Getting My Nails Did

I'm honestly not sure if I have said anything on here about it or not, but back in June, my mother promised me a post-Ironman pedicure for Father's Day.  I have never had a pedicure before and I'll be honest, I kind of always wanted one.  And why not?  I run a lot and my feet are basically one giant callus.  My toenails are rough and all jagged.  Plus, you get your feet rubbed and massaged.  Why would you not want a pedicure?  Yes, I understand the stereotypes and sexism beliefs that say men shouldn't get pedicures, but I could care less.  Hell, Snoop Dogg gets mani's and pedi's.  I am who I am, what difference does it really make if I choose to get a pedicure or not?

Either way, my mother, Sarah, and I went to the Salon & Spa on Friday evening.  I was a little nervous at first.  I felt a little out of place, especially with all the ladies staring at me, as to say, what the hell is HE doing here.  Sarah, was a little embarrassed, but was kind of excited to see what kind of magic they could do with my feet.  She said right off the bat, NO PAINT.  My pedicure started with soaking them in the warm bath thingy that wreaks of femininity.  Then, they take care of the nails and the dead skin around the nails and then grind off all the calluses.  Finally, the best part, the foot and calf massage.  Then, she asked me if I wanted paint....I thought what the hell!  First, this is probably my first and last ever pedicure, so why not.  Second, I thought it would be kind of humorous, just because.  Like I said above, just because I were to get my nails painted doesn't mean I am anyone different.  Frankly, that kind of thinking makes me angry.  I hate those who are homophobic or think men can only be one way and women can only be the other.  That just makes no sense.  So, I thought, maybe I can change one person's ideology by getting my toenails painted.  So whatever, I got black toe nail paint on my nails.  Will it become a regular occurrence, no.

So there you have it, my first ever pedicure.  Did I enjoy it, yes, very much so.  Will I do it again, who knows.  Will I get my toenails painted again, probably not - that's a first time kind of thing.

Hiking at High Cliff

I've written about High Cliff State Park in the past.  Usually due to the annual Half Ironman Triathlon held there every June.  This time I would be there in a different capacity.  I brought my daughters there to go hiking.  It's something I have always wanted to do, but just never done.  The past couple days have also been something different for me.  It's the first time I have had a weekend off from work, with no large training plans.  I got to make plans around my daughters instead of my training.

First, Maya had her first dentist appointment, after which we had to run a couple of errands and then it was off to High Cliff State Park.  While at Hobby Lobby I found a bracelet kit and we decided that would be a great afternoon project for the girls and I.  

While at High Cliff, we went on a nature hike, taught Maya about Indian Burial Mounds, went rock climbing, had a picnic, and climbed to the top of the observation tower.  It was an absolute blast!  The girls had so much fun.  

After we High Cliff, we headed home and Delaney took a nap and Maya and I made some bracelets and necklaces.  It was a perfect end to a perfect day with just Dad and his daughters!

Also, on Sunday we spent the day picking apples at Spranger's Orchard and picked a whopping 30+ pounds of apples!  Now, I get to make some applesauce.

The Other Side of the Curb

Today was the running of the Fox Cities Marathon.  In past years, I am usually wearing a race bib and participating.  But not today.  Today, I would be on the other side of the curb as a spectator.  It has been years since I last watched a race from the sidewalks.  The last race I watched was the Green Bay Marathon back in 2006, over 7 years ago!  I watched my dad run that marathon and qualify for the Boston Marathon for the first time.  Back then I was just starting to gain interest in endurance sports.  I really didn't have the passion I do now for endurance sports.  I also didn't have the appreciation for what it takes to prepare for such events.

This year, however, would be different.  My race season came to an end two weeks ago following Ironman Wisconsin.  This is the earliest my race season has ever ended.  If you have read my last post, "Post Ironman Depression," you know how I've been handling the down time.  If not, let's just say it's been hard and different.  But, since posting the update, things have been getting better.  My mood has been on the up and up.  I have been starting to look into new races to do in 2014 and I have been getting more and more excited.  I have also been talking to friends about how I've been feeling along with teammates and other people who have been in my position before - which has helped greatly.  Also, simply writing the post about how I've been feeling seemed to help.  But, today, I got some unexpected therapy.

My good friend from work, Bob and his wife, Sadie, were running in the Fox Cities Half Marathon.  This was Sadie's first ever half marathon, so I really wanted to get out to the course to offer some support to bother her and Bob.  Bob was gunning for a finish around 1:30, while Sadie was hoping for a time under 2:10.  I had worked the night before for 12 hours and finished work at 6am.  The race started at 7am, so, my first hope was to get to the start line and watch them take off.  I got to the start line around 6:45 and was lucky to find Bob and Sadie.  It was a cool morning, with temps below 50, but ultimately it was a perfect day for a marathon/half marathon.  Both Bob and Sadie, were doing well, nervous, anxious, and excited.  I had thought I would have hated being in that atmosphere without actually running, but it was the exact opposite.  I was excited to be there and fed off the excitement from all the runners.  It was great to be there as a spectator.  I have never been in that position before.  I enjoyed it.  Don't get me wrong, I would have rather been running, but it fun to be there supporting the runners.

