Augusta - Take 2

After my weekend in North Carolina I wasn’t sure what direction I was going to take to get to Dallas for my next event.  I had three choices; Straight through the middle of the country, a little further south on some not so major highways, or south through New Orleans.  I decided the New Orleans route.  I figured this would be the most fun and I don’t think I will be going that far south any more on my trip.  

Considering the highways are starting to blend together and once I’m in my truck it’s a matter of, get in, find a podcast/book/music I want to listen to, enter my destination and then go, I didn’t notice I was going to be headed through Augusta, GA.  For those of you who don’t know I spent about a year of my life there when I decided to try and make the National/Olympic team in 04 for Athens. That is a whole other story and without going into details, juust know I didn’t make it but learned a lot about myself, rowing, training, and life during my time there.  Also, with any city you live in there is a connection. Even if you’re only there for a short time there is a familiarity and memories that are created.  

I decided to stop by the familiar places on my way through.  

Langley Pond:  This is the small lake that where the course was located.  We spent many hours and days there sweating our asses of in the Georgia heat while we did 2k repeats and many other fun and entertaining Igor/Sean workouts.  I have great memories of driving out to the lake in my truck.  We launched from a small dock on the lake that was behind a BBQ restaurant that was at the far end of the lake.  Walking down from the parking lot the other day I was flooded with memories of hard work, sweat, laughter, and humidity.

The boats were stored on wooden racks that were out doors in the grass.  It was bare bones and it worked. Looking back, I absolutely loved it.  Looking the racks now I had a strange flashback like they have in movies.   The racks are still there but you can tell that we were probably one of the last groups to use them.  Everything is wrapped in weeds and vines, but there is still a feeling in the air while standing there. Looking around I can remember exactly where my boat was stored.  I remember Igor or Sean letting us know what we were doing.  I remember the days that I was sore and tired and still went out.  I remember the passion that drove me to do the best I could every day.  The desire to gain those 5 simple rings on the side of my boat.  

I remember picking up my boat and oars and carrying them down to the small dock an looking up the lake.  Most the time is was flat and glassy and just waiting for us to leave a bit of ourselves out there.  I think anyone who trained under Igor, even if only for a little bit, left a little bit of their soul on the water.  Today the dock sits on the ground.  There is growth all around it.  I found out later that the dam for the lake has a leak and there hasn’t been the normal amount of water for a couple years. Standing on the dock and looking up the lake I remember pacing with Juri and being that mans shadow.  Juri rowed as the single sculler for Estonia and I was bound and determined to pace him no matter what.  I remember it was better to be moving on most days rather than sitting still. When you were moving you had a breeze and it felt okay.  The time between pieces felt like sitting in an oven.  I would find any tree over hanging the shore and hide underneath it.  Anything to cool off a little bit.  Walking back to my truck from the dock the only thing I could do was smile.  These were memories that only a few people have and everybody remembers them in their own special way.

Leaving Langley I headed into Augusta to check out the boathouse and my old apt, along with visit Igor.  

Boathouse:  It’s still the same.  The Savannah river still stretches for miles.  I was on time crunch so I didn’t get a chance to go into the boathouse but I doubt it’s changed much.  I’m sure it still has a distinct smell of sweat mixed with old shoes.  I’m hoping the TR’s(total rowers) are still there and causing people pain every day.  The old rusty weights alongside the back extension machines where we did things that would probably be frowned on in most training circles now a days.  Even though the dock is new the air is still the same.  Well almost.  I remember the air smelling a bit worse when I was living there the first time.  The mill must not have been working.  That is a smell that won’t ever leave your brain.  Not sure what kind of mill it was, but if you could combine two horrible smells, I would choose garbage and shit and that’s the smell during some morning pieces on the water.  What kind of pieces?  5x20 minutes with rate control rings a bell.  I also remember someone telling me, “If you can survive Igors training plan, you’ll do well”. I almost did. Only one knee surgery.  But I don’t blame Igor for that.  I blame my knee and my own stupidity for not getting it looked at sooner.  That’s another story as well.

My old Apt, D. Timms and Modjeska: 

I went past my old aptartment on Walker St.  I still remember an officer questioning why I lived on Walker St.. Just because I could see a jail and bail bonds business from my bedroom doesn’t mean it isn’t a good place to live right?  As I drove by I noticed that there were tarps all over the house and they were working on it.  I turned around to look again.  As I drove by a second time I noticed the “condemned building” sign.  All I could do was laugh.  But at the time and for $290 a month it was good to go!

D. Timms was the jazz club/restaurant where all the athletes training got to eat breakfast and dinner.  I vaguely remember how we got that deal.  I honestly didn’t care since it was free food. I believe we were subsidized by a wealthy contributor to the program.  I also remember eating a giant plate of hash browns and eggs every morning and then once a week spoiling myself with a single glass of Sprite. I know, crazy talk. Well, the building is still there.  The bedazzled horse statue on the balcony is still there but the restaurant is closed.  I made friends there. On a side note I also learned the best way to make scrambled eggs.  At least according to the older woman who I talked with at the bar who was also a limo driver.  Hot and fast.  According to her that makes them fluffy.  I still make them the same way to this day.  I learned that while sitting at the bar drinking water, listening to live jazz and not wanting to go home to my 5 star apartment.

