Whenever I get a package of plain M&Ms, I make it my duty to continue the strength and robustness of the candy as a species. To this end, I hold M&M duels.

Taking two candies between my thumb and forefinger, I apply pressure, squeezing them together until one of them cracks and splinters. That is the "loser," and I eat the inferior one immediately. The winner gets to go another round.

I have ...

So I have finally digested the season and all of its good and bad points... I think.

My plans for this year:
1) I am applying to be a Mentor for the TNT Winter tri season. That would mean a trip to Kona in April for Lavaman in addition to helping a bunch of first time triathletes experience this wonderful sport of ours. The competition for these mentor spots is very tough ...

The whole feeling of Ironman this year was different than last year. Of course, I was no longer an ironman virgin so the level of excitement was initially lacking, but this did change. I got to Penticton still stressed about work. I left my 2nd grade classroom without carpet, furniture, etc. due to flooding in the main building a few weeks prior. I ...

Checking my bike and loading race food into the Bento Box on my bike.

Pre-Race: lots of nervous energy! We were up at 4:00 am for breakfast and taking the shuttle down to the race start. After dropping off my special needs bags, body marking (getting my race number written all over me in black felt pen), I checked over my bike, pumped the tires ...

Canada was a wonderful experience as was Ironteam. I started the season with huge and seemingly unattainable goals and I achieved almost all of them. I achieved all of them except actually crossing the finish line in Canada. Naturally I was disappointed to not finish the race but I managed to keep a pretty good attitude about everything. Well, maybe not right at the moment, but shortly afterwards.

For those ...