I love Ironman.  I love the energy.  I love everything about Ironman.  There is a certain emptiness in the air when I watch and don't toe the line.  The only thing that gets my past that is my awesome Evotri teammates and friends. I have already taken many groups out to preview the route.  It is such a blast.  This is a picture of the group I took out last night.  From Texas to Canada - we had a blast. I love Canadians!!!  :) I plan to follow teammate Michelle all day and track her updates online.  You can check it out here.

Stu interviews the awesome Bree Wee & FK from World Bicycle Relief. 

It is finally here.  The Louisville Iron man route preview.  Check out this video with the super-groovy-wickedly-cool  Ironman Champion Heather Gollnick.  During the first part of the video Heather gives you all the information you could want on the swim, bike and run portions of the route.  Next you will get an up close view of the route while Heather rides.  You also have to check out the new Trakkers GPS technology!  This stuff is going to ROCK!  Enjoy!  The video is very high definition, so you may want to let it download completely before watching.  YOU MUST watch it inside of iTunes or on your iPod.  Also, you can watch the HD version coming soon.  I will keep you posted on that.  Thanks again to Heather and the awesome group at Trakkers. 

I walked down the hall.  This was the same hall that in just a few weeks will be filled with people wishing on the Ironman dream.  The halls are much different now.  I was the only one.  I could hear my footsteps hit the carpet.  I could hear my breathing.  As I turned the corner, I had the view of the lake.  It was calm.  The lake was still.  As I walked closer I was surprised to see a lone swimmer.  I smiled as my mind raced with thoughts.  He had to be doing the Ironman.  He was out for a training swim.  He was alone.  I stood a bit longer just watching the swimmer.  I was a bit jealous.  He was training and I was not.  

As I stood near the window I saw an older man and a young boy.   They stood there as the boy yelled out "Hey look Grandpa, someone is swimming in the middle of the lake.  My mom said to never swim alone."  The grandpa looked at the boy, smiled and said.  "She is right.  The only people that swim like this are those crazy Ironman Triathletes."  The boy looked at his grandpa and said "You know what?  I don't want to be a Doctor anymore.  I want to be a Triathlete."  Looking a bit perplexed, the Grandpa said "Now why would you want to do that?"  The boy pointed his finger and said "Grandpa, He has the entire lake to himself.  He looks so happy.  I want to be a Triathlete."

As I listened to the conversation, I had the feeling I've had so many times before. I just love this sport.  I don't just love it today.  I don't just love it this year. I love this sport forever.

This entire year has been the best for me, but not for the reason you may expect.  I did the Ironman in 2003, 2005 and 2007.  I find that for me, I get so wrapped up in training, that after a big year, I need to step back.  I need to watch others.  I need to help others.  I need to learn from others.  This is just such a year.

This was the year that I watch, help, learn and most importantly support my team and the triathlon community.  This weekend was the culmination of the perfect year.

The entire Evotri Team arrived in Benton Harbor Michigan for the Steelhead 70.3 race.  We met the day before in the incredible heat and humidity.  We laughed and chatted a bit, and said our goodnights until race day.  I did not see everyone the morning of the race, but knew I would see everyone throughout the day.  I was just out to see how my Extreme commute prepared me for the bike.  I had done only 2 bricks since September of 2007, and very little swimming.  I was simply trying to stay in good shape and not loose all I had worked for in 2007.  This was a unique goal. I was not in racing shape, but I was "in shape."  I come to find out that what I was really in was "un-coached" shape.

What?  What do I mean "un-coached?"  In my commuting to and from work and running at lunch a few days a week, I was putting in the hours.  Maybe as many as when I was "training."  The difference I found was that under the guidance of a coach, you do the right amount of intensity, distance, etc...  For me, this year I was just winging it.  During the middle of my bike at Steelhead, I felt incredible.  I averaged 20.2 on the bike (that is very good for me).  Once I hit the run I knew what had happened.  I had not prepared.  I had not been coached.  It was almost an epiphany.   I put in the hours, I just had not done the right amount of everything.  It was at that time I wanted to call coach Mike (D3 Multisport) or coach Robbie (Vision Quest) and tell them of my thoughts.  The conversation would have gone something like this. "Hey Coach.  I'm in the middle of a race and I had an epiphany.  I've come to realize something I've always known.  If you are going to do this awesome thing called Ironman, the #1 goal should be to find a good coach."  The reply would be the same "Yes.  You are right."