Modjeska was the night club in Augusta.  When I say it was the night club I mean it was “the” night club.  Housed in an old theater I don’t think there was anything else at the time.  It still exists as a night club but is being revamped as a newer better nightclub.  Looks like it’s going to be cool.  We met the owners shortly after we started going there. I wish I could remember their names. They were awesome and they even came to our Super Bowl party. We also had an auction there where all of the male rowers were auctioned off to single ladies to raise money for the club.  I was won by a guy.  Even with my girlfriend in the crowd.  Yup!  But hey, it made money for the club.  All in all the club was a great break from the training, even if our legs were shot and we were tired we still managed to get out and have a good time

Igor Grinko:

Everyone that has spent time or come into contact with Igor has an Igor story.  I will share those later on a video because it’s hard to share the accent over text.  I only trained under Igor for about a year. At least for me he was a man of few words, but what he said was powerful and made you that much better with every stroke.  He was an influence in my life that helped me shape the person I am today. He was a coach that pushed his athletes to a breaking point and then asked for more.  He didn’t do this to be cruel. He did it because he knew we had more and he wasn’t going to get off the water until he pulled it out of us. I remember him constantly screaming “elbow!” at me.  I was a starboard for years and my left elbow has a tendency to be to low at the finish.  To this day every time I row my single I can hear his voice at my finish.  “Tubby(It was supposed to be Toby, but with the accent it was Tubby), Elbow!” 

He lost his battle with cancer about three years ago and I didn’t get to go to the service. He now rests peacefully at the Westover Memorial Park in Augusta.  As I stood there in silence at his grave I remember what he did for me and all of the athletes he came into contact with.  There are flowers and some small trinkets on his gravestone.  In one of the flower pots there are flowers along with a small bird pinwheel.  I’m sure it was all coincidence but as I said my thanks out loud a breeze came up the pinwheel spun like crazy and I swear it looked at me.  As I said, I’m sure it’s all coincidence, but it was a crazy coincidence. It just made me feel like I was still on the water and he was still telling me to GO!, FASTER!, MORE!.  Even though it was hard to stand there over one of my coaches who has passed I’m glad I did it.  I’ve missed chances to see people before it was too late and I don’t want to have that happen again.  Rest in Peace Igor.  You are missed.  

I left Augusta with great memories of a time in my life that shaped me as a person.  Even though it’s rare to see the people who were there with me we all have a common bond of Augusta.  As I got back on the road and continued with my trip I realized I’m doing almost the same thing again. Dropping everything, living life, and experiencing the world and what it has to offer. If I could share anything with you I would suggest that you take time for you.  I’m not saying quit your job, drop everything and go on a crazy trip like I have, but, take the time during your day to stop, get off your phone, unplug for 10 minutes, and look at the world around you. Experience life away from technology.  Listen to the wind through the trees.  Watch a squirrel be a dickhead to a dog. Go float on a lake.  Do something out of your ordinary life! Maybe then it will calm your nerves and put some perspective on things.   

USOCR Championships

OCR Week # 8

Event: US OCR Championships

Miles driven:  a lot

Events: Saturday-3k, Sunday-15k

Approximate Distance: 11 miles

Medals Earned: 2 medals, 2 wristbands

I understand these are out of order.  I’m getting my shit together, calm down.

              Wow, what a weekend!  This event was different than anything in I’ve experienced in OCR so far.  It was also the first of its kind in the US.  This was the first annual US OCR Championships in Mountain Home Texas.  It was held on the Y.O. Ranch which is kind of out in the middle of nowhere, but hey, it’s Texas. The ranch itself was unique because it was home to more than just livestock.  It was a 5000+ acre farm that also was home to many African wildlife such as giraffe, and zebras!  I decided to go to this event because it was something different for my trip.  Up until now it has been mainly Tough Mudders and Spartans.  It was also an inaugural event which is something I’ve missed out on before in the past.  I wasn’t sure if I was going to know anyone from past events that were going to be there. Turns out I did!  Only a couple people, but it’s still nice to see familiar faces along my journey.  I met new people that are now new friends.  The best part is I will most likely see them again at a future event.

              This race was a little different from events I’ve done in the past.  For example, at the beginning of the event you are given a timing chip, number and a wristband.  Now this may seem normal but it really comes down to the wristband.  The wristband was your proof of completion.  Sure, you get a medal at the end, which by the way, are really cool and scream AMERICA, but the wristband was more important. It was the proof that you completed every obstacle without failure for the entire course. The race was also split into two days. Saturday was a 3k short course that had roughly 17 obstacles while Sundays course was a 15k and had 39 obstacles. Obviously, there was some overlap between days when it came to obstacles. So let’s break this down by event shall we?

              Saturday 3K:  I had never done a “short course”.  Short courses are becoming more popular in the OCR world from what I’m learning. All it really means is, more obstacles, less distance.  For this event, I was able to sign up for an age category to compete in.  That means I get to compete against people in my age range. For the short course the age range was 30-39.  This was a better option as opposed to trying to hang with the pros.  I am still at the end range of my age group but what am I going to do?  I have to wait until next year to be the “young guy”. They corral us at the start, get us pumped up and ready to go, and send us of in groups of eight.  Once again, this was my first short course. I wasn’t sure how to pace at all.  I started off safe. Way too safe.  With just under two miles and a handful of obstacles I realize now that I could’ve pushed a whole lot harder.  I ended up placing in the middle of the group for my age.  I’m going to chalk this one up as a learning experience for sure.  I was happy that I made it through the course and completed all the obstacles without having to repeat any of them. That means I got to keep my wristband. This was the overall goal of the day. Following the race I wasn’t sure what to do.  I’ve never been done so fast and had so much free time.  I decided to hang out for a bit and wait for the pros to go.  I ended up meeting quite a few people and hung out with them.  Namely, Will and George!  It was a pleasure meeting you two and I hope to see you at future events! I also got a chance to run into some of the athletes that I had the pleasure to meet and judge at Tough Mudder X.  I’m learning time and time again that this sport is full of great people from all over the world and no matter where they come from there is always a common kindness that goes with OCR athletes and people.  Watching the pros run was nothing short of amazing.  It was both inspiring and motivational.  Men and women smoked the course like it was nothing. To put it into perspective, they did the course in about half the time it took me.  All I can think at this point is I have more training to do. Following the running of the pros I went to my campsite and jumped in the pool.  Cooled off for a little bit because Texas. After I cooled off I decided to head to Starbucks to try and catch up on emailing and internet stuff. From Starbucks I headed back to my campsite, cooked dinner, and promptly went to bed as soon as it “cooled off”.  Slept okay considering cooling off in Texas means lower 70’s.  