After watching the race start, I jumped in my car and drove to mile 2.5.  I was there early enough to watch the race leaders go by and I stayed there until both Bob and Sadie passed.  They were just getting into their comfort zone for the remaining 10-11 miles.  Right after they ran by, I headed to mile 7 and got there early enough to watch a lot of runners pass by.  Bob ran by right on pace for a 1:30 finish and he looked fresh and strong.  A little while later Sadie went by looking just as good and she looked like she was having fun.

While waiting for Sadie to run by I got to see so many runners pass by.  It was during this time I had a ton of thoughts go through my mind.  I hope I don't come off conceited, but all of my races, I am usually in the front packs of runners.  I start races in the lead groups to avoid the crowds and try to finish with the lead groups.  I am always a part of the race, pulling energy from the spectators, never have I been on the curb just watching runners pass by.  I saw a wide range of runners all with different goals.  I saw the lead runners who share similar goals as I do, very specific goals, with precise paces and strategies.  I saw runners who had general goals of finishing under certain time.  I saw running who had private goals of just finishing.  I also saw runners who had very simplistic goals, such as just having fun and enjoying the camaraderie of the other runners and enjoying the atmosphere of having crowds of people throughout the entire run.  They would be running with friends and family members.  They would be chatting, laughing, and having fun.  It was completely different from what I was used to seeing.  It was refreshing.  It was inspiring.  It was a completely new and different side of races.

Like I said, it was refreshing.  It inspired me and reminded me what endurance sports are all about.  It's not about the time, even for the elite runners.  Sure, it's nice to place or finish under your predetermined goal time.  But, there's more to it than that.  It's about the journey that brings you the finish line.  It's about the "stuff" that comes between the clock starting and the clock stopping.  Every race brings new challenges.  They always have many ups and downs.  You never know what a race will bring.

Watching this race was exactly what I needed to shake this funk I was in.  It was entertaining, it was inspiring, and it was motivating.  So congratulations to all the finishers today in all races across the country!  I hope all racers found some joy in their races and are proud for simply getting to the start line and having the courage to start the race.  Also congratulations to Bob who finished in 1:31 and Sadie who crushed her first time goal with a time of 2:07!

Be fast, be strong, and carry on!

Post Ironman Depression

In the months leading up to race day, I've done numerous hours of research from websites, training blogs, books, and talking to previous Ironman finishers.  I had direction in what I had to do in the time leading up to race day to be prepared for what it takes to become and Ironman.  I received advice from The Tri Shop Triathlon Teammates about preparing yourself for race day.  I even received advice for the couple days before race day.  What I needed to do, what I should try to do, and what I should try to avoid.  I even had advice on what products I had to buy at the expo before the race.  The one thing I never received advice on was dealing with the emptiness of the days and weeks following the race.

Since completing the Ironman, my life has not been the same.  We left for Mexico on the Tuesday following the race and returned home on Sunday night.  Tuesday night, I was back at work.  On Monday, it hit me, and hit me hard.  I was not happy.  My life was empty.  I had spent the last year with a clear cut goal.  A goal that was in my head for the previous 7-10 years.  Over the past 7-10 years, everything I did in my life was done to with one ultimate goal in mind, finishing an Ironman.  I started biking to do an Ironman.  I taught myself how to swim to eventually complete an Ironman.  I ran marathons, knowing I would have to be a strong running to complete an Ironman.  I race triathlons every year eventually work up to an Ironman.  My life had a purpose.

After September 10th, when I was officially registered for Ironman Wisconsin, I began working on my training schedule.  On December 11th, I began training.  Every single day was planned out.  I scheduled my life around my training plan.  It wasn't the other way around.  I sacrificed so much to train.  My family life was sub par.  My wife and I would argue or fight on what seemed to be a daily basis.  I adjusted my diet.  I basically stopped drinking alcohol.  I watched what I ate.  I stressed recovery and sleep.  Training was my life.  I had never been more motivated to do anything before.  I loved it.  Granted, I did not love my ignorance toward my wife and kids, nor did I enjoy leaving my wife to be a single parent, but I did love the challenge of training for something of this magnitude.

In a single day, I went from having all the motivation in the world, goals, and a planned out life, to nothing, a complete void.  I rode the post race "high" for as long as I could, but it would only take me so far.  I had a clear and defined road map leading up to the race, ever day was planned and measured.  Now, I have nothing....absolutely nothing.  I loved everything the Ironman was.  I loved being down in Madison in the atmosphere, surrounded by so many other athletes with the same goals, the same passions, and the same love of challenges.  We all made the same sacrifices over the past year.  I loved going to the expo.  I loved doing the bike check-in, the mandatory prerace meeting, I loved it all.

But now, here I sit with no goals, no races planned, no reason to eat properly, no drive, and no motivation.  Since returning from Mexico, I have felt...well, down.  I have felt like crying most days.  It was hard unpacking everything from the weekend.  I hated putting away my race outfit, not knowing exactly when I would wear it again.  It was especially hard putting away my race bib and finisher's medal.  It was difficult cutting off my Ironman athlete bracelet, which I wore for a full week following the Ironman.

