What an Epic Journey!!

I am fresh back from my first trip to the Grand Canyon. What better way to see something as expansive and old as over 300 million years, than to immerse one's self deep inside of said Canyon?
Our trip started with an uncanny happening. Car all loaded, and ready to pull out of the garage. Turn the key, and nada, nothing. Dead battery. Shit!! Ok. lets just jump it and we are off. Done, ok back on track and only 5 minutes lost. Now just fill up the gas tank and hit the highway. Oh, shit!! It won't start again, and this time it takes like 15 minutes to get it charge enough to start. NOT GOOD. We call a friend that has a car dealership and that is on our way, and he says "stop in we can check it out and fix it quick", so the battery is bad. I year old, and it is shot. Kris has a guy run and get us a new battery and install fast. After a few little strange car computer issues and 50minutes or so later we are back on the highway. Whew!!
The drive up to the Grand Canyon was actually pretty uneventful, we arrived to the Mather overlook pt. about 30 minutes before all the others that where meeting us. Just enough time for my first look and the huge hole in the earth. A couple quick pics and we are off to the camp grounds to set up our tents. A few Big Sky brews, some marsh mellows, and off to sleep to prepare for a 3am wake up call.
DAY ONE: We where all so excited to get started, and by 4:25am we where on the South Kaibab trail and headed to the Canyon bottom and the Colorado river some 6000ft below us. Did I mention, it is pitch dark as we start this very, very steep decent?
After roughly 2ish hours and about 4000 pictures taken we hit the bottom. It was sooooo nice to be on flat ground, as short lived as it would be I took total advantage of it. Mary new of a little side trail that leads to a cool little secluded water fall where we all sat down for the first time and noshed on our lunches. After about twenty minutes we where back on the trail and headed to what would be the hardest part of the day. (the climb up to the North Rim). as we crossed the Canyon floor we all fell in line and got a nice little running pace line going for about a hour. stopping only to refill our water at the last stop before reaching the top of the North Rim. This would also mark the last time we would see any flats for several hours. Mary (the billy goat) Knott took the lead as we climbed, and climbed and climbed. I ran up to her and we talked and stayed together for a while, before I kinda found myself alone at the front of the group. Just like in any race I have ever done, I started to focus on getting to the top. Stopping a few times to make sure everyone behind me was doing ok, and then off I would go again. As we started to crest the North Rim we started seeing the left over snow from the crazy winter they had in Northern Arizona. We could all start smelling the finish at this point and just wanted to get there already. Of course the entire day everyone talk about the need for some cold beers and a shower, and I think that keep most of us going forward. As I reached the top of the trail there where a bunch of other people that had finished just before our group and they where cheering us all and offering up free cold COKES! that was one of the best Cokes I have ever had. I sat there at the top waiting for the group and taking "finisher pictures" as each and everyone of us made it to the top. How freakin cool it was to see each of their faces as they realized the had made it. We tried not to think about the return trip tomorrow. I think the longest part of the day may have been the 1.5 hike/run to the cabins/saloon. Then after a few beers/shots, and some well earned dinner we where off to the cabins for a short sleep and another 3am wake up call.

