My Never Dream

I almost lost the ability to dream.

   

February 18, 2000. I was 23 years old, in the prime of my life and devastated by a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. All my dreams, from child hood to my young adult life, were destroyed in that moment and all I could think about were the things that would be taken from me, the things I would never be able to do, the dreams I would never accomplish.

6 years of flare-ups, blindness, numb legs and weight gain became my new reality.

April 2007 I realized I hated what my life had become. I missed being active and playing sports, I felt sorry for myself. In that moment I had a dream; a dream I believed in and a dream that ultimately changed my life.

I spent the next 9 months eating right, exercising and eventually lost 75 pounds. In that time I became friends with a triathlete who convinced me that swim, bike, run would be great to incorporate into my new lifestyle.  It took lots of convincing since I didn't really know how to do any of that!

I hadn’t even run a 5k before let alone completed a triathlon. Step one – sign up for a 5k! When I crossed the finish line I felt something amazing. It was exhilarating and emotional. There were many people who knew about my Multiple Sclerosis rooting me on. The days following I could see that my finish had moved these people and inspired them to do more, either for themselves or for a cause.

Needless to say, I was so proud and immediately ready for my next race. As they say, I caught the bug. 

I decided my first 5k was the stepping stone for my journey of inspiration.

Since my first race I’ve gone on to complete 6 additional 5k’s, 13 sprint triathlons, 1 Olympic, 1 70.3, 2 half marathons and 2 century rides. More importantly, I have inspired countless friends, family, acquaintances, athletes and others diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  It has been the best experience hands down.

So I often say  that I do not want to compete in a full distance IRONMAN triathlon, its true....I only want to complete it and continue to inspire others including those living with this unpredictable disease, who need some encouragement to challenge the impossible.  In 2014 I will live this part of the dream.  It will be a long road to get there, but it's worth all the bumps in the road to get there!

The Holidays

Hi all.  It's been a while.  So we are right smack in the middle of christmas and new years.  Its is often a time for us to reflect on the past year.  Achievements, good times, bad times, regrets, etc.  I sit around just being thankful to be alive.  So thankful that I have been given the opportunity to compete in triathlons and inspire others.  I know it is cheesy but I truly feel that is my purpose :)

I wish you all the very bet for 2013 and remember that nothing is impossible, rome wasn't built in a day and you can't put the roof on the house if you haven't yet laid the foundation.

**Keep and eye out for my first marathon race report late february 2013**

All the best

John

Race Report - My First Half Ironman - REV 3 MAINE

So this is a long post.  But it took 6 hours and 53 minutes to capture the content :)

Incase you don't know a Half Distance Triathlon consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run.

Hope you enjoy!

The Only Jersey I Race In :)

REV 3 Maine 70.3 August

Pre-race routine:

This was my first half iron distance, but i wasn’t very nervous the night before as I have been in other races.  I was actually more nervous for the NYC Olympic just a month previous   With a wave 1 start time of 6:20 am and transition opening at 5 am I was in in bed at 8:30 the night before.  The plan ;as has been in previous races; was to sleep 6-7.5 hours then wake up and have a real breakfast.  

3:00 am - My eyes popped open even before the alarm clock and it was time for some Bear Naked Granola (Fruit and Nut of course) with almond milk a banana and a chocolate Muscle Milk.  I did all of this as quiet as a church mouse not to wake up my sleeping beauty.  

3:30 am - Ok this may sound weird but i decided to take a shower.  Making sure to be as quiet as possible i moved in slow motion as I get loser to the shower and then it hit me BAM!!!  literally made that noise as my head slammed into the shower door frame.  Can’t make this stuff up :)  Luckily I was fine and didn’t wake her

4:00 am - I begin to get dressed.  A seasoned triathlete can appreciate the complexities here.  Chamois Buttr, Aquaphor, Body Glide, tri shorts & top, compression sleeves, a hat and flip flops to walk to transition.  I felt like a soldier getting ready to go into war

4:30 am - Tri Tats  It is so important to get those arm numbers perfectly attached.  I hear its more Aero :)

4:45 am - Anne Moreno and I walk over to transition. Back packs are loaded with gear and nutrition.  

4:50 am - Arrive at transition and wait to enter.

5:00 am - The gates open.  Now I am off to find my position in the racks #729.  For the first time ever there is no bike to the left of me.  This was great, I felt like I could sprawl out.  I’m a little territorial and like my space!

