It’s New Years Resolution Time

Jan 012012
 

Last year, I planned on training for the Ironman and did a pretty good job with my training regimen.  I managed to train week up until my birthday in the middle of March.  As with all New Year’s Resolutions, some stick while others do not.  This year, I plan on staying physically fit throughout the year.  I have another big goal with my social media business, Welborn Social Media, which will hinder me from my full-on training for the Ironman.

My ultimate goal is to complete the Ironman, but I don’t think 2012 will be the year for that.  Perhaps next year it will be.  This year, I’d like to try and do one activity designed to promote my physical health every day.  One of the biggest deterrents from running was the feeling that I was doing some major damage to my knees.  Even today, months after my brother and I did our first marathon I can still feel the impact it left on my knees.

My first mission of the year is to develop an understanding of what a proper running technique is and to develop a proper playlist on my iPod so I can have some nice things to listen to while I’m training.

Would anyone like to share your New Year’s resolutions?

Have a great 2012!

The San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Run

Sep 012011
 

At the transition zone, I jumped off my bike and my legs, still used to moving from the pedals got me started on my run.  I have never immediately started running after getting off the bike, but it was an interesting feeling.  My legs seemed to move as if I was still pedalling.  I was definitely running faster than my legs wanted to, but they were used to that motion and continued to move quickly despite me trying to slow them down.

I got tired quickly on the run and despite my goal always being to run the whole way, I had to walk.  Briefly, I walked in order to catch my breath which was heavy from the swim, the bike, and the breakfast burrito I had eaten earlier that morning.  I caught my breath fairly quickly and was able to do sporadic bursts of runs in between my walks.

The run was hillier than the bike ride was.  Steep elevation changes occurred throughout the run, making it difficult to catch my breath and run the entire course.  I ran through the train station and onto the road which would lead me to the hospital my brother was staying at. 

I wanted to run by the hospital and pound on his window, letting him know that I had ran right past him, but it was out of the way and I couldn’t be certain that I would be pounding on the wrong window and disturbing someone who might be seriously ill.  As I ran past the hospital, my Mom was outside cheering me on. 

I pushed forward up the enourmous hill and once I reached the top, I knew I was at the home stretch.  The rest of the race was downhill and I was able to fly.  I let my legs take over and I ran as fast as I could down the final straightaway when I heard my name through the speakers, announcing everyone of my presence.

My Dad and sister were there waiting for me at the finish line.  The race was complete.  But somehow it felt incomplete.  The other Running Brother was not there.  It has always been a great feeling for me to cheer my brother on after I have beaten him and I was looking forward to doing it again.  But, he was in the hospital.

After the race, we quickly gathered our things and went to visit our brother at the hospital.  I was eager to tell him everything I had done and everything he had missed out on.

 

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Bike

Aug 292011
 

Dripping wet, I jogged to the transition zone and planted myself next to my bike.  I quickly dried off my feet with a towel, put on my socks and shoes, and strapped on my helmet. 

I took my Cannondale bicycle and headed for the starting station of the bike ride and away I went. 

My breathing was heavy and my heart was racing.  The beginning of the bike ride was going smoothly, I was continually passing bicyclists through the streets of San Luis Obispo.  Very quickly, I found myself on Orcutt Road and knew I was going to be in trouble.  Orcutt Road is not flat.  The road continually goes up and down for miles with steep up and down slopes. 

By this time, I have realized that the bike is probably the weekest part of the triathlon for me and these steep hills were going to be a problem. 

On mile 3, I approached this huge hill and thought I was going to have to get off my bike to walk it up the hill.  I resisted the urge and continued to peddle strongly until I made it to the top and coasted down the hill.   For 15 miles it was a long bike ride going up and down hills and I was getting passed by many bike riders, but I think all in all I passed just as many bike riders as who had passed me. 

Nothing made me happier than to reach the transition zone.  My legs were tired from pedalling and I was starting to think eating a breakfast burrito before the race was not the best idea.

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Swim

Aug 272011
 

Before I could get into the pool, I had to wait for another competitor to finish his swim.  His wife was his counter, meaning she was counting the amount of laps he had completed.  The second he finished his 18th lap, he sprung out of the pool, ripped off his goggles, threw them at his wife, and ran to the transition area.

With that, I lowered myself into the pool and put my goggles on.  I was ready.