              Sunday 15k:  Sunday started off very similar to Saturday.  Wake up, breakfast and head to the course.  I prepared much like I do for every other event I’ve done for this distance.  This time, I did get to spend more time with warming up.  I knew what most of the obstacles were about and knew how to approach them.  There were still a few that I didn’t see the day before but I figured I would tackle them like any other obstacle I didn’t know anything about.  That really just consists of me walking up, assessing, watching others, and then doing.  The 15k was obviously a longer event and the difference from the 3k besides longer distance and more obstacles was the age range was smaller than the day before. Today it was 35-39.  I was even more okay with this!  Less people means a greater chance of doing well.  We also start as a group as opposed to groups of 8 like the day before.  Gun goes off and I feel more at home. Unlike they day before, people seem to be going more my pace.  There are always a couple of really good runners that shoot off in the beginning. I’m not there yet.  In my head I keep thinking “just run your race”.  That was the main goal for the entire event.  In past events, the competitive side of me kicks in and I end up gassing myself out too soon by trying to keep up with people that are faster than me. So, “run your own race” keeps repeating in my head. Along with an REO Speedwagon song. Not sure why REO Speedwagon is the band of choice lately while running but it seems to work so who am I to argue with myself.  I liked the course. It was laid out well and there was good spacing between obstacles.  Another goal of this race was to keep the wristband!  Once again, if I kept my wristband that means I completed all obstacles. There are a couple memorable moments on the course.  To start, it seemed like every obstacle rig, the judges would remind me to keep my feet up.  Either the rigs are too low, or I’m too tall.  I’m going to go with the rigs are too low, but I can’t change that so I deal with it.  The “yoke carry” was a fun one where it paid to be a big guy.  It was about a 6 foot round piece of wood with two 50lb bags of gravel hanging from either end. With the weight hanging like that it makes it very unstable and hard to walk.  Being a big guy and watching what others were doing I learned that I could reach both bags and steady them while carrying the weight a little lower on my shoulders. This allowed me to make up some time on a few other guys and even pass a few. They caught up to me on the run portion but at least I got them for a little bit.  The “wreck bag carry” was one of the next memorable moments. Once again, it pays to be a bigger guy. The carry consisted of a 50lb “wreck bag” (it’s like a sandbag but not as awkward), over a wall, up a hill, across a hill, down a hill, over a wall, through a tube, over another wall, and finally back to start. It was a fun bit of torture that I have grown to like.  The next moment wasn’t an obstacle but more of an occurrence. Texas being what it is, there are cactus. As I was running I apparently ran over a cactus. Ho w do I know? Well, I had to stop and pull three cactus thorns out of my foot. Not my shoe, my foot.  I tried to gut it out since I knew I was close to the finish but It f’ing hurt.  Had to take off my shoe for one of them.  This cost me a couple places. Once again, learning experience. What did I learn? Watch what I’m running through a little closer the next time I compete in Texas. The last real thing that sits in my brain is the second to last rig.  It was called “Urban Sky”.  Nothing about this obstacle was overly difficult at the time.  The things that made it memorable was the fact that after all of the rigs and course I went through, this was the rig that I tore a callus on.  Really?! After rowing for so many years and building up a tolerance to tearing, this is what my hands decide to do?  I guess I shouldn’t complain considering many people went through the course and their hands looked like hamburger on the other end.  Still found it interesting and I’m sure it’s not the last time it’s going to happen. I go through the last rig and down the cargo net to the finish line.  I made it!  I completed all of the obstacles and made it through the course which once again, means I get to keep my wrist band!  The medals are cool but I think I’ve mentioned that the wristbands are worth more. At least to me they are.  Following my finish, I hung out and chatted with more people about the event.  Talked with one of the organizers and gave him a great review of the overall event.  I was a little more tired than planned and the crowd seemed to be thinning fast.  I decided to pack things up and make my way back to Austin so I could shower and reset for the next part of my trip.  

              Overall, I learned a lot from this event. I learned that I still have a competitive streak in me. I’m not sure that will ever leave. I also have to keep in mind that my performance is a little skewed (in my head) considering I am running some sort of an event each weekend and driving to each event every week.  It got me thinking that I really want to expand on the events that I am doing this next year.  I want to experience more what the OCR world has to offer.  Take the time to plan out what events and when.  I also am looking forward to training in between events. Right now, it’s been a bit difficult because of all of the driving. We’re going to put this in the “what I’m going to do next in life” file.  I have had many hours and a few conversations that have got me thinking quite introspectively.  Right now I’m on this adventure for a few different reasons. Raise money for Whole Kids Foundation, prove that you’re never too old to accomplish something great, and not live in fear of change.  

              I hope my actions and this journey will inspire people to step out of their normal routine.  Try something new in life. Not live in fear of judgement.  Be more active. Did I mention not live in fear? NOT LIVING IN FEAR!!!

              Next stop from here is Plymouth, Wisconsin for a Tough Mudder! See you soon Mudder Family!!

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OCR-Week 3

This was started a while ago and I’ve been behind. I’m doing my best to play catch up.  

 OCR Week #3

Event: Spartan, Asheville

Miles driven: 823.7

Events: Saturday-Super, Sunday-Sprint

Approximate Distance: 13 miles

Medals Earned: 2

 Third week Down and I have accomplished my first Spartan!

              This week started off with leaving Brooklyn and slowly making my way to Asheville, North Carolina.  I decided to stop along the way because I had more time and less distance to travel between cities.  This was a welcome change from the push push push for the first couple weekends.  