5:20 am - Done!  Bike shoes with socks, next to helmet with cycling gloves and sunglasses resting inside, all across from a fuel belt, running hat and running shoes.  I was now locked and loaded.

5:47 am - Back at the hotel to begin the individual event of putting on my wetsuit.  Maybe one day it will get easier, but it always takes a while.  Lots of body glide and 13 minutes later I begin my walk to the beach

Event warmup:

6:01 - I’m at the beach and go in for a 10 minute warm up swim.  The air temperature was abut 69 and water roughly the same.  Before I jump in i talk a look at the first turning buoys and it looks like it is miles away! I kept thinking of Dory from Finding Nemo and kept saying over and over in my heard “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..” I felt great during my practice swim.  First loss of the day, my road ID fell off in the water.  FAIL!

6:11 - I take my first of many delicious triathlete pieces of nutrition.  Espresso Hammer Gel.

6:12 - Heather takes a few pictures of me while listening to the star spangled banner

6:15 - Race official give us a 5 minute warning

6:18 - Wave one crosses over the first timing mat and is at the water waiting for the horn to signal the start.  This was a counter clockwise swim so I made my way to the back of the pack and all the way over to the right.  I’m not fast at all, so I feel more comfortable being outside the pack and away from all the overachievers who are kicking like mad in the water

6:20 - Promptly the horn blew and off we went.  I’ve never been to a race that actually stated on time.  Kudos to the organizers.  

Swim

Comments:

So of I went on my 1.2 mile swim.  My goal for the swim was an hour, we’ll see what happens.  

I remembered that during my warm up swim and practice swim the previous day that I was able to find a nice relaxing pace.  Luckily I was able to find it during the race as well.  I was pushing a little hard out of the gate but quickly noticed and pull back a little.  The first turn buoy was quite a bit always.  Very much like during my training it took me a while to really get my stroke where i was happy.  Long strokes with high elbow pull.  Stayed focused on not diving my arms down to far.  2 beat kick and tried very hard to get on my side and glide! It was going very well.  My sighting was doing good too.  It seemed as If I was headed straight.  We like that:)

During the race meeting the previous day I remembered the director telling us the turn buoys were orange and yellow like candy corn.  I couldn't wait to get to the first candy corn.  The swim out the the first turn was great, some high rolling waves in the Atlantic but nothing breaking or tossing me around.  I was almost to the turn and was thinking to myself “I am so glad I started off to the right, no one has come over to kick or hit me at all”  That changed about a minute later.  I took an elbow to the right eye.  Luckily it wasn’t very hard at all.  

Now I make the turn and I am trying to sight the buoys and look beyond them to find  larger to make it easier to sight.  I could see a large white building in the distance. That was now my target.  They told us that after the first turn we needed to swim 1/2 mile to the next turn.  That was great for me mentally. I have done 10 sprint triathlons and now have no issue with 1/2 miles swims. 

So just like Dory said I just keep swimming. One buoy at a time until i get to the next candy corn turn buoy. I’m feeling great, no fatigue and heart rate feels like it is right where it needs to be.  I wasn't out of breathe or anything.  I knew I was keeping the right pace for me.  

Now I’ve made the turn and need to find something new to sight.  Luckily there was a huge Ferris wheel to the left and 500 foot pier to the right, and in between.... the swim finish.  So with my sights set to the finish I thought it would be easier on the way in than on the way out.  After all it was yesterday for the practice swim.  But the tide must have started going out.  It seems like no matter how much I focused on form and technique I wasn’t making it very far.  Eventually, I am close enough to shore that I can see the bottom of the ocean.  This water was amazing, I could see clear to the bottom from at least 12 feet.  As I continue to sight I notice some athletes ahead who are starting to get up on two feet.  That’s when i know I’m that close and I turn it on and start to kick my legs a lot to wake them up.  

Coach Pascale always told me to keep swimming until your stroke touches the sand. So I followed orders like the good soldier that I am.  Now I’m on 2 feet and looking for my zipper cord.  I pull it down and before I take my arms out I remove my goggles and swim cap in my right hand.  Then i yank my right arm out of the wetsuit and let go of the goggles and swim cap in the sleeve so i don’t have to carry them.  Starting to run off the beach and beginning to remove my left sleeve I hear cheers from Heather “Go Johnny Go”.  I offer a wave and a smile and start running towards transition.

