Love!

This week's writings would normally deal with the year 1975. It was the year I began school with a wonderful kindergarten teacher named Mrs. Green, whom I adored. This year also marked the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War and the rise in the cost of oil as well as inflation. Even with all the world events taking place, my focus was squarely on being a rambunctious kid enjoying the innocence of youth. Rather than focus on the year, I thought I would focus my writing on a powerful entity that my young mind was starting to recognize…love.

Love is such a unique word that is considered both a noun and a verb. Its depth and meaning are interpreted and held differently by each individual. Most of us hear the word and probably think of an intense feeling of deep affection or finding great pleasure in something. As a verb, it can be a strong feeling for someone or something. Or it could simply mean zero as in the game of tennis, which seems kind of bizarre considering how powerful the word is throughout the world. As a tennis player, I never gave it much thought as to why love equaled zero but I’ve heard it theorized that love arose from the French word for “egg,” l'oeuf, because a zero on a scoreboard resembles an egg. I would probably equate the term “love” in tennis to balance with both players on equal footing. Isn’t that what love in life really should mean? Regardless of the irony, I still absolutely love the game of tennis.

February 16th is a very special day and I feel fortunate to get to write a post on such a wonderful occasion. On this day in 2008, I married the love of my life, Sarah. Today we celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary and I still feel lucky as heck that she chose me. I’m not the easiest person to get along with but she loves me regardless of my rough edges. I knew the very first time we met that I would spend the rest of my life with her. I love her more than anything in this world…even tennis. This is not to say that we don’t drive one another absolutely insane. In fact, I’m quite certain that on any given day she would rather light me on fire than hug me. However, we’ve always found our way back to the center and appreciate the uniqueness of who we are as individuals. We remember that through thick or thin, our love remains the constant fabric of our life which binds us together.

In 1975 I would be turning 6 years old and Sarah would be turning one and here we are, 45 years later celebrating 12 years together. As I wrote last week in my post about “Patience & Time”, I didn’t know what the feeling was at the time but could easily recognize the palpable vibration of the universe. It was reassuring me that she was out there and that one day our paths would meet. Today, I feel truly blessed and thankful that feeling so long ago came true.

Happy Sunday everybody!

7 of 50 - 1975

Patience and Time

This week’s post is something I’ve been looking forward to since starting this project as I get to reference 1974. A lot was going on that year. I would turn 5 years old and was soaking it all in with no care in the world. My favorite TV shows were Speed Racer, Scooby-Doo, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Kung Fu and I looked forward to every Saturday morning. I didn’t realize the significance but I also remember watching President Richard Nixon resign. It was a historic moment in our history. I recall asking my dad why he was forced out of the office and he struggled to find a good answer for a young mind who couldn’t quite grasp what was going on. His answer would be priceless and unfortunately, stick with me for a few years until I learned the truth. He explained that Nixon wanted to have his face on money similar to George Washington on the $1 bill and our government just wasn’t having it. It kind of made sense to my little mind but as I said, I was young and full of questions about everything and this was his way of keeping it simple for an innocent kid.

In tennis, Bjorn Borg would win the first of his six French Open titles while Jimmy Connors was at his peak winning the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Bjorn looked like a rockstar hitting the scene with his long hair, cool headband, and the methodic way he dismantled his opponents. Connors, on the other hand, was a total ass on the court. That being said, he was one hell of a player who competed on sheer grit and determination rather than natural talent. I wasn’t then, and still to this day, not a big fan of Connors but do admire and respect the challenges he overcame to rise to the top. Both, Borg and Connors, came from humble beginnings with Bjorn growing up hitting thousands of balls against his garage door in Stockholm, Sweden, and Jimmy being coached by his mother on the public courts of Belleville, Illinois. While their upbringing may have been similar, they couldn’t have been more different on the court. I say on the court because later on, we would learn of the raging fire that burned under the icy demeanor of Borg. It is what drove him to be so great but he learned to control it to harness his greatness when he needed it most. Jimmy, on the other hand, wore his emotions on the outside for the entire world to see. He was brash, sometimes rude, and extremely ruthless. Whether I liked them or not, they both contributed to my love of the game.

The best thing about 1974 took place in July at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota when a beautiful little girl named Sarah was born. I was living in Houston, TX at the time and would have to wait 33 years to meet her. Without even realizing what the feeling was, I’m certain I longed for her from day one. I truly believe the universe has a funny way about aligning the stars to ensure two souls meant for one another eventually meet. Leo Tolstoy said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time”. These are two things that I struggle with mightily and that warrior has tested me numerous times throughout my life. However, our paths would one day would cross, making the wait worth every minute. Now, forty-five years later we will soon be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary. More to come on that in next weeks post.

I feel very fortunate to have met Sarah as she has brought so much love into my life. As Maya Angelou said, “In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine”. I still struggle with patience and my time grows less and less by the day. However, I cherish every moment we have and will continue to do so until my last.

6 of 50 - 1974

Humility

This particular Sunday is easily considered the biggest day in American Sports. It is the day of Super Bowl LIV, where the Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers. So it is only fitting that I mention that in 1973, which was the year of Superbowl VII, the Miami Dolphins took a perfect record into that game and defeated the Washington Redskins. While this week’s post was meant to reference 1973, I think its kind of cool that 50 years ago the Kansas City Chiefs would win their first Superbowl over the Minnesota Vikings.

I really don’t have a “dog in the hunt” as far as this game goes but will pull for Kansas City. Simply for the fact that a few summers ago, Sarah and I asked Scot where he wanted to go on vacation. Thinking he would answer with Hawaii, Yellowstone, or Florida, he instead surprised us with Kansas City. Our first reaction was “seriously”? Scot wanted to check off the Schlitterbahn Water Park, which originated in Texas and was the only one he hadn’t visited. So off we went to KC with an open mind.

