My Goal To Be an IRONMAN Begins...The Transformation.

  I am 223lbs...way out of shape (is "soft" a shape?). I have not ran for almost a year, other than a few scattered 2-3 milers. I have previously ran 3 half marathons and 2 marathons. I know how to get in shape, I just chose to let myself lose it.

 I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma on 11-27-12, and had my entire right kidney removed on 12-4-12. I feel really good right now as far as the surgery recovery, it is a pretty invasive and let me tell you, it takes longer than I thought to get back to baseline.

 My reasons to try for an Ironman?

 1) I want to give the big FUCK YOU to cancer. My first checkup is on 6-13-13, just after my 43rd birthday. I plan on being clear still, but who knows. I am not going to wait around for it to come back, I am not going to worry about it coming back. If it does, I will deal with it then, all I can do is get healthy, eat right, and try to minimize the possibility of it returning. So right now, I choose to just LIVE. I will not let the fear of cancer determine what I can or cannot do.

2) Who knows IF I will be able to do an Ironman later in life. I am only getting older, and IF cancer returns, I may not get the chance to be an Ironman.

3) My brother is a 2 time Ironman, and I want him to be proud of me. He is the reason I started running in the first place, and I am continuously amazed at his determination and toughness. This one is for you, bro.

4) I want to show my children the meaning of "I Can", and not let them say "I can't". I have seen a 67 year old woman with a prosthetic leg finish an Ironman. I have seen blind people become transcendant from their lack of sight and become an Ironman. I OWE it to myself, my family, to do the same.


 I think I know how to be tough. I raced motocross for 15 years. I have broken many bones, several concussions, I have titanium parts inside my femur from 2004 when I shattered it, among some other things. I think I will find out how tough I can be. I am man, and I control my own destiny, if there is such a thing. I expect to cry and laugh, probably both at the same time, during my journey to train my body and my mind for the 140.6 miles I will encounter on a hot, humid day on May 17th, 2014. I expect to cry when and if I cross the finish line. I can't say for sure that I WILL finish, but I'll be damned if I don't try. I will be better for trying and losing, than for never having tried. But I tell you this...I EXPECT to become an Ironman on that day.

 There will be more to come, I will chronicle my training, my feelings, my experiences, on this blog. The writing style will be varied, sometimes a stream of consciousness, sometimes straight facts, and I am sure I will post some of my philosophical meanderings. So be it. Let the Transformation begin!