That's enough of that!

Have you ever felt tied to something? Felt as though you were trapped to something or chained to something and yet it got to a point where you didn't want it anymore? Not an addiction to something, but just something you did for a length of time that you wanted to stop, maybe a habit?

This was the case for me with sleeping medication.  A few years ago I began taking it in order to sleep.  I would be dead tired yet when I laid down to go to sleep I just couldn't let go....I would find myself laying wide awake in bed for hours with no explanation as to why.  I was convinced that I needed some sort of sleep aid.  I had tried everything, cut coffee out after noon, no computer or phone in bed, and yet still saw no results.  I went to the doctor and they prescribed me a medication for a sleep aid.  I began taking it and it worked, for a little while, but then it wasn't enough.  I needed more, so I would use benadryl in order to fall asleep with the medication.  When I started my journey I was still on the medication.  I found it hard to wake up and get going for early training sessions though.  As the time passed I would wake up still in this fog for an hour or longer.  I decided that I didn't want this feeling anymore.  One night my prescription was out and I had forgot to call it in, I had no other choice, I needed to attempt to fall asleep without it.  I was nervous, I was scared, I had not done this for quite some time.  I surprisingly laid down and went right to sleep.  Since that night my script has not been filled since September 3, 2013.  Some nights are better than others, but I still believe I have beat this.  I knew that I did not want to wake up in a fog anymore and be a zombie so I put my mind to something and said I don't need this anymore!  It is a small victory but it is powerful nonetheless.  I knew it was something I didn't want anymore and I made it happen.

With this small victory I find myself reflecting on where I was at this time last year.  I was still in the early stages of my journey.  I had just started running, I didn't know what I wanted to accomplish, I just knew I didn't want to remain the same anymore.  As I think about my goals for this season, I know that they are very attainable for me.  I am training harder and smarter this year than I was last year and I am 80lbs lighter than I was at that time.  I am researching things, an more knowledgable than I was at this time last year.  I am getting very excited to compete this season even with all the talk of snow looming around tonight.

Here are a few current pictures of my progress, please excuse the bed head!

Through this blog and posts on Instagram and Facebook I have had people contact me for various reasons.  I am asking you for some help now...I have picked up a few adult swim clients at the club.  Two of which had expressed last week that they want to learn how to swim properly in order to lose weight.  I was thrilled!  I was in their shoes at this time last year and this is an opportunity that I have been searching for and yet it has fallen right into my lap.  I am really enjoying helping these people reach their goals and be successful not only in swimming but in also losing weight.  I couldn't help but ask myself should I share the link to this blog with them?  I have probably said it before but I will say it again, people have told me how incredibly inspiring my story is and how they find motivation in it everyday.  I do not see this, I just see it as I am chasing a dream, I always wanted to compete in triathlons but I always had an excuse as to why I couldn't.  So my question to all of you is should I share this site with them? Should I give them the link, should I just give them my story? How should I approach this?  Anyone who has found this site or any of my social networking profiles has done it on their own.  I have never given it out for the most part.  I am unsure on how to approach this but I do think they could benefit from it in some way, I am just not sure how to approach the situation.  Any help or advice that you may be able to offer would be greatly appreciated!

As for now, it's been a long day so I am off to bed.  More triathlon training is on tap for tomorrow!  Thanks for all the support and most importantly thanks for reading!




All for now,
Keep FSU and Do It For Yourself

Back At It!

There has been some time that has passed since my post after the radio show and I apologize. Things have gotten busy post graduation and with the holidays things just got out of control, but I am really trying to find more time to post here when I can(I feel like I have said that before).  That being said, let's get down to it!

The holidays were insane here.  It was a constant go with seeing various family members, remember those who aren't with us, etc.  I love the holidays however, because you get to see and connect with people who you haven't seen in forever.  Most of my family is pretty local but some live over an hour away so we only get to see them a few times a year.  When I was sitting talking with one of my relatives, she told me that she had found my blog.  Now most of you know my rule, if you read this, we don't talk about it, because then I will know who reads it and I may write differently or leave things out, however I let this one slide.  So she told me that she had found the page through a mutual friend.  They had commented on something and as she followed the trail, she landed here.  Even better, as she thumbed through the posts she thought, man this is awesome, this guy is doing great things!  The kicker, she had no idea it was me!!  She hadn't seen me for some time so she didn't recognize the pictures.  Once she figured it out, she was amazed!  I love that people can come to this page and find things that inspire them, no matter what it is in!

During the radio show and after, I received some advice from my athletic trainer to take some time off from running and cycling.  At the end of last season I was battling some issues with my IT band and instead of taking it easy after the race I continued on with my training....Not the best idea on my part.  So he shut it down for two weeks and I was only allowed to lift and swim.  For the first few days I went insane.  I walked into the gym and looked at all the people on the dreadmills and thought I could just go for a little, who would know? But I didn't and I am glad I didn't.  After some rehab and lots of foam rolling, I was cleared to start easy runs again!  For the first time in my life I actually missed running, I never thought I would say that.  I have done a few runs since then and I am feeling good so let's hope this carries into the season because things are going to start picking up again.

During this time of no running, I knew I had to do something.  One of my friends lifts everyday and since I don't have to go to school anymore, I figured I would ask him if I could join.  Working out with a buddy makes everything so much better.  They push you and you push them and you really leave the gym feeling like you gave it your all.  Last weekend we were hitting chest and as we got started he said to me "Let's really get after it today and help each other out."  This hit me, I was really helping him and he was really pushing me in order to get that edge and better myself.  Having someone there to support you in whatever it is that you are doing makes all the difference in the world!

Last weekend when I was at work, one of the clients mentioned they had two tickets to the Eagles game that night.  Eagles playoff game? Um yes please, but wait it gets better, not only did they have tickets but they escorted a friend and I to the game in a limo, we hit a tailgate party before hand at the ballpark and then went back home!  It was an incredible experience and we saw an awesome game!

You may be thinking well why is he bringing this up? He rarely talks about his personal life...there is a method to the madness.  When we were walking over to the game we got to talking.  One of the guys said you know I have been working out and I am bettering myself, but I want a goal to work towards.  I thought hmmmmm, that sounds familiar.  So I shared with him that I started in the same place.  I started with one goal and now that has transformed into much more.  I find myself in the weight room trying to get stronger in order to improve my sport.  I am running 400's, 800's and tempo runs in order to get better and I am holding myself accountable.  I have a goal of what I want to do for next season and I know that if I don't do what I need to I will NEVER reach that goal.  Once you set a goal, no matter what it is, you need to do the same.  You need to fight and fight until you have no more and then....you need to fight some more.  It is not going to be easy, but if you want something bad enough, you will stop at nothing until you get it!

As for now, I am just in a maintenance phase.  I am building strength in the weight room thanks to the wonderful help of a friend.  Today he really pushed me on the dead lift, which I haven't done in forever.  He pushed me to try a weight that I was unsure of and the last thing he said was "hit it man, I got a hand on your back if you need it!"  THAT'S what is is all about!!!  Forget the triathlons, the training, the sweating, all of that....that is what life is all about, good friends who will have their hand on your back no matter what.  I thank my friends and family for teaching me that and showing me all of the unconditional support they show me everyday.  I leave you with one last thought....How are you helping the people in your life? How are you supporting the ones around you? Whose back are you putting your hand on and better yet, whose hand is on your back? Hold on to those people in your life, because you may need them when you least expect it....


All for now
Keep FSU and Do It For Yourself