Never in a million years would I have chosen Kansas City as a vacation destination but Scot was on to something. In addition to the awesome waterpark, it was a charming city that felt small enough to know just about anyone and large enough to offer the fun we were seeking. I have to admit, I’m not a big waterpark fan but seeing the joy on my son’s face was priceless. On top of that, we had a wonderful time. It was as if we had stepped into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory or Santa’s North Pole Workshop. Scot was the epitome of pure joy!

Taking a step back from my own selfish desires for a relaxing vacation, I was able to recognize the happiness of my family. This allowed me to embrace change in a positive way and simply enjoy the moment. C.S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less”. This couldn’t have been truer in my case as my initial thought was spending a vacation at waterpark was a subpar choice.  

It’s not easy to put our personal desires and whims on hold for others. We are almost unconsciously programmed to satisfy our needs first and help others second. However, I came to realize it was less about the waterpark or the location and more about the sheer happiness of being together and discovering a new city. It was about being present and in the moment with an open mind and simply enjoying the small gifts God provides us. This was certainly one of those moments for me and I’m extremely thankful for it.

5 of 50 - 1973

Growth

This week I am focusing on growth. This is exactly what was taking place in 1972. I would be turning 3 years old and both my body and mind would be experiencing growth and awareness. I still don’t recall much, however, at that age, everything I saw was new. As a toddler, we are simply amazed at just seeing our hands and feet or our image in the mirror. Maybe it was the dog passing by or the phone ringing. The tiny world that surrounds us might as well be the vast planet we live on. Everything we see is what’s immediately in front of us, which seems gigantic.

The magnificent beauty of growth is that it never stops. Even when we feel we have a grasp on life, we learn something new. It’s baffling that we act surprised when something new comes along as surely we can’t all believe we know everything. As an athlete, you constantly strive to get better, to reach a new milestone, and ultimately achieve your goals. But it doesn’t stop there. You win and almost immediately you are back to practice to grow even more.

A great example of this in 1972 was Billie Jean King. Billie Jean won the French Open, which is played on red clay. Then just a few weeks later won at Wimbledon, which is played on grass. When you consider she was the best in the world at that time, you might think its no big deal to win two Grand Slams in a row. However, playing on red clay versus grass is like living in two different worlds. The clay is slow, requiring extreme patience and shot tolerance for high, looping shots, and long rallies. Whereas the grass is fast, keeping the ball low, requiring the player to move forward and close shots out at the net. Only a few players in history have been able to achieve winning both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. It takes an open mind and a lot of practice. One that grows to understand the complexity of both surfaces and make the physical changes to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. What makes Billie Jean even more amazing is a few short months after winning Wimbledon, she won the US Open in NY. At that time, the tournament was played on green clay, which was entirely different than the red clay of the French and certainly different from the green grass of Wimbledon. Again, her mind was open to the challenge ahead and she grew her game to once again hoist the champions trophy.

Tennis is the one sport I absolutely love. I enjoy watching it, coaching it and most certainly playing it. As a child, I wasn’t a gifted player or athlete but my passion was second to none. I practiced as much as I could and while my growth wasn’t by leaps and bounds, it was growth. It helped me to learn so many things on and off the court such as respect, discipline, honor, integrity, and most of all, humility derived by perseverance.

I might not be growing physically with the sport any longer but I do find that my mind has never stopped growing. I see the court and play matches differently than as I did when I was young. I may not win all the matches but I enjoy the sport more today. I’ve grown through tennis and always feel “right as rain” when I am near it. Robert Sharma said, “What you focus on grows, what you think about expands, and what you dwell upon determines your destiny.” Tennis has always been a focus for me but there so many facets to it from the physical game to the mental. Each part continues to help me today. I don’t focus on the negative aspects such as hitting a bad shot or losing a match but rather all the positives that have come from it. I choose to focus on the goodness that comes from the simple joy of loving it. And that is an extremely powerful thing!

4 of 50 - 1972

Coming in Hot!

I decided this week to write about “coming in hot”. Now this approach is applicable in many scenarios, whether it be in life, work, or sports. I’ve personally been known on many different occasions and many different scenarios to hit the room on fire. At times it has worked to my advantage but in most cases it has been an obnoxious detriment.

The term itself can also have many different interpretations. In one case you can hit a gathering with a few drinks in you and be the life of the party. However, you can also, later on at the same party, be a complete idiot lacking any semblance of self-control or awareness for those around you.

In the work environment, you may be killing it on a project and feeding off the frenzy collaboration of your coworkers by creating a positive environment. Then on the other hand, you might just join a fast-growing company from a more established one and think you have the answers for everything without taking the time to listen, learn, and recognize the great work of your new colleagues in creating this wonderful growth. In the tech industry, this happens far too often and it immediately alienates what could have been a great collaborative working relationship. Taking this approach automatically alienates those around you and creates a completely unnecessary toxic environment. Having answers or solutions without stopping to understand the landscape challenges is a very narcissistic approach. Taking this route, you automatically lose the ability to have a real connection with your colleagues. Kristin Armstrong said “Real connection and intimacy is a meal, not a sugar fix”. That couldn’t be more true in the fast-past world we live in today. We could all take a little more time to listen better to those we work with as I truly believe collaboration is the key to success. The brilliant minds of a few people working toward a common goal is a hell of lot more powerful than the single mind of one.

In sports, “coming in hot” can me a momentus driver for success. You might find yourself performing above your level by playing strong, ultimately carrying you on to victory. As a tennis player, you lock on to this when this feeling comes along and squeeze every bit of juice you can out of it. I’m not suggesting this automatically creates a positive environment. In a sport like tennis, especially playing singles, it’s just you on the court against your opponent. You are not there to make friends. You are there to win. In 1971 a rising star from Romania, Ilie Nastase was an up and comer. He was a big, strong player with long black hair and he looked like a villain. He played this part beautifully to his advantage when on the court. As a child, I was completely frightened of him. Seeing him on the television screaming at umpires, line judges, and his opponents. He used his anger and angst to his advantage. This is not an easy task and only a few players throughout tennis history have had the ability to harness their anger (aka elevated heat) to their advantage. The most notable being John McEnroe, who would crash onto the scene in 1977. More about John in my upcoming post.

