The Final Couple Hours In Chicago

Well not much to say here. But the good times and recent bad times in Chicago are now going to be looking at me in the side view mirror of my 16 foot PENSKE Truck! Yes it contains my whole life in that truck too, Crazy. We go along collecting items and stuff, and when we box it up and pack it away, it always seems like more then when we see it on a shelf or watching your TV on a chair and not cramming it into the back of the truck!

Thank to Devin and Jenny for helping me play Tetris master on Sunday. And to Tony for showing up with a helping hand too, not to mention the 10 pound bag of trail mix for the drive which will take place in less then 3 hours now.

The Dinner on Saturday with the gang of Devin, Jen, Tony and Tim was blast and thanks for enjoying the best pour of Guiness in town! Paul, thanks everything over the many years we've known each other and while I've been here too. I'm going to wear my R.A.M kit with pride and hope to do the store proud in some races too.

Our goal is to get to Omaha Nebraska tonight, if the weather is good. Other wise if it does rain as it’s expected then our plan is to stop somewhere near Des Moines Iowa. I’m pushing for Omaha!

If anything fun happens along the way, we’ll be sure to report it. If you get a moment think warm clear thoughts as we hit the road, creating dry conditions.

To all my friends in Chicago, Thanks for everything over the last couple years. For my friends in Denver who are looking forward to my arrival, I can’t wait to get out play and enjoy this next chapter of life.

Ok, time to hook up the XM Radio and get the truck in ready with one last walk around.

A Day For Thanks!

Well trying to train the body when the belly will be constantly full is a little hard. So why fight it. So I’m just going to do nothing today and eat, so to help gain that weight back!

Today I just want to give Thanks for all my friends out there for taking my calls, keeping in touch and giving much needed advice through out the years. I’m also thankful for my great family and the strength we have, as well as our health.

Premature thanks for the friends out in Denver who have offered to help me move in next Tuesday. I can’t wait to get out there and start again. It’s refreshing to start a new life out in a great city and state that is one big outdoor playground!

It hasn’t sunk in that I’m moving again in a little over three months. But I can’t wait; I’m down to less then four days now and I have to pinch myself every once in a while, so I know that this is great and real!

More to follow later this week/weekend as I pack up and all. Devin and I will try and keep you updated on the drive, journey out there.

I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving and are able to spend it with family or close friends as spend mine at the Rosemblum household. Thanks to Paul and Jenny and the gang for offering to have me.

Take care and all the best to everyone!

The winds of change out of Chicago

As some of you may or may not know, I’ve been interviewing for a few jobs out of the Chicago land area. Chicago is a fun place, but not a place for me (no offense to the great people and friends I have here). Originally I relocated here for my ex, who wanted to follow her dream of going to grad school for Art. She never followed through and still has not. I felt cheated in the fact that I couldn’t (chose not to in respect to her schooling) move for a job which I wanted to take or entertain. For a while I turned down a few opportunities in the spring and early summer this year, since she didn’t want to leave or relocate to places the jobs were offered. I don’t have to cheat myself out of what I want and where I want to go now. To be honest I’m excited and nervous with this great new adventure that waits with open doors and endless opportunities.

With that said; I have accepted a very cool job offer in Boulder, CO! I’ll be relocating to Denver, CO; leaving a small commute to work, that’s ok. My departure date from Chicago is going to be Nov 27th with arrival in Denver on the 28th. I already have a place to live in a very cool area called “Lodo”. It is a sweet bachelor pad of a condo I must say. I’ll be sure to send pictures once my belongings are moved in. Along for the ride, a good friend of mine Devin, who hasn’t been to far west so it will make the trip/dive that much more enjoyable. Once we get into Denver, I’ll be sure to treat him to a JCB Burger from “my brothers’ bar”. For those of you who don’t know this place, once you visit, I’ll take you there and you’ll then know!

Living in Colorado will also allow me to train in a great environment with real hills again (no discredit to those that call Barrington hilly) and something called altitude! I know my lungs will burn. My training rides and runs will at times consist of a few well know pro / elite training partners I’ve established friendships with over the last couple of years with PowerBar. So I’m very excited to push myself to the limits and making the most of my upcoming races and the Ironman in June.

