Cycling for a Cause

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart!" ~ Helen Keller

There are certain times in our lives that seem to stand out more than others. Times in which we feel blessed to be part of a greater good, supporting a cause or individual. On January 19th and 20th, I had the opportunity to participate in and support a team that is taking their show to the Boston Marathon. The 24-Hour Cycling Challenge, held at McWilliams Training, brought cycling enthusiasts of all levels together to spin the night and day away.

The night started out fast and furious with 8 riders hitting the course hard. Between music blaring, disco lights flashing, wheel of mystery spins, and drinks handed out to riders, the laughter and comrade were contagious. I caught myself chasing down a 10-year old, and falling far behind a seasoned veteran of cycling. Yet, the spirit and motivation in the room rose as Captain Jacob walked in, jar full of Oreos in hand.

Captain Jacob, along with his Angel Brian McWilliams, are the duo that qualified for the Boston Marathon - one of a handful of teams that met the qualifying time and were granted entrance - the reason for this fundraiser and cycling challenge event. To be able to meet and talk with the family of the young man this fundraiser was supporting provided all the motivation one would need.

When all was said and done, over 2,100 miles were biked in those 24-hours and roughly 5K raised to support an amazing cause and team. A very special thank you to all those myTEAM TRIUMPH Angels that signed up and took their turn at the wheel. And to Eric Johnson, June Matzke, Christian Jensen, and Brian McWilliams for putting on such a wonderful event and after party.

I continue to be amazed at the mission and vision of myTEAM TRIUMPH and the inclusion of all athletes in racing. What better way to share with your kids how each and every one of us was created in the image of God. While we may have different appearances, at the end of the day we all want to feel included and loved. I would say Jacob made a huge difference in the lives of my three kids that night, and he probably doesn't even know. Thank you Deb and Jeff Vandenberg, and Jacob for making all of us feel included in your journey to Boston!

#OwnYourDestiny 

Going Strong

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." ~African Proverb

Such a subtle, yet powerful quote...especially in the world of triathlon training, endurance sports, and community involvement. Perhaps this illustrates why I choose to blog and share as I continue to ramp up my training for a Half-Ironman Triathlon in June. And as I feel the transformation slowly happen, I know I will need to continue to reach out and seek additional support - mentally, physically, and nutritionally.

The past two weeks, training has ramped up in intensity and frequency. Between early morning swims with late night bike rides, and interval training runs, my body is slowly starting to transform. My legs aren't as tired, my arms aren't as sore, and the riding position continues to become more comfortable. 

I know the road is long and far. With that, I realize I will start to make friendships with groups and clubs that support swimming, biking, and running. Groups that will head out on early morning runs or rides. Groups that share tips and strategies for race preparation and nutrition. I am excited to continue to make connections and share along the journey.

One part of those connections start tonight in a 24-Hour Cycling Challenge...no I will not be riding for 24 hours straight. We have a team that will ride for 24 hours, taking turns at the spoke. All to continue supporting myTeam Triumph and the inclusion of all athletes. (Watch my Facebook feed for pictures and updates.) 

Finally, I was reminded by a friend recently that you should not train for an Iron Man of any length in hopes of losing weight. It will happen as a natural bi-product of training. Yet,  you need to nourish your body and fuel your muscles a lot. As the training continues to become more intense, I will need to take in more fuel. As he stated, 'Don't be afraid to eat.' Good - because I love to eat.

#OwnYourDestiny #GodIsGood

Using Good Eyes

As 2017 was setting sail, and 2018 was rising upon the eastern horizon, a great storm was brewing within. There is no doubt that 2017 was a trying and humbling year. It certainly didn't help that a nagging injury continued to cause delays in training and my mental mindset. As I begin to reflect and look back, getting ready to say my good bye to a year filled with regret, turmoil, life changes, and selfishness, it was a sermon from a guest pastor that helped me to change my lenses.

It has always been easy to look back with 'bad eyes', spotting all that had gone wrong or opportunities you might wish you could do over. I guess that's why the saying hindsight is always 20/20 rings so true. You pinpoint those exact moments that you wish didn't exist or where the outcome would have been different. These 'bad eyes' can cause you to lose focus on outcomes that existed because of these moments - outcomes that may be good or bad.

I am as guilty as the next. I could choose to look back at my 2017 and focus on that went wrong, or even what I would change. Yet, would I be here today, blogging about my experiences with myTeam Triumph, sharing God's love with others, and finding my passion in teaching and coaching. It was time to put on my 'good eyes' and thank those people who helped to support me and allow me to be where I am today.