DAY 2: After, basically no sleep due to the snoring idiot in the adjoining cabin. we where up and actually reading to get it on. The early morning temps where much colder. Me in my sleevless shirt and shorts, and everyone else in long sleeves and pants. I couldn't get anyone to start running with me to warm up so we just fast walked the 1.5miles to the trail head. Then we started all over again. a almost 7000ft steep decent down the Canyon floor. Luckily Eric gave one of his shirts to throw on and that kept me comfortable for the first half hour until I warmed up a bit, and the sun came up. The quads and ankles where a bit sore, but not as bad as I had guessed they would be, but after heading straight down the mountain side for an hour or so, I was starting to feel it. At this point I knew there was nothing I could do about it, and would just have to deal with the soreness until we got back to the car on the other side of the South Rim. With about 2-3 miles left in our decent Kata started to run, I was a bit hesitant at first, because of the trashed quads, but figured what the hell, lets just get this over with, so her and I took off straight down and around some really hairy switch backs, and before I knew it, we had made it back to Cottonwood and the flats. We just chilled out for a few minutes and we all gathered back up to start the run to Phantom Ranch. We started out little pace line again and it felt much better than hiking down hill. I tried to stay at the back of the group so as to keep an eye out for everyone else in case someone had a problem out there. I figured being the stronger of the runners, that if I was the one to fall off the back that I would be able to catch up at some point. Sure enough as we crossed over one of the bridges I rolled my left ankle all the way over, and stopped for a minute or two to gather myself and take advantage of the break to take a nature break. Then I was back off running, and really flying. I caught back up with the group before they even knew I was missing. We basically stayed together running for the next 1 1/2 straight until we reached Phantom Ranch and our lunch stop. We relaxed for 1/2 an hour and ate and drank, preparing our minds and bodys for the last really tough push up the finish at the South Rim. Back across the river, through the tunnel and bam, there it started. More steep switch backs then you could count for the next 3hrs. Almost instantly Mary (billy goat) Knott shot to the front again, and we started to drop the rest of the group. From here on out it was pretty much every man and women for themselves. Whatever you have to do to get yourself there. I once again (like yesterday) found myself off the front alone for most of the climb, but tried to keep an close eye on the rest of our group from the top of the switchbacks. Finally deciding about half way up that we should regroup and take 5. After a quick calorie push we where all back at it. This last half of the climb was the hardest part of our two days. The switchbacks just got higher and steeper with every turn. When we passed the sign that indicated we had actually passed the half way mark we all got a little extra energy boost, just when everyone needed it. As we inched closer and closer to the top we started passing more and more people that where out for a little day hike. It felt so good to know you where so much stronger than most of these people and that you are so close to accomplishing such a great endurance event (Rim 2 Rim 2 Rim)!!!
Finally I turned a corner and there it was, The sign indicating that I had made it back to the top of the South Rim just ahead of me. At this point I paused to wait for Mary so that we could finish the last few feet together. Hell Yes, we did it. I stopped at the top and yelled encouragement to the group, while snapping a pic of each and everyone as they crested the top of the finish line.
PRICELESS!!!!! After a few teary eyes and pictures we complete the 1.4 mile hike/run back to the car where we all dug into the food and drinks that we had waiting for us. We rearranged the car and all piled in looking for the nearest Pizza place. It was one of the best pizzas I have ever had, and then we started the long drive back to Gilbert with a lifetime memory that no one can ever take away from each and everyone of us. Thanks goes out to all of our crew. Eric, Kata, Nick, Rebecca, and Callie. What a cool group to experience this adventure with. A huge special hug, kiss and thanks goes to my amazing wife, for without her the day never would have
happened. I LOVE YOU MARY!!!

I have been a little distracted.

I have been away from the blog for some time. For me my blogging goes hand in hand with the feeling of accomplishment and hard work. Don't ask me why, just seems to work that way.
So I have a few things to finally share. Not sure where to start so I will just jump right in!!
March- seemed to just fly by. We had a great, (but way to short), to Oceanside California to tackle what has become an annual event for Mary and myself. After a 5ish hour drive to the coast with friends (Kata, Nick & Kevin) following us in car #2, we arrived at MY ocean. A quick stop off at the packet pickup (right on the ocean) and then a check in at our condo for the next 48hrs. (again, right on the ocean), and at the start and finish line of the IM 70.3 race. Pizza and a beer for dinner (right on the water), and an early to bed.
Race morning started early as usual, but it was sure nice to be 100 yards from transition. I went into the race a little under prepared on the bike, and a little over prepared on the run. All in all my day went so, so. I biked a little faster than last year, and ran a little slower. Go figure!, my over all time ended up a few seconds faster than the previous year. Mary on the other hand smashed the course for a huge course "PR". After wards we had two things on our minds 1- get Mary a slot to Canada, and then get us all some Margaritas!! and so we did, and then some. We all followed that up with a little (not so midnight, swim in the Pacific) it was actually like 9pm.
Mary made it all the way to 9:37pm before passing out on our bed for the night. Great time had by all. Next morning we where up bright and early and on our bikes to our favorite little breakfast/coffee shop, Buccaneers (right on the Ocean). Unfortunately the end of breakfast marked the end of the Ocean, and it was time to pack the cars and drive back to Phoenix. All in all it was a great weekend and we will be back

No, Really, I am still alive!!

