First look at the new JD's Heart T-Shirts

Here is the first look at the new JD's Heart t-shirts! Thanks Sarah Collins for the great art work, and House of Ink for the great job on the shirts. Those of you that got yours with the first order send us pics that way we can put them on here. Here is the first, very beautiful, model of our first ever JD Heart t-shirt. Hopefully, someday when you see this symbol you will know it is someone that is trying everyday to make a difference in their health.

-Keebler

                                          The little blond gremlin found her way into the pic!

Buffalo Springs 70.3 Race Report and a Few Other Things

I know this has taken a long time to get to, but I have been doing what is best for recovery, family and friend time! Before we get to that I want to send all of our love and prayers to our dear little friend Noah Hurst, who broke his leg yesterday and just got out of surgery, get well soon our little friend!

I am sitting here typing this while watching the 7th stage of the Tour de France, and trying to recover from a very nice long trail run this morning with Susan's running group from Cardinals. Thanks for letting me jump in with all of you here and there.

I was thinking back this morning about Buffalo 70.3 and was trying to remember the pain that I know was there, but the funny thing that keeps happening after these races is that it fades quickly. I will try my best to get it right, but as usual I try to remember the good things rather than the bad. It could also be the fact that if I remembered how painful these races can be I would question the sanity of my friends and myself!


Swim

I was nice and warmed up for the race start which is really rare for me. I usually am talking too much to everyone around to remember to get in even a little warmup ( I know that is a surprise to most of you). When the race started I had a hard time right off getting in a good position running into the water, and this was going to stay the same throughout the swim. Before the first buoy I had been kicked in the head, I hit someone else in the head on accident, and choked on nice lake water twice. Not to mention I couldn't find a clear area to swim long enough to feel good like I was making any sort of headway. Coming out of the water I was really glad that was over, but expecting that I was way off of my normal time. I came out with a 31:12, which is where I am normally. A very good surprise, but considering that  I have seen my some swim improvements lately I had really hoped for a little better time.

T1


Normally not much to say here except this time I decided to go on the wrong side of my bike rack. I guess a first time for everything. One good thing was seeing my friend Ron volunteering on the bike out. Friendly faces always make a race much better.

2:13

Bike


Lucille and myself were really feeling good on the first half or more of the bike. I was keeping a higher pace than normal for me in a race, and was really hoping to make up some time on the bike for once. As usual for me I had many of the fast people pass me like I was standing still, and really all I could do was keep it steady and limit the damage. The bike is still where I need the most work but that takes time. After coming out of the back canyon and turning west I hit a strong headwind that really knocked me back for a few miles. As I was getting closer to the park I started passing people again, and that was making my legs feel better to get a few spots back in the overall. Coming up on the last climb I could feel that I had pushed my legs harder than I had in previous races, and as the climb started the insides of both legs started cramping from top to bottom. To be brutally honest I was trying to not panic, because trying to climb with both legs cramping could have shut me down where I was at for more than I wanted. Luckily, I made it to the top and when the pressure came off the cramps let up. Crisis averted!

2:55:44

                                           It was Keebler time on the 4th climb of the day!


T2

I would love to tell you that I went straight to my back rack, but yes I went to the wrong side again! Susan might say at this point that once I hear a loud pop it means that my head is out of my butt. I hadn't heard that pop yet!

2:01

Run

Part of my race plan was to push as hard as I could to get to the run sooner rather than later hoping for cooler temps. I could tell on the first 2 miles that I had pushed hard, and my legs felt worse than they had in a long time for a race. Plus the temps might have been cooler than later in the day, but they felt hot to me! Before the first hill I was starting to get my legs back, and started to pick rabbits (people) in front of me to start trying to close the gaps. I was passed fewer times on the run, and mostly by people that were crazy runners. I did find that if I could stay steady up the hills I could make some good headway. Only on the 2nd climb did I have some issues with my right hamstring, but thankfully it went away before the midway and I was able to keep going. Another thing I did on this race was take my time at each water stop, and make sure I could get cool and keep hydrated. I also found that if I dumped water and ice down the back of my jersey it cooled me off better, but that is probably due to my head being in my butt :) Coming back into the park I was feeling good and started picking up the pace a little. I stayed this way until the last mile, and to my surprise I had enough to put in a strong finish. Besides a little stitch in the side it was one of my best feeling finishes.

1:57

Finish - 5:28:44
Overall - 213/832
Age Group - 42/97

After looking back at this race with a couple of weeks gone I am very happy with it. I was 10 minutes faster than my race in April, and from when I raced Buffalo 2 years ago I was 20 minutes faster. This was my second fasted race in much rougher conditions than Vineman last year. Susan noticed the biggest difference. I am finishing and not feeling like I am going to die, but instead recovering quicker from the races. Some of that is due to my conditioning, and some of it is due to getting off of statins. I will always have an issue with my cholesterol, but with this healthier lifestyle and working with my docs I will keep fighting to do what I can. It is just that I don't want to solve one problem while causing others. I know there has to be a balance, and I will keep searching.

