I just wanted to say thank you for all the students at the Naval Academy. I enjoyed visiting with you. Everyone made me feel very welcome. Not to mention you were not afraid to make sure that I got my workouts in! I would like to give a special thank you to the Triathlon Team for making me an honorary member and recognizing me at the football game. I look forward to getting any feedback that all of you have and I look forward to visiting again next year.
"Man can will nothing unless he has first understood that he must count on no one but himself; that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth.” Jean Paul Satra
All of you guys going to BUD/s continue to work hard!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Where Has David Been?
Just wanted to give everyone an update on what David has been doing since his heart surgery....
The doctor told David that he would have to experiment a little when getting back into things. There is no text book answer for what he should and shouldn't do when it comes to this type of exercise. He still has to wait a couple months before he can really go crazy lifting wieghts in the gym like he wants to and he has to be careful when dealing with the elevation. As far as what he has been up to...
Starting at the beginning of August he ventured out on an 1800 mile PAC Tour. They road anywhere from 80-126 miles per day. The elevation gain was around 8,000 to 12,000ft per day that he road. The tour went really well for him he road strong and his heart felt stronger than ever. 1800 miles with no issues other than his bike taking a true beating.
In September he went out to the Hoodoo 500 but unfortunately the elevation there was too much for his heart. He went into atrial fibrilation and was unable to get it back into rythm during the race so he had to pull out. Needless to say he was very frustrated about that.
Following the Hoodoo he decided he needed to find another 500 mile race because he couldn't have that hanging over his head. He looked on line and was granted a late entry into the Furnace Creek 508. The race was going really well until mile 200. As he climbed up towns pass (elevation 5,000ft at the top) he started having some issues with the elevation. Along with that his legs were experiencing severe cramping. He couldn't pedal more than 10 times without his legs locking up on him. So, given the race had a 48 hour cut off we got a hotel at the halfway point in Furnace Creek. He had covered 252 miles in 14 hours and 44 minutes. We checked in and spent 7hours and 30 minutes in the hotel. After eating, and getting rehydrated David was set out to tackle the rest of the course. When he turned right out of the hotel room he turned directly into the same 30+ mph headwind that he had left when he checked into the room. The wind was relentless! He rode stong and hard. From the time we left Furnace Creek until the next checkpoint (around 70 miles) he managed to ride past 28 riders. The wind stayed with him all the way to the last checkpoint. There were reported gusts of up to 45mph. David road his bike amazingly well and was able to overcome all his complications to finish in 41hrs 44minutes. He is feeling great and is looking for his next event. He still has to watch the elevation, but other than that his heart is responding great. He wants to thank all of you for your tremendous support.
The doctor told David that he would have to experiment a little when getting back into things. There is no text book answer for what he should and shouldn't do when it comes to this type of exercise. He still has to wait a couple months before he can really go crazy lifting wieghts in the gym like he wants to and he has to be careful when dealing with the elevation. As far as what he has been up to...
Starting at the beginning of August he ventured out on an 1800 mile PAC Tour. They road anywhere from 80-126 miles per day. The elevation gain was around 8,000 to 12,000ft per day that he road. The tour went really well for him he road strong and his heart felt stronger than ever. 1800 miles with no issues other than his bike taking a true beating.
In September he went out to the Hoodoo 500 but unfortunately the elevation there was too much for his heart. He went into atrial fibrilation and was unable to get it back into rythm during the race so he had to pull out. Needless to say he was very frustrated about that.
Following the Hoodoo he decided he needed to find another 500 mile race because he couldn't have that hanging over his head. He looked on line and was granted a late entry into the Furnace Creek 508. The race was going really well until mile 200. As he climbed up towns pass (elevation 5,000ft at the top) he started having some issues with the elevation. Along with that his legs were experiencing severe cramping. He couldn't pedal more than 10 times without his legs locking up on him. So, given the race had a 48 hour cut off we got a hotel at the halfway point in Furnace Creek. He had covered 252 miles in 14 hours and 44 minutes. We checked in and spent 7hours and 30 minutes in the hotel. After eating, and getting rehydrated David was set out to tackle the rest of the course. When he turned right out of the hotel room he turned directly into the same 30+ mph headwind that he had left when he checked into the room. The wind was relentless! He rode stong and hard. From the time we left Furnace Creek until the next checkpoint (around 70 miles) he managed to ride past 28 riders. The wind stayed with him all the way to the last checkpoint. There were reported gusts of up to 45mph. David road his bike amazingly well and was able to overcome all his complications to finish in 41hrs 44minutes. He is feeling great and is looking for his next event. He still has to watch the elevation, but other than that his heart is responding great. He wants to thank all of you for your tremendous support.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Man in the Mirror
What do your really want?