However, for all my fear of Ilie Nastaste, I did have the opportunity to meet him in 1975 and he honestly shocked me. He turned out to be one of the nicest people I have ever met. He the took time to speak with me by getting down on one knee and connecting through eye contact and laughs. He recognized my fear but what made him different was that he had the self-awareness to lean in, listen, and ask a bunch of questions. The fear and image of who I thought Ilie was quickly dissipated and for those few minutes he made me feel valued as if I was the most important person in the room. It truly changed my view of him and opened my eyes to how he was using his passion to elevate his game. What he did on the court didn’t define who he was as a human being and I found deep down, he was a pretty cool individual who loved to entertain the fans.

We all have found ourselves coming in a little amp’ed up. This is not a negative but instead an opportunity to learn by stepping back and taking in the whole environment and not just the one in our direct view. Regularly being guilty of this myself, my goal this year is to listen more so that I can thoughtfully work better with those around me.

3 of 50 - 1971

Find Your Passion

This is the second blog in my quest for 50 and as with last weeks covering 1969, I don’t recall much of 1970. However, I do believe a seed was planted around something that would become an integral part of the fabric of my life. Tennis!

My father was extremely passionate about tennis, which was passed on to me. I can remember as a young boy running around the tennis courts in Lufkin, TX kicking pinecones, making forts, and doing whatever else was in my imagination that day while he played matches. As I got a little older, I would daydream about playing in one of the Grand Slams, mimicking every move on my ways to the finals. My favorite players in the late 70’s were Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe but in my younger years, there was no one cooler than the red-headed lefty, Rod Laver and the man with the mustache, John Newcombe. Rod had won all four Grand Slams in 1969, the year I was born, and Newcombe was the 1970 Wimbledon Champion. Watching matches on tv back then was less than desirable but it helped set the foundation and passion for a game I still love today.

This past weekend I attended the USTA Southern annual meeting in Jackson, MS, which works closely with the Mississippi Tennis Association (MTA). They are focused on the growth and promotion of tennis in Mississippi through diverse junior and adult programs. The executive director for USTA Mississippi is a good friend of mine from Tyler Jr. College, Geoff Norton. We met while studying in the Tennis Tech Program at TJC and still share the same passion for tennis today as we did 31 years ago. Like Newcombe, he too had a badass moustache, and we soon became good buddies. Geoff has had an unbelievable career in tennis since leaving TJC and his positive impact on the sport globally and in Mississippi, has been nothing short of amazing.

Geoff recently reached out to me to see if I would be willing to serve in a volunteer role as an Area Director for the North Central district of Mississippi. The role is tasked with helping to promote the sport through city organizations and private clubs.  I cannot remember a day where I didn’t think about tennis and attending the USTA meeting this weekend, reminded me of just how much I missed it. It was incredible to see the thought, care, and passion the people of the USTA and MTA put into ensuring the sport thrives in this state and in the South. My love for the game has never wavered and I was honored to be nominated for the role. While my career took a different path outside of tennis, having the opportunity to volunteer and participarte in and around it again is a dream come true.

I find it refreshing how love for something so long ago finds its way back to me later in life. It reminds me of quote by Nancy Thayer, “The universe is always speaking to us. Sending us little messages, causing coincidences and serendipities, reminding us to stop, to look around, to believe in something else, something more.”

The universe definitely was speaking to me this weekend. It was saying “Hey Stevo…remember the little things that make you happy and surround yourself with it!” I’m grateful for so many things, especially my wife Sarah, and four sons, Blake, Lance, Luke, and Scot, and I’m especially grateful the universe has guided me back to tennis, rekindling a wonderful youthful feeling that promotes happiness.

2 of 50 - 1970

Turning 50 - An exciting new decade!

This past December I crested a new decade, turning 50 years old. While some may see this as the beginning of the decline, I am excited about it. There are a few milestone birthdays you look forward to throughout your life such as becoming a teenager at 13, driving at 16, and of course enjoying alcohol, legally, at 21. Turning 30 was exciting whereas 40 was sandwiched in between two major birthdays acting a placeholder to this one.

Viewing 50 as exciting, I wanted to try something new this year. My birthday falls at the end of the year so it’s easy to tie into a resolution. However, adding a resolution lends me to think I’m resolving something, which is not the case. So, I thought I would create actions I intend to do instead. If I stumble, no worries, I’ll start over and continue to move towards a positive outcome. This is not about success or failure but rather the attempt to challenge myself to small goals that drive a growth-oriented mindset.

In this year of 50, I plan to write a weekly blog for each year. This being my first and the fact I don’t recall 1969 very well, I decided to lay the foundation for the next 49 posts. Just as I am carving a new path, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out a monumental historical event from 1969. That was the year man stepped foot on the moon. This feat was the culmination of years of hard work where the people involved didn’t let the small pitfalls hinder their drive towards this incredible accomplishment. They set their sights on this new frontier and drove towards it with reckless abandon. I feel very lucky that I was born in the same year as this wonderful success.

This year, I’m also curtailing my alcohol intake to once a week, Sunday, as part of my writing process. Originally, I had planned to quit drinking altogether but the reality of it is, I enjoy it. I’ve never been a heavy drinker and the intent here is just to add to my healthy lifestyle and improve my overall well-being. I’ve also set a goal to race two Ironman 70.3’s this year, 27 days apart. This will include Augusta in September and the newly announced Memphis event in October. Lastly, I am incorporating a daily meditation routine using Calm. I started this particular routine in late November and have thoroughly enjoyed the peace it brings in quieting my mind.

These are lofty intentions and as I mentioned, if I falter, I’ll just pick up and continue with no harm no foul. I want this to be my healthiest year, mind, body, and spirit. I am setting the groundwork for years to come so that my quality of life is always driving positive momentum forward. I hope you enjoy what’s to come as I chronicle my year of 50!

