Whoomp! There it is!

(The title alludes to the song back in the day by Tag Team, which alludes to the "Tag" that - ah nevermind.)

I guess the cool kids have all been passing around these survey thingies, and I was tagged by Steve S. So, in case you didn't know:

1. Describe a memory from your first triathlon ever.
Two things:
A. It was in an indoor pool, and there were these high school girls couting lengths for each swimmer so we didn't have to do it on our own. My high school girls informed me one length too late that I was finished. Thanks girls.

B. Afterwards, when I said to my friend Mike, "Well, I'm a triathlete now."

2. Describe a memory from your most recent triathlon.
Again, two things:
A. It's surreal to actually arrive at the day of Ironman, because it's been so elusive for so long. Anyway, that morning (after 2 hours of sleep) I went out to my car in the dark and cold, and Amy had put a card on my windshield (inside a zip-loc) that had a Fox on the front of it. Inside she said many things, among them, "I'm so proud of you. You are an amazing man & this is just one of your many accomplishments. You will finish strong, as you are so prepared. You honor your Dad, your grandparents & your family name. I am so happy for you today!" Tell me a better way to begin Becoming Ironman.

B. Actually, in November, when my grandpa was still wearing around the Ironman baseball cap I gave him.

3. What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in a triathlon?
I don't know that I've done anything terribly embarrassing, but I've done silly and stupid things. Such as, in my very first triathlon ever (a Sprint, and short for that) I loaded up 4 cages - 2 on my frame and 2 behind my saddle - with Gatorade. I guess in case I got really thirsty in those 45 minutes. I also started out of T1 in that race in my 53, my biggest, hardest gear. Because I didn't know any better. Also this last year, at the same race (now my 3rd time), I forgot my race number belt, so my friends and I stopped at Wal-Mart and I bought some underwear with an elastic waistband and cut the underwear part off so I would just wear the elastic part with my number clipped to it. That's pretty funny when I stop to think about it. We were perusing the male undergarments section of Wal-Mart, me and my three friends, looking for the "perfect" pair with a thick enough waist band. Good times.

4. What’s the most thrilling thing that has ever happened to you in a triathlon?
Of course the finish chute at Ironman changed my world, but I'll share this instead: In a Half IM last summer, when I looked up in the middle of a pretty bad race and saw a fox staring me down, then escourting me briefly down the road. The first of several foxes I'd see during rides or races last summer, when I'd never seen a real fox before that in my life.

5. What is something that you discovered about yourself by doing triathlons?
I have a level of obsessive compulsion that might honestly qualify me for medication or something when it comes to this game. Also I've learned a great deal about patience and discipline that I've taken with me into the real world. Oh, and I've become a friggin' nutritionist. I bore my friends for hours at dinner parties with the evils of HFCS. A wonder I have any friends left.

6. What is “The Big Goal” that you are working towards?
Good question. Probably learning better to be not such a "big goal" kind of person with triathlon. Life is short. I want to just enjoy the ride.