Day 2 - 11-25-2010

More new snow today. It was pretty packed and settled but I got to ski with Swany for the first time this year, that's always fun. We did ski Rink-a-Dink and for the first time in a long time it wasn't that great. Kind of wind packed. Usually it's pretty protected from the weather but not on this day.

Day 1 - 11-20-2010

So the season got started early this year. Skiing in November in the north west is a real treat. Normally if were skiing by Christmas were stoked but skiing before Thanksgiving?? I'll take it. Of course skiing this early in the season you have to remember EARLY SEASON CONDITIONS EXIST. The top of the mountain was closed due to a lack of snow and the fact that they were still working on the gondola and had the cable on the ground. I pretty much just cruised around Forest Queen and dodged all the rocks for a few hours. Then that's when it happened. We had heard whisperings about it but didn't think it was going to actually happen. Powder Bowl was open!! It was only open long enough to ski two laps but they were two bottomless pow laps that made the day. Winter was back and it was shaping up to be a great one. Check out the video from opening day. It's short but pretty much sums it all up!

Let's go skiing!!

So I know it's been ages since I posted anything on my blog. I'm lame I know. But since my recovery is going pretty well I thought I could go from talking about dealing with getting well and start talking about what I'm up to in the mountains this winter. So here goes ..... the huge-heart ski blog is about to begin! Enjoy!!

Where's the wall!

So I finally got my first open water swim under my belt! It's a little different than being in the pool. Scratch that it's a LOT different. There's no wall every twenty five yards to push off and you can't just stand up if you get tired. It's a pretty interesting feeling when you start to get away from the shore a little bit. Even though I was swimming with a partner it was really lonely. You get to a point where you realize that you are a good distance from the shore and if something where to happen there's no real way out. There's no guarantee that the person with me would even hear me if I were in destress. Then you start to feel tired but you realize that you have to push on and go farther. And then the inevitable happens, the wind starts to blow. And of course its a head wind. So what can you do.....you have to push on. One stoke after the next. It's a real mental test.

Being in the water is like a proving ground for me. There's no easy way out. I take all the training and put it to practical use when I'm in the open water. There's only one option and that is to keep swimming. Then a half mile later I'm done. I get to stand up out of the water and know that I accomplished my goal. I did it. No one else did it for me. That's a good feeling. That's the kind of feeling that makes me want to keep going, to keep pushing on.

All I have to do now is do it again! I'll be back in the water soon and hopefully better than ever!



On a totally unrelated note .... if you need a good chuckle check this video out. My roommate really lovers her some Jimmy Johns. Laughing is a great therapy for whatever ales you!

Are you motivated??

So i finally did it. I swam a mile today. Granted it was in the pool but I did it none the less. 70 lengths gets a little monotonous. Gives you lots of time to think about why you shouldn't be in the pool for that long. Gives doubt a lot of time to creep into your ever weakening mind. It allows you to think of all the excuses for why you should just get out of the pool and do it another day. I mean you'll always have tomorrow, right? Really makes you wonder what must go through someones mind while they are swimming a triathlon and still have a bike ride and run to look forward to.

This is when you have to make a decision, do you take control over your brain that is wandering into all kinds of ugly places or do you let it take control of you? Tonight I made the decision to beat back all those ugly thoughts and push on. Believe me, for a while I wanted out of that pool in a bad way. But let me tell you....when you finally finish it's all worth it. Kind of makes you want to throw your hands up and proclaim "I WIN!" Feels like people should be raising babies and throwing soft cheeses! Go Alphonse Go!

It takes a certain amount of motivation to overcome these sorts of things. I wish I could say I just look deep inside and find all the motivation I need but that's not the way it works! Don't get me wrong....we all have "it" inside of us. But sometimes it takes a little push from an outside force to help see us through. To help us find that "it" that is buried deep within us. So you have to find what motivates you. Find that song, or video, or person that makes you want to push just a little harder. Latch on to that and let it help you to the finish because there wont always be a tomorrow. Remember to be great today so you don't regret yesterday, tomorrow!

There really are only two types of people in this world. Those that say "I can" and those that say "I can't". I CAN do it! Can you? Challenge yourself to get motivated today. Do something, whatever it is. It may be at work, at school, in the gym, on a bike, or in a pool. Just find what motivates you and go for it....it's all worth it once you cross that finish line!

Need some motivation? Check these out!

Inspirational Nike Ad
Iron Man Video

Have some motivation you would like to share? Leave it in a comment.

July 17th, 2010

On this day we have all been blessed by the birth of a beautiful child. This world is a better place today than it was yesterday. With the love, compassion, drive, and determination that will be passed down from her parents, this child will do great things!

Mark my words, July 17th 2010 was a special day for us all.

So now as a community and a family we must all play a roll in seeing this child rise to greatness. We must remember that it is not only a mother and father that will shape this life. While mom and dad may set the course the rest of the "village" must do its part too.

It's interesting to look back at life and see all of the people who helped to shape me into the person I am today. The list stretches far beyond my family. Knowing that I have the love and support of so many people is a special feeling. One of those feelings that makes you feel like you can take on anything.

I got to see some old friends today. They are the kind of people that don't get a visit or phone call as often as they should and yet that doesn't seem to bother them. The love they express is unwavering. Once you become a part of their family you can never leave, even if for some reason you wanted to. They are special people and I am lucky to have them in my life.

Don't ever forget these people in your life, they are the people that shaped you into who you are today. And remember that today you are shaping someone else into who they will become tomorrow. So share that love and compassion that was shared with you and we will all be better off because of it.

Get committed

It's amazing how sports can imitate life, and vice versa. Starting to train for this triathlon has been a lesson in commitment. You have to be committed to getting on your bike or jumping in the pool everyday. And while some days only require an hour of training making the commitment to get that hour in is a lot more difficult than you would think. Life is always trying to get in the way, but if your really committed you MAKE time to train instead of MAKING excuses.

In life we always have a list of things we want to do or a list of things were going to do some day. It's the bucket list. But until you make a commitment to that list it will never get accomplished. Just having the desire to accomplish your goals does not mean that you are committed to them. I think that is going to be the first life lesson that this experience is going to teach me. And I better learn it quick. If I don't get committed in a hurry I'm going to be way behind my training schedule.

With that being said I think the first step to being committed is to actually sign up for my first triathlon. The Lake Meridian sprint is first on my list. The event will be August 22 and I think I'm going to sign up next week. Making that level of commitment will hopefully have a snowball effect and keep me committed to training.

Staying committed in life and athletics is the key to reaching your goals. So make the commitment and go accomplish something!