One of my concerns coming into this race was knowing what to wear.  I looked around and saw a bunch of people in ridiculous looking triathlon gear.  Which was much smarter than what I had decided to wear.  I was wearing soccer shorts into the pool and that’s what I planned on wearing the entire race. 

I quickly realized this was probably not the best idea.

As I pushed off the ledge of the pool to start my first lap, my soccer shorts were pulled down from my pelvic area.  I was sure I was mooning everyone who had come to watch the swimmers swim.  Nothing like showing some ass crack to a group of strangers.  But, I continued on anways. 

Every few laps or so I found myself, pulling up my shorts, but other than that, everything was going smoothly.  I was keeping a strong steady pace and in comparison to the other competitor in my lane I was flying.  I was completing two laps for every one that she was completing. 

The swim felt good and, as my counter, my Dad was yelling out the lap numbers as I completed them, always telling me to pace myself.  I must have been hauling then, considering he was contuinually telling me to slow down, but I felt good. 

I heard my Dad yell “18” as I reached the edge of the pool.  For the last lap, I gave it all I had and pushed for my last lap in the pool.  I had plenty of energy and completed my swim powerfully.  I hoisted myself out of the pool threw off my goggles and ran to the transition zone, ready to hop on my bike. 

 

 

 

San Luis Obispo Triathlon – The Beginning

Aug 252011
 

My Dad drove me to the race and we got there 30 minutes before my scheduled race time and we realized really quickly they were running behind.  Basically, we waited one hour and 30 minutes before my race began.

The San Luis Obispo Triathlon started in the SLO Swim Center, oddly enough, this was the same pool where I had learned to swim probably 25 years ago when my mother signed me up for lessons there. 

They were able to fit somewhere between 30 to 40 people in the pool at the same time and we swam the width of the pool, which was 25 meters long. 

As I walked to the starting station, my Dad gave me some last minute advice.  “Be sure to pace y0urself,” he said.  Apparently, we were allowed to do some warm up laps.  I didn’t need them.  I was ready.

Race Day – The San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Aug 232011
 

Just one day before my brother had surgery to get his appendix removed.  And today was the San Luis Obispo Triathlon.  I was without my other half . . .

It was a beautiful day in San Luis Obispo and I headed to the race early to check in.  The check in was easy and I was able to inform the race officials my brother had his appendix removed and would not be able to enter the race.  We asked if a refund was possible and they kind of shrugged me off.  I thought having an appendix removed was a bigger deal than they seemed to think it was.

My sister and I went for breakfast after I checked in to the race to this nice little Mexican restaurant and I ordered a breakfast burrito.  My Dad suggested I order something light for the race and when I ordered the breakfast burrito my sister reminded me of my Dad’s advice. 

I explained to her that running is a lot like golf.  I used to be a really good golfer and when I was playing golf every day, I needed to maintain my focus through the entire round and practice between rounds.  Since I can not play golf every day anymore, I am not as good as I used to be.  Now, when I go out and play golf, I do it for fun.  I don’t concentrate or focus on my game, I just go out, hit shots, hang out with friends and have a good time.  Running is a lot like golf, sometimes you do it competitively and sometimes you do it for fun. 

Today, since I knew I wasn’t in peak physical shape, it was going to be for fun. 

The breakfast burrito tasted great!

I drove to the hospital my brother was staying at, just two blocks from the check-in area. 

Were my eyes seeing what I thought they were seeing???

They were!  The racers in the SLO Triathlon were running right past the hospital my brother was staying at.  What are the odds, I thought to myself. 

I went in to visit my brother who was eager to be released from the hospital, but it didn’t look likely that he would be able to.  The doctor told him he had to pee on his own in order to be released.  He could not. 

We talked strategy about the race and I headed for the check-in area, ready for my race to begin.

 

Rocky’s Surgery was a Success!

Aug 202011
 

The last time I saw my brother, I whispered in his ear, “Just in case . . . I love you.” 

You never know what could happen in surgery after all.

The surgery went extremely well and Rocky seemed to be doing just fine.  The doctor assured us his appendix came out smoothly and that night we sat by Rocky’s side until visiting hours were over. 

The next day was the San Luis Obispo Triathlon and to be honest, I didn’t really want to do it without my brother.  But my Dad encouraged me to do it anyways and, deep down, I knew my brother would have wanted me to continue on without him.

I had one of the latest start times and knew I could get a good nights sleep in order to rest myself before the race.

