the bike course was so flat it was boring. Ok and I didn't’t get a lot of sleep because again I was up at 1:00 am. But then we did stop at a gas station and we had to ask directions. We were 15 miles off course! Heheheeee! A man driver yeah, yeah! However, it was fun. We never did finish the bike course, but we did find the condo. Thank gosh because I was tired.

Thursday November 1st -Practice swim starting at 7:00am. Ron, Dorothy and I met with Taylor and Cami and went to the Gatorade swim. We swam 1.2 miles. That went ok. Every time I saw a school of fish, I freaked and waited for someone to be by me. I didn't want to see a bigger fish if you know what I mean. Then I was so lucky to have taken in some of the salt water, and with all of those awesome little things floating in the it, "you know they looks like fish food flakes". That was yucky; yucky. I tried hard to blow the water as much as I could. I had a tummy ache the rest of the day! Then we went to the expo and just hung out the rest of the day. So very fun. - Got back to our condos and decided to go for a bike ride. It was so windy I kept drafting off Taylor and Ron but then there was a fast rider that went by us.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzmmmmmmmm I had to see if I could stay up with him so off I went! It was fun drafting off him yeah I know you shouldn't do that but to bad that's how it goes. I stayed with him until we were finished with the bike it was fun. However it was really, really flat yucky- I kept thinking that this race is going to be long very, very long. As some of you know, I love the hills. That night we went to the athlete banquet. That was amazing! It was so full of athletes, families and the big dogs of Ironman. FUN, FUN, FUN!
Friday November 2nd- Up and at ‘em again! We met at Taylor and Cami’s room. We had some awesome coffee and we were off to the swim. Went down to the water and started to swim. It went really, really good. I didn't’t have any trouble with the salt water today! Then we went back to the condos and got our bikes ready for check in, our bags and tried to stay off our feet as much as we could. Taylor and Cami came over for some pasta and that was that for the day! Ok…we did do some shopping!
Saturday November 3rd-Happy Anniversary to me! : )
This was my second year anniversary Cancer Free on this day! Whoooohooo!! I was so very excited I was up at 3:30 called my mom for good luck like I always do before a race and went to Ron and Dorothy’s room. Dorothy made pancakes for us, then off to the race site. We found a parking spot right away. Well, it was close to a fire hydrant so not too many people wanted to park next to it. We dropped off our bags, checked our bikes, stretched, and then put on that fun wet suit! We got in line for the swim start. “Here we go!” Down the beach! As we headed down, the song Thunder came on. This was the song that I heard before I dove into the Great OHIO River for Ironman Kentucky. As Ron and I were headed down the beach to the start of course right in the front… I was thinking we wouldn't’t see Taylor but then we looked and there he was right next to us. IT WAS AWESOME! We said a prayer together and then it was go time. The cannon went off. We ran into the water… it was disaster! Everyone was on you, you were on them, you were trying to get a breath, but you couldn't’t stop because you would be run over or hit yada yada yada. My first loop done! Thank God! As I passed the water station, I grabbed water, rinsed my mouth out, grabbed another and drank. Then, off to my second loop and wowza! I saw a huge, ok medium size, purple snot thing just floating there like nothing was going on. I swam so fast to get away from the jelly fish, but then I drank so much water I couldn't’t wait to get out. Finally done with the swim, off to transition, sat on the ground the volunteer took off my wet suit so fast it was in my hands almost instantly and I was off running! As I was running up the walkway my stomach was so full of water it was amazing: I could feel it sloshing! I’m going to be fine, I thought. I just needed to get on that bike and go. That’s my favorite thing.I kept telling myself… I knew I had to get something other then water in my tummy so I took a GU and oh man that didn’t sit well. Soon after I saw the 20 mile marker, I was off my bike puking…and I mean puking as much as I could get out. Back on the bike. Man oh man, I was not feeling well at all and I only had 92 miles to go to finish the bike and only 26.2 for the run. When I got to mile 49 I saw the special needs bag. I thought to myself, “That was quick!” But, in a way that stinks because were not even half way done with the bike! At the special needs bag they only had one potty! It was crazy! Thank gosh I hand put tp in my special needs bag, so me and some others were off to the woods (I know, like you needed to know that!). However when I got up my tummy wasn’t right I was puking again and this time very, very dizzy. I tried to jog to my bike and “wowza” that only lasted 4 steps. I got to my bike and the volunteer asked if I was ok and I smiled and said yes when I just wanted to say, “H*ll no!” but you all know me…I am a positive person and I had to keep that image. (and Sweet and Innocent to) Plus if you have one negative thought, you would be done. Off I went, trying to drink, and eat my Cliff Bar as much as I could. Mile 73 came. We went through the check point. Coming back from there, I saw Ron and he was looking good. I knew he was going to catch me for sure because I felt YUCKY and I hated it! But just when I thought I had been through it all, I got a bloody nose! So I’m trying to farmer blow (no one was behind me I must add). I put my head back and guess what?! It went into my tummy and off the bike I was again puking it up.. man oh man that sucked… I didn’t see Ron because I know he would have stopped for me. Back on my bike again and I am feeling like CRAP and that is an understatement! From that point on, I was singing that new Ozzy song, “Never going to stop over and over in my head.” Finally come in to the dismount area where yeah I was going a little fast but I wanted to get off that bike!!! I almost had a crash, but I think this was because I had sucky headache, tummy ache and I couldn’t look to far ahead because I would get dizzy. So, off the bike and on to the run. I was telling myself, “Almost there…” I kept telling myself that over and over. I came running out and I knew I couldn’t run because I had a sucky headache…the pounding was killing me. So, at each aid station I was trying to drink and eat just a little because I knew I was not doing so hot! At approximately mile 4 I was puking again. Not as bad as the bike, but yeah, I wasn’t able to keep anything in. Just then I started power walking. This girl looked at me and asked me if I wanted some company???? “What??” I was thinking to myself, “This is an Ironman! This is a long day to be by yourself and see what you can do!” So, I said, “Sunshine, this is how fast I have to go. I’m not doing that well at all,” and she said back to me, “My knees hurt and my IT bands do, too.” So we walked and I mean powered walked. We hit all the aid stations and all of the potty’s we could but then again at mile 16 or so I was yucky again. She waited for me. I COUILDN’T BELIEVE IT! Just then at about mile 23 I wasn’t feeling as bad. I started to pick up my walk. Jen (the girl I was walking with) said to me, “Go girl"! You can beat your PR time. You can run it in!” She then said her knees were hurting and her IT bands were on fire and she wasn’t sure if she could keep up that pace. I slowed it down looked at her and said, “Sunshine, we are in this together. We’re going to finish this darn thing together!” As most of you saw, we crossed the finish line together holding our hands up in the air and both thanking God it was done (in our heads of course)! "NOW THAT WAS A DAY"!