Every morning when you wake up what is the first thing you think about doing. I'm not talking about work, family ect. I'm talking about personal ambition. What is it that you desire to do?
Think about that. Then think about how long you have thought about doing it. Next, think about what you have done in the last year, 2, 3 or 4 years to get you closer to that goal. For some of you the answer may be simple. You may desire to do something and work toward that everyday. For others, it is harder. Some of you may desire to do something that seems impossible to do because of obligations. Work, family, and finances, can all play a role in what we desire. I will tell you this though. You will only truely want something when you work everyday at getting that something. What I am trying to say is that if you wake up in the morning and your true desire is to run a marathon, if you don't think about that everyday and work toward that everyday, you will never get there. I believe in life you have to be selfish sometimes. When we get older and can no longer do the things that we desire, what then? If you want to acheive something you have to be selfish. You have to put that goal in front of everything else. When you wake up in the morning it is the first thing you have to think about. You have to say to yourself, what is it that I am going to do today to bring me closer to my goal? For some, it may be waking up an hour earlier everyday to get to the gym. For some, it may be putting back $100 dollars a month toward that dream vacation. Whatever it is that you want to do, work for it. It has to become a part of your daily life. Until then, it will remain a desire, or a goal. You have to be upfront with those around you. Let them know what you are expecting to do, what you want to do. If they don't understand or support it, so what?!? It is your goal and your desire! Do what you have to do to get there. When you do. It will be the best moment in your life. Most likely you will find that those who truely care about you want you to succeed. They want to help you acheive. Your mind has to overtake you. You have to be in constant pursuit. When it is all said and done with you will see that you were truely not selfish. Through your hard work and dedication you probably inspired some of your friends and family to do better themselves. A lot of people say that I'm selfish. Is that the case? I have been able to raise a lot of money for a good cause. So you tell me. Is the time and energy worth it? Why don't you find out for yourself? A lot of people say that they are the ones that have to look at themselves in the mirror everyday. Everyday when I see my reflection. I see a man who is not yet satisfied. What does your reflection say to you?
Every morning when you wake up what is the first thing you think about doing. I'm not talking about work, family ect. I'm talking about personal ambition. What is it that you desire to do?
Think about that. Then think about how long you have thought about doing it. Next, think about what you have done in the last year, 2, 3 or 4 years to get you closer to that goal. For some of you the answer may be simple. You may desire to do something and work toward that everyday. For others, it is harder. Some of you may desire to do something that seems impossible to do because of obligations. Work, family, and finances, can all play a role in what we desire. I will tell you this though. You will only truely want something when you work everyday at getting that something. What I am trying to say is that if you wake up in the morning and your true desire is to run a marathon, if you don't think about that everyday and work toward that everyday, you will never get there. I believe in life you have to be selfish sometimes. When we get older and can no longer do the things that we desire, what then? If you want to acheive something you have to be selfish. You have to put that goal in front of everything else. When you wake up in the morning it is the first thing you have to think about. You have to say to yourself, what is it that I am going to do today to bring me closer to my goal? For some, it may be waking up an hour earlier everyday to get to the gym. For some, it may be putting back $100 dollars a month toward that dream vacation. Whatever it is that you want to do, work for it. It has to become a part of your daily life. Until then, it will remain a desire, or a goal. You have to be upfront with those around you. Let them know what you are expecting to do, what you want to do. If they don't understand or support it, so what?!? It is your goal and your desire! Do what you have to do to get there. When you do. It will be the best moment in your life. Most likely you will find that those who truely care about you want you to succeed. They want to help you acheive. Your mind has to overtake you. You have to be in constant pursuit. When it is all said and done with you will see that you were truely not selfish. Through your hard work and dedication you probably inspired some of your friends and family to do better themselves. A lot of people say that I'm selfish. Is that the case? I have been able to raise a lot of money for a good cause. So you tell me. Is the time and energy worth it? Why don't you find out for yourself? A lot of people say that they are the ones that have to look at themselves in the mirror everyday. Everyday when I see my reflection. I see a man who is not yet satisfied. What does your reflection say to you?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Why the comparison?
