About Me
Just in case you were wondering how I got to this point in life; Husband, father of 4 boys, Professional Firefighter, Triathlete and Endurance Coach here it is!
Well wait a second. I do want to point out that as you read this and my blogs you will see that I might not be the most gramatically correct guys out there. I think you will get the gist though. Feel free to insert your comments as you feel appropriate. Remember I am a Fireman and spend over 120 days a year at a busy Fire Station, I will fight back!
I love San Diego California. I have only spent about 6 months of my life there and have visited twice since (one of those visits was really just passing through on the way to TJ), but hey, how can you not love your birth town. My Dad was a Navy pilot. That's right, a Naval Aviator, if you are a Top Gun fan. My Brother-in-law and his friends like to call him "the Commander" I always found that to be quit humorous even though it is correct. What being the son of "the Commander" means for me is that we moved, alot! Mostly to areas that were near the water. Maybe that is why I live in Colorado and have a need to race triathlons. I have always felt the need to be in the water. After moving to places like Florida, Virginia, Rhode Island, Japan and yes even Iowa ( I put that last because for most Navy families that is more foreign then Japan) we ended up back in California. I graduated from Saugus High School, so that is where I called home for alot of years.
After high school my Dad got tired of watching me surf everyday and flip burgers at night so he gave me two options. Join the Army or go to jail! Well it was more like, find a real job or go to college. I told him I was joining the military and going to be a Marine. When he stopped laughing, he told me the smart thing to do was get my butt down to the Air force Recruiter and get signed up. Naa Dad, I want to join the real military. I found out that the Marines won't guarantee you a job so I thought the Army was the next best thing. It did take me about 4 of my 8 years in the Army to see that my Dad was pretty smart. Still to this day, I choose to learn from my, uhm experiences! One of my great accomplishments did come from this experience. I spent 3 years working as a NATO Firefighter in the Netherlands. This is where I met my beautiful wife and some how convinced her to move back to the USofA with me. 10 years later she actually likes it here! This also explains the 4 boys. Well if you need more explanation I want to use a quote from my brother-in-law. The underpants navy was deployed at least 4 times! 4 years as an Army Medic and 4 as an Army Firefighter and I was ready to get out. Well my last hurra was trying to join the Special Forces. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, I blew my knee out on my last day of Team Events and was not able to finish the selection process. So long Army hello civilian life. I was lucky enough to be hired by the Colorado Springs Fire Department where I was able to promote to the position of Driver/ Engineer my 5th year on the Job. I received my coaching certification through NESTA and the International Triathlon Coaching Association.
Well wait a second. I do want to point out that as you read this and my blogs you will see that I might not be the most gramatically correct guys out there. I think you will get the gist though. Feel free to insert your comments as you feel appropriate. Remember I am a Fireman and spend over 120 days a year at a busy Fire Station, I will fight back!
I love San Diego California. I have only spent about 6 months of my life there and have visited twice since (one of those visits was really just passing through on the way to TJ), but hey, how can you not love your birth town. My Dad was a Navy pilot. That's right, a Naval Aviator, if you are a Top Gun fan. My Brother-in-law and his friends like to call him "the Commander" I always found that to be quit humorous even though it is correct. What being the son of "the Commander" means for me is that we moved, alot! Mostly to areas that were near the water. Maybe that is why I live in Colorado and have a need to race triathlons. I have always felt the need to be in the water. After moving to places like Florida, Virginia, Rhode Island, Japan and yes even Iowa ( I put that last because for most Navy families that is more foreign then Japan) we ended up back in California. I graduated from Saugus High School, so that is where I called home for alot of years.
