plugged in

Is anything perfect?

I'm 2 weeks out from organizing the 2nd annual Ogden Off Road Triatholon and I'm barely generating the courage to post a few pictures and relive the experience. Creating an event is such a huge undertaking and I'm so lucky to be surrounded by a GREAT WIFE and secondly some amazingly smart people. NOBODY puts one of these together themselves and I'm so lucky to have the coat tails of some smart mofos make me look good. A couple of stats. In our second year we are the largest of 50+ Xterra points series races, 330 athletes particpated, 2 minor medicals, 100 volunteers, perfect weather, 1,200 GU's, 150 gallons of water and gatorade, 3 weeks of an emotional roller coaster. 2 daughters wondering what the hell dad is doing and where he went, 1 gallon of sunscreen I should have used and didn't. 2 days of sleep.

Type pad doesn't do justice to the pictures....

I feel really lucky to be in a position to give back to things I love and to make even just a small impact in peoples lives. I live in such an amazing area and can't imagine being luckier. I titled this because there is nothing that ever goes perfectly. Especially in my mind. We had a few cars towed for parking illegally (partially because the shuttles we rented broke their contract) and there were a few other hiccups but on the whole things went really smoothly. Is anything ever perfect? I think my girls are but they come from god not my feeble efforts.

The venue for this race is amazing and I hope we get a chance to fullfill even just a piece of our potential.

Last racers through and 364 days to plan for the next one, ahhhhhhhh.

An angel?

I believe that angels are sent from heaven to sweep into your chaotic and imperfect lives to lift us and protect us. My brother and best friend just brought Emily into this world and seeing this special baby lifts me and takes me out of my moments of craziness and frustration. She reminds me that everything is so temporary. Love lasts. Smiles matter. We are all in this together. Her head smells so sweet and you can feel the perfect trust that babies bring. We are so lucky to have Emily and I look forward to everything she is going to bring to our families. Life is so beautiful, colorful and wonderful if we can let go of our expectations and just embrace it. Emily can teach us so much.

I have a big race on Saturday and it is so easy to get lost in the "urgency" of it. SO MANY details, waivers, equipment, questions, course problems, budgets, CHAOS! I want to give something back and work so hard to do it but I look at the big picture and I'm so happy to have something so grounding and REAL. Thank you Steve and Mindy. Thank you Cathrina and Kalii and Chloe. I know from my experiences that I'm so blessed to have the family, parents and siblings I do thank you Mom and Dad, Shannon, Andrea, Layne and Jeff. I'm a Lottery winner. Thank you god. Where much has been given much is expected.

Wild Dingos-

I once read a story a Colorado race director wrote about his experiences directing bike races and he said "race day is akin to opening the cage to all the wild dingos at the zoo, only these dingos drive a Lexus and wear bright clothing" I have the 2ND annual Ogden Off Road Triathlon coming in less than 2 weeks and I can hear the dingos yelping. Hopefully they don't come looking for for fresh flesh! It's been so wet here that the trails are all pretty washed out and last night I spent the entire night dreaming about how we will start the swim because the lake is sooo high. Why do I volunteer to do this? I guess I do it because one of my greatest fears is I will waste my opportunity to live a great, rich, life full of victories and defeats. I've never been world class at anything but I know what athletics's has done for my health and well being and I've seen what happens to troubled kids when they find something to channel the awkwardness and insecurity into. Nothing is ever perfect in this business of events and it is good practice in learning to let go and trust people. Speaking of events, I'm hoping this is my last year as the race director for this and I can refocus on being a racer myself.

"El Plate Grande" The big buckle for finishing the Leadville 100 in under 9 hours. A summers worth of intense effort....

Live the life you've imagined?

  ahhhh the quintesential dream, relaxed, unhurried, in the shade and whoa.....what the?? where did it all go? how do I keep up with this?

Daaadddyyyyyy watch this, come here, you can't catch me, look at that fat guys belly, where are we going now? I bet I can climb up and jump off this.....

I'm just going to sit here and smile, the world will come to my feet.....