T1

The run to transition was over 1/3 of a mile.  We crossed over 2 streets and a pair of train tracks.  The Police, Volunteers and spectators where great.  Cow bells, whistles and cheers all make for great adrenaline fuel.   

I’m feeling strong as I run but don’t want to over do it. Trying to keep the hear rate moderate. I run down the shoot and enter transition.  I look over at the race clock to see if I can catch my swim time but no luck.  There are not many bikes left on the racks next to me, but that only makes for less congestion when I’m getting ready to ride.  

As quickly as possible i step out of my wetsuit, dry my legs with a towel, put on a pair of socks, cycling shoes, helmet and glasses and I'm off. I took my time, I figured I might as well get well situation before I head out for a 56 mile ride. 

Now all ready to go I grab my bike and start to head of of transition.  It was about a 200 foot run to exit transition.  I’m thinking about what nutrition I need once I'm on the saddle.  I pass the mounting line and clip in.  Off I go!

One day I’d like to learn how to fly mount my bike.

Bike

Comments:

During my training rides of this distance I would have 2 water bottles filled with Carbo Pro and Nuun tablets.  Then I would eat one honey Stinger Waffle  per hour and take 3 Salt Sticks (salt pills)

Course was very scenic.  Lots of farms, horses and barns.  Was feeling great and steady for the first 20+ miles.  Trip computer had me over 18 MPH headed for the first split. During that first 20 i took my nutrition as I did in training.  I spent most of that time in Aero position.  

Elevation chart showed the highest point at mile 26.  Pretty much the half way point.  I kept looking at my trip computer for the magic mark so that I could start to push a little harder for the slow downward slope to the finish.  

Something happened at mile 38 or so.  I began to feel nauseated and started to get stomach cramps.  Around the same time i was supposed to take a waffle, gel shots and salt pills. I notices the waffle did not dissolve in my mouth as it has every time before.  I didn't have much saliva!  Signs of dehydration?  I took a swig of Carbo Pro to help.  I pushed to the next aid station at mile 42.  I grab a bottle of Poland Springs water and with a giant gulp I instantly began to feel better.  Mentally I started to feel defeated however.  My back hurt, stomach was queasy, my right foot started to hurt and I couldn't wait to be done with the bike.

During the last 12 miles I kept telling my self that I only had a sprint triathlon ride to go.  I wanted to get in under 3 hours on the bike but missed by about 10 minutes.

What would I do differently?:

Learn my nutrition much better!!!!!!

T2

Comments:

As I came towards transition I was considering not running and taking a DNF. I mentally was done!  Then I got closer and heard the crowd, the cow bells and saw Heather.  Got off the bike racked it in slow motion, threw on my running shoes and turned to Heather and said “This is gonna take a while!”

Off I went!

Run

Comments:

My goal pace was 10:30 Min/Mile which was slower than my half marathon time and my training time.  Right out of the gate I could feel that it was going to be tough.  A half mile in I hit a patch of direct sun.  I was super thirst, exhausted and hot. I still had 13 miles to go!  I made my way to the first aid station at mile 1 and took some ice water.  Fell rejuvenated again i kept on keepin’ on.  Each mile seemed like 10.  I knew there was a aid station every mile or so.  That was my new finish line “Just make it to the next aid station”  

The course was mostly on a old railroad tracks that was now gravel dust.  Very easy on the body.  For the first time every I did a walk/run.  It was tough mentally to do so but I could feel my body needed it.  It needed a moment to rest.  At each aid station I took water to fill my fuel belt and a full cup of ice.  The further into the race i got the more I realized that I must have been either over heating or dehydrating on the tail end of the bike, the Ice and the water helped tremendously.  Problem was I already had fell way behind and I was a little nervous to push harder. Each mile i would look at my GPS and with what seemed like my pace kept slipping even though I felt the same effort was being used.  

As each mile passed i started to focus on mile 10.  That was when I knew I had a 5k to go.  I’ve done my fair share of 5k’s and knew I could make it at that point and maybe even pick up the pace.  That didn’t come true.  I passed 10 mile mark and it got harder.  I had now run off of the old rail trail and hit the road.  Mile 11 was a decent hill that i do not remember running down in the beginning.  My mental game was now my biggest obstacle.  I tried to focus on form and make sure to at least keep that! The last 2 miles seemed like it was as far as the previous 11.  At mile 12 course turned dead flat again and I can hear the announcer in the distance. It kept getting louder and louder, which of course meant I was getting closer and closer.  

