Closing Another Chapter: 2011

January

5165yds at the USMS 1hr "Postal" Swim

February

2nd place for the 3rd time at the Desert Classic Duathlon (photo - Kerry Yndestad)

March

Return trip to Abu Dhabi where a poor swim led to an 11th place finish in the race

Filming the RideBright.org commercial with Cody Westheimer

5th place at Ironman 70.3 California

The one year anniversary of my accident & a photo shoot on location with Rich Cruse

April

CPO Thomas Sanchez is honored with the Citizen's Medal of Valor for his heroism in saving my life by the Peace Officers Association of Ventura Country (POAVC) at their annual award's dinner

May

6th place in a disappointing race at Wildflower (photo - Jay Prasuhn)

My first win since the accident at the inaugural Leadman Epic 250

June

Quentin!

I'm a dad!

July

3rd place at Rev3 Portland (photo - Eric Wynn)

I turn 31 (No pictures...)

2nd place at Calgary 70.3

August

1st place at Ironman Canada

September

I travel. A lot.

October

I train. A lot.

November

1st place, red-white-and-blue, and rainbow stripes at ITU Long Distance World Championships

First ever Ironman DNF at Ironman Arizona (photo - Eric Wynn)

Jill & I have our 2nd anniversary (though we wait until December to actually celebrate)

December

Quentin's first Christmas

Sunny & 80F on December 31st. Sometimes, southern California is awesome...

Happy New Year!

Real Men of BAMFness: George Hood

George Hood is a former Marine (though I gather from friends who are Marines that it is always a present tense thing; once you become a Marine, you are a Marine. Forever. So apologies in advance if use of the word "former" is inappropriate. No disrespect intended. Rank was not given in the article, which is why I didn't give one.) and a personal trainer. He is 54. On December 3, 2011, he broke the current world record for the plank position - 50min - by holding it for a staggering 1hour, 20 minutes, and 5.01 seconds. Hood had previously set four world records - for the longest period of time spent jumping rope (13:12:11 - nice symbolic time there...) and three times for the longest period of time on a stationary bike (2007, 2008, & 2010). He has since lost that record but has publicly stated it is his next goal to reclaim it. The full story of the record breaking feat can be found on the Beacon News website. I am guessing that his drill instructors at Paris Island probably got tired of giving him PT before he ever tired of doing it...

GH, you are a BAMF!