The Endurance Pig

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Spring Dance Recitals

Yesterday we had our 3rd dance recital for the girls. This was Delaney's first ever performance. This was Maya's third performance. Maya signed up for tap dance and absolutely loved it. Delaney took hip-hop and loved it. Delaney was born to perform. Below are the videos from their performance.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Happy Birthday Sarah

Sarah,

Today (May 25th) is your 31st birthday. I really wanted to do something special for you today and I truly feel terrible that no one is around to be with you on your day. I know the girls are all up north with your family and my family is gone to the lake. Then there's me, who is stuck working 4:30pm-3:00am. I doubt we'll actually physically see each other, other than the couple hours we get to spend together in bed sleeping before you wake up. I wish I was there with you with you wake up to make you your favorite breakfast of eggs over easy, toast, and bacon, served with a warm cup of coffee. I wish you didn't have to work, on Memorial Day, on your birthday. I wish the girls and I could spend the day with you spoiling you and making hand made birthday cards for you. I wish I could take you to the moon and back to show you how much I love you. The truth is, you're stuck at work, I'm either sleeping or at work, and our families are all out of town. So you are stuck alone on your very own day. I feel terrible. So other than the tangible things I got you for your birthday this year, I got you one thing that will last forever - Your very own song. Over the last few months or so I have been working along with singer/songwriter and all around talented musician, Rome da Luce. I gave him the story of us and our family and described our relationship and how much you mean to me. Rome took it from there and came up with this....I hope you like it....and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAR!!!!

Forever in a Moment - Rome da Luce

Long before I met you

We were such a pair

Two birds held in Amber

Even god wouldn't dare

To tear us apart

I got so excited

We could not ignore

We came to play this out

This life we've been living for

Right from the very start

I could hold forever in a moment with you

Forever in a moment

Together

Don't let's be too hasty

Don't let's be too brash

Don't let a moment wasted

A lifetime in a flash

But with you I transcend

And as we watch them dreaming

The angels that we made

There's nothing more I'm needing

But to know how to remain

In a love that never ends

I could hold forever in a moment

With you Forever in a moment together

So when will we meet again?

Two fish in the sea, unlikeliest of friends

I will be there when you need

I will find you. You'll see.

I could hold forever in a moment

With you Forever in a moment together

Check out more of Rome da Luce's work HERE

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Neenah Duathlon - Race Report

Usually every year I find some way to race the Neenah Duathlon. This race was one of my first ever multisport races. It used to be called the Paper Discovery Duathlon and was hosted in Appleton. It then moved to Neenah and retained the title of Paper Discovery Duathlon. Last year it was changed to the Hope for Kenya Duathlon as a fund raiser for providing food and water to citizens of Kenya. This year it officially became the Neenah Duathlon. When I realized I would be able to race this years duathlon I jumped at the opportunity...even if this would be my third race in just as many weekends.

Training for This Race

As I mentioned in my last race report from the Jailbreak 5k, my main goal going into the week between races was to recover enough to feel fresh, yet ready to race hard. So, the day following the Jailbreak, I took a full rest day and then was back out running on Monday. Tuesday was a short brick workout, followed up with a swim on Wednesday. Thursday I was back out for a 5 mile run and then was feeling good enough to go for a bike ride that evening. Friday was just an easy day with 4 miles of running in the morning. Saturday was a full rest day, but not only in terms of exercising. With my recent change of work places, some guys from work took me out for dinner and drinks on Friday night which left me feeling a little sluggish on Saturday. On top of feeling sluggish, it was also a day full of coaching 5 and 6 year olds flag football in the morning followed up with yard work and "Healthy Kids Day" at our local YMCA. It was a busy and slow moving type of day. A perfect day for a day without working out.

Prerace

That morning my alarm went off at 4:50am with hopes of getting on the road around 5:30am. I ended up rolling out of bed around 5:15am and leaving about a half hour later. I got my race bib and packet and then went to get my transition area set up just the way I like it. With a duathlon the transition area is rather simplistic - all you need to have ready is your bike and bike gear as you start the race in all your run gear. I did my usual 15 minute warm up and was ready with some time to spare leading up to the start of the race at 7:30. I was placed in the first wave and was warmed up and feeling surprisingly good considering how much adult beverages I drank on Friday night.

