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I started this project with the simple understanding that I would try and find out what it would take to prove to my children that their Daddy still has "it."  Showing the kids, through text, what it was like when their father turned 40 ultimately came with the challenge of many athletic events and subsequent interviews with other people that may have done interesting things at roughly the same age.  With a little more than a quarter of the year complete, I've found out so much more.

I have found that I can find a toy to step on at any time of the day.  I have found that there is not a snotty nose in our house that can't find me, and ultimately my shirt, as I leave for work each morning.  I have found that the time I spend alone training in order to prove something to my children only makes me feel guilty for being alone and not being with them.  I have found that baby monitors can easily be turned off in the middle of the night.  I have found that I get cranky when I don't exercise and is a trait I'm not sure I want to pass down.  I have found that spandex is like the Adam Sandler of clothing; you just know its going to be funny especially the longer you watch.  I have found that the more I find interesting people to interview, the less interesting I become.  I have found that Facebook makes me wonder what will be available to our children when they are my age.  And I have finally found that there are over 2100 people that have read this blog since it was started; poor people, they should stick to Facebook.

Race number three is coming this weekend and the interview schedule is growing.  Wish me luck on all fronts and let me know if you have any comments for me.

Pleasantville and Morning Blow

Walking around Pleasantville (my neighborhood) this past weekend with both kids in tow (the three year old walking with me and the little one in the stroller), I had a very suburban moment when I saw a neighbor, who is probably in his late 30's or early 40's and fairly fit looking, blowing the grass off of his driveway after the obligatory Saturday mow.  He's wearing what all of us suburbanites wear; khaki shorts, an untucked, 15 year old polo shirt with an outdated insignia on the left chest and a baseball hat from when we were both much cooler than we are now.  As he noticed us approaching he slowed down the blowing speed from very slow to essentially an annoying noise maker to make himself look busy which subsequently lowered the decibel level to one that was manageable for conversation.  (Insert pleasantries here.)

After our brief conversation and encounter, one comment he made stuck with me..."just out getting some exercise."  Exercise!!!  Out Getting Some Exercise???!!!!  I just couldn't help think that I am killing myself to shed a pound or two to get off the US Government's obese scale and our neighborhood hair-dryer operator just has to go out for a morning blow.  Is that fair?!  It obviously doesn't matter if its fair; while he blows, I still have to trudge through the darkness, for hours at a time on most mornings, so I can feel less guilty about eating a bagel for breakfast.

This summer break from my planned events is actually making my time busier with logistics.  I'm still interviewing a lot of interesting people from all of the world and look forward to hearing stories of how work, family and life are balanced from places as far off as India.  Please let me know if you have anyone that you think would be a good candidate for an interview.

Also, I've been banned from more websites now.

I Can Hear Myself Getting Slower

Logic would make one think that with the running of a half Ironman triathlon, a few days in Lake Tahoe at altitude and plenty of rest, that I would feel like I was in pretty good shape.  On the contrary my brother, aka Au contraire mon frere.  I feel like I  have actually gained weight, I feel like I run slower and my dunlap (used in a sentenence and as defined on onlineslangdictionary.com as something to the effect of "My belly dunlapped my belt.") has become more pronounced.  


I interviewed Drew Barnes this week.  Drew is the famous mechanical engineer that works for Northrop Grumman and travels back and forth to CA from FL every week.  Drew was actually my first interview of someone that hasn't made a name for themselves completely in their athletic endeavors.  However, he has, as a 40 year old, accomplished many.  With 4 home-schooled kids between the ages of 19 and 3 and an obvious superstar wife, he works for one of the worlds most notable defense contractors where he commutes to CA every week, while also competing and training for endurance events.  It was amazing to hear how his quest for and attempts to engage in the unknown allowed him the motivation to complete so many of life's experiences without missing any time with his family.  


Where does that drive come from?  Drew told me but I'm going to wait until the end of this year to summarize my findings.  In the meantime, please see what I aspire to by the end of this year: