That being said, here's a little more about me.... In January 2008 I went in for a routine physical weighing 200lbs at 5 foot 7 inches. I discovered I had terrible blood work - high cholesterol, high triglycerides, pre liver damage, and pre heart disease. With diet and some jog walking I lost the weight. I ran into an Old friend, Phil Snyder, who had a run club and frequented several others. He encouraged me to join him for a few and then my passion for running had rekindled!
I was 31 at the time, I was a retail manager at Levi's, a father of 2 boys (Mako 7, Toshi 4), and I was a mediocre husband to my wife (Alisha). I lost more weight and had been inspired by yet another friend Dick Dime or also known as Richard Paradis, who was training for his 1st Ironman Triathlon.
This guy seemed nuts to me! Swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and then Run 26.2 miles all at once?! CRAZY... but i was intrigued! I was then talked into training for my 1st sprint triathlon for the following spring. With 6 months to train I did it! I completed in the top 53 finishers and top 10 in my age group! I was bit by the Tri bug and then hooked! (Maybe a bit over hooked...)
Time went on and I trained like a maniac! Spent every free moment and dollar I had on the sport of TRIATHLON! This did not do well for my already ignored wife and kids... our lives had already had some major strains due to my father passing away in 2003 and then my mother developing a mental disorder shortly after my dad passed from lung cancer. We had financial burdens, parenting stresses, work stresses, and the stress and depression of dealing with my mother's mental disorder.
We filed for bankruptcy due to caring for my mother and we lost our house too. I had also hopped from job to job-making financial matters worse as well. I had put us in a very bad spot, and my mother wasn’t helping to make matters worse. We finally got her set up in an assisted living center and got her financial aid over time. But I had found my stress outlet... my THING, my passion, my release! All at the cost of my family... I put SO much time into me and my training... I had lost irreversible time and damage that I had done to my wife and kids.
The day before Alisha and I moved out of the house we had lost in April 2010... she told me she wanted to NOT be married to me anymore. She had HAD IT! She was done... done asking for help, done seeing me ignore our children, and done seeing me be a selfish bastard! She tried... she tried crying, begging and pleading, for my attention and for help. For the kids... for her. But i didn't listen. I didn't react.
I cried, and begged, and pleaded... I finally realized I could loose it all... all that I took for granted for nearly 8 years. We saw a counselor. I started a new and higher paying job. I tried to move around my triathlon training... even though I had selfishly signed up for an IRONMAN prior to our conversation in April. I was workig on it... we were working on it.... and then IT happened.
On August 13th 2010 (Friday the 13th) at 11:30 at night... A car while riding my bicycle home after work hit me. I had a great training morning that day... 3000 yards of swimming, 2 hours on the bike trainer (40 miles) and a 6 mile run at 7 minute per mile pace... then a ride to work to get more miles in on the bike and then a ride home after work. I was flying home and in the best shape of my life! I stopped at a red light and looked down to fix my gloves. I heard a honk and didn't look at the light clearly to see it was still red... then an 80 year old man in a Dodge Ram hit me on my side at 45 mph! I flew! My life flashed before my eyes as I went limp and shut my eyes hoping for the best while in mid air...
I had later discovered that I had a broken Fibula, Torn MCL, and Torn Meniscus. I was done... NO IRONMAN! $500 gone and 9 months of training gone just in the blink of an eye. I remember calling Alisha from the emergency room... she wasn't even that concerned about me and she didn't even pick me up from the hospital. She had her step dad pick me up... served me right after all the wrong I had done to her. I had lost her love... and it was very obvious to me now. Man... that hurt more than the accident.
The next day I realized, and found out quickly, that my new job as a retail manager at Aeropostale would be ending as a result of my accident too! I was terminated since I could not work without the use of my crutches. I was considered a liability to customers and employees since my crutches could trip somebody. So, there I was! Lost the love of my wife, lost the use of my leg, lost my job, and I was unable to do the one thing that brought me so much joy and relieved my stress... NO SWIMMING, NO BIKING, and NO RUNNING!
I later collected unemployment, and my driving insurance covered the medical bills. I eventually got a new job and healed up after 3 months. I had to learn how to walk again, and then eventually RUN. I was spinning on the bike, swimming some laps, and my favorite thing is running. That came at the end of October/ early November... man i had gotten slow. I was SO FAST and so VERY cocky too. Just deserts for me on many different levels...
My time of healing was very reflective... I learned a lot about me, my wife, and my kids. I spent quality time for once with the kids, and any moment I had with Alisha was greatly appreciated. I manned up on the duties at the house and became a better father! I got a great job... at a fitness and wellness shoe store. A perfect job for me and I am very passionate/happy about it!
Things were looking up! I was running again... a lot! I signed up for the Colfax Marathon in January and then ran it on May 15th 2011! I got a new PR (Personal Record) of 3 hours and 22 minutes! Beating my best time of 3:30 by 8 minutes! I smiled the whole time of every mile for 26.2 miles! I ran it with my best friend, Kevin Maas, and had the time of my life!
I am so thankful for my life, for my family, for my wife, for my friends, and fore my job! Every swim, bike or run workout is a blessing from God! I appreciate every little thing and have a whole new aspect on life! I am TRI-ING... and TRI-ING SMILING! :)
I'm working on my marriage with my wife right now... we're hanging on by a thread. I am working on strengthening my bond and time with my children too. I want to be a better son and caregiver to my mom. I am also working on being a better me! I want to be the most positive and happy person possible.... there is enough negativity out there. As I train now... I am so very thankful for the ability to do so on so many different levels…. I am thankful and happy! :) That's how we all should be!