I am now starting to see spectators again.  People are beginning to cheer me on.  Tons of “Great Jobs”  “Keep Going, you’re doing great”  I am starting to realize that I am less than 1/2 mile from the finish.  I pass the 13 mile mark and the crowd is cheering me on.  Just before the finishing shoot I am handed a water from a volunteer who screams “HALF IRONMAN BABY!” So I took a swig of water, through my cup to the ground and pushed all out to the finish.  With my hands in the air I crossed the finish line.  What an amazing sense of accomplishment.  I DID IT!!  Hugs and Kisses from Heather were certainly in order!  

6 hours and 53 minutes later I now had the biggest race of my life behind me.  I became a little emotional.  To think that in 2000 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and have met so many with MS that cannot even walk.  I have had some tough times where I could not feel my legs and lost vision in my left eye.  I quickly thought of all of the great people who have entered my life and always supported me and believed in me.  This all came to mind and I started to cry.  I wiped the tears away, drank some water and muscle milk and it was off to the showers!!

What’s next?????  There has been talks of 140.6!  We’ll see

So blessed for my health, my family and my friends.  I love you all

Crossing the Finish Line in 6:53! Yeah baby!!

Finishing Shoot

My Good Luck Cake 

#729 Ready To Roll

Bring it!

SWAG and Finisher Medal

Part of My Post Race Meal. Seriously!

My three loves!

Have you every really asked yourself what are your LOVES?  Life can be crazy.  It's full of  things you really want to do, things you really should do and things you really have to do.  The WANTS are often the fun stuff.  Care free pie in the sky, I cross my fingers to be able to do them  The SHOULDS are usually important but we either don't know how to do them, or afraid to try or ask for help.  The HAVE TO are those basic necessities that if we didn't do we would be in trouble - Like go to work, pay the bills, grocery shopping, take the kids to school BOOOOOOOO! :(

So often I get caught up in the craziness of life and give myself a quick reality check.  I ask my self "What is most important in my life and to my life?"  For me it always comes down to 2 things.  My health and my family.  Sounds pretty simple right?  I guess if you are a high level kind of person you may read this and just move one, but for me I need to dive deeper in the details to get my self on track.

Saying your health is a top priority is great.  Making it your top priority often is challenging once you throw in all the stress of life.  I remember shortly after my diagnosis back in 2000 saying to my self. "I guess all those thoughts of being healthy are bit too late now." So I went on a tail spin and ignored my health, because I thought I had no options.   I figured that I now have MS and I didn't have a say in the matter.  Well I could not have been more wrong.  I had years of struggles living with an unpredictable decease.  There was the complete numbness of my legs, the loss of visions and often pain even to try and walk around.   Needless to say I didn't really like it.  I had gained tons of weight and was no longer happy with myself or my life.  I tried to mask the unhappiness with "FUN" stuff.   The problem was I wasn't being honest with myself.  I had given up on me because I thought that I had to.  I was just going thru the motions in life. I was just doing the "HAVE TO" stuff.  I had forgotten about the "SHOULDS" and "WANTS"

I remember early 2005 my Dr (Dr. Brian Apatoff - He is brilliant) tell me for the Umpteenth time that I needed to loose weight.  He said I needed to be under 200.  I was tipping the scales at 243lbs.  I'm only 5'10" (barely) It was unhealthy for anyone, let alone someone living with MS.  Over and over I told my self that I "SHOULD" loose weight.

I had always read and had been told that symptoms of MS were brought on by stress, but I never really understood what that fully meant. I remember being at a funeral and someone passing a comment that I overhead "With out your health your nothing"  I had heard this old cliche for every, but for some reason this time it struck a cord.  So after leaving a stressful event, I started to think about stress.  What is it?  Where does it come from?  Can I control it? If I can reduce it, will it make me feel any better?  I know that when it comes to someone passing in our lives we grieve in a certain way.  In a sense it is how we not only deal with the loss but deal with the stress.  Some are better than others.