Nutrition Plan

My nutrition plan was pretty simple but actually had some consistency to it compared to my recent shorter races. My goal was to finish in the 1:15-1:17 range, so I wanted to take in some fuel. I started my taking in 2 Anti-Fatigue Caps an hour before the race. Once the race started I planned on drinking about 100 calories worth of Hammer Heed during the bike leg. During the bike I also took one tablet of Hammer Energy Surge right before one of the only climbs on the bike course. During the final run leg, I took a second tablet of Hammer Energy Surge to give me a strong final kick.

Gear/Equipment

Zoot Kiawe Shoes

Louis Garneau Carbon Tri HRS Shoes

Hammer Nutrition Socks

Look 556

Giro Aero Helmet

Rydon Rudy Project Sunglasses

2 Mile Run (11:22.73)

The race started with a 2 mile run throughout Riverside Park in Neenah. My main strategy was to hang with the front of the pack, no matter how tired it made me. After the first mile passed, I was comfortably in 3rd behind two very strong runners. I finished the 2 miles in just over 11:22 (5:51 pace), which ended up being the 7th fastest run split. As we entered the transition area, I felt strongly that I had a chance to pass one if not both of them in transition. I was wrong. Even with a strong T1 (00:36, 9th fastest), I was still 3rd out of transition.

20 Mile Bike (0:51:06)

Coming off the bike, I once again just wanted to lay the hammer down, even if it meant blowing up during the second run. Early on during the bike I was able to work myself into 2nd place. I was actually able to hold that position for the first 5 miles or so. That was the point where the guys with the nice, pricier bikes passed by me with ease. The wind was tolerable with a head wind for the first half. As we made the turn to the east down near County Hwy GG and Interstate 41 I was ready for a tailwind. This was the point in the race I was not expecting. The past years that I have raced this event when it was in Neenah, we would head north on the frontage road of HWY 41. Not this year, we went straight east on HWY GG. This was fine, until I started to hear a train whistle. I got nervous, I knew there was a railroad crossing coming up and I did NOT want to get stopped by the train. As I approached the crossing, I saw the stop bars dropping down and the red lights began flashing. I said a few choice curse words and began to slow down. The stop arms came to a rest as I reached the crossing and the train was still a ways away from the intersection. I asked it it would be alright to continue through the crossing since I was able to do it safely. I was granted permission and I immediately stood up and began to hammer down to try to quickly get back up to speed. I had roughly 8 miles to go and I didn't want to loose any more ground. I gritted my teeth, sucked it up, and just focused on maintaining a consistent cadence. I finished with an average speed of 22.6 mph, a little slower than I had hoped, but I was happy with my time. I then entered T2 with one goal in mind - get in, get out, and finish strong. I ended up with a T2 time of 26 seconds, the second fastest T2 of the day. I was extremely happy to see that, as transitions are free time. Now to just hammer down for the final 2 miles.

2 Mile Run (12:04)

Coming out of T2, I was able to see the next runner ahead of me. I guessed he was about a quarter of a mile ahead of me. I knew it would take one hell of a run split to even make it close, but I immediately made it a goal to pass him. As tired as I was, I knew that I am a strong runner and I am always able to make up ground during the run leg. I stayed focus on my cadence and just listened to the steady beat of my feet striking the ground and tried to maintain an even rhythm. I was able to catch the guy in front of me with about a quarter mile to go. I finished the final 2 miles in 12:04 which was the 5th fastest split and a total time of 1:15:37 which placed me 9th overall and 1st in my age group.

Post Race

As I came in from the bike I heard Sarah and my girls cheering me on. I believe that is what kept me going during the final run leg. So, after the race, I spent some time with my daughters and shared the post race french toast buffet with them. We stuck around for the awards ceremony, since both Maya and Delaney not only love me getting awards, they have come to expect me winning awards. I really don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I guess, I'll take it as a positive for now....

What's on Tap

My future race schedule is truly up in the air at this point. I realize that I have already scheduled out my entire 2015 year, but truly, that is simply just an ideal plan. With me starting a new job at a new department, I have to take a realistic approach to my racing schedule. Who knows if I'll be able to finish my goal of completing a race in each month of the year or not. I'll do my best to do it, but if I can't make it happen, then it wasn't meant to be. Simple as that. I'd really like to race the Toughman Wisconsin Triathlon on June 20th, but we'll see if I can make that happen. That would be my next race, but like I said, I really have no clue what my future holds for my race schedule. I do know that I will be racing the Race the Lake bike race around Lake Winnebago in August and that's really about it. For now. :)

Thanks for reading!