              Leaving Brooklyn and the busy streets of NY behind I made my way initially out to Coney Island.  We have a tradition in our family that we eat, what we call, Coney Island hot dogs, every Halloween.  The magic in the Coney Island hot dogs and what makes them special is they have bean-less chili on them.  It is a recipe that my grandpa got from a guy years ago from Coney Island.  I figured I’d go out and see if any place could compete with this recipe.  Sorry Coney Island, my Grandpa’s recipe kicks your ass.  Basic chili on a hot dog has been done.  If it doesn’t have enough worchester sauce in it to make your eyes and mouth water at the same time then don’t even bother.  So I left Coney Island a little disappointed but figured I would carry on. It was getting to be later in the day and I wasn’t going to make the campground I wanted to in the day light. If I’m staying at a campground I like to make it during the day so I can see what I’m doing when I get there. Along my route was Atlantic City. I’d never been before and knowing what I studied in college (hotels and recreation), let’s just say I got a screaming good deal on a room.  Not just any room, a suite!  Which unfortunately since I’m on a budget could not use to its fullest extent.  No, I didn’t do anything illegal that I know of. Just was nice to the desk guy and he hooked me up.  I walked around, checked things out.  Atlantic City is exactly what you think it would be.  Casino’s, lot’s of food, carnival rides, and all the wondrous touristy things people love to buy, aka, CRAP.  Think of it like Vegas thought he was hooking up with Lake Tahoe but actually ended up hooking up with Reno, Tahoe’s inbred sister.  Put it on the ocean, and you have Atlantic City.  I will give the hotel credit though.  Great bed!  

The next morning, I ventured further south to catch the Cape May ferry that takes you to Lewes, DE.  Cape May is the furthest tip of Jersey and is a cute little coastal town.  I also wanted to ride the ferry. It’s not every day I get a chance like that, and I also used it as a chance to catch up on some work. I had some time before the ferry left so I stopped to check out the beach and get some breakfast.  The beach was great.  Any chance I get to see the ocean and watch the waves I am a fan.  I just stood there and soaked it in.  It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that.  I will take full advantage every chance I get. On my way off the beach I met a teacher on her way to the beach.  She was on summer break with a broken foot.  Rachel, I hope your foot is healing and you can get back to running soon! After my visit, I went and got breakfast at a little local place called Dock Mike’s Pancake House.  Yes, this place is good.  For some reason, they couldn’t give me a single pancake with my order but could give me 6 large silver dollar cakes.  I didn’t argue, just wanted a pancake with my omelet, and if I had to eat it in smaller form, so be it.  Following breakfast, I made my way down curvy grass lined roads to the ferry. Paid my way on and enjoyed the air before moving inside to get some work done.  The rest of the day was mostly driving. I made my way to DC by way of back roads and some highways. Very pretty country.  I met up with Olwen, a member of Potomac Boat Club and my host for my time there.  

I decided to spend at least a couple days in DC considering I’d never been before.  As of right now I’d like to go back.  The morning after I arrived I met up with Sam Stitt, a coach at PBC.  He was nice enough to let me out on his launch so I could watch his practice.  There is something about watching a rowing practice that lets gives you a different view on a city.  Not only was the rowing fun to watch but I also got to see the city from the water. Not many people get to do that and it offers a great view.  Especially as the sun comes up.  Sam and I got some breakfast and some coffee following practice. It was good!  Now if you know me you know I don’t normally drink coffee.  I had a dirty chai which is far more caffeine that I take in in a month.  Thank you Sam for giving me the energy to walk around what seemed like most of DC for the day and not even get phased.  Looking back on my day I should’ve planned a little better. I got the National Mall and figured I’d see as much as I can.  I should’ve have known that I wanted to see everything.  I came out of the metro right next to the National Archives.  The houses the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence.  Can’t take pictures while you’re in the building so just know that they are there, they are written on parchment, which is animal skin, and they are written perfectly. It also houses a ton of other stuff! I could’ve spent all day in just this building.  But I pressed on and left this part of history behind.  This is where my planning kind of went out the window.  I should’ve looked more carefully at what I wanted to do and where I was going. If you know me then you know I like efficiency. I put in some extra miles that day. I went from the Archives to the Washington Monument, passed the reflecting pool, to Lincolns memorial, all the way back to the Air and Space Museum, and then over to the Capital Building. I spent time at each one taking pictures and checking things out but I spent the most time is the Air and Space Museum.  By far some of the coolest things from history I’ve seen.  The Wright Brothers flyer is in there along with so many other iconic air and space craft.  I spent over two and half hours there just checking out history of flight.  My pictures that I posted on Facebook don’t do it justice.  To be there and absorb the time through flight.  To see where it came from and what it is now is amazing.  Following my time at the National Mall I decided to get dinner at a local spot.  I felt mildly under dressed. But I didn’t pack a button up so my v-neck and flip flops would have to do.  I had a good dinner at a mildly preppy DC restaurant. It was fun soaking up a different city.  

The following day I learned that there was another Air and Space Museum. It’s about 40 minutes out of DC and was on my way so I decided to stop by.  If you’ve seen Transformers 2 then you’ve seen this place.  Walking in your view is directed right down onto the SR-71 Blackbird.  Fastest plane on the planet.  The info says 2,250 mph, give or take.  I’m sure it can do more.  When it was flown to DC from San Diego they said it took just over an hour!  Crazy talk!!  So after I drooled over the Blackbird I walked around and looked at everything before I made my way to the Space Shuttle Discovery.  A few notable planes to mention; Piper Cub, the Concord, and the Enola Gay.  The Enola Gay was a plane that was crazy to see.  I just stood there in awe of it.  It was truly a piece of history that changed the world.  If you don’t know what it did for history, it was the plane that dropped the two atomic bombs known as Fat Man and Little Boy (I hope I’m getting all my names and history correct). Point being, it is there!  It is a part of history and it’s there!! The interesting thing is I’m sure some people just walk by it like it’s another plane not knowing what it has done in its life.  Food for thought.  So after looking at a crazy amount of cool planes I checked out the space shuttle Discovery.  From what I know they brought that pretty much straight to the museum following its last mission.  A couple things I didn’t know about the shuttle.  It’s not smooth.  The tiles on the bottom are smooth, but the white part of the hull looks like its covered with tightly packed quilting.  If you knew this, good for you.  I did not.  Another thing about the shuttle, IT’S HUGE!  I figured it was on the larger side but movies and TV still don’t seem to put it into perspective.  It was just cool to see.  Makes you want to go back and become an astronaut.  It’s not too late is it?!  Surrounding the shuttle is a bunch of space memorabilia like capsules, rovers, and missiles.  It’s pretty crazy to see both ends of the spectrum when it comes to flight.  To see the first plane ever and then to see the space shuttle over two days is a mind rush.  Also, just to see how everything progressed through time is just cool.  