I have no intentions at this time of doing any Ironman with Salt water again! And in no way have a Margarita to drink!

However, it was an experience I will always remember.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

We all need a reminder!

"I just completed an IM race last weekend and I want to know when I should start training full volume again?"

Does this sound familiar to you after completing an IM race, or knowing someone who just did and can't wait to get going again? That doesn't sound like me "NOT" For most age groupers you are looking at 6-8 weeks, at least, to fully recover depending upon what you do for training, regeneration, and nutritional support for the body. The body must go into overtime to repair the damage from the race in terms of the muscular and cardiovascular systems. Your immune system will work overtime as well to help heal you internally along with trying to keep the variety of germs and virus's from getting you sick.

The first thing is to pay close attention to nutrition. Stay away from simple sugars and bad fats. Look at making sure you balance out the food that you eat so you are taking in quality protein/EFA fats, and complex carbs (vegetables) each day. Limit the alcohol and excessive sweets that have a tendency to make it into our diets after an IM race.
"Does this mean Gummy Bears" "Just Kidding"!

Second look into getting in some body work on a weekly basis. Massage, hot soaks with Epsom salts, hot tubs, self massage and other myofacial release type treatments will help to get you back to normal. "Now that's what I'm talking about"!

As for the training- if you come back too early you will prolong the recovery time. When one of my clients completes an IM race I say no running for at least 10-14 days.
Running is responsible for the most impact of the 3 components of the IM race. Start with some very easy swims after a period of time off (usually 4-5 days). Keep it simple, like drills, stroke work, and long recoveries between any easy repeats that you may do. Just keep the heart rate way down in the aerobic zone.
Then for the bike- start easy for short periods of time. Stay on flat roads in the small chain ring (even consider riding on the indoor trainer for a while) and keep the rpms at 90+ for the rides. Start with 45 minutes and slowly build from there over time.
Consider alternative training: water running, elliptical trainer, yoga, hiking, or other types of easy cardio work that will help you to recover.

The bottom line is to listen to your body and not let the mental aspect get in the way. Recovery is what will make you stronger, not just the quality training and racing.

Steve Fluet- Head Coach
Endurance Sports Training Systems

"Darn so this means I have to take it easy for a couple more days" hehehee : )

I will post my Ironman Florida report here soon; with some photo's :)

Ironman Florida Warning This is sad!!!

Collin County woman dies after Ironman triathlon
Woman, 43, wanted efforts to benefit support group
05:10 PM CST on Friday, November 9, 2007
By ROY APPLETON / The Dallas Morning News rappleton@dallasnews.com
Exercise helped Dorothy Barnett-Griffin move beyond the death of her husband.