Rocky Undergoes Surgery One Day Before the San Luis Obispo Triathlon

Aug 182011
 

We left the 60th Anniversary celebration of the California Scholastic Press Association where my Dad had just received one of the highest honors . . . he had been inducted into the CSPA Hall of Fame.

We were headed for the hospital.  My brother was headed for surgery.

It was discovered that my brother had appendicitis . . . fortunately, we had caught it early. 

At the hospital, we met the doctor who seemed competent and he told us Rocky would be undergoing a surgery to remove his appendix.  We were assured things would go well. 

As he headed into surgery I leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Just in case . . . I love you.”

Rocky Goes to the Hospital! How am I Supposed to Run the SLO Triathlon Now?

Aug 162011
 

Today was the 60th Anniversary of the California Scholastic Press Association Workshop – a two-week journalism workshop held at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo every Summer. 

People were coming from all across the country to celebrate the event. 

My Dad has run the workshop for the past 30 years and today was a big day for our family.  My brother, sister and I owe a lot to the CSPA Workshop.  After all, that’s where my parents met.  Every member of our family had attended the workshop.  

It was a big deal. 

Rocky had thrown up all night long the day before and I was worried.  He tried to carry on as if things were normal in the morning, but I could tell he was hurting.  After a family discussion, we decided it would be best to take Rocky to the hospital. 

The decision was made to take him to the hospital at almost the exact same time the 60th Anniversay of the CSPA Workshop. 

Although Rocky was hurting, his pain didn’t seem terminal so my Father, sister and I made our way to the celebration.  We met and talked with people who came from all across the United States to celebrate the Anniversary with us.  But the whole time, our thoughts were with our brother. 

The highlight of the presentation was when my father, along with other instructors and board members from the workshop received the highest honor the workshop bestows upon those who are associated with it.  He had made the California Scholastic Press Association’s Hall of Fame.  When his name was announced, I saw him getting off of his cell phone and he was emotional. 

He graciously accepted the award and the festivities carried on.  Minutes later, after the award ceremony had commenced.  My father informed me about the content of his cell phone conversation.

Literally one minute before my Father had received one of the biggest awards of his life, he got another piece of news . . .

Rocky needed surgery . . . immediately.

Rocky Gets Sick . . . He’ll Do Anything to Get Out of a Race

Aug 142011
 

On the rock-hard mattress in a Lassen Hall dorm room at California State Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo my brother woke me up.

He stumbled to the bathroom.

“Are you ok?” I asked.

“I don’t feel so good,” he said. 

And then it came . . . this grotesque vomitting noise from the bathroom . . . the dry heaves made me nautious.  I went to check on my brother.  He was shaking violently.  This was not good.

Earlier that day, my Mom, sister, brother and I had packed our bags and were headed for San Luis Obispo.  We have been to San Luis Obispo every Summer for as long as I could remember.  My Dad runs a two-week journalism workshop for High School students who live all across the United States, the California Scholastic Press Association workshop.  

The CSPA Workshop has been conducted at the Cal Poly campus every Summer.  And this Summer was its 60th Anniversary.  My Dad has been running the workshop for the past 30 years.  He attended the workshop himself when he was in High School.  

He came back every Summer since then, first as a counselor, then an instructor, then as the man in charge. 

It was as a counselor that he met my mother.

Eleven or so years later, I was born and three years after I popped out the Running Brothers were complete.

My Mom grew up in San Luis Obispo and although she moved down south for college and eventually settled in Chino Hills, she still loved making her way back to her home town.  As kids, we would stay for two weeks at my Grandmother’s House.  My Grandma passed away roughly a decade ago, but my Aunt and Uncle still live in the city. 

Needless to say, The Running Brothers have a strong connection with San Luis Obispo . . . (If you’re a real Running Brother hero, then you’d know that this is where our Running Brother’s journey began)

The trip from Chino Hills to San Luis Obispo was as smooth as could be.  Although, afterwards, my brother complained that I talked way too much and that I didn’t listen to anything he said . . . but that’s besides the point. 

We reached our destination after 9 PM and quickly headed to bed. 

And that’s when I knew that something was wrong with my brother.  Watching him shiver while dry-heaving into the toilet at the dorms at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo scared me.  He said he was fine, but deep down, I knew that he wasn’t.  I was hoping that it was something that would go away by the morning.  Eventually, Rocky made his way to bed and with two days until our Triathlon in San Luis Obispo, I feared that he wouldn’t make it.

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