Iron Horse Triathlon

Me if I were a horse riding a bike. 

          I arrive and start going through my check list of hope I brought that items. Bike...check. Helmet...check. Stamina of someone who actually trained...forgot to pack that months ago. But I figure I've done sprint triathlons in the past, so I could survive this one. I see my usual heroes with the space helmets and cool covered back wheel bikes and knew I was in the right place. As I go to each booth to collect all my race items, I could have really used a kickstand. But as anyone with a road bike knows, kickstands are for losers even though they are really really convenient. Instead, I had to rest my bike on my hip or on a post or on a child's head while getting overwhelmed by stuff early that morning. When I am done prepping my transition area, I start checking out the route. Along the way, I kept hearing everyone complain about the timing chip ankle band having to be on your right ankle. It was such an uproar because there is no way in hell they were going to have that little chip get in the way of their gears. When I looked down at mine, I noticed the chip stuck out just as far as my shoe, so I still don't know what the big fuss was about. 

          Up until this point, I have only participated in delayed start pool swim triathlons, so open water was a little new to me. As every one is warming up, I see Khanh, one of my Danos coworkers and one hell of an athlete. Let me preface this by saying that I have a shaved head, so no need for a swim cap right? Of course I didn't notice everyone surrounding me had one on. I even saw a bald guy putting one on and thought well that's odd, never thinking "look dummy, you need one too". So when Khanh saw me, she asked where my swim cap was because they wouldn't let me swim without it. Of course by this time, they are about to fire up the national anthem and here I am running 75 yards back to the transition station where I frantically wrestle with the plastic wrapper around the swim cap I had to have. By the time I get back, out of breath, my age group is the first wave up. 

         Two minutes until we take off on our torturous journey, everyone jumps in with unbridled enthusiasm anticipating the start. For that entire 2 minutes, we find ourselves stuck treading water until the horn goes off. So now I know to stay my ass on the shore and only jump in when it gets closer to go time. 

         Once our wave starts, I of course kick ass for about the first 50 yards. I mean Michael Phelps would have been a close second at that point. Then it all falls apart with 350 yards to go. I tried at least 4 different stroke combinations throughout that attempt at swimming, each one slower than the last. Then I get a little taste of one of the finer things in life, Lake Poullard. It had a rich body with musky undertones that finished with a fishy aftertaste. It wasn't enough to choke me out, but just enough to make the threat of drowning real. As we near the shore, it seems like I was lost at sea for days. 

        The next part of the race, I've been training for my entire life...putting on shoes. Nailed it. Then it was bike city after that. I noticed a guy with a flat tire about 1 mile into the bike portion. I couldn't help but think "please don't let me be that guy, please don't let me be the guy" the whole route. You might be thinking, why didn't I stop to help that guy out? Valid question. But if you would have seen the spaceship of a bike he was riding, I would have just been there to offer moral support, which I did, briefly, as I passed him by. I've been in that situation once before and had to walk my bike about 4 miles back to the finish then run 3 miles. The only thing that helps at that point is silence, instead of 100 people asking if you need help. I appreciate the courtesy, but I highly doubt anyone was going to ruin setting their PR to help me, the guy with the Wal-Mart road bike on the side of the road. They had bigger fish to fry and I can respect that. 

       As I cruise along, I am pushed along by the wind of passing competitors. That night I heard "On your left!" in my sleep. The calves of riders passing me were bigger than my thighs. To put it in perspective, the top average speed that day was around 25 mph and I was coming in hot at an astounding 16 mph. The peddling was not the painful part. The prostate exam my seat gave me the whole ride was what did me in. Safe to say I'll be purchasing a beach cruiser seat in the near future.

      As I finally finish the 14 mile bike ride, I jump into my favorite part of the triathlon. See triathlons are geared toward bikers. You do well on the bike, you do well overall. But that didn't stop me from yelling "on your left!" as I consistently passed up a good bit of the bikers who are not runners like I am. Finished with a 7:23 pace for 2 miles, which wasn't nearly enough distance to make up any major time I lost on the bike part. 

       As the end of the race approached, I had one of the most honorable finishes a man can ask for. I pushed as hard as I could to barely pass up a girl right at the finish line to rank 166 out of 273 competing (https://register.cajuntiming.com/results/default.aspx?event=33676&r=10844). 

     The race wasn't my strongest, but opened me up to a longer open water type race I've been meaning to "tri". As I re-hydrate and walk to the food, I can't help but overhear the passionate re-caps of everyone's different struggles throughout the race. Although most of them were solid struggles, I did overhear one guy say this to the girl he was with: "You know what happened with the swim part? I have tinted lenses and with the limited visibility it took me off my game". No my friend. You sir struggled because you suck at swimming. I admitted that to myself and so should you. Although I did find the water to be a little thicker than I am used to...and the air temp wasn't ideal, and the other people were extra fast so there was no way to keep up. 