The biggest change will not be leaving Chicago and the great friendships that I’ve created and those that have strengthened, as I know that we’ll stay in touch. But the whole desk job again will be odd at first. Working 9-6 (1hr lunch) in an office and not out of my home or hotel for the past three years will be strange. Having my weekends off will be nice. But working all of June, July and August will be shocking, as the last two years I only worked 16 days those three months and still got a full salary! Ah…what I am I thinking..., wanting to work in an office again..lol Joking aside, I’m looking forward to some stability and to settle down as I had planned on doing but now I can do it for me and it’s a great feeling. I’m wearing one big smile from ear to ear about this move and all that it has to offer. My door is always open to visitors and if you want to come soon for skiing, let me know!

If you’d like to know my address let me know and I can send it your way. Also my cell number will be the same.

Take care,

Clearwater 70.3 championships

Well folks, as I told you once or twice that I wasn’t sure if Ironman was for me and that I had it in me to race let alone participate. Well all those thoughts have been tossed out the window after being in Clear Water, FL for the inaugural 70.3 Ironman Championships. Just like previous Ironman races I still get goose bumps and chills up my spine watching people push themselves to the limit. It motivates me to train harder, longer and smarter for my race and any race for that fact.

Work here this week has been busy running around and today on race day I was able to relax a little as our set-up was completely glitch free and I took finish line photos and course photos as normal on race day. I must say, some of the looks on people faces are priceless. But that can’t capture the spirit of everyone out there. If and when you see the smile from ear to ear beaming bright with no end of Sarah Reinerstsen you quickly realize how powerful the human mind is and can be. Since I met her 2 years ago at an event, I must say I’ve been captivated by her smile and contagious personality. When someone sees her on the bike and at any point in a Triathlon, she wears that smile proudly. She is salt of the earth and I wish her the best in every race and adventure she tackles.

Back to the race report. It was a hot day on the course with temps in the mid 80’s. It was a fast bike course, being flat but also with no wind out there today. It made for a hot run as there wasn’t much shade out there for anyone too. All the while we had the folks pumped up at the first aid-station with kick ass tunes (mixed by yours truly) and great volunteers from the St. Pete Mad Dogs Tri Club. I look forward to next years race down here and maybe next year if IM-CDA goes well and I still want to race, I might try my luck at qualifying for this race. But we’ll take it one at a time.

Before I head off, I’d also like to say congrats to my buddy Joel Meyer of Chicago and from R.A.M Team. It had a rock star day, breaking 5 hours on the day in the heat. I hope he enjoys the R&R now after a good season and all the best to all those that I may have left off this that did race and didn’t see. Again, Joel, GREAT JOB.

San Diego....does the body good :-)

It’s been said that Vitamin D does the body good. I can say from this past weekend in San Diego that this couldn’t be more to the point. Temps where in the mid 70’s and the high 70’s on Sunday! The perfect day to sit outside and work on my sun-burn; soak up the sunrays and talk to thousands of ladies on the benefits of Pria Grain Essential bars. So between the benefits of the suns Vitamin D and the beauty of San Diego’s woman, the last three days have been great; on the mind, eyes and body! Not to mention the fact that I’ve been able to frequent a few of my favorite eateries here in town!

A must for anyone taking a trip to San Diego is a stop at the ‘South Beach Bar and Grill’. It’s located in the Ocean Beach Township. About 5-10 minutes north of downtown. Just steps from the beach with a great atmosphere, staff, beers and Taco’s. Not just Taco’s but, Fish Taco’s and fresh for sure. My pick is the Mahi and Shark! Yes I like Jaws. All the fish is grilled (so you can feel a little better about that). They do NOT skimp on the fish too. You’ll get more then your fare share of fresh, flaky, taste food from the sea. I recommend sitting at the Bar if you’re on your own too, affording you the views of the wait staff but better yet the large open windows letting in the fresh Pacific Ocean breeze with views of the pier and surfers galore.