Dorothy Barnett-Griffin
With her first Ironman triathlon, she wanted to raise money for a support group that had helped her three children deal with the loss of their father.
Now the pain has returned.
Five days after collapsing during her competitive swim in the Gulf of Mexico, the Collin County woman died Thursday in a Panama City, Fla., hospital. She was 43.
"It's bizarre. It's wrong," said friend Carla Blatney. "I go from being sad to mad."
While Ms. Barnett-Griffin's family privately mourned their stunning loss, Ms. Blatney and others this week spoke of a bright, caring, upbeat and inspirational woman – a former nurse with a remarkable passion for her husband, three children, exercise and the Journey of Hope Grief Support Center in Plano.
"You never saw Dorothy without a smile on her face," said Jody Gunsolus, a friend and occasional training partner.
And "you've never met two people more in love," she said of Ms. Barnett-Griffin and her husband, Mike Griffin, whom she met on a Christian singles ski trip in Utah.
After a car crash killed her first husband, Dr. John Barnett Jr., five years ago, she began bicycling to escape the sorrow and find inner strength.
"It was great therapy for me, and I found out that you can cry and ride at the same time," she wrote in a recent online posting for Journey of Hope, detailing her support for the center and her "Journey to Ironman."
Ms. Barnett-Griffin and her children – Kim, now 15; Derek, 11; and Zachary, 8 – turned to the group, finding comfort there by sharing their grief with others, she said.
She joined the center's board of directors and became an active fundraiser for the program that helps children and their families confront the death of loved ones.
"She was so generous with her time, financial support and passion," said Susan Tucker Williams, executive director. "Everyone's loss is terrible, but for us this is huge. We are grieving, too."
A resident of Lucas, Ms. Barnett-Griffin hoped to raise $10,000 for Journey of Hope through donations to her Ironman effort. It was to be her biggest physical challenge, the next step after advancing from bicycle rides to rallies to the swim-bike-run combo of triathlons.
She competed in her first triathlon last year and finished two half Ironman events this year before going for the full 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run with her husband Saturday in Florida.
"So ...we will do the hard part," she wrote in her Journey of Hope posting. "We will swim, bike and run all day and train very hard to be able to make it."
Gerald Jackson, a triathlete and coach for the Dallas-based group Fit2Train, said he met Ms. Barnett-Griffin at a workout camp this summer.
"It was going to be a difficult challenge for her," he said of the Florida race where a swimmer died last year. "But she was going to go out at her own pace and knock it out."
On the day of the race, her husband had advanced to the biking phase. Ms. Barnett-Griffin was one of two swimmers left in the water, talking occasionally with escorts in kayaks. And suddenly she "rolled onto her back, said 'help' and passed out," said Helen Manning, spokeswoman for North America Sports, owner and manager of the Ironman events.
Ms. Barnett-Griffin was briefly underwater before being rushed to shore, where her children and mother were waiting to cheer her on, Ms. Manning and others said. Water conditions for the race were ideal, she said.
Revival efforts failed, and Ms. Barnett-Griffin never regained consciousness despite two surgeries to ease swelling of her brain.
The cause of death is unknown. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Contributions to Journey of Hope in Ms. Barnett-Griffin's name have almost tripled since Wednesday and exceeded her $10,000 goal.
The woman who spent her life working, encouraging and leading others would have relished the news, her friends said.
"Dorothy was one tough cookie," Ms. Blatney said. "She's the type of person that you fight your demons. You step out there, out of your comfort zone."
Just as Ms. Barnett-Griffin did Saturday.
"One day of pushing your body beyond any limit that you thought possible," she wrote in her Journey of Hope posting. "Sounds crazy? Most of you would agree. So call us crazy!"

A friend of ours was watching her husband and this is what she witnessed!

This is what I witnessed, as I watched the end of the swim…unbelievable to have seen her three kids watching and waiting (I was six feet away from them and know it was her family because they had navy blue “team Barnett-griffin” t-shirts on)…to have watched a volunteer fly to the beach on a wave runner, let it go and jump off and run…to have seen the EMT’s pumping on someone’s chest as they drove down the beach on a four-wheeler…to have accidentally walked into the area where the ambulances were to try to get back to our condo and seen an Ironman volunteer walking the mom of the injured woman, holding her arm as she was being brought to the ambulance…to have seen them still working on the woman, in the ambulance with the door open…to have overheard the grandmother (?) later in the day, at another spot, saying they think she will make it…

It is just shocking…I am especially grateful to God for Taylor, Danni and Ron’s safety that day… I just can’t imagine those kids losing both parents in freak accidents.

WOWZA I couldn't get into my site! However now that I am I can get some stuff on here that you asked for!

If you are looking for Zoomers get them here in RED!
http://www.trisports.com/

Most of you are in the off season so here are some treats! Check this out!

You just click on the type of cookie you like and it displays a recipe. (The names do all run together on each line so notice where the name breaks are ) Enjoy!!

Just click on the name of the cookie and bam the recipe is there. Good to keep handy 1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now watch your waist line with these!!

Featured Athlete

http://www.snickersmarathonteam.com/page299.aspx

Something to think about!