Today I am thankful that I still have the ability to wake up and make a difference in the lives of those around me. To be a father to three amazing children that inspire me to be unselfish, humble, and grace-filled every day. The opportunity to be a better friend to those I wronged or lost touch with. To encourage them to live each day to the fullest. I am thankful that I can still train and support myTeam Triumph with my time and talents.

My challenge to all of us is to wake up every day and put on your 'good eyes'. If you don't feel like training, think about the good that can come of it, not the pain or tired you might feel. If you encounter someone with a bad attitude, help to shed a light of hope on a dark situation. Give back of your time and talents somehow each and every day. Wake up with a hope of optimism for the day you have been given. And if you dare, train a little harder each and every moment.  

Do Not Worry...

We all tend to worry every now and then. How am I going to pay this months bills? What if? Will he/she like me? Too often, we spend more time worrying about what ifs than we do about living in the present. We end up chasing our tails, or chasing something we may not even know exists. Therefore, we must focus on today....the here and now, and how we can impact the lives of those around us through our words, our attitudes, and our actions.

I know - easier said than done. And I fully admit, I too was once a worrier. Yet, somehow life has a way of changing our perspective. People and organizations are put into our lives to help us see there is a greater good. Something bigger than we are. And as I continue to become less of me, and more of God, I also must be willing to relinquish that worry. I choose to replace worry with trust - trust in God's plan for me and  His unending love in my pursuit of pleasing Him. 

Take account of your blessings today. What, or even who, has God placed in your life as an opportunity to share His love? How are you giving back to others, helping to spread that love and kindness to others? Where do you need to let go of control and let Him take over? What is it that God gave you the unique ability to do and how can you share it with others?

What I've learned is that if I listen to the details, if I believe in the talents and passion He has given me, then He will take care of the how. He will find a way to help my passions intersect with my talents so that I can share His love and kindness with others. For me, this comes in three different areas of my life. First and foremost is with my children. God has blessed me with three amazing gifts that I strive to make proud every day. I get to choose what kind of a father I want to be and how to model His love to them. And while I work on putting my selfish ways to rest, I continue to look at those three amazing and beautiful children as an opportunity to harness His love and teach them about patience, kindness, grace, humility, and love.

Second, comes from the continued opportunities to work with and share the mission of myTeam Triumph. As I continue to train and focus on giving of my athletic talents, I look forward to building life-long friendships. Friendships that will give others the opportunity to feel a sense of belonging and accomplishment in communities and events across our state and country. An opportunity to engage others in giving back through a commitment to serving others in His name. He continues to give me opportunities to be engaged and share with others - He knows the how!

And finally, I feel He is asking me to go back into the classroom. He knows my passion for engaging others in education, helping them believe in and achieve their goals, is something that has been missing from my life for too long. And as opportunities become available to pursue my passion for teaching, I believe He will take of the how. He will open doors that He knows I am needed to walk through. I must be willing to put myself out there, to take chances, and to trust in His plan! 

#OwnYourDestiny

The Power of Giving

To Give to the Sponsor a Chair campaign - click here

The holiday season has quickly fallen upon us as we say good bye to Thanksgiving and prepare for Christmas. And as the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season can cause some to chase down the perfect gift to share with loved ones, perhaps this is a great time to consider giving back to others! As the late Winston Churchill stated, 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give!' If you're looking for a worthwhile and generous cause, look no further than myTeam Triumph - Wisconsin Chapter and their Sponsor a Chair campaign.

All funds raised during this Giving Tuesday Campaign go directly toward the purchase of a new chair. Why a chair might you wonder? myTeam Triumph prides itself enriching the well being of individuals with diverse abilities and fostering lifelong relationships through community athletics. Each chair is used to embrace, celebrate, and empower those with diverse abilities in the completion of races. Your donation supports the purchase of a very unique and special chair this year!

I can personally attest to how powerful giving to this organization has been in my life. As I started giving of my time and legs to push, I have begun to create amazing friendships that continue to inspire me. From a leadership team that puts people and captains first, to crew members that go out of their way to make each event one of a kind, right down to the captains sharing life with you - myTeam Triumph has inspired me to give back more of myself. This organization has helped me see how life is less about me and more about we. I have learned that success is not measured by my bank account, fame, or size of my house. No, life is meant to be shared with others, pursuing inclusivity and equality for all. 