The next local establishment is more of a San Diego Land Mark that s worth the wait on any weekend but again the best place to sit is the counter! Best random conversations and a view of the controlled ciaos of the 5 chefs pouring their heart and soul into great food of very large proportions. The places is called Petty’s Café or better know as “The Breakfast House” which is written in big red letters on the side of the building. So this way you can’t miss it while you drive North on the I-5 towards route 8. As some of you know, I am a big fan of the big breakfast and I’ve even had a few named after me in Colorado and at a place in Coeur D’ Alene I created a breakfast it was called the “PowerBar Breakfast” I’ll be sure to have it once while I’m there getting ready prior to the race. Not on race day as I’m sure it would weight me down like a ton of bricks. Ok, sorry, back to Petty’s. If you ask for 2 eggs, it seems like they give you 2 extra for free and the home fries are well done, but not burnt and the coffee is bottomless. If you ask for a half cup, expect a full cup, no questions, ha ha . Since you’re in San Diego you should also try the breakfast Burrito. I must say it’s more then I expected, but I couldn’t NOT finish, so pacing one’s self is key.

If you’re looking for a good night out with friends, even if you’re not in the mood to drink as I was on Friday. I recommend heading to “the shout out” located downtown in the Gas Lamp quarter. This is a dueling Piano bar with great tunes, eye candy that has no problem dancing on stage to the enjoyment of all that are there and for the pure embarrassment to themselves. I had gone with a friend of mine and her boyfriend for her birthday along with 5 others. If you are in the mood for tons of laughs, and good entertainment. This is your place.

You’re sitting there now, asking yourself, how the heck did I stay on course and do anything athletic while here besides thinking of joining the Competitive eating League. I was able to push myself self out the hotel door to the beach one day to run. But just one day. I was to busy soaking up the Vitamin D sitting around and enjoying the great benefits of good food. I’m now on the flight to Tampa for the 70.3 Championships. I arrive at 7pm and I know that I need to run! I’ll will once I get into town and before I go to dinner with Andrew. I will do at least 3 miles. I Promise.

Have a great start to your week folks and for those of you in colder climates, plan a trip to San Diego for the mind, body and soul. You can also say that you wanted to see Shamoo.

Random......

Not much training today. Thought about running once I got off the plane here in San Diego, but that only lasted a moment. I’ll run tomorrow morning once I digest the In-N-Out double burger I had. That was my first stop once I picked up my rental car. About a month ago, I had a usually mouth watering In-N-Out Burger, while in Las Vegas for work. At that time it just didn’t taste the same as it normally had and I know why. But today it tasted as I always remembered. What a great taste it was. I’m sure that I’ll be there again before I depart San Diego too. Not to mention enjoying some of the best fresh fish taco’s anyone can find right on the beach!

Today during the flight to San Diego, I was lucky enough to have a whole row to myself. Taking over the window seat and enjoying the leg room. The flight was quite and calm. During this trip for some reason, I seemed to be calm with-in too (calmer then normal). Flying over the vast open land, I started to realize that I have at one point driven on 90% of the major highways that we were currently over. I’ve been lucky and fortunate enough to travel a ton for work, with the exception of the last two years, all by four wheels. Having seen more of the great open West then I ever imagined I could have and gained a greater appreciation for where I am and how I got to my current point in life. I see that all those travels have helped shaped who I am and who I can still be. Today while flying, I was able to “see” how small and vast our land is with the open plains of Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas; then the rugged snow capped mountains all ready in the Rockies, and Northern Arizona. I noticed how the terrain and landscape of America is similar to our lives. We have moments of smooth cruise control sections (plains) and then the tough ups and down times that test us (Rockies) showing us what we are capable of during our journey of life. I felt a greater apperception of the journey today and I keep looking forward to this long journey of training. I Know that many mountains are still to come. As everyone says when climbing a hill, “it sucks going up, but there is always the down hill part to look-forward too”. That is true! I also look forward to the steady parts too where everything feels in control and in sync. I’ve had a glimpse of those days / moments in the early stages of training and the last month too. I look forward as more of them occur frequently.

As you can tell not much physical training, especially after I blew up the other day (Monday) on the compu-trainer, due to my own neglect of poor fuel consumption during the day. So today was a day in training the mind to be stronger and achieving clarity and being in the “present”, which counts as great training for living life as today. That is all I have for ramble, hope you enjoyed it and maybe some of my thoughts will help you along your journey.