I want to start off by saying that I have a lot of respect for Dean Karnazes and what he has done for the sport of Ultra Running. He has helped open peoples eyes to the sport and I thank him for that. Lately I have found that when I give people interviews for magazine articles the same comparison always comes up. People always say that I am very similar to Dean. The truth is, Dean and I are two very different types of people. In life and in running. I want to list a few things below about our differences. I’m not doing this to put Dean down. As I said, Dean and I have talked several times and I respect him for what he has done. I just want people to understand that just because you show up in a magazine or TV interview doesn’t make you like everyone else.
1. I am a 6 ft 200lb man. Dean is a shorter smaller statured guy.
2. I have a full time job as a Navy SEAL and I participate in endurance sports as a “hobby”. From what I know of Dean, he has been able to make a career out of running. His job is to be out there making money for his family and his charity by doing interviews and attempting to break records.
3. We both started running for very different personal reasons. We also continue to run for very different reasons.
4. Dean follows a very strict diet everyday. Me, I try to eat healthy but will ultimately eat everything in front of me.
5. I absolutely with every bone in my body HATE to run, bike , ect. Dean has a passion for it. He loves it.
6. I only have a little longer in this sport before I move on to something else. Dean will probably be running for years to come. For example, my running is done. I am now working on riding my bike across America in June. Once that is accomplished, the bike will go in storage.
The thing that I am trying to point out here is that every person in endurance sports is different. So why compare people. There is nothing to compare. People all do things for there own reasons and one reason is not better than another. You have to find what personally drives you. What drives me is my cause. The Special Operations Warrrior Foundation. When I do an event, and interview, a training ride, I keep the foundation in the front of my mind. It’s not about how fast you are, how many races you have done. It is about why. What is the personal reason that puts you out there everyday. I can guarantee that every single person out there will have a different reason than the other. Every single person has a different build, and different diet, a different family. So don’t compare. There isn’t anything to compare.
1. I am a 6 ft 200lb man. Dean is a shorter smaller statured guy.
2. I have a full time job as a Navy SEAL and I participate in endurance sports as a “hobby”. From what I know of Dean, he has been able to make a career out of running. His job is to be out there making money for his family and his charity by doing interviews and attempting to break records.
3. We both started running for very different personal reasons. We also continue to run for very different reasons.
4. Dean follows a very strict diet everyday. Me, I try to eat healthy but will ultimately eat everything in front of me.
5. I absolutely with every bone in my body HATE to run, bike , ect. Dean has a passion for it. He loves it.
6. I only have a little longer in this sport before I move on to something else. Dean will probably be running for years to come. For example, my running is done. I am now working on riding my bike across America in June. Once that is accomplished, the bike will go in storage.
The thing that I am trying to point out here is that every person in endurance sports is different. So why compare people. There is nothing to compare. People all do things for there own reasons and one reason is not better than another. You have to find what personally drives you. What drives me is my cause. The Special Operations Warrrior Foundation. When I do an event, and interview, a training ride, I keep the foundation in the front of my mind. It’s not about how fast you are, how many races you have done. It is about why. What is the personal reason that puts you out there everyday. I can guarantee that every single person out there will have a different reason than the other. Every single person has a different build, and different diet, a different family. So don’t compare. There isn’t anything to compare.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
update
Following my surgery on May 14th I have been experiencing a few problems. On June 1st I had to go to the emergency room. My heart was in Atrial Fibrillation. Not knowing what was causing it they sent me home once I was stable and told me to consult with my cardiologist. After doing so I felt that I needed more answers. I flew out to see my mother in TN. Once I landed I was forced again to go back to the ER for A-fib. The next day I was seen at Vanderbilt with a doctor who specializes in persons with ASD (atrial septal defect). He was great. He put me through the works when it comes to tests. I received good and bad news following all of the test. After putting me under and going down my throat with a scope they were able to get a very good look at my heart. Overall they said that my heart itself looks very healhty(the good news!) However, the surgery that I had done May 14th was somewhat unsuccessful. The hole was not completely closed. I now have a small hole in my heart called a PFO. They are going to see how my heart reacts to the device that was implanted on May 14th. They think that if my heart will grow around the device like it is supposed to than it may continue to grow over the small hole. Only time will tell. I will keep you updated as I know more.
As you know, going from a person who worked out constantly to a person that just had heart surgery is a big change. This has given me a lot of time to think. One thing that always comes back to my mind that I am going to share with you is this..... What good does all of this actually do. What does running ultra's, biking, lifting, ect. What does it do for you? Where does it get you?