I know, I know, it has been a looooong while since I have blogged. See what happens when you get married!!??
Just kidding. Marriage has been great. Not much different than it was before December, except for when Mary had to figure out the taxes.
Life has been crazy busy, Mary is now working 6 days a week, and of course we are both still training full on.
I have raced a few times in 2010, with lots more to come. I raced the PF Changs 1/2. result was ok with a time of 1:22. we got to meet some great runners. Olympians Ryan Hall & Deena Kastor to name a few.
After that I raced the Londons 1/2 with a little better result of 1:19 (course was short), but finished 2nd overall.
Race # 3 was the Pemberton 50K trail race, I ended up doing as a relay with Kelsey. We smoked the course settinga new course record and winning the overall relay award.
Next of the schedule is the Desert Classic Duathlon( stay tuned on the results). on 2-28-10...
Our next trip will be to Oceanside Cali for the IM 70.3. We love this race, and the location. My favorite place, wish we could live there soooooo bad.
Most importantly though is the upcoming marathon fun. Mary, Katie and I will be toeing the line at the Boston Marathon (Mary & Katie's 1st time), on April 19th. Mary is VERY excited, which makes me very excited for her. We will have a fabulous time in BeanTown, then 6 days later we will follow that up with a trip to Monterrey Cali, to run the BIg Sur 26.2. This may be very interesting.
Keeping the theme of new and crazy things we then leave for the Grand Canyon on May 14th to run the Rim to Rim to Rim or something like that!?
Stay tuned and I will try to do a better job of staying updated, at least until June when the Ironman Training kicks in full force!!!

It is all Legal and Shit now!!

Thats right, we did it. All hitched up and married!!!

It has been a very exciting few weeks after IMAZ. We finally hit out "off season", and we kicked it off in a big way with out first beermile. I will spare you most of the details, and just leave it at this "We Are the CHAMPIONS my friends" Thats right Mary and myself have bragging rights for the next year after hammering the competition at the Beer Mile Worldchampionships. Ok, well at least the PTC club championships. Finishing #1 and #2 overall.

Next up was our BIG Day. Again I will spare you most of the details, but we, along with several of our friends did Vegas, the 1/2 marathon and the run through wedding on Dec 6th. What a fun time we had.

Then to top off our final week of off season we showed up yesterday to Usery Park for the Ride N Tie. We where tapered and ready to go, our new game plan worked well, we just cam up short. Finishing first in the Coed division, and a podium finish of top three overall. What huge fun we had. the highlight of course being the not so aide station at mile 4. Which included hammering down to nice size glasses of egg nog and grapefruit juice mixed together, and two bowls of other assorted hard to chew and swallow treats. Thanks Eric!!

Next up is our annual New Years day 5k, and hopefully a New years eve polar bear plunge, if we can talk some of our wussy friends into joining us!!

Last Time

Just a quick little note to mention this is the last blog I will make as a single man.
We are off to Vegas in the morning, and will be wed on sunday morning during the Vegas 1/2 marathon. There will be much to follow. Until then, look out Vegas!!

Where has 2009 went?

Wow, as I sit here typing this blog entry, I realized that 2009 is coming to a close. It just seems like Nov 2008 and I was so excited about what 2009 would bring, and how far off it all seemed to be.
I am now facing my last real race week of the year, and I feel so unsatisfied by my 2009 race season. On the other hand, the most amazing thing happened on September 13th. It made all the tough times in 2009 seem less important. That my friends is a day that will be remembered by many for the rest of our lives. Just a little recap, that is when Mary finished her latest Ironman(Wisconsin). While crossing the finish line she held up a sign high over her head reading,
(Dan, Marry Me)?
Of course I said yes just seconds later and the party began.
This saturday I toe the line at my 2nd Ironman World Championship for 2009. It is the 70.3 race in Clearwater, Florida, and unlike 4 weeks ago, I will smash the shit out of it. I will then hurry home to my sweetheart and help her get ready for her final Ironman of the 2009 season, and another "PR". Followed by turkey day at our house with her family and Megan, which is going to be tons of fun. Then less than two weeks later it is off to Vegas to get hitched at the Las Vegas Marathon. Then the following week is Mary's 33rd B-day, then it is 10 days til xmas and then it is New Years day, and we will be preparing to watch the BUCKEYES win a bowl game.
Which officially marks the start of the 2010 race season. Lots of fun on the schedule for 2010, capping it off 50 1/2 weeks from now with a smashing of the Ironman Arizona course and my new "PR"!!!
Whew, I am worn out just thinking about it. Stay tuned for a exciting ride!!

