When I was a kid, my Dad drank a lot. He and I did the grocery shopping on Sunday nights because that was when the grocery store wasn’t crowded. Pro tip, that is still true and still when I shop. He would buy 2 cases of Utica Club each week. The big ones, I think it had 24 bottles. It seemed normal because he would never be drunk as I have always experienced drunkenness. He would just be...

There comes a period of time in this world of grief, that you begin to emerge. It’s doesn’t happen within a day, a week or a month. It’s more of a slow roll, an evolution as you rise from that deep pit of unfathomable pain. I remember days when I would wonder out loud “How will I make it through this?” and a year later I can look back on that day with respect for who...

Thank you for the questions you submitted last month! As always if you have them, shoot me an email or PM me on the social channels. I love the questions and I am happy to answer anything and everything. If I don’t know the answer, I know who to direct you to for it. Keep them coming! Q: What do you think about Ironman changing up Kona? A: I am going to challenge this question with a few...

Each journey to the starting line of an Ironman, has been a special one for me, for various reasons. I have taken on 140.6 during all phases of my adult life. With a baby, a toddler, school aged kiddo, and now an adult one. I have taken it on during so many life phases that it is honestly too tiring to list them all. At this distance I have qualified for Kona, I have DNF’d, gone sub 11...

As we drove along I could feel a bright light shining beside me. It was the sun, and it shone so bright this Thanksgiving morning. It was literally lighting up the whole sky, and as we drove I felt like it was accompanying us. One right hand turn later and it was behind us, lighting the way through these country roads. It felt like Dad. It felt warm. It felt supporting. While to some it was just...

I don’t know if you have ever stood in the middle of the woods in the fall, and taken a deep breath. Surrounded by colors only leaves can produce, breathing in the crisp air that only belongs to this time of the year. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live where there are not four seasons, where it’s 80 and sunny all the time (warm all the time, what?), there is just...

I was nervous for this one. It was nationals. You don’t come to Nationals with a laissez faire attitude. Those butterflies? They mean you care. And what do we do with them? By now, you know. We put them in formation and we let them fly. When it was my turn to go… I simply said “F*ck it. FULL SEND”. USAT Long Course Nationals was held at Harriman State Park, down near West...

I felt that feeling again as I was cruising along on the bike. Strong pace, not too hard, as if I were running off this bike. I was smiling from ear to ear as I have been all season long. Like every other race this season I felt that sometimes elusive feeling of flow, euphoria, just utter joy. I feel it off the race course too. This year though, it’s magnified by a billion. I don’t...

My Dad’s service was really small. He was a really humble and private man. He was a successful businessman who worked up until about a year ago when he was suddenly admitted to the hospital. Most people like to flaunt their success through cars, expensive clothing, and just plain bragging. Dad wore the same pair of Khaki pants, and often torn t shirts. He had a sly smile. He had the things...

When Dad died, I asked Curt to promise me that he would not let me skip any swims. I am fortunate that we swim together. Before the crack of dawn. I am also fortunate that he’s my speed. I knew that it would be critical that movement be part of my healing. Dad and I had talked about this many times, not knowing how important this would become. Grief wants you to stay in bed, pull the covers over...