Cheers!

Monday, April 27, 2015

A New Chapter in My Life

I'm assuming by know, most people know this but.....I have taken a new job with the City of Kaukauna Police Department. It's difficult for me to explain why this is rather hard for not only me, but my family as well. 6 or more years ago, I've never dreamed I would be where I am today. Never did I imagine being a cop. But, here I am, 31, 3 beautiful girls, gorgeous wife of nearly 8 years, and a successful career with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. Over the past 4 and a half years, I have developed some very close relationships and have learned a lot about the job and lifestyle of being a cop. Friendships that are completely different from other friendships I have developed over the years. There's a kind of trust you build in this profession. The kind of trust that doesn't come from just a few days of working together, but a trust that takes years to build. The kind of trust where you just know that person will do the right thing when you are unable to. Now, obviously, I will eventually make new friends, new relationships, but nothing will replace the friends I have made over the years at Winnebago. A lot of the guys I have developed friendships with have been there for me since I started. They taught me how to be a cop. How to succeed in the line of work; not only on the job, but in my personal life. To me, something you just can't forget.

Me leaving Winnebago has nothing to do with anything at the department, which makes this transition difficult. It has everything to do with my personal life and family life. I am giving up a lot by leaving Winnebago County. But, like I said I want to work for my hometown and have always wanted to. To me, there is a large sense of pride in this line of work. The way I see it, my job is to protect, help, and simply be there for the community I serve. I know that sounds extremely cliche, but its true. I now get to work for the city I live in, the same city my kids live in. I get to make a difference in my community, I get to make my city a better place to live. I get to serve my hometown.

I can't tell you how many times I have asked myself (and Sarah), if I made the right decision. Truth is, life doesn't hand you an answer book. So, you just need to keep your priorities in mind and always remember what's important to you when making huge decisions. Life is ever changing. Who knows what life will throw my way this year, 10 years from now, 50 years from now. You need to take life as it comes. I am confident I made the right decision by changing departments. My family is the most important thing to me in my life and I would do anything for them. So I know this is the right move, no matter how difficult it may be. Sure, I can tell you right now, I am making a lot of sacrifices by leaving Winnebago County. I am giving up being a member of one of the best SWAT Teams in the state (IMO), a lot of opportunity for advancement, training opportunities, and probably working day shift anytime soon. But, I am gaining a lot for my family. I will be working a more family friendly schedule and now everything will be closer to home cutting down on time away from home. Even though I may not be awarded as many opportunities with the City of Kaukauna, I know that eventually I will be given opportunities to advance my career. But, instead of relying on my years of service with Winnebago, I will just be starting from the bottom again - and that will be tough.

It's going to be a challenge, not only for me, but for my family. The uncertainty of my schedule, the inability to take days off, and going through another training process (even though I am responsible for training many of the new hires at Winnebago County). I'll easily get over the differences between departments, because in the end the job is the same. The most difficult challenge will be losing many of the friendships I have built over the years. I love many of these guys like brothers and consider. But, those friendships were built on more than just working together and I don't intend on losing them.

So, to the few guys who have been there for me over the years and helped make me the officer I have become, thank you, sincerely, thank you. I'll miss working and training with you guys. Stay safe brothers!

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Jailbreak 5k - Race Report

This race has become a staple in my race schedule, regardless of my work schedule. For one, this race is actually very well run and offers some very nice perks. Second, it supports a great cause, the Waushara County Crime Stoppers. And lastly, they offer a separate award class just for law enforcement officers, called the Bloodhound Challenge. I have been fortunate enough to win the award the past 3 years. I have been debating the idea of letting someone else win the award, but I guess I'm just not willing to give the award to someone else. I want them to win the award away from me. I think the only way I would forfeit the award to someone else, would be for extenuating circumstances were to prevent me from being at the race, such as a family obligation, or if my work schedule simply would not allow it. This year, I was able to take Friday night off of work and get a good night sleep the night before and I was excited for the opportunity to claim the Bloodhound Challenge for a 4th year in a row.