Now time to enjoy some good drinks, good food, good workouts, and most of all good times with family and friends. Over the next few weeks I will figure out what races are next, and will get some of the pages updated.

                               Nothing like finally making it to "The Spot" on a good trail run

Enjoying the family and the 4th

I have been very bad on keeping the blog updated, but in reality it has for one of the reasons I am doing this. Since Buffalo (yes a race report is still coming) I have been spending some good quality time with family and getting in a few workouts to keep fit or fat (whichever you choose). Today I had just a little time to update before my brother in law (Tracy) starting giving me grief for being inside on the 4th.

I have felt good since the race except for a little issues with my back seizing up. Things were fixed quickly by my chiropractor, thanks Dr. Wilson, and today I went on a very enjoyable 8 mile run around   Snyder. Many things can be said about Snyder, but no matter what it will always be home!

Anyway more later, and everyone please have a very Happy and safe 4th!

Keebler

Just wanted to put in a real quick update while I have a few minutes of downtime. I was truly shocked and humbled at the outpouring of support after the article was published in the Lubbock AJ last Thursday. Here is a link to the story and video in case any of you haven't seen it:

http://lubbockonline.com/sports/2012-06-20/triathlon-offered-path-healthier-future-lubbock-racer#.T-XLuI597FI

Thanks again Nick and Zach from the AJ. You guys were great!

The real hope that we had from the article is that it would get some folks to look at their health in a little different way. The years ahead aren't free and now is the time, no matter your age, to fight for those years! Even if they are cut short at least do what you can to let your loved ones know they matter enough to you that you want to fight to be with them.

Now on to training and racing. I would love to say that I am feeling great and ready to roll, but I promised that I would always stay honest in how I represented what it is like to be a normal age grouper living the triathlon lifestyle (whatever that is). I am actually feeling the fatigue from the last few weeks, and was even wondering if Coach Tim had thought the race was farther off than this weekend :) One thing I have learned this far is that a coach does see things that you don't about yourself and your abilities.

The best thing the day before a race probably was not to stand around outside in the heat, but it was for a very good reason. It was my youngest girls birthday. Allie has been so excited about turning four, and her birthday pool party at TEGA was perfect. It might not have been ideal for a race, but seeing your little girl so happy is worth anything!

Those of us average people that do this sport have to remember that this isn't our life, but instead only a part of it. We can get so caught up into the race that we forget that many of us do this to be around and enjoy the other things in life. As Tim has reminded me many times no matter all that we do to prepare for a race we "draw a card" on that day, and your race just is what it is. Much like life you get knocked down, and you either stay down or you adapt and keep going. No matter how tomorrow turns out I am just blessed to be able to start a race.

Before I forgot I want to make sure that I thank Tim Key with TK Profitness, http://tktri.com/, he has gotten me to a level of fitness that I really never thought I could have achieved at 18 or an elderly 37 :) He has been one of the people that has been right there with me after my Dad died and I knew that I had to make sure my lifestyle change was something that stuck. Not to mention he has keep me leveled out on all of the ups and downs over the last few years, and one of the big reasons I have been without a serious injury for a long while. Thanks Tim!

Time to go get one more bike and run in so good luck to everyone racing tomorrow !

Keebler

New Wheels for Lucille and Other Cool Stuff

Just wanted to get in a short update before the crazy weekend consisting of Allie's birthday and the ever looming Buffalo Springs 70.3. Training has been good and consistent except for one missed bike session this week. I am still feeling tired, but I am responding well during my workouts. I am just ready to get to the race and see what happens.

Jurgen got Lucille (the bike) all cleaned up and some great new wheels on her. I got to try them out tonight after work and was really happy with them. Plus they are made by a new company called Flo cycling, but the thing I like the most is that the name Flo is big and displayed on the wheels and rolling with me. Those of you that knew Susan's Grandma Flo would know how much she would get a kick out of that. So now I have my Dad's initials on Lucille and Flo on the wheels that has got to be some good mojo for race day!

The coolest thing that happened out of a day, that by all estimates was going to be a crappy day, happened after work today. Mike Greer turned my name over to a sports reporter from the AJ, Nick Kosmider, that is covering the Buffalo Springs 70.3 this weekend. Nick and I set up to meet after work at my house before I went out for my bike and run session.

Nick and one of the AJ photographers, Zach Long, showed up around 5:30. I was really glad right off I had agreed to meet for the interview, because in the least it would provide an opportunity to help inspire others to look at their health in a different way. It really was an added bonus that they were a couple of cool guys that wanted to know the why behind this crazy sport, and another added bonus is that Zach was doing some training for triathlons. Maybe we will see  him at Buffalo soon! Anyway it was a really cool opportunity to get a healthy message out about making your health part of your life.