1 of 50 - 1969

Popping back up on the Radar!

It’s been quite some time since my last post. I started training back in November of last year in preparation for the Chattanooga 70.3 Ironman in May. To complicate matters, this training period coincided with the most travel I have ever done for work. Regardless, I persevered and trained up until the race.

In my entire triathlon career, I have never raced in such an early season race. The thought process was that I would race Chattanooga in May and then Augusta again in late September. However, those plans changed drastically after the Chattanooga race. Even though I worked extremely hard training for the run portion of the race, which historically is my weakest event, I still found myself struggling in the race.

I had a preconceived idea that May would still be cool and keep me from overheating. Oh, how I was so wrong in that assumption. It was insanely hot, which sucked the very soul out of my body. I had a better than average swim at 23 minutes and an okay bike at 2 hours and 55 minutes. Having run a sub two hour 13.1 miles the weekend before, I went into the run full of complete confidence. That was before I hit the top of the hill of mile 1. As I crested the hill, I felt a firey ball of heat plant itself in front of my face. One that would not leave me for the remainder of the run.

In my mind, I am fairly certain I quit the race at every mile marker. Yet, I somehow found the strength to go on. This strength was bolstered by the support of my great friends Bill and Elizabeth Ritter and their two wonderful kids Henry and Paige. Just when I thought I couldn’t go on, I would hear “Come on Mr. Stephen!”. It was the voices of angels inspiring me to rise to the occasion. Without the Ritters, the race would have been entirely different and I sincerely thank them for their support and hospitality the entire weekend. The Ritters were the silver lining along with the absolute beauty that is Chattanooga.

I left the race declaring my retirement from the sport and to date, I still feel that way. The joy simply isn’t there to compete in another triathlon. This may change but before it does, I need to find that spark that propels me forward with a desire to compete again. I don’t view this as a negative but rather a momentary pause to enjoy life and not let the craziness of travel and training to dominate my happiness.

I’ve enjoyed being off the radar these past few months and while I’m now popping back onto it, I’m not necessarily seeking to jump back in and race. I’m not happy with the race I had and feel I could do much better. It's now the end of September so I have the next 60 days to decide if I want to go back to Chattanooga and finish the race with more dignity. I’m content for now but….I have put myself back on the radar so you never know! We’ll see what the next 60 days bring.

August 2018 Retrospect and Lessons Learned

2018 was an interesting year that was filled with ups and down and an incredible amount of travel associated with my role at Collibra. I traveled over 176,000 miles and somehow was able to squeeze in the Ironman 70.3 Augusta.

As written in the post from July, I chose to begin training for he Ironman 70.3 Augusta 83 days before the start of the race. As in 2017, Augusta was an extremely fun and challenging race. This was due to a few glaring factors, most obvious was the short training window to prepare. Another contributing factor was that I took this journey alone as compared to 2017 where I prepared with two of my good friends, Ryan Niemeyer and Jason Waller. I underestimated how powerful of an impact training partners can have on your overall performance.

Triathlon in general is a very narcissistic sport, one that requires long hours of preparation. Rather than view this as a negative, I leverage the time to quiet my mind from all the chaos associated with everyday life and work. In a year where I spent an inordinate amount of time in the air, the long silent training was a welcomed way to find some balance.

As I reflect, my race results from the 2018 race in Augusta were less than stellar and representative of my poorest performance in my entire triathlon career. While I’ll never be satisfied with any result, I didn’t let this years results get me down. I instead view this as an opportunity to improve and learn for races in 2019. I learned that preparation, time management, and self-reflection are three key things that must take priority in order to perform at your best. In competing 83 days after I decided to race, I proved to myself that even in limited time to prepare, I could do it. However, it was a challenge and one that I shouldn’t repeat. Along with the heavy travel schedule, it took a hard toll on both my body and mind. One that I cannot afford to happen again.

Looking ahead with 2019 is just a few hours away, it is certain that I will again have a busy year with work. I will also be busy with training as I have committed to Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga in May and what will be my 3rd Ironman 70.3 Augusta. Rather than wait until the last minute to begin, I jumped right into my 27 week training program to prepare for Chattanooga. This week marks the beginning of week 7 and I already feel ahead of the where I was on race day for Augusta back in September. My goal this year is to break the 5 hour 50 minute mark. The best chance for this will be Augusta due to the familiarity of the course but Chattanooga looks to be fast as well. I will never be the athlete I once was but I do love the challenge of the race and competition to push myself to new heights.

In 2019 I will be my best self!

83 Days...The Short Journey to Augusta

Competing in the Augusta 70.3 Ironman last year was a blast and I was eager to sign up this year.  However, this past year has been an extremely busy one.  In December of last year, I joined a new company based in Brussels, Belgium leading Technology Partnerships.  It has been an  absolute great and wonderful experience!  However, the role has had me on the road nearly every week of each month.  This is not ideal for training for an Ironman or any triathlon distance for that matter.  

Being a "glass half-full" type of person, I looked at it from the standpoint of professional fulfillment.  This doesn't mean I haven't recognized or felt the gaps in the joy I have for training and preparing for a long-distance triathlon but rather another important aspect of my life is being fulfilled.  One of the other downsides to massive travel, is the weight gain associated with eating out along with missing workout after workout.  I would mix in a run here and run there and do my best to eat healthy but nothing consistent.  All the while, I could hear Augusta's siren call pulling towards it and simultaneously feeling helpless to prepare for it.  

Fast forward to Sunday, July 1st and there it was...a Facebook post from the folks at Augusta indicating that only 10% of the slots were still available.  It was as if I awoke from a dream.  The hypnotic trance of travel was broken!  Without hesitation, I signed up for the race.  I didn't think or care or have a plan.  I just acted!  Then the realization hit me...what the Hell Stephen?  The race is 83 days away and you normally need 27 weeks at a minimum. 