For me, the answer is this. It's not about what you do in life. It is about what you don't do. The truth is running has not got me anywhere in life. I don't enjoy it. I hate it really. It certainly hasn't made an income for my family. And it definitely takes up a lot of my spare time. So why do it then? Because I can. When I was running 100 mile races back to back weekends, people never understood. They thought I was crazy. They told me how injured I was going to get. But I didn't care. I still don't. Tomorrow is never promised to you. If I looked back on those times now and didn't do the Plain 100 because it was to soon after my other race, I would kick myself. Now I can look back and say. I'm glad that I did what I did when I could.
I am not saying that this is how everybody should be. What I am saying is that I believe everybody should push themselves to there limit. Whether it be in life or in sport. If not, you will wake up one day and your limits will have been determined by other factors. Health, family, work, ect. Why you have it in your power to do something, do it. Don't wait until that opportunity gets taken from you. I know I'm not. I hope to see you somewhere on the road in June 2010.
As you know, going from a person who worked out constantly to a person that just had heart surgery is a big change. This has given me a lot of time to think. One thing that always comes back to my mind that I am going to share with you is this..... What good does all of this actually do. What does running ultra's, biking, lifting, ect. What does it do for you? Where does it get you?
For me, the answer is this. It's not about what you do in life. It is about what you don't do. The truth is running has not got me anywhere in life. I don't enjoy it. I hate it really. It certainly hasn't made an income for my family. And it definitely takes up a lot of my spare time. So why do it then? Because I can. When I was running 100 mile races back to back weekends, people never understood. They thought I was crazy. They told me how injured I was going to get. But I didn't care. I still don't. Tomorrow is never promised to you. If I looked back on those times now and didn't do the Plain 100 because it was to soon after my other race, I would kick myself. Now I can look back and say. I'm glad that I did what I did when I could.
I am not saying that this is how everybody should be. What I am saying is that I believe everybody should push themselves to there limit. Whether it be in life or in sport. If not, you will wake up one day and your limits will have been determined by other factors. Health, family, work, ect. Why you have it in your power to do something, do it. Don't wait until that opportunity gets taken from you. I know I'm not. I hope to see you somewhere on the road in June 2010.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
NEVER PUT IT OFF
People have often told me that I'm crazy, or that I'm stupid for doing all the things I do. They say I'm over training or I'm going to injure myself if I'm not careful.
The bottom line is this. You never know what your life has in store for you. I believe we are all here to serve a purpose. I believe we all have our own missions.
As much as I hated running, biking, swimming and everything in between, something told me to drive on. Something was pushing me to push myself. I always new in the back of my mind that there was a reason for it. I often questioned myself on why I put myself through all the pain and the torture of these long events. I now have the answer. I only had a limited time. I can look back now though and be truely happy that I did things the way that I wanted to do them and when I wanted to do them.
It's not over for me though. I will be back. I will test my soul again. I will push my limits. I thank God everyday that I am still hear to do that. I can't tell people how to live, how to train, what to take for nutrition, or what they should and should not do. I can tell you this. Don't wait until tomorrow to make the decision to do that something you have always thought about doing. Don't put it off any longer. Tomorrow your life my change drastically. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be the one with a heart problem. But to be honest, I'm glad I do. Now I can really test myself and find out what I'm made of. What I am trying to tell you is this... If you are thinking about doing something tomorrow, do it today instead.
The bottom line is this. You never know what your life has in store for you. I believe we are all here to serve a purpose. I believe we all have our own missions.
As much as I hated running, biking, swimming and everything in between, something told me to drive on. Something was pushing me to push myself. I always new in the back of my mind that there was a reason for it. I often questioned myself on why I put myself through all the pain and the torture of these long events. I now have the answer. I only had a limited time. I can look back now though and be truely happy that I did things the way that I wanted to do them and when I wanted to do them.
It's not over for me though. I will be back. I will test my soul again. I will push my limits. I thank God everyday that I am still hear to do that. I can't tell people how to live, how to train, what to take for nutrition, or what they should and should not do. I can tell you this. Don't wait until tomorrow to make the decision to do that something you have always thought about doing. Don't put it off any longer. Tomorrow your life my change drastically. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be the one with a heart problem. But to be honest, I'm glad I do. Now I can really test myself and find out what I'm made of. What I am trying to tell you is this... If you are thinking about doing something tomorrow, do it today instead.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thanks
I just wanted to take a minute and thank all of you for your support. I am happy to report that I am on the long road to recovery. Everything is going according to schedule. I have been able to start doing some light workouts again. I will be back to it in no time. In the mean time I am really looking foward to following two races in June. The RAAM and Western States. Good luck to all the racers and thanks again for the continued support.
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