My first Hawaii trip!!!

I will start my race report with a little recap of the days leading up to the big day.

*Tuesday, October 6th
Mary and I were awoken at 4:30a.m by the sound of our alarm clock screaming “it is time to go to Hawaii, get your asses up. A quick loading of the car and we where off to SkyHarbor airport. Along the way Mary started a photo-documentary of our travels. Normally we never take any pictures when we go somewhere and I spend the entire time saying where is the camera? Great job sweetheart!
After dragging what would become a very familiar job of traveling with 2 bike boxes and 2 other checked bags, we were finally aboard our first of many flights on our way to Honolulu. Arriving right on time and after a short lay over onto our next leg of the trip to the big island of Hawaii and our final destination , for a few days at least of Kailua-Kona. Ironman holy ground and the mecca of Ironman racing.
Our rental jeep and bikes all loaded , off we headed onto the first journey down the infamous Queen K Hwy. Just like in all the pictures I had seen, it was uninviting, very windy, and humid as hell. A short 15 minutes later we pulled down Alii Drive and into out accommodations for race week. The Royal Kona Resort. At this point the next three and a half days where pretty much a blur, with a few things sticking out here and there.

* Wednesday, October 7th
Mary and I meet Marc Rubin at the pier for my first swim on the actual World Championship course.
We swam about 40 minutes, which included a trip out to the Kona Coffee boat, where you swim up and they serve you free shots of coffee or Gatorade. Then we headed off towards our turn around buoy when we saw Roch Frey on his stand up paddle board. He asked if either of us wanted to give it a try, and Mary not having to worry about getting injured before race day rose her hand and jump on up. She only went for a short time, but was totally hooked, and wants to go again soon. The swim back in to shore was kinda crazy, we had what seemed like thousands of swimmers all going in the opposite direction, so we put Marc out front to block for us and let him lead us home safely.
Then I knew it was time to face the demons and go for a short ride out on the Queen K. Mary and I loaded the Jeep and headed out to find a place to park and start our ride from. It was getting warm already and it must have been only 8:30a.m. Down the road we went, after about 20 minutes Mary texted me and said :I have had enough, “I am going back to the car to wait for you”. Seems she forgot to eat and with the heat, and wind ,was already bonking. So I went out 30 minutes and then came back. I felt great that day on the bike. Must be a good omen, RIGHT?! We will see.

*Thursday , October 8th (THE UNDER PANTS RUN)
T-minus two days until blast off. The morning started off with a nice lttle run around Alii drive with several of my closest freinds, oh yeah, we where all in our underwear. A lot of fun, some things you never want to see again, and some things that you wish you had on a poster.(The Lovato's).Following the run it started to feel like this thing is going to actually happen when Marc and I went through registration together giving each other shit and taking tons of pics of each other. We where interviewed by Jessi Steensland from Active.com. It is up on their website under Ironman videos.
Once we had our athlete wristbands and all that goes with them, we hit the Ironman store for a few hard earned gifts. Marc and I had waited a long time to be able to buy some IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS gear. With goodies in tow we headed back to our rooms for a little R&R.
The remainder of the day was pretty low key, a little jog, and dinner and off to bed.

*Friday, October 9th
This day is all about bike and gear bag check in. this was one of the coolest parts of my experience, you show up with said gear and bikes at a time determined by your bib number. When you arrive they have at least 50 people from all walks of the cycling world counting and checking out every little piece of bike equipment you have, from the frame down to your bottle cages, and everything in between. Then you are taken by your very own volunteer through transition. They take your bags, your bike anything you need and walk you through every inch of transition and answer every possible question you may have. So first class, you know you are in Kona now!! So after leaving my trusty steed behind off Mary and I head for an early dinner and bed time.