For the first time in my life, I didn't panic.  Rather, I embraced the challenge and decided to level set expectations.  Will I be as fast as last year?  Probably not.  Will I be ready in 83 days?  Hell YES!  I'm not a "spring chicken" any more and I recognize that.  However, its not really the race I enjoy most but rather it is the journey to the race.  I love being outdoors in the water, on my bike, and on a run.  While I might complain, I enjoy being beat to heck and seeing the positive transformation of my physique.  

It is safe to say, I probably will not be at my athletic best come September 23rd but I will be at my peak both mentally and spiritually.  As with all races, I will carry the strong voice of my late good friend Bill "Fred" Haecker saying "Come on Stevo!"  There is nothing better than hearing his voice motivate me to continue on and never quit.  As you may have read in previous post, Fred was a "mans-man!"  He embodied the "I will never quit" attitude and I hope I can carry that fire throughout the rest of my life.  I also motivate myself by remembering a couple of key Navy Seal sayings of "Get comfortable being uncomfortable" and "Embrace the pain".  These mantras ring true in long-distance triathlon because there is no race that doesn't include being uncomfortable or painful.

Unlike last years race where I enjoyed the camaraderie of having two buddies compete with me, this year will be a journey alone.   This is when the focus and perseverance must overcome the adversity and pain.  This journey started July 1st on a whim but will explode in a firey bang come Sunday, September 23rd.  

Ironman 70.3 Augusta

Having competed in a few different Ironman 70.3 races, I've come to appreciate all that goes into making a successful event.  I can emphatically say that Augusta stands alone as the best race to date!  The entire city embraces and supports one of the more popular races in the US and as a competitor you not only feel, but feed off the energy generated.  

I originally got involved with triathlon events in 2006 after my first elbow surgery.  I grew up a competitive tennis player and needed surgery to repair the tendon in my arm.  There is no easy way to rehab an elbow but swimming proved to be the best exercise.  Needing an outlet for my competitive nature during this rehab period, a good friend recommended I participate in a sprint triathlon.  I was hooked after the first event and began diving deeper into the sport competing in longer distance events such as "Escape from Alcatraz”, Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs, and Ironman 70.3 Muncie. 

I have never left a race saying "I can't wait until next year" until Augusta.  This is for a few different reasons.  First, it was an A+ event from top to bottom.  Second, the fellowship I shared with two of my good friends who also competed in the race was one of the best times I've had. Lastly, my results exceeded all of my goals and expectations coming in to the event.  

As  mentioned Ironman 70.3 Augusta is one of the more popular 70.3 events here in the US.  It starts with a 1.2 mile swim in the Savannah River, followed by a 56 mile bike that runs from Georgia into South Carolina, ending with a flat 13.1 mile run through downtown Augusta.  In past years the event welcomes cool weather that requires a wetsuit for the swim but the temperature in 2017 was abnormally hot.  So no wetsuit.  Regardless of the weather, the event was a blast with a large local crowd cheering on the more than 2500 racers. 

The biggest challenge of the event for me was the heat.  I was fully prepared for the race but not necessarily the abnormal heat on race day.  I had a better than average swim and bike but fell victim to leg cramps during the run.  I persevered through the pain but was slightly disappointed in my run time.  However, I find myself in a bizarre scenario.  On one hand I carry a certain level of disappointment with the run but overall I am overly ecstatic with the ultimate results.  

Well, I guess the only way to correct this bizarre situation is to register for next years race and better plan for the heat to ensure I set a new PR that exceeds the one I set in 2017.  Honestly, I had so much fun competing in the race that I couldn't see myself not competing in it again.  

I tip my hat to Ironman and the City of Augusta.  Great job...and see you next year!

Ironman 70.3 Augusta - Two weeks out!

Well I'm at week 25 of my 27 week training program in preparation for Ironman 70.3 Augusta.  It's been a long and arduous path but one I feel extremely good about.  After competing last year in Ironman 70.3 Muncie, I stated emphatically my long-distance triathlon career was over.  Making such of boastful statement is easy when you just finish a grueling day of racing.  However, after much reflection I realized it isn't the race that I enjoy as much as it is the journey to the race.  

The race in Muncie will always hold a special place in my heart as it was dedicated to my late friend Bill Fred Haecker, who grew up in Muncie before relocating to Texas.  It was a tough race, one where I competed with a heavy heart.  The love and adoration I felt is difficult to describe in words seeing Fred's family, Bill, Aimee, Connie and Lina there to cheer me on as I crossed the finish line.  

This years race in Augusta has a different purpose.  The training for this race represents an alignment and centering of my soul.  I approached it with a clear mind and a goal to find balance and held onto that throughout the training.  It has been a tough year and I have found the consistent training has helped me weather through the growing pains of life.  Also, having two friends, Ryan Niemeyer and Jason Waller, participating with me has had a tremendous and positive effect.  We have helped one another to stay the course and not lose focus.  The most important contributing factor is the absolute and unwavering support of my wife, Sarah.  She is a supernova of energy that has supported me every step of the way and encourages me to take challenges head on.  

Now that the race is two short weeks away, I thought I would do a little year-over-year comparison.  Through 25 weeks of training in 2017 versus 2016 equates to:

• 150 total workouts versus 145 in 2016
• 153 hours total time versus 132 hours
• 1,601 total miles versus 1,299 miles
• 131 bpm average heart rate versus 139 bpm
• 93,318 calories burned versus 85,300 calories

I am quite happy with the year-over-year leap in training progress.  I can feel the difference mentally and physically.  I look forward to translating this progress into results on September 24th in Augusta.  

I am the IRONSCOTSMAN!   

The Great Escape from Alcatraz - 10 Years Later

This past week I was in Boston on a business trip, which provided me with the opportunity to visit with one of my closest friends, Michael Collins.  Over a few beers, we reminisced about a race we participated in 10 years ago this year.  Escape from Alcatraz!  