"Swim 2.4 hard, Bike 112 hard, Run 26.2 hard, be strong, think BIG, be positive, Live in the moment, Keep the pace, hold on to your goals, and when you get to that finish line you will become an Ironman."
Always remember when you put your mind to it you will achieve anything!

Getting ready for Ironman FL

The swim start for Ironman Florida, I will be starting at the front of the pack weeeeeehoooo and were off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8chSjqVc98&NR=1

The Greatest Fitness Tips Ever.
Three decades ago, endurance training consisted of pretty much one workout: all-out, all the time. Then fitness went mainstream, CEOs started wearing spandex, and "sports scientist" became a legitimate career goal. The result? Periodization, VO2 max, functional strength, and more. Herewith, a highly concentrated dose of Outside training advice distilled from 30 years of health-and-fitness expertise.

GET A ROUTINE Embrace daily rituals, whether it's making coffee just so or walking the dog. Routines can lower blood pressure and slow heart rate.

LEARN FROM OTHER ATHLETES "The Kenyan runners who always win marathons never jog," says pro soccer player LANDON DONOVAN. So Donovan trains at 80 percent of his maximum heart rate until he's exhausted, teaching his body "recovery endurance" through a sequence of sprints and rests. Over time, you'll still need to give your body a break to optimize gains (see Train with a Plan, below), but this ability to push yourself to the brink of collapse and recover quickly is essential for top aerobic athletes.

TURN BIG CHALLENGES INTO SMALL GOALS "Think only about the present and focus on micro-goals," says ultramarathoner DEAN KARNAZES. "Just make it to that stop sign up ahead; OK, now make it to the tree up the street; and so on.

"FIND YOUR LACTATE THRESHOLDWhat's that? LT is the point at which lactic acid accumulates in your blood faster than your body can process it—causing a drop in performance (read: pain). Training below your LT builds aerobic capacity. Training above it builds speed. How to determine your LT: (1) Warm up, 10 minutes. (2) With a heart-rate monitor on, run or cycle on a flat course as fast as you can for 30 minutes.(3) Your LT is your average heart rate for that period.PROTECT YOUR KNEESBy doing nothing. A lot of blown ACLs could be avoided by simply staying down and resting after a fall. A stretched ACL is easily tornon subsequent falls.

TO GET FASTER, YOU MUST PUSH YOURSELF"A runner churning out seven-minute miles will never know how quickly his arms and legs have to move to run a six-minute mile. You can't practice by running slow." —MARK VERSTEGEN, Athletes' Performance founder, author of the Core Performance series

TRAIN WITH A PLAN Here's how to reach peak shape for any sport with one 12-week program.
FIRST MONTH: Complete a full-body weight-lifting circuit twice weekly. Do your cardio workouts on three other days, going long once. Each week, increase the duration of the long day's workout by 10 percent. During the fourth week, cut the workout load by 50 percent. SECOND MONTH: Follow the first month's plan, but cut back to lifting once a week and add another day of cardio. During the eighth week, which is for recovery, cut everything in half. THIRD MONTH: Stop lifting and use that day for cross-training. Ramp up speed by completing one cardio day each week with intervals at your intended race pace. Your long cardio day remains the same for the first two weeks, and for weeks 11 and 12 you cut its duration in half. During week 12, taper by doing only 50 percent of week 11's work.

CHEAT SHEETLift. Lower weights slowly. It helps train your muscles to absorb shock and control your descent in real-world action.Hydrate. For workouts lasting one hour or less, drink only water. For longer outings, bring a sports drink with carbs. Relax. Don't try to make up for missed workouts by doing two long days back to back. If you miss a day, just let it go.

MAINTAIN BASE FITNESS"Never get so out of shape that getting back into shape would be a monumental effort," says alpinist CONRAD ANKER. "I do two things every year: climb El Capitan and do a marathon-length run. They give me goals, and I train accordingly.

"ALWAYS HAVE FUN"

Trisport Sale

Dear Valued Customer,Don't miss out on this great time to save on all of the latest and greatest triathlon, swim, bike and run gear!!! Take advantage of this limited time exclusive offer and SAVE 15% off your next order!!! Better yet, this coupon is good on all closeout apparel as well!!!This special offer is exclusively for our newsletter members. Hurry... this offer ends at 11:59 p.m. PST, this coming Friday, October 12, 2007. Click on any of the links in this email to enjoy savings today! (Sorry, not valid with any other offers/promotions. Cannot be used on previous purchases. Other restrictions apply, see website for details.)
Save 15% - use code OCT15-E

Racing in the heat!