So I dove right into - What are the stresses we all experience? I broke it into 3 categories

Chemical
Physical
Emotional

I asked my self "Which of these do I have the ultimate control over?" and the answer was simple.  Chemical and Physical. When it came to emotional I couldn't grasp how to get that one under control except for mental therapy, so I dismissed that and figured I would just go and lie on someone's couch for an hour here and there and tell them how I was feeling :)

Now it was time to dig deeper.  Chemical stress seemed to be the easiest. I asked myself "Self :) what chemicals do I put in my body?" First that came to mind was alcohol. I learned what it did to the body and kicked that out of my life.  Caffeine - I didn't consume much but realized that that made my body race and get hot from the inside which when you have MS you learn quickly that keeping you body temp low is better.  Then I looked into what I thought all these crazies were talking about when it came to organic foods.  I started to inspect labels and realize that much of what I was eating was loaded with chemicals  I'm pretty certain that our bodies where not designed (by whom ever your creator is) to consume and digest what you would find in any so many everyday foods.  I mean when was the last time you saw a High Fructose Corn Syrup tree?  Do they grow next to the Hydrogenated oil plants? So i made a conscious decision.  If I needed a degree in chemical engineering to know what's in my food I'm not eating it.  On top of that I learned portion control and lost 30 pounds just changing that.  I removed the chemical stress on my body.  My body no longer freaked out when it was trying to digest something.

I didn't realize it but changing eating habits and foods helped with physical stress.  I first thought physical stress was lifting heavy things. Well it was in a sense the heavy thing, for me  I was lifting was my heavy body.  I now had lowered the weight of my body and started to feel better.  I had eliminated the chemical stress and started to reduce the physical.  So I decided to (as Emeril would say) to Kick it up a notch!  I started to lay out a plan for exercise.  I started on elliptical machines, did some strength training and then a little jumping of rope here and there.  It was the most amazing thing.  In 9 months time I lost a total of 70 pounds and I was now weighing in at 172 pounds BAMM!

Life had completely changed form me.  Everything started to fall into place naturally. That emotional stress that I wasn't sure how to deal with turned out to be easy.  I would exercise and it was a great release for me.  It was the best double edged sword.  If I exercised I was working both on my physical and emotional stress. I have been symptom free since the day I changed my life style.  I now find it easier to deal with the curve balls that life throws at me.  I have a better relationship with my family and my friends.  You find that when you are in a positive place and are involved in healthy activities you find your self surrounded by others with the same goal......... to live a healthy life.

So know I always make time for my 3 loves .......... Family, Exercise and a Healthy life.

See you soon!

What's your snake pit?

Today I received a team cycling jersey from a pharmaceutical company.

 and I was remembering the day I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (2/18/00 incase you were wondering).  I specifically remember that I need to chose a medication to help halt my Multiple Sclerosis.  Now normally that wouldn't be an issue if oral medication were an option.  Lucky me; ok not so lucky me;  the only options we're 3 medications that could only be taken were by injection.  The options at the time were referred to as the ABC drugs. Here they are.

1) Avonex  - Injection once per week.  Giant 3 inch needle that you need to put all the way in your thigh. OUCH!

2) Betaseron  - Injection every other day.  Same needle and location as above EEEK!

3) Copaxone - Injection every day.  Small, thin 1/2 needle taken just under the skin.  

Even though my biggest fear is needles I chose Copaxone.  While there is a good portion of the world that has no issue with needles, I am not part of that world.  For me needles are my biggest phobia.  I have forever been nicely criticized for this fear.  I mean if you are taking a medication that is supposed to and does help you live with an unpredictable disease you get over it....right! Hmmmmmmm well lets think.  For some their biggest phobia may be heights, fire, spiders or even snakes. Think about your biggest phobia, in fact lets pretend you are deathly afraid of snakes.  Now imagine  being thrown into a snake pit every day.  No worries, if you do this everyday your healthy will hopefully improve.  I'm guessing you would not easily get over it, or even at all.   That is what people living with MS have to deal with.  

So I am not writing ting this to complain because I don't.  In fact I feel that there are worse things in the world than living with Multiple Sclerosis.  If I get to open my eyes everyday I feel blessed and cherish the day.  I write this only because there are many people living with MS like me that have to deal with this.

I have been very fortunate to take control of my life and accomplish many things that even people not living with Multiple Sclerosis have a difficult time doing.  I may be able to think if at least one thing.........Triathlons!  I love that I am able to call my self a Triathlete. I feel blessed that I can even train for such an endeavor.

So everyday for over 10 years i have been taking Copaxone... I have been jumping into my pit of snakes everyday.  It is the toughest thing I have to do everyday, but do it because I know it helps.   All of this being said I must ask you what your phobias are? What are you scared of? What is your Snake Pit?

Rethinking your fuel. PROBAR & GU work like magic!