Please consider donating to myTeam Triumph and help support a mission that truly puts people first. To donate today, please visit: https://www.classy.org/campaign/giving-tuesday/c147585 

#WheelsOfInclusion #OwnYourDestiny

Committing to a Better You

Yes, it's Saturday of opening Deer Hunting Weekend - no I am not a hunter! Instead, I sit inside reflecting on the week about to end and the commitment to training and eating better. I just finished a 13 mile ride outdoors on a windy, rainy morning. For me, there is nothing like getting outside and letting your wheels hit the pavement. As I was riding today, I started to think how this past week has really felt like the starting point to a better me.

Perhaps the greatest commitment to a better me comes from what I am fueling my body with. It's rather difficult to commit to a training regimen if you don't feed your body with food it can use. I will be the first to admit, I love my carbs and sugar. Unfortunately, my body and mind do not! If I want to commit to training for an Iron Man, or even Half Iron Man, I must first commit to a better and more healthier diet.

And that's just what I did to star the week of. Starting with boycotting sugar and empty carbs - mainly bread. It was quickly followed with a trip to the grocery store to fill the fridge with much healthier and more colorful food options. It also meant dedicating time to prepare meals that include a healthy dose of protein and simple carbs my body can digest and break down...spinach, sweet potatoes, zuccini, sweet peppers.

What I also learned was that I needed to change how I ate my meals. Rather than dinner being my largest meal, I planned for breakfast to be my meal that packed the most punch. After all, it was breakfast that was going to be fueling my day. Dinner became my lightest meal, never eating past 8 pm. While it's only been a week, I can definitely feel the benefits paying off already. How do I know?

First and foremost, my mind has become more positive. I can approach each day with a positive and optimistic outlook. I sleep much better at night and don't seem to be as restless. Any my training - well I'll just let that speak for itself. I've trained for six days in a row this week, leaving Sunday for my day of rest. Most importantly, my body feels great after training so much.

The week saw three different swim workouts for a total of 5,300 meters. It included two indoor bike sessions for a total of 75 minutes, and one outdoor bike trip of 13.5 miles. There was one day of running two miles, and two different strength and core workouts. I've been busy and my body seems to be holding up in large part to how I'm feeding it. 

As you begin committing to a better you, be sure to focus on what your feeding your mind and body. Your body does a great job of telling you how it's feeling, what it likes, and what it doesn't like. You must be willing to make sacrifices if you wish to become a better you. #OwnYourDestiny

Pain Has a Purpose?

I'm not even going to try and hide it...I miss running. The sound of your feet pounding the pavement. The cool, crisp autumn air as it hits your face. Taking in the scenery as it passes by. I miss all of it. And as my running season ended quite early this season due to a sports hernia, I was quite bummed that I needed to stop early.

The pain of running had just become to much to bear. The only treatment - REST! That's laughable...rest. How in the world does someone that enjoys being active just rest. I was puzzled. Therefore, I needed to find an activity that was low impact and high cardio. One that would allow me to keep chasing Iron Man. Therefore, it was only natural that I look to tackle the one event I fear in triathlons - swimming. 

Only a mere month ago did I step foot in the pool to begin 'training' in something I wasn't too fond of. Only a mere month ago did I struggle to swim for 100m without needing to catch my breath. Or swim for maybe three minutes before I needed to grab the end of the lane. Yet, three times a week, I awoke before the sun was shining and found myself immersed in water.

A month later, I can say that I have learned to enjoy swimming. Not only has my stamina and distance improved, I've also learned that the pool is becoming my friend. It was only yesterday that I finished a 45 minute swim workout. A workout that saw me swim four sets of 500m at a crack, with two minutes rest between sets. Something I dreaded for so long is slowly becoming a strength.

And while I sat in the sauna afterward, I begin to realize something bigger was happening. The pain of not being able to run, not getting to be outside on the pavement was making way for me to practice what I was terrified of. The pain is helping me learn who I am, what I have to be grateful for, and how to build up my weaknesses. I never realized swimming could be such a mindful activity. The sound of the water rushing over your head. The synchronization of your breathing pattern. Watching the water rush by your face. The soreness of your shoulders and arms and you push the water past you. Swimming has become my release - my escape from the world. And dare I say I enjoy it. Dare I say I look forward to tackling a long swim outdoors.......when the weather is right of course!

Don't see your pain as a burden. Look to your pain as a venue to become a better you. To shape who you want to be and who you can become. Look to the pain as a way to build up your weaknesses and keep faith in who you are and where you are going! 

#OWNYOURDESTINY #RUNLIKEANGELS