      Door prizes were next and let's just say these aren't your average door prizes. They gave away a Go Pro Hero, Yeti ice chest, a sick Garmin watch, Costa Del Mars, and more fancy items I can't remember. I was lucky enough to hear #169 called for one of the prizes. My prize? A Yeti cup that I already have. I can't be disappointed about it. That cup is going to turn into a nice $30 Academy gift card. Plus they gave us a swag bag loaded with quality stuff. 

      It was a great race even with the stormy conditions. One of the more well thought out sprint triathlons I've been to. To sum it all up, I may have found myself struggling throughout the race, but to see a woman in her 60s that seems to have weight issues sprint it out at the end barely crossing the finish line before giving up gives me all the motivation I need to knock it out of the park next year. 

So until then Iron Horse, you were a hell of a ride!   

               

Alaska: Where the Summer Weather is Just as Warm as the People

      The term wild life goes for the animals as well as the people. It is a melting pot for all cultures and states. You are just as likely to meet a permanent resident from another state or culture, as you are to strike up a friendly conversation with a native. Some came to Alaska for adventure, others looking for a fresh start. Each one, a genuine respect for the last frontier. From earthquakes and wildfires, to the close encounters with animals much larger than you, the elements offer a reminder that you are not in charge here.
      From -60 degrees to living off the land, Alaska is not for the week. That goes double for the few who choose to live a secluded life off the grid. Alaskans show respect for every aspect of their land as they do the people visiting.
      I wish I could tell you what the night life was like, but there wasn't any. What an opportunity that presented! It afforded as much daylight as you wanted to find your own adventure. As I type this, I am soaring over most of the country in darkness quickly approaching New Orleans. As the sun finally says goodbye, it marks the end of this journey and brings with it a chance for some much needed sleep.
     In conclusion, this state is hard to put into words, but I will give it a shot. Alaska, where the beer is as cold and unique as the glaciers, the salmon is as hot as the summer weather, and the people are as nice as the scenery.

Advice for visiting during the summer:

• Believe it or not, the mosquitoes are bigger up there than they are down here. Pack some bug spray to avoid this little monsters. 
• Quality camera with a substantial zoom. Most of the wildlife is too far away to get a quality picture with the phone on your camera. 
• Quality binoculars to get up close to the animals without actually getting too close. 
• With only 2 hours of darkness, a sleep mask and sunscreen are a must during the summer. 
• Download anything you need directly to your phone (music, documents, movies, etc). Long drives with spotty connection is to be expected. 

Check out more pics and videos here: Alaska

Thibodaux Public Pool

       As I enter the locker room, I catch a whiff of childhood past. The strong smell of chlorine is just as potent as it was so long ago. As I walk towards the far side of the pool, I pass the spot that I spent countless hours warming up with the famous Thibodaux swimming lessons move...the "bob". I couldn't help but bob a couple of times for old times sake. Right next to my lane, was also a familiar smell. The smell of fear that struck many children as they approached the high dive, one of my favorite parts of the pool  that is no longer with us. The one thing that has remained over the years is the debris that welcomes you with every lap. Not as bad as I remember, but still gives you that warm feeling. About as warm as the pee filled water. The potent chlorine brings a magical sting to my eyes that makes me feel alive. The 10 foot abyss that was the deep end that may have housed the infamous Nessy is no more. No more races to see who could touch the bottom and return to the top the quickest. Never again will a child feel that relentless pressure in their ears as they near the bottom of that pool. Yes it is was a magical place with a deep history that I enjoyed visiting again and will continue to visit for years and years....or until my $50 2 month fall membership runs out.

Long live the Thibodaux Municipal Pool. 

Exceeding Limitations

          Limitations are only set from within. I've found that curiosity and patience erase many expectations I have set for myself which gives me the opportunity to keep raising the bar. The old saying is if you never try, you'll never know. I never knew how mechanically inclined I could be until I bought a house and started trying things out. I guess it is because I've never had the opportunity before to try out electrical, minor plumbing, replacing shingles, and small motor repair. There are some things I don't attempt, because there could be some major repercussions, but I've noticed that I have gotten more comfortable with pushing my limits with attempting things that are foreign to me. I think I lack a prior knowledge that some have about how things work because they have experienced them before, but I like the challenge of trying to figure it out for myself. That is what self improvement is all about. I sometimes get caught up setting my expectations for myself pretty low when it comes to certain things, but thinking back on what I've accomplished gives me that minor confidence to take that next big step into a major project. My wife has a way of reminding me that I've never really been taught how to do the things I attempt, but that I have a natural instinct of figuring things out that most don't possess. See when I hear this, I immediately think that there is a whole bunch out there that I can't do. I guess a better way of thinking about it is that there are a lot of things I can't do.......yet. I am ready to explore more ways to increase my limits of capability in all aspects of life. Which makes me think, what other aspects of life have I not yet tried to set new limitations in?