Following DC I pressed on toward Asheville.  The next day I decided to travel through Shenandoah National Park and camp there.  Nothing too crazy here.  The park was pretty and I’m sure the views were really pretty in some places.  The only issue I had was there was fog for most of my drive.  I pulled some good pictures I think.  I need to download them.  I stopped at a quiet campground in the middle of the park and had a quiet night. Finally pulled out the tent and put it to good use.  Of course I didn’t plan on waking up to rain.  I never really like packing my tent in the rain.  Since I don’t really have a chance to air it out it always smells great when I finally do. That’s beyond the point though.  I didn’t get to make breakfast because of rain so I considered this morning a fasting morning.  The way I’ve been looking at this whole trip is to go with the flow and to consider everything I do a training opportunity.  Like walking around the National Mall to not getting food when I’d like.  It’s all preparation for the Worlds Toughest Mudder in November.  

Making it into Asheville that evening was fun.  I was staying with friends from Austin who decided to run the Spartan Super on Saturday.  We stayed in an Air BnB which at this point was pretty much spoiling me.  Memory foam bed and a super clean shower!  Hot damn!  I like the bed in my truck but the rook of the truck and limited space is something to get used to.  I also enjoyed seeing familiar faces.  Even though I’ve been meeting new people and gaining new friendships, there’s something about seeing a friend that has known you longer than a week.  We got dinner at a local Italian place right down the street and it was good!  Don’t really eat a ton of pasta but following that whole 91/10 rule when it comes to diet I figured I’d survive the night.  Since that was the case I also finished off Lauren’s meat balls.  Can’t pass up good Italian.  We all got good sleep and were off to the races in the morning.

This was my first Spartan. I thought I had signed up for the elite event. Turned out I didn’t, which actually was a good thing.  I got to run with Lauren, really soak in the experience, and enjoy the race for what it is. I’m also going to take credit for helping her get a 5th place finish in her age category.  You’re welcome!  The Super was a good event!  I had a good time.  I also did a pretty decent wod the day before the event so my body was a bit tired. Bad on me, I know.  Either way it was a different experience from a Tough Mudder as expected. Also, since it was a televised event all of the “good” obstacles were on the tail end of the race.  I made it through most of them.  A few of my new favorite enemies are obstacles like “Olympus” and “Twister”. I know if I was fresh and my hands were dry I would’ve been fine but that’s not what OCR is all about.  Olympus is not made for tall people in general but I have an idea on how to attack it next time.  Twister is the same. Of course, most of OCR isn’t made for tall people. Sure, we have our advantages on certain obstacles but there are plenty that shorter lighter athletes can dominate on. This is me just being jealous that the obstacle beat me that day.  I made it through Saturdays Spartan Super with only 60 burpees. I was ok with it. I understand I’m not out to win. I am, however, out to be fit and have a good time while trying to raise money for a good cause.  Saturday night was spent stretching and staying mellow. If I remember right, I cooked dinner for everyone. It was just what everyone needed. We also watched Moana, which if you haven’t seen is a good movie with The Rock voicing a main character.  He sings!  I like that guy.  

Moving on to Sunday!  Sunday was a sprint. Which I was signed up for the elite category.  Surprisingly enough I wasn’t too tired, at least at the start.  A Sprint is roughly 5 miles with about the same number of obstacles as the Super. All kinds of good times.  Waiting at the start I placed myself about mid pack and decided that I would try and stay here.  Since this again was my first time doing a Spartan, let alone an Elite Sprint I figured this was good placing for me.  They let us loose and we were off.  Throughout this entire trip it has been my goal to complete the course and not get injured.  So far that has been proving to be a good strategy.  Today when they let us go was no different. The only difference was my pace. It was a little (and I mean little) faster than normal.  I took on every obstacle as it should have been done.  Once again, I gained some enemies in the ways of obstacles. On the bucket carry my rocks settled which meant I had to do it again.  NOT COOL.  I still did it but I had another goal that day of not getting caught by any of the elite women.  Well, doing a second bucket carry helps the elite women catch up.  Whatever, I still pressed on and made my way through the course. Just like the day before, there were many of the obstacles at the tail end of the course. The organizers also ran the athletes through mud and water before we got to them.  That means out hands were wet and muddy which does nothing for grip.  I struggled with the same obstacles from the day before but I added one to the list of fails for the day.  Just the ring rig.  That upset me.  Any other day I would’ve smoked it.  Today wasn’t that day.  Overall I had a 90 burpee day for the sprint.  I completed the course with minimal errors and collected my medal. That’s always a good thing.

I was happy with my performance for my first Spartan event.  Everything is a learning opportunity and this was definitely a great one!  I spent the rest of the weekend plus an extra day with Lauren and her friend David.  We explored what Asheville had to offer by ways of art galleries, coffee shops, antique malls, restaurants, and of course breweries.  I have the card of one artist in particular that really hit a home run with me. Very bright and vibrant canvases with splashes of color that are not for the faint of heart.  I will find the card and attach a link.  You don’t have to like it but I do.  One day I will own a piece of his art.  Lauren and David had to get on the road and I had to press on to my next event after a day of galleries.  

Next stop: Western New York!

+�A�

Unexpected Chess

My trip has been full of all kinds of interactions with so many great people. Yesterday was one of those experiences.