I did not take on a coach for many reasons this year.  The biggest is that this was an "off" year for me.  Time to be free to travel, and do most anything on weekends.  Time to be free from the training.  It felt nice, but I learned so much.  I learned what it felt like again to put in hours, but not be in "racing shape."  I remember that you can never ever take Ironman for granted.

As the run went on, I started to see my fellow Evotri teammates.  I was so proud to see all of them pass me.  One by one they passed me.  I screamed and felt a bit of pride.  I wanted to scream out, "Hey look everyone.  These are my teammates."  I have never felt so much part of a team as I did when I was struggling so much to keep a 10 min pace, watching Michelle, Charlie and Chris just fly past me.  I also saw JP, Sara and Tracy.  Each time I saw them, I just smiled.  As I talked to a few of them after the race, I said with a great deal of pride - "You have know idea how proud of you I am."

That is the truth.  I'm proud, and honored to be part of this team and the Triathlon community as well!

This year is my "in shape" year.  This is my learning year.  This is my year to watch, follow, and cheer on the team.  This is my year to scream out "Hey - those are my teammates.  They rock."

After the race I jumped in my car, and made it about 20 miles before I had to make calls to my teammates.  I called to just tell them how proud I was.  How honored I was.  After talking to them, I found myself thinking about that little boy in the window.  You see I was that boy and my teammates where the ones swimming in the lake.  I want to be the one that is "in racing shape."  It will happen again.  Guaranteed.  When?  I'm not sure.   For me, this isn't about training and racing for a year or two and hanging it up.  Nope. This is a lifetime dream.  I just hope that one day I can make my team proud, just like they did for me this year.

The halls of Ironman are empty today.  But make no mistake about it, those empty halls of Ironman hold incredible dreams.  Mine included.  Just look at the picture from above.  That is the dream that I will live again! 

It's official.  I've hit the 1000 (1166 to be exact) mile mark for my commute this year.  Can you believe that for my commute to work, I have only filled my car TWICE since June.  Here are the details:

- Seven weeks so far
- 1016 miles of biking
- 150 miles of running
- 2 tanks of gas
- 1 flat tire
- 1 extreme thunderstorm
- 1 day of 60 mph winds
- 3 days of rain
- 39 low temperature
- 92 high temperature
- 1:22 = slowest commute
- :54 = fastest commute
- 39 mph, fastest speed
- 1 big smile

The Ironman Louisville route preview is almost done.  Hang on a few more days. It will be well worth the wait.  Heather and I just finished the voice portion.  She just rocks!!!!

Also, the Ironman Wisconsin videos are now available in "Windows" format. These are videos of the Ironman Wisconsin route that show every each of the swim, bike and run route with commentary about the route as you go. If you are unable to view these and need me to create a DVD, please let me know. You can also get them in video iPod format from iTunes. Just click on the video you want to see below:

Swim

Bike

Run

You can also click here for Alcatraz and other Swim routes.

Stu interviews XTERRA World Champion Conrad Stoltz.  This guy ROCKS!  Down to earth guy with some amazing advice.Conrad Stoltz

Listen as Stu interviews first year pro Kristin Hilger. 

SimplyStu interviews three world champions: Tim DeBoom (Ironman), Andy Potts (70.3), and Melanie McQuaid (XTERRA).  Also, make sure you check out Evotri teammate Bolder's site at  www.Write2Fight.com.  And finally, congrats to my two new teammates:

Charlie and Sara!  WOW is all I can say!

PS - the picture is of my FIRST ride of the season today.  Life is good.

Ten years ago, I did not know how to spell Leukemia.

Today, I think this is a work of Art. 

Details to follow.