Me in a nutshell

Since I never formally started this blog outside of a lame attempt at the first post and setting up a blog, I figure this will give me something to start off with.

I am 26 years old and live in Twin Cities area. I have lived up here for 2 years and grew up in Iowa. I attended the University of Iowa where I got my Electrical/Computer Engineering degree. My first job out of college was consulting for a healthcare IT company which required me to travel 4-5 days a week. This is when I picked up running just to kill some time on the road. After not too long I decided that I should set a goal. I had always looked up to someone when I heard the term marathon runner, so I figured why not go big or go home. I started training and ran the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in 2008. I dealt with some injuries and annoyances mostly IT Band Syndrome, ITBS. I was able to do some physical therapy after running the marathon that literally helped me get back on my feet. It got to the point where I could not even run 2 or 3 miles without pain for days after.

As a side note, I just recently did some marketing and promotional material with Fairview Hospitals and Clinics and their Institute for Athletic Medicine. I am waiting to see the final copies of everything, but it was a good afternoon of makeup, video interviews, makeup, photo shoot in dress clothes, some more makeup, photos with my bike, and did I mention more makeup? I tend to sweat quite a bit when its 90 degrees out, so I was glad the lady was patient and stood nearby during the whole thing. I got to preview some of the initial materials including a magazine add and billboard advertisement! As soon as I find out where and when it goes up I will put some pictures of it up.

My wife was the one who started my obsession for triathlons. She enjoyed swimming laps and suggested that we do a triathlon together since I like running and she liked swimming. Since I did not have a bike and hers was pretty old, we both set out to get bikes after we had started training a little.

I ended up finding a 2007 Trek Equinox 5 Tri Bike for less than I could buy any current road bike for and figured why not? Atleast it will give me something to grow into and not need to replace as quickly if I get into it. I made a decision to not get clip in pedals right away and to get comfortable with the bike first. I am still using the big plastic little kid pedals they had attached. I plan on upgrading this fall/winter after the season is done.

I love downhill skiing and snowboard in the winter and now I have an activity to look forward to in the summer and train throughout the winter.