So I think I have said it s few time already, but I am new to this whole endurance sport thing.  I learned really quick the hard way that in order to endure you need to have some fuel to burn.  Sounds like common sense but I just never thought about it until i was on my first group ride with a great team of cyclist.  They motivated me to join the and like everything in my life I tried it.  I was able to hang for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours at a pace that is much faster than my norm (22+ mph).....and then it happened!  Just like a car I ran out of fuel.  My legs literally had no more energy.  At first I was nervous that is was related to MS, but then after they came back for me and I told them what happened, they all asked the same thing.  What did you eat before and what food do you have with you now?  Do you GU? I had nothing with me and kept it light prior to getting out there.  They gave me a banana and some GU. It was amazing how quick I felt the affects.

Since then I started to Rethink my fuel.  Now I pack some GU and start each long work out with a PROBAR.

It's packed with tons of organic whole grains and sustainable energy.  That keeps me going for at least 1 1/2 hours.  Then I make sure I follow the rules of GU, I take one for every 45 minutes of exercise.  So that its!  

Now the only time I crash is when I forget to clip out of my pedals :)  

First day of indoor CycleOps training!

I'm feeling really good today.  No surprise MS issues.  So I spent a nice crisp fall evening training indoors on my CycleOps. 8 months ago I never would have know what the heck a CycleOps was. A mythical creature, a type of hi tech NASA equipment or fancy navigation tool? Nope its the coolest indoor cycling equipment where you lock your actual bike onto it. I popped in the movie CLUE with Tim Curry (I know its a crazy old school 80's flick, but it was awesome) and just hit the pedals.  About an hour later I finished one of the most amazing training sessions ever.  Additionally I learned that Mrs. Peacock killed Mr. Body in the study with the candle stick :) 
So if you are ever looking for a great way to still stay on you bike during the cold weather, an indoor CycleOps trainer is highly recommended.   I have this one http://miniurl.com/60666 its like cycling on glass.  


  

My First Triathlon Season 2010

Its early october here in the north east and I reflect on My First Triathlon Season 2010 and all that I was able to accomplish this past year.  I remember this past february that my friend Carl has suggested that I do a triathlon.  I thought he was crazy!  I had never done any running or could i swim more than 25 yards with out gasping for air.  Plus in my mind someone with Multiple Sclerosis is not usually the endurance sport type.  He explained the distance of Sprint Length Triathlon to me (0.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run) and mentioned there was a race 15 minutes from my house in July 2010.  It then sounded very trainable so I signed up that day and freaked out!


As the weeks went by I try to swim and just couldn't figure out how to breath in the water.  I was thrashing like a giant sword fish in the water.  Running was a bit easier.  I have always been able to put one foot in front of the other :)  So I hit the treadmill.  1/2 mile because a full mile.  1 mile became 3 and 4,5....etc.  I signed up for my first 5k or any race for that matter in april.  It was an amazing feeling just crossing the finish line.  That day i went home all sweaty and signup for a bunch more.


It's an amazing sense of accomplishment for anyone, but it was extra special for me living with MS.  I am very involved with local MS societies and often I see people in wheel chairs and with canes.  I know these people may never have this opportunity.  I'm lucky.


So as My First Triathlon Season 2010 comes to a close for me i have the following on the books as complete!  Never say you can't do something!  Just Try it (or just Tri it! :)


2010 Races

- Daffodil Dash 5k April 10 2010 - overall 27:46 pace 8:57

- Westport Minute man www.wywl.com 5k May 2 2010 - overall 27:44 pace 8:52

- Weston Memorial day 5k May 29 2010 overall 26:25 pace 8:30

- Hope In Motion Stamford CT  www.hope-in-motion.org June 6 2010 overall 24:44 pace 7:57

- MS Bike 30 mile June 13 2010 overall 1:55:22

- Bloomin Metric Bike 25 mile www.soundcyclists.com/BloominMetric  June 23 2010 1:38:24

- Fairfield CT 5k www.fairfieldhalf.org/ June 27 2010 overall 25:57 pace 8:22

- MOSSMAN SPRINT TRIATHLON teammossman.com/ July 18 2010 .5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run 1:33:11

- Niantic Bay CT Triathlon August 8th .5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.5 mile run 1:31:00

- Adventure Triathlon Brigdton Maine 2.5 mile kayak, 14 mile mountain bike, 2 mile trail run 3:31:10


- MS NY Bike Tour 60 miles 4:48:00