I TRI'd to TRI and I DID

It's now been a little over 96 hours since I ran across the finish line at the Esprit de She Sprint Triathlon in Naperville, Illinois. Ninety-six hours of mixed emotions, excitement, reflection, and moving on in life. As much as I want to live in the moment quite possibly forever, I have to prepare to have my next moment.

The day before my triathlon I had to pick up my packet, get marked, go to the race expo, and a race course talk. I wasn't nervous, I wasn't anxious, I was excited and I wanted to GOOOOOOO! Poor Will, what a guy, seriously. I had overtaken our second bedroom with all of my stuff laid out in event use order and in most cases with multiples in case there was some freak accident.

Running In A Sea Of Pink

Everyone is on some type of journey. Whether it be a journey of education, profession, living life to the fullest, health, figuring life out, or fighting for your life.

I don't actually know Megan Bugg. In fact if it weren't for social media, I wouldn't know Megan Bugg, her story, her battle, learn about her family, her community, see photos. Megan doesn't know who I am. But I'm part of Team Megan.

It's Not You ... It's Me

When I was a Senior in High School, nearing the end of the Alternative and Grunge era in music, a little band named Lit had the hit song "My Own Worst Enemy". It's a catchy tune. In fact, I'm humming it in my head now. Furthermore during the Rock Band craze I do believe it was an option. I recall this because Rock Band had the edited song version, which was impossible to follow with the edited lyrics when I knew the real lyrics. I digress.

As It Turns Out I Love Gibberish and Noise

The year 2002 was a pretty monumental year for me from beginning to end.

I began my year still recovering from my accident and going back to as normal of a life as I could. A life that was not like mine prior, a life that would never be the same. A life that would continue to change for me.

2002 marked my first surgery after my accident; some left knee interior clean up. 

2002 marked my second surgery after my accident, a torn right ACL. Both surgeries would lead to 7 others following them respectively.

2002 marked the year new suite mates moved in at college and despite one of their moms thinking my sister was me and urging her daughter to be friends with my sister rather than me (her suite mate) … life long friendships formed.

2002 marked a year where I met a guy through a mutual friend and we shortly thereafter began to date for several years. It wasn't meant to be.

2002 marked the year I had my left tragus pierced and aside from changing the ball on the hoop and taking the hoop out to occasionally clean it, it's been the same piece of jewelry since the day it was pierced. I often forget I even have it.

2002 marked the year I was surprised. I was awed. I was speechless. I fell in love with a band, their music. I became obsessed and still am.

Sigur Rós.

Make Way ... Half Marathoner Here!

I mean, I'm sorta a big deal. I'm a Half Marathoner now. Just sayin'.

I could end my post right there. That be it. Done. But it's so much more. SO.MUCH.MORE.

Glowing In the Dark

In November of 2010 I was promoted within the company I worked with at the time and I transferred locations. I was going to an unknown location with unknown people. I also knew from mutual connections that my coming in wasn't entirely welcomed at first by those I'd be overseeing. I tried to go in with an open mind knowing I could do the job, knowing I was chosen for the job. What I didn't know at the time is the life long friendships I would be forming.

When I first Nicole, Coco, I stepped into our now former office and respectively introduced myself as well, her new boss. She welcomed me. She was nice. She was working, wearing her winter coat and scarf. I worried that the office I was embarking into was cold. Turns out, it was a cold office. I had to wait 4 days until I met my other coworker, Dan Pham; he doesn't get a nickname, to this day I still call him Dan Pham.

Trying to TRI for the Second Time

In January I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea if I could do it. Once I completed the 60-Minute Indoor Triathlon I was on a high for days. Some would probably even say I became 'hooked'. I wouldn't go that far, I mean, after all it was 60 minutes, then again I did register for my first Sprint Distance Triathlon shortly there after. So fine, you win, I was 'hooked'.

I'm not sure what weighed out more, the fact that I was able to do the Indoor Tri, or the fact that I DID the Indoor Tri, didn't finish last, and didn't hurt myself; not necessarily in that order. When it came time to register for a Spring Indoor Tri, I did so pretty early on and counted down the days.