I had always found endurance multi-sports interesting but never proactively chose to participate until Michael suggested it.  He was a key advocate in getting me engaged in triathlons as well as major motivator to improve and stretch myself with longer distances.  

In early 2006 I had the first of two elbow surgeries to repair lingering damage from playing tennis.  In short, there is no easy way to rehabilitate an elbow and Mike suggested swimming.  I swam as lifeguard during the summers of high school and college so it wasn't too hard to get into a routine.  Later, he suggested a sprint triathlon and needless to say I was hooked.  My appetite for it was insatiable!  The sprint distance felt like a teaser and I wanted more.  This is where the saying, "Be careful for what you wish for" definitely came true.  I should preface this by saying Mike is one of those exceptional and gifted athletes that has "it".  That high-octane and uncanny ability to exceed his physical and mental limits with ease.  Knowing my desire to try a more difficult triathlon, he passively suggest that we compete in the 2007 "Escape from Alcatraz" Triathlon.

So it begins!  I immediately said YES without thinking it through completely.  Once I came to my senses, I was like "Wait!  What?  Didn't prisoners die trying to swim from Alcatraz island?"  They have a triathlon race there?  Fortunately for me, I was living in Texas at the time and the distance of San Francisco kept the realization of the difficulty of the race at bay.  Mike suggested we leverage "Be Iron Fit" by Don Fink, which I've referenced in a previous blog.  It was an approach that set in motion the plan I leverage to this day.  

As I look back now, I remember fondly how frightened I was as we prepared to load onto the boat for Alcatraz.  The race consisted of a 1.5 mile swim, a 5k run to your bike (aka warm-up run), 18 mile bike through the hills, and then finish with a 10K run that takes you through Baker Beach, the infamous sand stairs to the Golden Gate Bridge.  There were ~1000 people in the race and I remember my heart pounding like a phone book in a washing machine as we jumped into the water.  

First reaction...HOLY S!@# its cold!  Once the wetsuit warmth took over it was time to race.  The horn sounded and we were off.  The tide was tough along with the salty waves seeping in on every breath..  I was so heads down that I missed the breaker to the Aquatic Center and had to swim an extra 10 minutes into the tide to exit.  At this point I was totally miserable but pushed on.  The warm-up run was exactly that...a chance to break the hypothermia.  Once I hit the bike I was feeling good again and then quickly realized that San Francisco is massively more hilly than Houston.  The good news is that what goes up must come down so while everyone was slow going up the hills we were flying down the them.  I started feeling excitement as I hit the second run portion.  It was a course that took you up a hill and down the sand stairs onto Baker Beach.  I shockingly learned that clothing was optional for a few of the fans who were cheering on the racers.  Again, head down push forward.  The sand stairs were easy going down but back up was a different story.  It's literally 400 steps of Hell.  However, at the top you feel the surge of energy again as you start the downhill run to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Once you touch the base and turnaround the finish is just a short mile or so away.  I felt so much energy and happiness as I crossed the finish line.  I had officially "Escaped from Alcatraz!"

The best part was seeing my good buddy Michael standing there cheering me on.  My first thought was "why is he was wearing a towel?".  Unbeknownst to me, he had a wicked crash on the bike and tore his leg all up.  What's even more amazing is that he still finished in the top 20.  He was in third place until the wreck and still managed a stellar finish.  As I said before, he has the ability to exceed physical and mental barriers.  

As much as I enjoyed the race, I enjoyed the camaraderie with Mike even more.  We had a blast from start to finish.  As I look back 10 years later, I realize that his friendship is the true medal here.  He introduced me to a sport that I truly enjoy.  I am most thankful for our friendship and look forward to many more years to come.  

So 10 years after the Great Escape...I say thank you Mike!

The things we do...err...drink or eat to perform better

Next week I start 27 week journey in preperation for the 2017 Ironman 70.3 Augusta.  Having been through this rodeo a few times, I've learned not to veer off course with new dietary additions or workouts once you officially start.  The last thing you want to encounter is rot gut or an injury that derails you from the long path to the race. So, I typically stay the course with a very predictable regime that is battle tested.  

Now, the weeks leading up to the official start of training is a different story.  Its a time that I will move out of my customary comfort zone and test out a few new products.  This week, a good friend of mine, one whose opinion I value greatly, recommended that I try a pre-workout drink called Beet Elite and I thought I would share my review/adventure in chronological order. Enjoy!

Sensory Reaction:

1. Oh, Black Cherry that sounds good, & plus my buddy highly recommends it
2. Visual: Wow, that is a pretty deep red color😀
3. Smell:...Hard pause...WTF? Is that vomit?😐
4. Again, hard long pause
5. Beginning to question sanity
6. Big breath and pound it down
7. Taste: WTF? Did I just drink liquid vomit mixed with feces?  🤢💩
8. For the love of all that is Holy...oh the Humanity!  Why did I drink that?
9. Big breaths to keep from painting the walls beet red😵
10. Big gulp of water... better now
11. Above average pace on a 5 mile run with low heart rate🏃🏼
12. Hmmm, that BeetElite is not too bad 

All kidding aside, I had a very good run today.  Without question Beet Elite tasted absolutely horrible, however, I did feel a performance boost.  While it may have been coincidental, I was able to maintain my goal heart rate, while running a faster pace than normal.  As I mentioned before, my training begins next week and I plan to fall back into my very comfortable, almost boring, routine.  One that will be free of Beet Elite.  

45th Presidential Inauguration

Today, we as country held the Inauguration of the 45th President.  This event is very special honor we as a nation get to experience together regardless of party affiliation. It is the peaceful passage of power. It's a time that we are one group of people, citizens of these United States. It is our opportunity to demonstrate to the world that while we may not always agree on the person elected, which I'm struggling with now, we do agree on the democratic process in the peaceful passage of power. We should not take for granted the freedom of democracy. It is an unbelievable opportunity to express and voice our thoughts through an open and fair process.