By Mike Ricci

Across North America, racing in the late summer or early fall can pose a unique set of challenges. Racing during these months usually means you are performing in hot and humid conditions. If you train in this type of environment, that is optimal for conditioning your system to the stress. For those of us coming from a milder climate there are a few things we can do to prepare to race our best to race well. The most important thing you can do is learn your sweat rate. Before you run, weigh yourself without any clothes. Then go run for one hour, take in whatever water you need, and then come back and re-weigh yourself. Your difference in weight, plus the addition of the water or fluid you drank will give you how many pounds you lost during your run. Divide that number by your starting weight and you will know your fluid loss per hour. If you start a log, figuring out percentage lost at what temperature will help you monitor your fluid intake much better. By doing this test regularly in different temps, you will start to see how your body reacts with varying temperatures. Knowing that on a hot day you lose 2% of your body weight would be a big advantage over others who don’t keep track. You will know you need to take in ‘x’ ounces of water, which will eliminate your chance of dehydration. Of course don’t drink too much as that can cause hypnotremia – and that can be deadly. Another idea is to hit the sauna – after your swim practice or weights is good time. Just get in there two-three times per week and get used to the heat. I know athletes that ride their trainers in the sauna but I don’t think that is necessary. One more option is to train indoors, with a long sleeve shirt on, no fan and with the doors/windows closed. If you want to take it to the next level, throw some wet clothes in the dryer and viola you have humidity too. Training with the long sleeves is something I have done with success for a number of years. Lastly, in order to prepare yourself to race in a hot and humid environment, make sure you are properly hydrated and even add a little salt to your meals to help you retain more water. You can train with salt tablets or electrolyte pills too – these have been used successfully for years by many athletes in longer, hotter races. Whatever you do, try it in training before you try it in a race.Just like preparing for a hilly course, we train in the hills. So, to race well in a hot environment, we need to simulate those same conditions. Don’t get caught unprepared. Use the tips listed here to help you overcome the more extreme conditions you may be faced with racing in this season.

Wet Suit Sales!


http://www.trisports.com/blueseventy.html

Sunshine Jenny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8XSit8XyeM

Eating and Drinking during the Marathon

The week before the Marathon
Focus on eating plenty of fruits/vegetable/whole grains to keep your immune system boosted.
Try to increase your carbohydrate intake a couple days before the marathon but don't "stuff" yourself.

Don't skip meals.

The Day before the Marathon
Stay away from foods you know will cause stomach distress.
Drink water frequently.
Eat meals at home if possible.
Go easy on caffeine products.
Avoid gassy foods like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, etc.
If you are on the road, pack non-perishable food items.


Marathon Morning
Eat 2-4 hours before the race. Aim for 100-200 grams of carbohydrate (low in fat and a small amount of protein). Ex. Bagel, banana, non-fat yogurt, sports drink, toast, sports bar, etc.
Drink 16 oz. of fluid before the start of the marathon.

During the Marathon
Drink 5 1/2-oz fluid every 15 minutes. Use a sports drink if available. Try to test out the sports drink that will be featured at the race BEFORE your race.
Try to eat/drink 30-60 grams of carbohydrate every hour. Do not wait until the end of the hour to obtain all of your carbohydrates. Try to take a gel or part of a sports bar every half hour.


After the Marathon
Drink, Drink, and Drink (no not alcohol or diet coke!)
Try to replenish 100-400 calories within 30 minutes after your marathon. Eat high carbohydrate foods and some protein. Ex. Pasta/chicken, sandwich, non-fat cottage cheese/fruit, cereal/milk, trail mix, etc.

Now go have some fun this weekend! Stay strong, Live in the moment, and don't have any negative thoughts what so ever, you have trained and you/I know you can do it!

Trail Running

Trail running is to running like mountain biking is to road cycling. There is nothing like running somewhere different, where the cars can't go and where you can have a one-on-one with

Mother Nature.
Trail running improves balance, coordination, strength, and keeps you in the moment. You really need to focus on where you're going to put your foot on the next stride and how you're going to tackle the next hill. That’s what makes it so interesting. Your risk for overuse injuries are much lower than road running because the terrain is more forgiving on your muscles, tendons and joints.

When heading out to the trails, make sure to run with your buddies or dog, tell someone where you're going and which trail, and take a cell phone with you for safety. If possible, take a trail map with you and keep track of where you are along the trail.

While trail running, it helps to keep your arms (elbows) a little wider for balance. Your stride is a little different than road running because you will need to clear rocks and tree roots and lift your feet a little higher off the ground. You also may need to hop left or right to bypass things on the path like tree branches. Some trails are paved with limestone and are therefore more predictable, while other trails are single track trails with rolling hills, rocks and tree roots.

Eyes on the Trail
The key is to keep your eyes on the trail and focus on where you’re going to take your next step. It can be tempting to look at the nature around you. If you want to look around--walk or stop--but avoid looking up while running. Look ahead about three feet on the trail and then find a line or a spot where you're going to step for the next four to six strides. This keeps you focused and in the moment--I find this to be the gift of trail running. You will begin to instinctively know where that line is as you become more comfortable.

Slow Down and Smell the Roses
Don't expect to run the same pace as on the roads. The terrain alone will be more challenging, in addition to the rocks and other objects on the trail. Slow your pace and develop a tempo within the trail. Sometimes that may mean walking the hills and running the downhills and flats. Find a pace where you can enjoy the terrain.

