1998- The landscape business was not doing well.  I was unable to pay myself for nearly 6 months. During that time I decided that I needed something else to focus on- It was making myself crazy. 

I began training for the Ironman Triathlon in Montreal, Canada. I had been there before,(1994) in the closing miles of the marathon, I tore a muscle in my leg that left me sitting on the side of the road- unable to finish.  A few months later, I received a letter from someone that I never met but was competing in the same race. He told me not to give up, the 1st time he did it, he failed but returned that year and was able to finish- he told me that I needed to finish this race so that I could clear this chapter in my life.  A few years passed and I need to finish this chapter in my life- 

I began training 

I trained like a professional athlete.  My wife was 100% behind my plan. My children were 1 and 3.  My mother( who worked with us) was behind my plan. I was in the last 3 months of training with incredible results. My longs runs were 20 miles just floating along at a 7 min pace.  My weekly 120-mile ride was never slower than 22 mph. I was already swimming sub hour 2.4-mile training sessions. Then one Friday afternoon, I was on a 100-mile ride heading to Mississippi and was hit from behind by a car( and the driver took off- I was out of it, a motorist stopped and call 911) and broke my tibia in the left leg and ruptured the muscle.  

I woke up the next day- cut my cast off my leg and began training again.  I water jogged for 4-6 hours a day. Convinced a doctor to get me on dope, just like Armstrong.  I did whatever I had to do so I could compete and finish. 

What’s the point in my telling you this- I will suffer, I will work hard and I will do what I need to do to get to the next level.  

Oh yeah- I came in 4th place out of the water, 3rd off the bike and finished 3rd in my age group( which at the time was the toughest age group- 25-29) 

The Life Lesson I Learned that day- Don’t Quit……