Race Day
October 10th 2009
(the day I had waited for and dreamed about for soooo long, the day that just a few weeks back I didn’t know if I was going to be part of) as many of you know my trials and tribulations I will make this brief, but I missed qualifying by :12 seconds in April of 2008 in a sprint finish to the line. Only to come back in November of the same year to get the last qualifying spot in my age group by :11 seconds in a sprint finish to that same line. After all the hard work and sacrifice I was in the best shape of my life leading into the end of July 2009 when I was forced off the road by a car while riding my bike. Resulting in 4 breaks of my right clavicle and followed by surgery to insert a metal plate and 7 screws to hold it all in place. After weeks of extreme rehab I decided that even based on my limited training base that there was no way I was missing this day damn it!!!
So anyway, back to race day. We woke up at 4:30 and after the normal stuff we headed down to the swim start where we met up with Marc Rubin , Jeff Bassett and their families. I did my body marking, and we did some picture taking and Marc, Jeff and I started getting our minds right for the day that laid ahead.
Finally a big kiss good bye to Mary and I was headed into transition and it was time to put on my not so speedy speed suit, and head to the water.

THE SWIM

Well just so happens among the 1800 plus athletes I swam right up to Jeff and we hung out the final 5 minutes or so together excited to get the day going. Then bam, the cannon sounded and it was every man or woman for themselves. Let the slugfest begin! I spent the next 30ish minutes trying to find some clean water. What most of you don’t know is that I met with my surgeon the week before and the x-rays showed that the bone is not healed yet and that as long as no one kicked or punched me in my shoulder then I should be fine. Well lets just say that is all that happened for the first 30 minutes or so, and that was all I could hear in my head was him telling me that, and all I could think was I wasn’t getting dragged out of this water by a life guard and having my day cut short. (not finishing was not a option)!
Once I made the turn buoy I figured out a couple of things, first off the life guards keep the course so tight that each time I saw one of them and they pointed us towards the other way it was because the width of the course was only like 25 meters. So each time I corrected myself I was correcting to far and was ending up on the other side of the 25 meters, but I thought I kept swimming way off course. The other effect of this narrow alley is that everyone stays right on top each other pretty much the entire swim. Just after the turn I had to stop and dump the salt water out of my goggles because my eyes where on fire and that is when I realized the narrowness of the course and felt like I swam a much straighter line back to shore. I came out of the water and looked at my watch 1:16, the slowest, by far Ironman swim I have ever had, I bent down and kissed the top step so happy to be back on dry land.

T1

Pretty nonevent full, hosed the salt water off of me, took off my speed suit and headed for the long run to the bike. I think only Ironman Wisconsin has a longer T1 transition .

THE BIKE

My first order of business was to get up the hill out of transition and get some water in my mouth.
I had swallowed my share of salt water over the last hour and my nose was burning and my mouth was so damn dry. All I could think about was getting that ocean taste out of my mouth.
Onto the bike course I saw Mary ay about mile 5 and then after the turn around at about mile 7ish . I blew her a big kiss because I knew from this point on it was going to be a long time and a major effort before I would see her again. One or two small turns and we where off onto the Queen K. This time it counted, and my very simple plan was to go out conservatively to mile 60 in Hawi (the turn around) and just see how things played out from there. My first sign of the trouble that lay ahead was when I had my first ever flat in a competition. Mile 30 into the World Championships, are you kidding me, and of course it was the back so it takes a little more time to change and causes a much bigger mess of grease on your hands for the rest of the day. Oh well, 5 to 10 minutes later I was off again. I was feeling good and flying by people, most of whom I had already passed once. At one point in the the first 45 or so miles I was still averaging over 22 mph. I knew that was a little fast, but didn’t feel like I was really killing myself at that point. Then things changed in a hurry. The ride up to Hawi was into a tough head wind. Though I made the turn and was flying again at 40 mph down hill and pretty darn happy. Here is when the awakening happened around mile 75 or so, I noticed that my average speend was dropping quickly, and I had no answer for it. The wind was relentless, and the word to describe my day came out for the first time, BRUTAL!!! I just started thinking about survival, it didn’t make sense to me, I had ridden lots of windy days, and on bigger hills, but my body
Just was not responding. Now what? I did everything I could think of to change things, eat, drink, salt tabs, stand up and stretch, nothing made a difference. Then I lost my chain, so I though ok, get off and fix it and take a minute to stretch your legs out. Here I have about 25 miles to go and start to cramp like I have never cramped before. My adductor muscles where in full rigor, I could not pedal. Not good! Seriously, not at all,
I grabbed a mouth full of salt tabs, and half a bottle of Infinit, and hoped for the best. Luckily the let up, but I could tell the damage was done and I wasn’t out of the dark yet. Just try to get back to town is what I kept telling myself. Not finishing is not an option!!! Do whatever it takes. It started to become so painful that I was actually yelling in pain. I got to the last him coming into town and was not sure how I would get up it, I had 1 mile to go and couldn’t stand, sit, pedal coast, it all hurt like hell full on Charlie horses in my legs and nothing helped, with lots of yelling and effort I made it to the top and never pedaled again, I coasted the last mile back into transition. Bike time with my flat was 6:03. By far my slowest bike leg ever.