Hill Techniques
Take short, quick steps or power walk when running up hills, if needed. It’s just like changing gears on your bike when you ride up hills. Use your gears, shorten your strides and soon you will find yourself on top of the hill. Conserve your energy on the uphill so you can take advantage of the downhill. On the down hills, lengthen your stride, keep your weight slightly forward and arms wide, find your line, and relax into it. Take quick steps, never landing fully on each foot.

Most importantly--have fun on the trails. It’s a serene place and a great way to mix up your regular running routine, get stronger and see new sites along the way.

Ten tips for running

1. Ring fence your exercise time. You won't get to the finish line without protecting your time to train. You've made a personal commitment to your health and well-being so it's important to you. Prioritize your time and stick to it.

2. Create incentives. Set goals and reward yourself when you reach them. These will provide you with drive and commitment towards the 5k and help you gauge how your fitness is progressing.

3. Plan your attack. Know what you are going to do in your week and when. Your plan should be progressive, structured and appropriate to your exercise history, level of fitness and 5k goals.

4. Variation is the spice of running life. Doing the same type of running can make your routine boring. Don't just do the same run every day. Mix it up and try different things like varying the pace, terrain and time you run for.

5. It shouldn't be all hard work. Avoid packing all your runs together. As a rule of thumb, for every day of 'hard' running, take two days rest or easy running.

6. Fuel yourself. Running is a great calorie burner but you still need to replace the energy you've used. Carbohydrate is the body's fuel for exercise so eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids.

7. Get some support. Running with friends is social and builds togetherness. Getting a coach can help you get the right advice from an experienced specialist and keep you motivated.

8. Get the right kit. Specialist running shoes are a must for injury prevention. Choose running kit that is functional and comfortable.

9. Be patient. Don't expect immediate results. Successful running takes time, but you'll love the benefits of looking and feeling great when they arrive. The more you do the easier it gets.

10. Enjoy it and have fun! Running shouldn't be a chore. It's something you do to boost your health, wellness and vitality. Just being out there doing it is a brilliant achievement and you should remind yourself how well you've done.

How Nutrition and Diet affect bone health

Protecting our bones is obviously important, but figuring out exactly how to do that in terms of our diet can be confusing. With that in mind, I contacted a few bone experts to give us the highlights and answer some of the more frequently asked questions. This is the first of a two-part series about the impact of nutrition and diet on bone health. The first part deals with general bone health and the role played by calcium. The second part will focus on other foods and nutrients that help or hurt bone health.
What is osteoporosis, and what does it do to our bones?
According to Tejaswini Rao, Ph.D., R.D., a professor of nutrition at State University of New York at Buffalo, “Osteoporosis or porous bones is a disease characterized by low bone mass leading to fragile bones and resulting in an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine and wrist.”
At what age do our bones start to deteriorate?
Our bones reach their peak level of density (or mass) in the mid-20s (on average), says Dorothy Teegarden, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition at Purdue University. “Roughly after age 35, both men and women start to lose bone at a slow rate of one to two percent per year. This bone loss is accelerated in women around and after menopause to about five percent per year for five to seven years, and then the bone loss in women returns to a baseline of one to two percent per year. Men don’t go through the accelerated menopausal bone loss but continue to lose bone at the rate of one to two percent per year,” says Primal Kaur, M.D., director of the Osteoporosis Clinic at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
Is osteoporosis mostly a female problem?
It’s true that osteoporosis is less common in men than women, because men start out with more bone density than women and do not go through menopause, which accelerates bone loss, says Rao. But after age 65, men and women lose bone at the same rate. By age 75, one-third of men have osteoporosis as do a third of women.
What is the bone-calcium connection?
“Calcium [which is, incidentally, the most abundant mineral in the body] is the material that gives bone strength, much as bricks do for a building, but the bones need an underlying structure of proteins that are special for bone to hold on to the calcium,” according to Ruth Freeman, M.D., professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center. “Basically, there are two types of cells active in bone--one, the osteoclast, makes pockets in the bone, chewing it up so that good bone can replace any damaged bone. The second type, the osteoblast, comes in and fills in the bone pockets that the osteoclast created. Over about 10 years’ time all bone is replaced to remove little damaged areas. But after age 40 the osteoblasts don't adequately refill the pockets created by the osteoclast, so there is a net loss of bone. Anything, therefore, that speeds up turnover of bone, like loss of estrogen, will increase the loss of bone in people who are over age 40.” What is the link between estrogen and bone health?
Estrogen is important in maintaining bone mass in adult women; in part it slows bone remodeling (replacing old bone with new bone). And while bone remodeling is normally a good thing, it takes place over weeks and months. Therefore, it leaves a woman more susceptible to bone fracture—estrogen helps to slow this process down. So basically, the estrogen maintains the proper balance between the activity of bone-forming cells (i.e., osteoblasts) and bone-resorbing cells (i.e., osteoclasts). Are low-fat dairy products much higher in calcium than whole-milk products? Not significantly so. There is slightly more calcium in skim milk because the fat has been removed, leaving more room for other components of the milk and, therefore, more calcium. How much calcium do I need? 1-3 years of age: 500 mg4-8 years: 800 mg9-18 years: 1,300 mgDuring pregnancy & lactation: 1,000–1,200 mgAdults: 1,000 mgPost-menopausal women on hormones: 1,200 mgPost-menopause without hormones: 1,500 mg
What are the main sources of calcium in our diet?
Certainly dairy, but make sure to go with low-fat or fat-free versions of yogurt, cheese and milk. Nondairy sources include soybeans and tofu, bok choy (Chinese cabbage), broccoli and green, leafy vegetables such as collards, kale, mustard greens and turnip greens. Salmon and sardines canned with their soft bones are good sources, as well as shellfish, almonds, Brazil nuts and dried beans. Milk, nonfat, 1 cup, 302 mg calcium Yogurt, plain, low-fat, 1 cup, 300 mg calcium
Baked beans, 1 cup, 142 mg calcium Cottage cheese, 1 percent milk fat, 1 cup, 138 mg calcium
Broccoli, raw, 1 cup, 90 mg calcium Tofu, (processed with a calcium salt solution), ½ cup, 138 mg calcium Check out this source, which provides a helpful calcium calculator:
www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/parents/toolbox/calculator.html
Do spinach and peanut butter deplete calcium absorption?
They do not “deplete” calcium absorption; however, they contain oxalate or oxalic acid, both of which combine with calcium to form calcium oxalate and thus prevent its absorption, says Kaur. In fact, “Calcium in spinach is absorbed at a very low efficiency (about five percent) compared to 30-60 percent absorption of calcium from other sources,” adds Teegarden.
What about the link between soft drinks (diet and regular) and poor bone health?
One of the biggest problems is that soft drinks replace intake of milk, which is a good source of calcium. Additionally, carbonated drinks have a high phosphate content, “which binds calcium in the bowel and reduces the absorption,” says Freeman. Phosphate also forms acid in the bloodstream. “Calcium is then released from the bone to maintain the calcium-phosphate balance and to counteract the acid in the bloodstream," says Kaur.