Social Media: The New Front Porch

           As I ride through a new neighborhood being constructed, I can't help but notice the front porch is a thing of the past. The front porch used to be a place where family got together to talk about their day, their likes and dislikes, and how everyone they associated with was doing. A conversation with our neighbors was more frequent because we could usually find them on their front porch. Face to face interaction with the people closest to us was frequent.Then Social Media was introduced to the world.

          Slowly, this changed the landscape of how and where we interacted. For the most part, sitting down for a conversation on the front porch is a thing of the past. Now everyone can be updated on the who, what, when, where, and why in 140 characters or less.
          
          I am a big fan of story telling. This is where we are losing that art form. Before the instant updates, there was catching up with friends face to face about things that you have done or trips taken. The fun was usually in telling a story with a couple of embellishments here and there while describing the emotional roller coaster you went through. Now we get the new sensation of a play by play of our friend's trip as picture after picture is posted in real time. No picture can take the place of seeing your friends reactions as your story unfolds. If you aren't getting the attention you crave from social media, try telling an interesting story in person. All eyes will be on you.      

         There is also a certain cowardice associated with social media. People would rarely say the things they post in a face to face conversation. The nobility of calling someone to go on a date is disappearing. It is much easier to use that social media buffer instead of running the risk of hearing the rejection over the phone. You really want to show your confidence to a girl nowadays? Call her.

         Post after post of glamorous lifestyles is creating an envy and jealousy that has snowballed into a mass depression across the social realm. A majority of our days are dedicated to wasting our lives in a zombie like trance gazing upon how great everyone's lives are when we should be focused on our own. Our real social status should not be portrayed through how many likes we can get, but how we interact with others. And besides, do all those likes matter if no one likes you in person? Our face to face interaction still means something. If we can find a way to put down the phone, we can spend more time focusing on making an impact on our own lives as well as others.

        If we start to look at the big picture instead of just staring at the little ones, we will realize that there is a world beyond our computer screens to see and learn from. If you don't look up every once in a while, you just might miss it.

Fate and Decisions

             We recently had one of our bunkhouse cooks at our company get into a bad motorcycle accident. He was going 65 mph when a car pulled out in front of him. The kid driving obviously didn't see him. Instead, he was looking at oncoming traffic in the opposite direction. Our cook, Carlton, had the cognition to lay his bike down as you are taught to do in a situation like that. This could have been the deciding factor on whether or not I saw him in a hospital the following day or in a casket. I've only known him for a short time, but he has an energy like none other. He is one of the most likable employees we have, and that is including staff members. For this to happen to a guy like that makes me think that fate doesn't have favorites, but then again maybe it does. He did survive what could have been a fatal accident, but it also makes me think why did this happen to him. He is a very religious man, but in times like these, it seems like that faith would be tested. Maybe there is no such thing as fate, only decisions. Most outcomes in life are based on decisions made. The idea that a decision by another human being can derail your life in an instant is a powerful thing. It gives everyone a sense of vulnerability whether they want to admit it or not. But there is also the positive outlook of a good decision by a friend, family member, or stranger that could change your path substantially. Us earthlings are all in this together. Whether you like it or not, you do not have as much control of your life as you think. So find a way every day to learn and teach others what good decisions are so that when the time comes to make a decision, it will hopefully be one that impacts their life, and possibly yours, in a positive manner. In the end, we are all just zooming around this big star making the best of the tiny existence that we are fortunate enough to get. In the eyes of this planet, our existence is just a blink of an eye. There are bigger things out there that have been around longer than us that we can appreciate, but it is the smaller things in our lifetime that we tend to forget.

I Am a Sore Loser

            Today, our companies 2014 Safety Slogan was unveiled. Last year was my first year competing and first year winning it. This year there was no triumph, only disappointment. I submitted close to 15 slogans, some more thoughtful than others. I feel I have a real knack for these types of contest. Alas, the winner's slogan was announced. When it wasn't mine, I realized how sore of a loser I am. I started to criticize right away instead of seeing that another employee worked just as hard as me to make his/her mark on our company. I think sometimes being a sore loser gets confused with having a passion for your creation. Wanting to be the best is a natural feeling. When you feel that you have given it your best, but still don't bring home the prize, there is a little feeling of spite towards the winner. The only reason I can think of that this feeling arises is that it is more of a jealousy than a dislike that you feel. You want to be the one getting the congratulations and attaboys. Instead, I was left with the feeling that only a select few got to see my creation and to them it just wasn't good enough. I keep thinking if it was on a bigger stage where the company could vote, it just might have made it. But, I just have to realize that just because it didn't get the vote of a committee, doesn't mean that they weren't some of the most creative ideas I have had. The sore loser part is more or less a projection of feeling rejected. I personally thought my slogan was the best, but it just goes to show that sometimes what you think you have is gold, but winds up being silver in the eye of the beholder. On the brightside, I have a friend who has recently started up an energy solutions company that was more than happy to consider my slogans. Looks like it all goes back to the old saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure. 

Update on this: Won the slogan competition the next year with the same slogan.