As a kid growing up in the 70's & 80's, I believed there was no higher honor than to be President of the United States. I was taught that it was a position that anyone could, and should, strive to hold.  It was trailed only by the dreams of being an astronaut or the next Evel Knievel.  However, even though I'm slightly more realistic today than in years past, I do still believe it is the most honorable position of service we as Americans can hold and one that must be approached with humility.  

I haven't always agreed with the choice America made for President, and feel that way currently, however, I have always respected the office itself. This is the most important point. The Office of President is not one person. Rather, it's an amalgam representative of the people. That is what I hope our new President, as well as all future Presidents, will come to understand. This is a position of humility without ego and it shouldn't matter if they have an "R" or "D" after their name. Instead the President should be a ubiquitous representative of, and for, the people of America. This can be accomplished by embracing this extremely high honor and operating with the upmost humility, integrity, and respect for what the Office of the President truly represents....the People! 

Reflection & Purpose

Today, January 1, 2017, we get to start fresh with a new year.  Last year was certainly interesting to say the least.  America elected a new president after an extremely long and arduous, election process.  A process that started way too early back in 2015.  We continue to see violence grow globally that is masked by jaded religious principles and we lost an unusual amount of iconic entertainers.  Quite simply, its been a long, hard, and peculiar year.  

On a personal level, I turned 47 in 2016, joined a new software startup company, and competed in the Muncie 70.3 Ironman.  While 2016 may have been turbulent for a lot of folks, it was a year of purpose for me.  As I wrote in previous blogs, the Muncie 70.3 Ironman was dedicated to a monumental figure in my life, Bill Fred Haecker.  It provided me with a laser-focused goal that began in early January and ended on warm July weekend. I must admit that since finishing the race, I have felt slightly lost.  I had so much purpose in the training that it kept my compass pointed forward.  Over the past five months, that same compass has been sending me in a variety of directions.  While I have direction in my professional life, the void of direction, specifically from an athletic perspective, in my personal life leaves me feeling lost and in search of, well...purpose.

After last years race, I did make the statement that I am officially retiring from long-distance triathlons.  The race literally beat the Hell out of me.  I was sore, chaffed, and completely ragged.  However, I did feel a monumental amount of accomplishment.  It wasn't my first 70.3 but the purpose behind it meant so much to me personally. At the time I thought, "how can you ever compete in another one of these when this particular one has so much meaning?".   I now realize that the race in Muncie won't lose its luster if I do another.  Nothing can replace the overwhelming feeling that race provided.  It was for Fred and will always will be!

Throughout my life, a common thread has been training for something that culminated in an end-goal.  Whether it was tennis or triathlon training, I've always strived toward a goal in the form of a tournament or race.  I now realize that I shouldn't back away from this approach but rather embrace it.  I understand that I'm not the fastest or best athlete any longer, if I ever was, but I am someone who enjoys the process.  Sure, it can sometimes be monotonous, painful, or just plain boring but it points my compass forward.  This is something my mind and body both need as it makes me feel centered, focused, and complete.  It helps to improve every aspect of my life and eliminates the noise and confusion of the world around us.  

So what will 2017 bring?  In addition to tying to be the best husband, father, and friend my goals this year are to: 

• Train & compete in the Augusta 70.3 Ironman September 24th
• Stand my company up as a premier partner in the analytics management arena by December
• Take the GMAT and enter the Ole Miss MBA Program in May
• Live a healthier & happy lifestyle on a daily basis
• Learn and become proficient in French (by Dec), Italian (by Dec), and Spanish (by May)

In addition to the measurable goals above, I will also work to create balance between home, work, & life daily.  I will do this by taking time each morning to create a calm space, one that is a space of "sacred silence".  I will use this it to reflect on what I'm grateful for; what I'm excited about and looking forward to doing that particular day; identifying my purpose and ensuring my plans connect me to it; and lastly, who can I reach out to and serve.  

I'm optimistically hopeful that 2017 will be a great year and I will strive to make it better by serving each day with purpose through my thoughts, words, and actions.  Let the year begin!

Thunderous Silence - The Art of Quieting Your Mind

I should start this out by saying that in no way, form, or fashion am I a sport psychologist. However, I am someone who grew up playing competitive sports. One that struggled mightily with controlling the chaos in my mind during competition.

In a singular, as well as slightly narcissistic, sports like tennis and long-distance triathlons, the internal chaos of fear, uncertainty, and doubt can be crippling. I've often described my personal situation as something similar to the radio in my 1979 Camaro. It had dials that you tuned in the station and sometimes it would register it perfectly and other times it was just slightly off. I, unfortunately, was one of those kids that had a brain that struggled to get the station locked in. I would almost be on target but it was a constant struggle to clear the static. This manifested itself in sports when I would let the lack of confidence creep in, which often resulted in negative outcomes. Now I could take the easy road and blame my parents for the poor parental lifestyle choices they made in the late '60s and early '70s, and often I do. But, truth be told, it’s a waste of energy. I don't feel placing blame would be positive or necessarily changes the outcome. The reality is that I am the one who is in control of my situation, especially in my head, regardless of whether it’s sports, work, or life-related.

Two phrases I use quite frequently for my own personal benefit to help "dial in my radio" include "thunderous silence" and "quiet your mind". The juxtaposition "thunderous silence" to hone in the competitive fury needed to succeed and "quiet your mind" to silence the negative chatter and self-doubt that can ultimately creep inside my head during a stressful match or the latter phases of a triathlon. I'm a true believer that the mind gives out long before the body will and that there is always a "little more' in the tank than you might think to exist. The key is to put to rest this negative noise and forging forward toward your goals. For me, its reminding myself to quiet my mind of the chaos and leverage the thunderous silence to persevere. It’s my own little recipe of what most people call mindfulness, which is a form of meditation. Essentially, it's a simple and effective way to gain control of the fearful and unruly thoughts that can plague an athlete.

