"It sure used to be. We stood up for what was right. We fought for moral reasons. We passed laws, struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were and we never beat our chests. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world’s greatest artists and the world’s greatest economy. We reached for the stars, acted like men, we aspired to intelligence, we didn’t belittle it, it didn’t make us feel inferior.
We didn’t identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election and we didn’t scare so easy. We were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed, by great men, men who were revered. First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore."
~HBO's The Newsroom
It's Been A While
Sorry for taking so long to update. Striking a work life balance is difficult along with all the things going on. Which is a very big concern for a triathlete. Many folks, especially those training for an Ironman will attest that time management is key. Triathletes spend a lot of time training. It's a big time commitment. Especially if you have a job that requires additional hours too. How stuff works as an article about time management.TShirts
I haven't given up on fundraising for PAWS. With the help of my friend Antonio, Lead Artist over at Social Titans. We came up with a design for my blog and future website. www.thetigerrebuilt.com I honestly haven't had a chance to work on it but it will contain a forum for triathlon tips as well as a link to my blog, and many other nice features!
For those of you who don't know my blog TheTigerRebuilt. It is about the struggles i'm going through on rebuilding my life. I gave up on being overweight and this death spiral of health problems. I went from playing World of Warcraft 6-7 hours a day to hardly touching my computer outside of work. I met people, I volunteered my time, I grew as a person more outside of virtual reality than I ever did in it.
This is what I kind of looked like when I did go to the gym.
It's also ironic that i'm going through a rebuilding stage now, trying desperately to be able to run again. The design is of a Tiger with a bionic leg. My inspiration was the Six Million Dollar Man. We can rebuild him, we have the technology!
Anyway, tshirts go for $12, it costs me $5.99+tax for each shirt, so the rest goes directly to my Team PAWS fund. If you'd like to purchase one or you have ideas to improve the design let me know.
Back To My Roots
The quote of today's post resonates with me. I lost a lot of my vision since I've started dealing with my leg injuries. Yes its been almost a year. It drains you mentally as well as physically. You lose sight of why you started it all in the first place and what keeps you going. If you lose what keeps you going you stop but after riding my bike yesterday I remember why I started it all in the first place.
When I rode through the Salt Creek Trail in the suburbs of Chicago I felt for the first time this sense of "going places." Not literally going places but feeling of moving and seeing vastness of the earth around you. Seeing wonderful things like Lakes and forests, winding paths, hills (particularly going down not up).
In the beginning I loved running, biking was my relaxing activity, and swimming was my least favorite. Now I dread running because I simply can't. Biking is a chore because I train so hard. Swimming is actually better but I'm worried about increasing distance.
I had this wild idea one day. I was going to train for an ironman. I know crazy right? Well the inspiration for that dream was experiencing 140 miles of lush environment. A verse in Anna Kendrick's song Cups kind of references my thought.
"I got my ticket for the long way round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains
It's got rivers
It's got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you"
Actually the song as much more meaning to me besides seeing incredible views. (Kona one day) I think I need to energize myself by going back to my roots and starting from where I began. I need to relearn my motivation.
Lava Magazine's 2013 Kona Photo Gallery
Training Update
Swimming with Chicago Endurance Sports
If you are having trouble with a particular activity and you find yourself needing a coach in it. Do it. Getting someone's perspective as they watch you can help immensely. I have swim practices once a week and you'd think that's not enough. With the skills and the minor tweaks Coach is instilling in us I've already seen a dramatic improvement in my swimming. Her approach to swimming is a combination of Full Immersion and Swim Smooth.
I haven't been to the lake and started open water swimming this year. With the last ice age now coming to the end I bet the lake is still mighty cold. This is how I imagine the lake to be right now.
Or
More to come soon.
As Always Thanks for Reading
Tiger
P.S.
Please visit my Youtube Channel (which will be featured on my website once its complete.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQgJLT7RpnSGWWcG0ZjdPOw
P.S.
Please visit my Youtube Channel (which will be featured on my website once its complete.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQgJLT7RpnSGWWcG0ZjdPOw
Recorded by Seymour Butts