I sat in Discount Tire just focusing on the next steps of my trip and wondering how the next few events were going to play out. I was within my own thoughts but still aware of what was going on around me. A gentleman sat down next to me and as he did he placed a chess board, with glass pieces, in front of him on the counter. I thought to myself, "well this is a first." But hey, to each, their own right? I leaned over and asked, "You going to play yourself?" He said yes but then immediately offered and and asked if I wanted to play against him. Just a little side note, I haven't played chess since elementary school, and that was against my friend who ended up getting a perfect score on the SAT's. So this was going to go well. Turns out, he is just picking up the game and is very excited about how the game of chess works. I know little knowledge of the game aside from the goal and how the pieces move.

We started a game. It was going well and we actually had a small audience which was very entertaining. There was an older gentleman who was greatly intrigued by our game. Before he left he gave us a small lesson on the game. After our lesson from a master compared to us we reset the board and started over. The game was going well and developing well. I had to run outside to help with my truck and to my surprise my opponent waited for me to come back so we could finish the game. The game developed into me playing defense and my king running for his life. I had a few moves where I actually had him in check but that didn't last long. It was a good game and I feel that I was an okay opponent. At least it was better than playing himself.

At this point the game wasn't over but my truck was. They pulled it out front and I collected my receipt. I sat back down as my truck idled outside and finished the game. It didn't take long for him to checkmate me but it was still the point of taking the time and finishing what I had started. Besides, it was a game! I'm competitive! No matter what I'm going to compete until the end. After the game I stood up and finally introduced myself to my new friend. Steve, thank you very much for the game of chess. I'll probably never see you again, but thank you for bringing something new to my day and life.

So if anything can come of this story, take the time to step out of your personal bubble, pull your face away from your phone, look around at the world that surrounds you, meet someone new by striking up a conversation with a stranger, and be the true person you are.

Have a good day everyone!

I know I'm behind

I understand that I am way behind on posting updates. I will be getting to this as soon as I can get a little down time from driving. I'm changing the way my trip is going and I'm hoping that will give me a bit more time.

OCR Week # 2 - Tough Mudder Long Island

Miles driven: 1505.3

Laps on Course: 2.5

Approximate Distance: 25 miles

Headbands Earned: 3

 Second week accomplished and I’m still going strong!

This week started out with me leaving Minnesota trying to get to New York a day earlier than planned.  I decided to only stop a couple of times.  I stopped just outside of Chicago in Joliet and stayed with an old co-worker from my Sac State Aquatic Center days.  Thank you Tark for letting me crash with you and your family!  Did I mention I also went through a town called Sandwich! I looked for a sticker but I’m assuming all of the stores with them were closed.  Believe it or a not Sandwich is a small town!  The following night I decided to camp in my truck.  I found a really nice campsite called Maumee Campground. Showers were nice and the place was quiet.  If I go back through and stay there I will be staying in site 242. More shade and less light at night.  The next day I decided to make it to Philadelphia.  Out of all my rowing connections Cass was the one that came through for me!  Thanks Cass!  While I was there I also dropped into Requisite Fitness, home of Crossfit 215. They were awesome!  Huge space!  They had just moved in and are still putting the place together.  That being said, I am going to be interested to see what it looks like when they are done!  

              At this point I wasn’t really in a hurry.  Phily is only a couple hours from NYC.  My reason for pushing my schedule was for an awesome reason.  I had the privilege of visiting Tough Mudder Head Quarters in Brooklyn.  What a great experience!  Thank you to Eric Botsford aka: E Rock for giving me the opportunity to experience Tough Mudder from the inside.  I got to check out where all of the creativity stems from.  I also got to check out the Tough Mudder Boot Camp gym! It’s awesome!  Nice work and it will be fun to see how that progresses. I even got the opportunity to meet the man himself, Will Dean!  From the short conversation we had I could tell he is a committed person with everyone’s best interests in mind.  I got to meet so many people and see how everything is created! Thanks TMHQ for the opportunity to visit!

              That night I also got to catch up with an old friend from our high school rowing days.  Jason has been living in NYC for many years.  He’s a great guy and let me crash on his couch for the night!  We got to catch up on a whole lot of things. He’s doing well living the New York life.  Jason, thank you very much for all of your hospitality.  

              I decided to drop-in to Crossfit NYC, The Black Box, for the 6am class.  The WOD was a little gem called “Airforce”.  To sum it up, it is 5 burpees every minute and in between the burpees you have 20 reps of 5 different movements with a 95lb bar.  You’re not done until your done with all of the movements.  The burpees are just a bonus.  I figured it’s all good training.  Looking back, I probably should of scaled it a little bit considering what I had planned for the weekend but where’s the fun in that?!

              Jason and I grabbed breakfast and at this point I figured it was Friday and I didn’t have a real schedule set I would do touristy things.  Mainly I just wanted to see One World Tower and the 9-11 memorial fountains.  I did the basic trip to the observation area and learned what I could from that.  Did you know that the tower with the spire is 1776 feet tall?  That doesn’t make it the tallest building in the world but as it was explained, the building was built in remembrance for our country and was built for the American people.  Even the elevator ride to the top was cool.  The elevators have screens on all sides and as you go up they take you through the evolution of New York from before anything until now. It only takes a few seconds to get to the top and then you’re funneled into another waiting area before they let you out to the observation deck.  The waiting area is not what you expect.  It’s a darkened room and you face one side.  They show a short video about NYC and at the very end the wall lifts revealing New York.  It’s a great view and you only get it for a split second.  If you go have your camera ready!  It’s not that you won’t have another chance at great views but this one is a good one.  I spent some time here. Not really taking pictures but more just soaking up the experience. I need to take more pictures.  I guess that’s something I need to work on.  I really enjoy watching others enjoy their experiences.  I’m an avid people watcher.  It may sound creepy but we all do it.  After I spent a good time looking at NY from above I decided that I needed to come out of the clouds and see everything from the ground.  The fountains were next.  If you don’t know, there are two fountains on each of the sites where the World Trade Center once stood. It’s very moving.  I’ve been to New York before the towers fell, not shortly after they fell and now.  To see the evolution from greatness to loss and then to rebuild is very moving.  I remember standing and just staring at the hole in the ground that used to be the World Trade Center.  Words cannot explain that feeling. Loss, pain, sadness, and just pure sorrow were all around.  There were memorials written on the security gate that surrounded the site. I didn’t take pictures then out of a respect for all that lost their lives. As I walked around the fountains there is a feeling of rebirth and pride. The names of those that were lost are all around the fountains. There are flowers and there is a huge amount of respect by the people visiting. The fountains are in the park that surrounds One World Tower. There is also a memorial museum that holds pieces from the original tower and just an education experience.  I didn’t go in because I unfortunately had some computer work to do. That was my time at the new tower. I would highly recommend it.  

