11/19   Thu   ET Masters. LTF Schaumburg. 6:30pm.  Info/Register.
11/21   Sat    ET Run Club.  Downtown Naperville.  Location.   8:00am.
11/22   Sun   ET CompuTrainer.  7:30am.  Sold out.  Wait list for drop-in. 
11/23   Mon   Healthy Eating Seminar by Coach Suzy. 

                      Central Park, Lisle.  12:00pm.
11/24   Tue    ET Masters. Central Park, Lisle. 6:30pm.   Info/Register.
11/24   Tue    ET Masters. LTF Schaumburg. 6:30pm.
11/25   Wed   ET CompuTrainer.  10:00am, 6:00pm. Info/Register.
11/26   Thu    Naperville Turkey Trot 5K.  8:00am
11/26   Thu    No ET Masters at LTF Schaumburg.  Happy Thanksgiving!
11/28   Sat    ET Run Club.  Downtown Naperville.  8:00am.
11/29   Sun   ET CompuTrainer.  7:30am.  
 
12/1   Tue    ET Masters. Central Park, Lisle. 6:30pm.
12/1   Tue    ET Masters. LTF Schaumburg. 6:30pm.
12/2   Wed   ET CompuTrainer.  10:00am, 6:00pm. 
12/3   Thu    ET Masters. LTF Schaumburg. 6:30pm.
12/5   Sat     ET Run Club.  Downtown Naperville.  8:00am.
12/6   Sun    ET CompuTrainer.  7:30am. 

It has been an amazing two years.  In seventeen months I completed three marathons and three Ironman triathlons with Craig Strong guiding me the entire way.  After my second Ironman, I earned a slot to the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, a dream that I never thought was achievable.  Earning the slot meant that only six weeks after my second Ironman I would need to race Ironman Hawaii with arguably the best athletes in the world.  My training with Craig to this point had gone very smoothly; there were very few workouts and races that I found too challenging.  My three previous marathons and two prior Ironman efforts had been executed almost to perfection.  But, it was unclear whether my body would recover enough to race another Ironman so soon.
 
I arrived in Hawaii with my Mom on Saturday a week before the race.  The atmosphere was very tense; there were crazy athletes out on the hot highway riding 100 miles and runners on the course every day.  I knew that I was with the best of the best.  During athlete registration I moved aside for Chrissie Wellington, the World Champion in 2007 and 2008!  I also met one of the media slots who had petitioned Ironman to let him race in Kona.  He was hoping to be the first person with a heart transplant to finish the Ironman.  I was extremely intimidated, not only by the great athletes, but all of the amazing people who came to compete hoping to accomplish something bigger than just finishing a long race.      

Click here to read the rest of Leslie's story.

Give the gift of fitness! 

 

Did you know that EXPERIENCETriathlon offers gift certificates in any denomination?  You let us know what you're looking for and we'll customize the certificate to meet your gift-giving needs!  Click here to purchase a gift certificate.

There are over 60 stories on the ET-Blog.  They touch, move and inspire (TMI) us to get in the game and keep moving toward our goals.  From time to time I like to highlight a story that has TMI'd me.  In 2006, Jeff S joined team ET and wrote two great stories.  His first, "A Transformation in Progress" is great and sets the stage for one of my favorites stories, "Jeff's First Triathlon".  I hope you are moved by his commentary. 

 

"...Becoming a Triathlete has changed my life and the way I live it. In the process of becoming a Triathlete I learned that Triathlons are not a race, they are a community of people, a lifestyle based on fitness, an addiction, a philosophy on life, they are a break to your everyday routine, but most importantly and probably the least noticed they are a journey that will take you from where you are to where you want to be. When you undertake the challenge of becoming a Triathlete it is more then just getting in shape, it is a mental, emotional, and spiritual journey you are undertaking to bring your life into a new and better version of yourself..."

Click here to read more excerpts from his race report.

 Someday

 

 

 

Today, November 16, 2009, I've been thinking a lot about Someday.  Today, many of us attended the memorial service for our dear running club buddy, Joel Bischoff.  He passed away on Veteran's Day after a battle with melanoma.  During the service, we heard several stories of a life full of energy, caring, passion, fun, humor AND results.  It was clear to all that Joel lived in the present and did not live for Someday.  He knew instinctively that Someday does not exist.  That Someday is TODAY!  He didn't spend any time thinking or worrying about the future.  This was highlighted during the memorial service by one of Joel's life-long friends.  He ended his speech with "... Live your life and don't worry about the things you can't control.  Joel, you never said these words, but your actions did."

 

Click here to read the rest of Coach Joe's article.