If you are an athlete of any kind seeking a mental competitive edge, especially a tennis player or a triathlete, two great books to read include "Tennis: Winning the Mental Edge" by Allen Fox, Ph.D. and "Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and the Greatest Race Ever Run" by Matt Fitzgerald. While they both center on specific sports, the value they deliver deals with the mental fortitude to win in any sport. I have read both multiple times and often refer back to them for helpful hints as I prepare today.

What strategies do you use to settle your thoughts?

The Legend of Fred! (Pre-race message)

I enter this week with mixed emotions.  On one hand I am thankful for the journey I have been able to take with Fred in preparing for the Ironman 70.3 Muncie.  However, on the other hand, it saddens me as I come to the realization that the journey is nearly complete.  

I started this quest back in January as a way to honor my dear friend Bill FRED Haecker, who passed away far too early in life on his trip from Texas to Muncie, IN.  Fred was always an inspirational figure to me so I felt compelled to pay tribute to someone that was truly a legend.  An individual that could be described as a true "man of iron".  

Fred, an absolutely brilliant and kind man, was so many things to so many people.  He was a husband, a father, a mentor, and a coach just to name a few.  In all honesty, the list could go on forever depending on who you asked to described him and what he meant to them.  To me, he was a larger than life friend that was passionate about the things he loved, especially Connie, Aimee, and Bill.  His love for his family was something that I especially admired about him.    

Throughout every long training day I felt as if Fred was there by my side and encouraging me as only he knew how.  When I felt like stopping, I could hear his robust voice say "Come on Stevo!" and somehow I would find that extra gear.   The preparation for this race totaled 150 activities, ~1312 miles,~87,000 calories, and over 134 hours of training.  

This Saturday, July 9th, I will finish the trip to Muncie that Fred started last year.  It has been a long, hard, and emotional road but I am ready.  I may not be the fastest person on the course Saturday but I can guarantee that no one will compete with more heart than me.  Why?  Because my friend Fred would expect nothing less.  

See you Saturday my friend!          

Rituals

Rituals are an integral part of all sports and athletes will do almost anything to ensure they win. They range from carrying lucky items, eating certain meals, to wearing articles of clothing not necessarily meant for their particular sport or gender for that matter. When it comes to these rituals, tennis is no lingering second place to any sport.  

Growing up playing competitive tennis from juniors through college I've seen quite few different ways that people approach a match. Players do all kinds of uncanny things to ensure they win. I've witnessed players wearing the same pair of socks throughout a tournament, not ever looking at the draw, listening to the same song over and over as well as being obsessed with the tension of their strings. During a match you get guys who love to talk on each change over and others who would rather punch you in the face than even look your way. Examples of rituals in pro-tennis range from today's Rafael Nadal, who is OCD with his in match quirks of pulling at the back of his shorts and scarfing a banana down on every 3rd change over to my favorite of the past, John McEnroe. McEnroe's tirades were not because he was a complete caustic human being but instead, were as much a part of his game and style as his serve and volley.  

Me personally, my rituals include tugging at my left sleeve, bouncing the ball 5 times before each serve, taking a few deep breaths as I am getting ready for a return, and most of all straightening my string pattern after I've won or lost a point. This last one is particularly important to me due to the fact that I need to simply quiet my mind before the start of the next point.  

You may think this is all completely nuts, to which I would agree, but these rituals are actually coached and encouraged in junior tennis. Unlike team sports, and with the exception of doubles, you as a singles player are solely responsible for the good and the bad on the court. This pressure, and the pressure to the win, is unbelievable on a kid and only slightly diminishes as an adult. My personal coach when I was young, Al, encouraged me to approach every match the same way each time and to clear my head of the noise. These rituals help me to follow a consistent pattern on the court which in turn helped to ensure a calm and balanced approach to the match.  

Today, I still approach the game the same way, although maybe less intense, and follow my match rituals to a "T" to ensure success. I don't always win but like the old saying goes "I hate losing more than I like winning" and the rituals are the first step to not losing.

The "Fred"-Odyssey (Mar 27, 2016)

"For Fate has wove the thread of life with pain, And twins ev'n from the birth are Misery and Man!" Homer, Book Seven.

My apologies for the delay in posting an update but the journey, or better yet, my Fred-Odyssey has been long an arduous to say the least.  As Homer stated in Book Seven of the Odyssey, "Fate has wove the thread of life with pain".
 
Training for an Iron distance race is coming to terms that pain, misery, and ultimately happiness are synonymous.  Pain and misery is something you expect with the long training.  What is even more frightening is that the pain and misery is something you come to enjoy.  It represents accomplishment as you strive toward the end goal.  My pain and misery are self-inflicted for my journey is for Fred, Connie, Aimee, and Bill.  

I have learned that the mind is willing to quit long before the body.  Your mind tells you that its okay to stop and "you've done enough today" but you have to fight through those thoughts and simply tell them to "Go straight to Hell!".  What helps me get through the misery is hearing Fred's voice echoing in my head telling me "Come on Stevo!  Just a little bit further!"  Fred's voice has been an Angel's Harp of motivation for me during this journey and I am so thankful that it still rings loud and clear. 

Tomorrow I begin week 13 of my 27-week Fred-odyssey.  In the first twelve weeks I have logged ~668 miles, 73 hours, and 45,846 calories.  This included a lost week where I found myself down and out due to a respiratory infection.  One of the many challenges with long distance training is a weakened immune system.  Fortunately, I powered through and now back on track focused on the race in Muncie. 

Now that the easy part of the Fred-Odyssey is complete, I will transition into a much harder phase of my training, logging extreme hours and miles.  I'm certain that I'll be calling on Fred many more times to help power me through each session with his booming and soothing voice.  As Homer said in Book 15, "For too much rest itself becomes a pain."  I'm already in pain so I figure I will tell rest, just like I tell the lingering thoughts of doubt, that it can "Go straight to Hell!" 

Thank you Fred...twelve weeks down and fifteen more to go my friend.  See you in Muncie!