By Charles Stuart Platkin For Active.com

This is so cool!

Danniela,

I am contacting you today with an exciting opportunity! Each month throughout the season we are going to feature 1 male and 1 female athlete on our team website. We are selecting these “Featured Athletes” based on participation, quality of results, responsiveness to emails and other vital characteristics which make you stand out.

You are clearly a leader on our team when it comes to these areas and we have selected you as 1 of 2 “Featured Athletes” for the month of October. In order to get as much information as possible to put together in an interesting feature on the team website, I would appreciate you filling out our online questionnaire.

Funny!

My two boys gosh are they getting so big!

Strengthen your core

Try something new this week!

For a waist worthy of a painted-on Versace sheath, work your core from every angle, hitting all abdominal muscles (including obliques) and primary back muscles (erector spinae)

Sun Salute with Cross

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Stand with legs slightly more than shoulder-width apart, arms extended overhead with hands just touching. Bending forward at the waist, reach down and touch your right foot, keeping your torso straight and moving as one unit. Straighten back to start. Repeat on the opposite side to complete one rep.

Ankle Reach

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Lie on your belly with legs straight and toes touching the floor. Bend your arms with palms on the floor in line with your ears. Reaching both arms back and up, bend your right leg, reaching your heel toward your butt as you touch your hands to your right ankle. Slowly lower your arms and leg to start. Repeat with your left leg to complete one rep.

Double-Side Jackknife

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Lie on your left side, your legs stacked and straight. Wrap your left arm in front of your torso, placing it on your right hip, and put your right hand behind your head. Simultaneously raise your torso and legs, bringing your head toward your hips. Return to start in a controlled motion and repeat for all reps, then switch sides and repeat reps to complete one set. Too hard? Start by lifting just your legs.

Dynamic V-Crunch

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Lie face up with your legs straight — in line with your hips and perpendicular to your torso. Extend your arms in front of you, keeping them in line with your shoulders. Contract your abs and lower your legs so they're at a 45-degree angle with your hips. Then reach toward your left leg, simultaneously raising it and bringing it in line with your hips. Lower your left leg. Repeat with the right leg to complete one rep.

Raised-Hips Crunch

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Lie face up with knees bent and feet flat on floor, hands behind head, and fingers unclasped. Press your hips off the floor into a bridge position, keeping your hips level. Maintaining the bridge, contract your abs and then raise your head, neck, and shoulders off the floor as one unit. Pause, then lower, and repeat. For more of a challenge, lift one foot slightly while you perform half of your reps, then lift the other foot off the floor for the other half.