Nick had a lot of great questions and one in particular has really got me thinking, but I will add more on that in a later post. After the interview they took several shots with Lucille and I in the street, and I do expect Damon and Jerred to be making fun of me on twitter soon after they see them. Also, they were able to get some film of me going on my training ride this evening. Hopefully, I might be able to get copies of some of the stuff from tonight to share on here. It was great meeting both of the guys and I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Time to end this for tonight, and check the AJ tomorrow for the story.

Keebler

(Yes I know this ended up being a long update, Oh well)

Happy Father's Day

Today is always one of those days that for me is a bittersweet blessing. Over the last three years there has been very few days, if any, that I haven’t thought about my Dad, and many of those days I had tears in my eyes.  I never really realized how much my Dad affected my life until he was gone. As a son without knowing or admitting it you want to have your Dad’s approval, and when that is gone it’s hard to know where you stand. What I have come to realize is that Pops just wanted the best for me, and wanted me to be the best person I could. Neither of those statements have anything to do with money or stuff, but instead with trying to be a good person in all parts of my life. The most important of those parts of my life is being a Dad. At different times other things move in front of that, but it always comes back to my being a Dad. Every decision and every action is about being the type of person that makes my wife and girls proud to call me Dad. I am glad that the most important job I will ever have is being a Dad. So Happy Father's Day to all of you dad's!    

Fort Worth and CapTexTri Weekend

Going from one race to the next, training, family, and keeping food on the table has made it hard to update the blog the last couple of weeks. Lot of good things have been going on, but just no time to sit down to update.

Let’s start back with our trip to Fort Worth and Austin. The day before we left we found out that my Mom had fallen off of her friends porch. At first it didn’t sound too bad. When we finally got there to see my Mom on Friday I knew after looking at her swollen knee and ankle that she was staying home. She was adamant that she would be fine and meet us in Fort Worth on Saturday for the wedding. When we called in that evening we found out that my Mom had broken her right knee cap, torn ligament in her left ankle, and a sprained wrist. Thankfully, Susan talked her into staying home and getting as much of the swelling down over the weekend. She hated missing my cousin’s wedding, because we so rarely are able to get together with our extended family. Sometimes life just has a different agenda for what we are going to do, and we just have to roll with it. In my Mom’s case it just happened to be in a wheelchair. We missed her, but it was still a great wedding and our girls just loved getting to see it, and of course they loved the dancing and cake at the Stockyards. Now for a few quick highlights of the rest of the Fort Worth part of the weekend:

- found out borrowed race wheels had a flat - luckily found a bike shop within walking distance
- had a 40 minute run that made me feel like I was running in a wet blanket
- got to see some friends and family
- (almost forgot) - stupid valet from Marriot Courtyard in Downtown Fort Worth stole money from our car. I thought I was being sneaky where I hid it, but turns out he was sneakier! I hope he had a massive hangover the next day.

I won’t bore you with the details from all the race, but this race was really a perfect example of where I was fitness wise 4 year ago to where I am now. It was the kind of race that makes you forgot all of the sacrifices, hard work, and times that I want to go back to old me. We came to this race in 2008 with the Hurst’s, and were once again racing here with them as well. We are all a little older, another kid per family, but still all trying to live healthier lifestyles and still have fun. One extra addition to the group this year was my good friend Steve. Who I was really glad to see, and another great example of someone that is really trying everything he can to stay healthy. The funny thing was that when I saw him standing by Susan and the girls I was wondering who the bearded dude was hangin out with my wife and kids (I just figured that Susan had decided I was going to croak and had already replaced me). When I did this race 4 years ago I had only been doing tri’s for a couple of years, and this was the longest and biggest race I had ever encountered. I remember most of all how the heat and humidity just killed me at the end, and it felt like a death march. Even though I knew I was in much better shape this time I was still worried that it was going to have the same thing happen again. It turned out to be the exact opposite.

In 2008 I finished in 3:07:28 and barely made it, but this year I finished in 2:27:55 and felt great. Not only that I was 15th in my AG out of 108th and 96th out of around a 1000 folks. I never imagined I would have been able to finish like that in a race that large. Everything went as planned and I was even able to outrun this goober at the end that had been half stepping me for most of the run.  

The best part of the whole weekend  was that we were able to spend some family and friend time (even if it was rushed), and I hope that we can soon slow down enough to see some more friends and family it really helps to recharge. After all it isn’t about racing for me, but really about staying healthy so that I can be around to do these things with those we care about.

Lot’s of great news coming over the next few posts about things to come. Remember everyday just keep trying to do something to keep moving.

Next stop Buffalo Springs 70.3!

Keebler