It's been awhile

a long while.  Since my last post I've:

• Completed an Ironman Triathlon
• gotten more involved with school
• so involved that I hardly ever trained last semester 
•  made a lot of great connections with people
• studied 33 hours in one weekend for a physics final
• the most studying I have EVER done for a test 

But now thats out of the way, I finally got to my training regimen again.  Balancing two student leadership positions and two engineering project classes along with a social life, other homework, life is a little hectic.  

Which makes me revisit an old post...

MOPS http://mj2im.blogspot.com/2011/03/mops.html

Motivation + Optimism + Perseverance = Success in what ever goal you have set for yourself and life in general.
Each piece is so critical to success. Passionate motivation is needed to get you up and go get what you are after. Motivation to do the very best in absolutely everything you do. When I worked at Baskin Robbins when a customer ordered something, I swore to make that item the best (and sometimes biggest) it could be. I was the best damn shake maker this side of the Mississippi. Real, genuine optimism in everything that you start (don't run a race after you've shot yourself in the foot!) and every obstacle you come across.  Optimism brings down your stress level (which means getting sick less), increases productivity, and most importantly gives you a reason for living. Nothing is ever that bad, and YOU are never that bad. Also, many people quit after the first hardship so you've already got them beat! Perseverance to battle through tough challenges and learn from failures.

This is the recipe for success.  

19 Days

19 long days before the start of my first Ironman

Im going to be completely honest: I'm crapping my pants.  I never thought this day would arrive.  A year long's worth of ups and downs and the day is so close i can taste it on the edge of my lips.  

My friend is gracious enough to let me stay in her room during part of my stay.  That's such a big help especially to help my body get acclimatized to the weather.  I don't know what to expect but Im doing research and will survey the environment when i arrive.

Here's a brief glimpse of what triathletes go through in order to get ready for one of these races.  IT's not just a sport it's a way of life.  And a motivational vid along to boot!

back to training!

76 miles to ice cream Heaven

My buddy Mitchell and I went on a 76 mile bike ride for the coveted Three Rivers Ice cream.  We went from Visalia, CA to Three Rivers, CA. I brought two homemade bean and cheese burritos, a nutrigrain bar, a balance bar and some water for this trip.  The ride was flat for about the first hour and then once we got close to Lake Kaweah, the hills showed their faces.  Starting off small and then progressively getting larger as we hit the lake and went past it.

We jumped in the chilly lake for a little bit and had a lady take a picture of us.  Some kid wouldn't stop making obnoxiously loud and funny fart noises on the lake and it was funny seeing other people jump into the freezing cold lake with us.  Then we finally made it to the ice cream shop and it was CLOSED! We were a little upset but it wasn't that big of a deal. Then the owner came outside and invited us in.  I was full of joy.  I ended up getting some delicious-ass orange sherbert and strawberry ice cream while Mitch settled for the butterfinger.

On the way back to Visalia, it seemed like the hills never stopped.   Once we hit the flat stretch home, I started getting immensely sleepy and kind of delirious.  A dog was about an inch from biting Mitch's leg off and I could not stop laughing uncontrollably.  The whole ride ended up taking 6:15 give or take 30-45 due to jumping in the lake and stopping for ice cream. Here are some pictures from the ride.

Here are shots of Lake Kaweah.

This was take 15, it takes an enormous amount of skill to do this on first try hahah

And to the victors go the spoils.

*Update: I found out that the ice cream place we went to was NOT the world famous ice cream place so we will have to do the ride again soon! 

*Update: Dejch's comment reminded me that I had drank copious amounts of alcohol the night before and at 8 am the ride was up in the air.  But I powered through and made it to the holy land of ice cream!  Never drinking ANYTHING ALCOHOLIC before a ride like that.