After high school my Dad got tired of watching me surf everyday and flip burgers at night so he gave me two options. Join the Army or go to jail! Well it was more like, find a real job or go to college. I told him I was joining the military and going to be a Marine. When he stopped laughing, he told me the smart thing to do was get my butt down to the Air force Recruiter and get signed up. Naa Dad, I want to join the real military. I found out that the Marines won't guarantee you a job so I thought the Army was the next best thing. It did take me about 4 of my 8 years in the Army to see that my Dad was pretty smart. Still to this day, I choose to learn from my, uhm experiences! One of my great accomplishments did come from this experience. I spent 3 years working as a NATO Firefighter in the Netherlands. This is where I met my beautiful wife and some how convinced her to move back to the USofA with me. 10 years later she actually likes it here! This also explains the 4 boys. Well if you need more explanation I want to use a quote from my brother-in-law. The underpants navy was deployed at least 4 times! 4 years as an Army Medic and 4 as an Army Firefighter and I was ready to get out. Well my last hurra was trying to join the Special Forces. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, I blew my knee out on my last day of Team Events and was not able to finish the selection process. So long Army hello civilian life. I was lucky enough to be hired by the Colorado Springs Fire Department where I was able to promote to the position of Driver/ Engineer my 5th year on the Job. I received my coaching certification through NESTA and the International Triathlon Coaching Association.
My Boys
At this point of my story I do have to mention that my wife and 4 boys are my biggest and best fans. They are with me like a finely tuned pit crew at every race. Well at the ages of 9 months, 3, 5, and 7 the boys do the best they can anyway! Truely, if is was not for my family I would not be where I am today.
My athlete background mostly revolved around running. I ran as much as much as I could through high school. Not because I was 6 feet tall and weighed 130 lbs and was trying not to get beat up, but because I actually enjoyed it. I ran Track, indoor track (when in Va.) Oh, forgot to mention that I did go to 4 differtent high schools. What I really loved was Cross Country! If I remember right my PB in a 5K was 16:40ish. Not world class but I think I was pretty good! I swam competitively here and there in high school, but most of my aquatic experience was from surfing. I did not buy my first road bike until 2008. Really the only reason that I bought is was because I got tired of paying $4.00 a gallon for gas. Little did I know this would lead to one of the most expensive sports around. My Triathlon career did not start until the summer of 2008. Kind of a late start at 34 years old but I am now seeing that most people in this sport don't get into it until their 30's. For me it was out of necessity. I was strugling with hypertension. I know, I am way to young for that, but you trying raising 4 boys and driving the 6th busiest Company in the U.S. Really, ask Firehouse Magazine! I needed a reason to get back in shape. My Brother-in-law and little Sis just raced Ironman Tempe. You can't get any better motivation then that. All of this has lead to my ICTA coaching certification and wanting to help others find the same healthy life style that I have found in the sport and life style that is called Triathlon! So, Here we are, the road to Kona. Thanks for being here to follow me down this road or allowing me to help you down yours!
My athlete background mostly revolved around running. I ran as much as much as I could through high school. Not because I was 6 feet tall and weighed 130 lbs and was trying not to get beat up, but because I actually enjoyed it. I ran Track, indoor track (when in Va.) Oh, forgot to mention that I did go to 4 differtent high schools. What I really loved was Cross Country! If I remember right my PB in a 5K was 16:40ish. Not world class but I think I was pretty good! I swam competitively here and there in high school, but most of my aquatic experience was from surfing. I did not buy my first road bike until 2008. Really the only reason that I bought is was because I got tired of paying $4.00 a gallon for gas. Little did I know this would lead to one of the most expensive sports around. My Triathlon career did not start until the summer of 2008. Kind of a late start at 34 years old but I am now seeing that most people in this sport don't get into it until their 30's. For me it was out of necessity. I was strugling with hypertension. I know, I am way to young for that, but you trying raising 4 boys and driving the 6th busiest Company in the U.S. Really, ask Firehouse Magazine! I needed a reason to get back in shape. My Brother-in-law and little Sis just raced Ironman Tempe. You can't get any better motivation then that. All of this has lead to my ICTA coaching certification and wanting to help others find the same healthy life style that I have found in the sport and life style that is called Triathlon! So, Here we are, the road to Kona. Thanks for being here to follow me down this road or allowing me to help you down yours!