              The next couple hours were spent in a Starbucks because I needed some internet time.  I don’t think you need to hear about that.  The only thing I’ll say is that coming from Texas and sitting in that much AC for that long is not fun. I have never shivered in a coffee shop before. First time experience for everything I guess.

              Following my Starbucks/Icebox experience I decided that a true New York experience was complete until I ate a hotdog in Times Square. That was exactly what I did.  I took the subway.  I love the subway.  So much fun to watch people.  I’m sure if I lived here it wouldn’t be as fun, but I don’t, so it is.  Walked around Times Square long enough to soak it in and eat my overpriced hotdog.  Was it worth it? Sure was!  

              Saturday!  Let’s get to the Tough Mudder!  I signed up for the Tougher Mudder on Saturday.  The Tougher is plain and simple a timed version of a regular Tough Mudder. I really enjoyed it!  I met some new friends from the Worlds Toughest Mudder Facebook page and ran with them for portions of the race.  I’m not sure how I did in placing but to me that doesn’t matter.  It’s all about experience and my experience was a good one. There are benefits to running the Tougher. Mainly, there are no real lines on any of the obstacles. Second, you get a Tougher Mudder headband!  Following my first time through the course I decided, for training purposes, to do a second lap.  I wanted to do this last weekend but that wasn’t going to happen.  So, I got a snack and headed out with some new-found friends on the course.  Starting with others that have already done a lap and are planning on three for the day is fun. There is no real immediate hurry and everyone understands the obstacles. It’s also a chance to learn from experienced people on how to approach each event.  The second lap was going well right up until about lap 5ish.  Then my right knee decided to try and tighten up. I took it easy while trying to keep up with some WTM people.  I will say that Arctic Enema was a welcome obstacle when it came to cooling off and icing down some sore legs.  I wanted to stay in for a little bit but they wouldn’t let me.  I got through the course for the second time. For my first time going through the course twice in one day I will have to say it was a learning experience. I learned more about fueling my system and what is going to work. I also learned about some weaknesses that I need to work on in between events.  Stretching is always a thing and it’s something I’ve been doing. Apparently I need to do more.  I spent that night eating, a lot, and stretching. I’ve discovered that a good go to meal for me between days is chicken, rice, and avocado.  I add soy sauce to replenish salt. I will also eat some fruits and vegetables for more hydration and natural sugars.  Over-all it may seem like a lot but remember how big I am and how much I did for the day.

Sunday!!  Sunday was definitely a fun day.  Tough Mudder was only able to offer a half. I joined the WTM group again for the first wave of the day.  Running a half is fun. It’s a bit of a different mindset than the full. Not bad, just different.  Tough Mudder takes out some of the harder obstacles and since it’s a half it’s obviously only half the distance.  As a group, we decided it would be a good idea to each help 100 mudders over obstacles if they needed it.  This made the day that much better.  To help people overcome fears and challenge themselves was very fulfilling. It reminded me much of my coaching days.  The only difference was you have a very short time to impact someone’s day. I’m hoping I did that for the people I spoke with or helped.  I only ran one lap but that one was fun. My knee wasn’t happy with me but I survived.  Hung out with my new friends following our time on the course. We enjoyed our beer and all of the samples that were around.  Talked about past events, our upcoming future events, and experiences we’ve had. When it was time a good group of us walked out together.  I got hugs (I love hugs) from new friends and we went on our way. I will see some of them again in the not too distant future at the Tough Mudder in Western NY.

              Excited to move on to the next event.  Next stop. Asheville!

OCR Trip - Week #1 Summary

Event: Tough Mudder Twin Cities

Miles Driven: 1634.8

Laps on Course: 2

First week down and just a few more to go.  The weekend started off with Tough Mudder X.  Just for a quick explanation; Tough Mudder X was deemed the “toughest mile on the planet”.  The mile consisted of 10 obstacles and 10 fitness zones which alternated. The movements and obstacles ranged to take into account all of the various fitness backgrounds. Just to be clear, it was destroying athletes left and right.  And these weren’t just your run of the mill athletes.  It ranged from OCR, Crossfit, Olympians, Harlem Globetrotters, and more! On top of that it is going to be televised on CBS!

I got the honor of being a judge for the event.  We were split up into groups and judged a couple of disciplines. Our group was on pull-ups and shoulder to overhead.  Two simple movements, but like with any competition they have to be judged with standards in mind.  I was lucky and got to be the judge that took the leaders of the heats and finals.  So, on a side note there is a good chance you’ll see me on TV!  I can’t say much more except I did have to no rep one of the leaders in the final.  He wasn’t thrilled about it but he didn’t finish the rep correctly.  That’s what you get when you have a perfectionist as a judge.  This isn’t a plug (but it’s a plug), you should really watch it.  It was fun to be a part of and I may have to train to try for it in the future!