I don't know when I will be able to do another Ironman, I just know I want to do another one....badly.  I know I can do better, I know I can train harder, be more fit, and race stronger.  I am like a well trained dog, who needs that proverbial carrot in front of them.  A highly trained dog needs the motivation and will do everything in their power to do their best.  That's me.  I just need a goal, something to work for.

I don't know how exactly I will get out of this funk.  I had a talk with on of my friends at work, laying out exactly how I have been feeling and that really seemed to help.  Writing this post also seems to help.  I initially thought I would take the entire month of September off, at a minimum, from any sort of training or exercise.  That only lasted a week.  I ran on Monday morning after coming back home from Mexico.  I plan on just doing what ever I feel like doing on a daily basis whether it be strength train, run, swim, or bike.  I won't follow a plan for a while.  I also want to do some trail running at local state parks and such for a change of pace from running in the streets of the Fox Valley.  Soon, I will eventually schedule a race and have a new goal to keep me motivated and focus.  Until then, hopefully, just random exercising and the added time with the wife and kids will get me out of my funk.

Videos from Ironman Wisconsin

The videos below were taken by Sarah throughout the day at Ironman Wisconsin.

Passing through Verona on the bike for the first time.

Passing through Verona for the second time.

Running on State Street at about mile 6 of the marathon.

The second time on State Street, at about mile 13ish.

Crossing the finish line of Ironman Wisconsin!

Family Trip to Mexico - Part II

After our day trip to the city of Playa del Carmen we really had nothing further on our to do list.  We discussed spending a day at Xcaret, which is a Mexico Eco-Park.  The best way to describe an Eco-Park would be the Mexican equivalent of a State or National Park in the States.  But, since we were only in Mexico for a total of 6 days, 2 of which were travel days, and one day was already used to go to Playa del Carmen, we opted not to spend any other days off of the resort.  Each Friday and Saturday were spent the exact same ways.  We would get up when we felt like it, got the girls ready and then went to breakfast.  Each of the girls loved the many choices for breakfast.  Maya enjoyed pink marshmallows and Jell-O, while Delaney loved the donuts and mandarin oranges.  Both girls each loved having pink (strawberry) yogurt with Fruit Loops mixed in.

After breakfast we took the short walk (about 10-15 minutes) to the beach.  Delaney loved just playing in the sand and digging holes.  Maya on the other hand loved going out deep with me and just riding the waves.  Maya and I spent at least an hour in the ocean just jumping up and down with the waves.  After spending about 2-3 hours at the beach, we would head back to the resort for lunch.  After lunch we would spend about 2-3 more hours at the pool just letting the girls swim in the pool.  It was a dream come true for our two girls, who absolutely LOVE simply being in the water.  Each of the last two full days the girls asked us to leave the pool to take a naps.  This wasn't just because they were dog tired from swimming the entire day, but because they did not want to fall asleep during the night time show that was put on each night at 9:30pm by the entertainment staff.  The girls were entranced by the dancing and music, it was adorable.  

The trip was just what our family needed after a long summer full of my training for the Ironman.  It gave us 6 full days of just being together with no other interruptions or distractions.  There were no other family members just Sarah, Maya, Delaney, and me, that's it, and frankly that's all it needed to be.  Maya and Delaney were the talk of the resort too.  Every where we went, every meal, every time we past a staff member, all we would hear was, "Que linda," or "How pretty."  Everyone was mesmerized by Delany's white-blonde hair and it didn't hurt that she had a few braids with beads in it either!  Literally everyone, anywhere we went on or off the resort would make a comment to Sarah or I about how well behaved our girls were and how precious they were.  We had a couple from England spark up a conversation with me about the girls about how they reminded them of their granddaughters back home.  

Every flight we took each and every one of the flight attendants would tell us how beautiful and well behaved our kids were.  Truthfully, Sarah and I could not have asked for better behaved kids for all the travel we did.  Spending 12+ hours of straight traveling, running all over hell with a 2 and 3 year old is not easy, but doing it with Maya and Delaney, sure made it easier than I ever imagined.  I will never look at a parent traveling with young kids the same again.  I will never get upset when a child cries or is loud on a plane, because, I'll tell you what, it ain't easy at all.  

So, here we are, back to reality.  Sarah goes back to work on Monday, and I on Tuesday night.  The girls passed the preverbal test.  They exceeded our expectations throughout the entire trip.  We asked a lot from them, whether it be running through the Houston Airport, through baggage claim, customs, baggage re-check, security, and across the entire Houston Airport via train to get to our new terminal...all in less than an hour to catch our last flight home to Milwaukee.  With how well behaved our girls were, it already has Sarah and I planning our next tropical family get away.  This trip was mine and Sarah's 4th trip to Mexico in 6 years and we absolutely love Mexico, but are now excited to try somewhere new.  We are looking at either Jamaica or the Dominican Republic, any suggestions?

Below are more photos from our adventure including some from earlier in the trip that were not included in the first post!