Side Double Crunch

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Lie balanced on your right buttock, with legs straight but not locked, arms straight, palms up. Simultaneously crunch your legs and torso together, bending your knees toward your chest while still balancing on your right buttock. Return to start and repeat for all reps, then switch sides and repeat to complete one set.

Bosu Reverse Hyperextensions

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
Lie face down with your belly on a Bosu and legs fully extended, palms flat on the floor. Squeeze your lower back and glutes to raise your legs, holding the contraction for as long as you can at the top of the movement. Lower your legs until they lightly touch the floor. Repeat.

The Perfect Crunch--Circle Crunch

Sets:
2-3
Reps:
8-20
These crunches work your abs from every direction, and the continuous motion forces you to isometrically hold your core tight, adding extra burn. The best part: They're totally doable — and you get a complete abs workout with one move.Lie face up with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hands behind your head with light fingers. Lift your shoulders off the floor until you feel a tight contraction, and curl your torso around in a small, clockwise circular motion (starting from 6 to 9 to 12 to 3 and back down to 6). For the next rep, repeat in the opposite, counterclockwise direction. Make 'em Harder Raise your legs with knees bent at 90 degrees, calves parallel to floor, as you perform each set.

Have fun and work those abs!

Something to think about!

Q: I'm training for a marathon. How do I keep my muscle mass up without compromising my speed?

Answers:
Strength training can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your knee and ankle joints to protect you from injury. If you're serious about the race, you should be running four or five times a week, including one long run (up to 20 miles late in your training). Two to three days of easy lifting each week is plenty. Focus on larger muscle groups with lunges, squats, and pushups. And stretch every day to stay limber.

I just wanted to put this on my site!

Don't miss Ironman on TV

Seven Ironman events will appear on the Versus network this fall. Included in the fall series are six full distance Ironman events along with the St. Croix Ironman 70.3 race.The series begins this Sunday with the exciting coverage of Ford Ironman Arizona, a race that has provided a sneak preview of future Ironman champions in the past.
Check local listings for the exact times in your region:

2007 Versus schedule of Ironman events includes:

Ford Ironman Arizona
9/16 4PM
Repeat 9/19 4:30PM

Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene
10/7 4:00 PM
Repeat 10/9 4:00 PM

Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid
10/28 4:00 PM
Repeat 10/31 4:00 PM

Ford Ironman Louisville Whooohooo I can't wait!
11/18 4:00 PM
Repeat 11/21 4:00 PM

Ford Ironman Wisconsin
12/2 5:00 PM
Repeat 12/5 3:00 PM

Ford Ironman Florida
12/16 4:00 PM
Repeat 12/29 3:00 PM

St. Croix Ironman 70.3
12/23 4:00 PM
Repeat 12/26 4:00 PM

I love this video!

Uncle Todd, Jenni and Michelle get ready, this is what it's all about! You will finish I know it!


http://www.nasports.com/mediacenter/fordvideo/fordvideo.php

Jenni is signing up for Ironman WI

Jenni is in she is going to do her first Ironman 2008 we are going to train together and finish together... This is going to be a fun year from the La Crosse area there is 25 or more people signed up... another athlete to watch will be my Uncle Todd he had signed up for 2006 however he couldn't do it because of his neck he is doing so much better and he has also signed up I can't wait!

Here is some photo's of us waiting in line we were there at 5:15 am to wait for the doors to open at 9:00 but they did open up at 8:30 because there were over 300 people in line to sign up gosh there was more then that I bet Ironman closed in 23 min.

Volunteering at Ironman WI 2007

This was so fun if you ever have the chance to volunteer at an Ironman you have to. It was great to be on the other side and see how things are run..

Photo's of the swim:

photo of the Swim to bike:

Photo of the bike to the run and the start of the run

Jenni and I waisting time while we wait for our time to Volunteer...

Jenni and I were at the finish line all night long we started at 7:45 and we put metals on until 12:00 am. It was great to put them on Ironman athletes we seen happy, crying and deer in head light faces! Ron, Tracie and Dan were catchers they did a great job they also seen athletes that were sweating, cold, read to puke, and ready to pass out they help them get to their family's or to the medic tent.. Great job guys!
The best part was putting metals around people we knew! If was great we waited and waited and waited and when you heard their names being called out we got ready to put their metals on them it was Amazing!!!!! We were part of their finish! Another Part of Ironman 2007 was watching Frank finish Ironman if you don't know frank read here..http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/holdingcell/2002/december-2002/meet-frank-farrar-konas-last-official-finisher-in-2002
This was amazing he didn't finish Ironman 2005 and 2006 however he finished 2007. They asked me if I would put the metal on him I said no I think that Mike the announcer should, but then his wife came down with two huge, HUGE MEN! and I said I think his wife should put on his metal they agreed the crowed was wild Frank came around the corner and we all yelled Frank, Frank and we all cried.. He was the last athlete to finish 2007 Ironman WI we counted down the time with him under the clock and it was unbelievable! WHOOOHOOO Frank Here is a photo of Frank starting his Marathon.