T2

I honestly have never been happier to be off of my bike in my entire life, but I can not even run through T2,
So I walk the entire way to the changing tent, did I mention that it is a really long transition area?!
I grabbed my run bag and sat down in a chair. Trying to think what I can do to help myself out of this deep hole I had gotten into.

THE RUN

If you want to call it a run. It was more like a walk with intervals of running included. My problem of leg crapping became major stomach cramping instead. I walked the first mile out of transition where I saw Mary and the Triscottsdale group. I was hurting bad at this point and Mary gave me some tough love, basically she told me this is what I had worked so hard for and it was time to dig deeper than I had ever dug before and just get to the finish line. Not finishing was not an option, even if it took until midnight. I really thought at that point that it could take until midnight. I saw Marc on my way out to the first run turn around and he too was suffering, and he told me to catch him. I so wanted to, but every time I tried to run my legs cramped and worst my stomach would just double me over. Mary came by on her bike at about mile 5 and gave me some encouraging words for the next few miles, but then it was off to the Queen k again. This part from mile 10 until the turn around in the energy lab at mile 17ish, was the longest section of any race in my life. I tried everything to be able to run and nothing worked. I tried food, not good, cola, not good, gels, not good, water, not good, I tried to vomit and couldn’t, I tried to pass gas and couldn’t. I was just run a bit and walk a bit. Finally when I entered the Energy Lab things started to come around a little. I was able to run a little farther each attempt. I was flying when I was running the entire time, around 7 minute miles. Finally at about 19 miles I was able to start hammer out entire miles at a time before the cramping would come. So on and off I went. Once I hit mile 24 I said get this shit done, suck it up and finish already. I ran to the top of the last hill (Palani) and made the turn down hill to the 25mile mark, I just dug in and kept pushing, flying by people, onto the last right turn onto Alii Dr and the finish line. Just before the finish I see Mary and all of my buddies that had raced and all of our friends and families that came out and yelled for nearly 13 hours in that heat and humity, and I ran up the ramp and Mike Reilly called me an Ironman again. What a feeling and what a day.
As I wandered out of the finishing area there was mu love Mary to take care of me, and boy did I need it.
I always say that I want to push myself until I vomit in a race, and this time I did twice after finishing. Thanks to Marc and the use of his room and shower. Now lets go get some French fries!!!!!


This was the hardest day in my racing career, and I am so grateful for it!
Thank you to everyone that sent me so many kind words through face book and text, and phone calls.
A big Thank You to my medical team that help me realize this dream, Dr Amit @ASMC, Matt (The scrapper) Kraemer, Shawna @ Endurance Rehab, Christina (Surf Kats) LaRoche, Carson Robertson @ Alpha Chiropratic, & Jason Loth @ Sports Docs.
Thank you to Triscootsdale for being such a great bunch of teammates. I will be back!!!
Most of all thank you to my fiancee Mary, with out here support I would never have made it to Kona.
I can not put into words what she has meant to me, and can not even begin to list all of the things she has done for me. I love you!!


Mahalo
Dan

Mary and I in front of the Big Island Jewlery store. Where Mary bought our wedding rings!