              On to the Tough Mudder.  Saturday was an experience.  I ended up running with one of the judges, Bendon, I met from the previous day. He had a good pace and I figured all would be fine going into a standard Tough Mudder.  I’m not sure if it was the driving 1,500 miles to get to Minneapolis, or standing around all day on Friday but my idea of doing two laps faded very quickly around mile 6 of my first lap.  My legs just shut down and my kilt got really heavy.  Yes, I wore my kilt.  It’s tradition now and I figure if I keep running with it I’ll just get stronger. Anyway, my mind said yes, but my body was telling me other things.  I even failed an obstacle that I have never failed before.  It was KONG, a ring rig.  Super fun, usually easy.  Guess Saturday just wasn’t my day.  The thing that helped me get through it was Brendon.  He was a champion supporter.  Tough Mudder is all about teamwork and he was a solid teammate.  He backed of his pace and kept me going.  I can’t thank him enough.  I decided after I was done that it would be smart from an athletes perspective to not try a second lap.  I have many of these events do to and I want to make them all.  After I was done at the course I refueled, stretched and prepared for the next day.

              Sunday was a far different experience than Saturday. I showed up and hour early on accident. Got killer parking though!  The crowds are smaller than Saturday so it really does turn into a Sunday Funday. As I was waiting in line I met four newbies to the Tough Mudder world.  I explained what I could and tried not to freak them out to bad when explaining some of the obstacles.  I kept tabs on them during the day and of course I supported them as they went through Electroshock Therapy at the end.  Rachel, you still owe me a better effort 😉.  As I got through the check in area I ended up meeting a bunch of Worlds Toughest Mudder veterans.  To say this is a good group of people is an understatement. These people are awesome!  Aside from getting my 10th headband with my sister and two good friends, this had to be one of the best experiences so far at a Tough Mudder.  Granted they’ve all been good, but this one will go in the memory banks as something unique.  My legs were tired, my body was a little sore but once you get going and if you’re around the right people, there’s no stopping.  It’s hard to put into words what it was like.  It was instant friendship because of the common bond of Tough Mudder.  The obstacles were there and we all knew what to expect.  We talked about previous mudder experiences, and of course I picked their brains about Worlds Toughest Mudder and learned about the do’s and don’ts of the weekend.  Over all it was great. One lap, new friends, a lot of laughing, and of course that frosty beer at the end.  

              I also got to share the reason I’m running. It seems to come up when people ask me where I’m from and I have to tell them “nowhere currently”, or even better, “my truck”.  Once again, everyone that I share my mission with is extremely supportive and positive about what I’m doing.  I’m hoping this movement will snowball and turn into something great for the Whole Kids Foundation.  

              Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my adventure.  It came with all kinds of ups and downs.  I am already looking forward to the next event.  Long Island in only a few short days!

As always, I’m sure I left a lot out.  If I did, or if this doesn’t make sense, I apologize.  Funny thing is I did alright in my creative writing class in high school.  You would think I could’ve retained some of that.  

My adventure for @wholekidsfoundation starts tomorrow!! Check out my website (www.tobytjohnson.com) for all the details. I'm still looking for support. Click the link in my bio to help out. Remember, I have a crowdrise page that is dedicated to Whole Kids and what ever I do t use on my GoFundMe will be donated as well!! Thanks all! -#adventure #motivation #ocr #spartanrace #toughmudder @spartanrace @tough_mudder #fitness @wholekidsfoundation @jlracing @irolflex @rxbar @merrelloutside @crossfit #crossfit @gopro #fitfam #healthyfood #food #healthyliving #kcco #chiveon @chivecharities (at Diamond Lake, Washington)

Hey all! I've got about 4 days to go before I start my four month adventure to raise money for @wholekidsfoundation. I'm reaching out for your support. Although I'm doing what I can to limit my costs on this entire trip I still need help. The main cost will be gas and food. Other costs will be stuff like health insurance and entry fees. Check out my website at www.tobytjohnson.com and see what I'll be up to. Hit up @gofundme and show me some support. I can't do this without it. Help me make a change in children's health!!! #fitness #adventure #motivation #ocr #spartanrace #toughmudder @spartanrace @tough_mudder #fitness @wholekidsfoundation @jlracing @irolflex @rxbar @merrelloutside @crossfit #crossfit @gopro @theellenshow @jimmyfallon @jimkwik @garyvee (at Washington)

Website went live today! Check out the adventure coming up!! #adventure #motivation #ocr #spartanrace #toughmudder @spartanrace @tough_mudder #fitness @wholekidsfoundation @jlracing @irolflex @rxbar @merrelloutside @crossfit #crossfit @mattbdavis www.tobytjohnson.com (at Austin, Texas)

Good times yesterday! @agirlandherboybullet and I earned our black headbands! Not to mention @serengetisammy and @kiaski earned their first @tough_mudder headbands! Welcome to the club!! Let me know when you're ready for the next one. (at Gibson Ranch Park)

Already taking a selfie like a pro!!! Not many of you know I have a nephew. Guess what, I have a nephew. His name is Gunnar, aka: Bullet. Future badass, race car driver and all around awesome guy. #family

Very eventful day!!! Big news coming very soon!! #fitness #ocr #secrets #adventure #motivation (at Austin, Texas)

Realized I haven't been lifting heavy. I can feel it. Knees will be happier soon. Strength is key. Hope everyone's Monday is a great start to their week! Who else will be at Tough Mudder Sacramento? @erock_hi ? @coachtmud ?#healthy #rowing #toughmudder @tough_mudder @spartanrace #spartanrace #fitness #ocr (at Austin, Texas)

Trying to be all hip and stuff. Add me on Snapchat! We can do snappy things but I will never use the dog filter. I'm not that basic. #kimkardashian

I look upset but I'm far from it. Texas clinched the fourth place podium position at #NCAA and I got to see a former coxswain of mine. Miss @riiriibrown. Always great to see the success that rowing brings people. I'm proud and honored that I've been a part of so many athletes lives. #ncaarow @utexasrowing #boatman #onthelongdrivehome @usrowing #rowing (at Mercer County Park)

Texas claims the 2017 Whack-A-Mole Tournament# @utexasrowing #utexas #ut #whackamole #boatman #ncaachampionship #goodtimes #goodpeople