Mrs. Whatsnextdave and I joined my sister and brother-in-law for a quick vacation to Jackson Hole, WY. It was an amazing trip, with awesome hikes in Grand Teton National Park, a great ride up the Teton Pass, and fun meals and times in the cowboy town of Jackson.
Here are the details of some hikes and the ride up the pass. Will supplement with photos in a bit.
Hike on top of Tram at Jackson Hole - Details
Phelps Lake, Death Canyon Hike - Details
Cascade Canyon Hike - Details
Teton Pass Ride - Details
Goodwin Lake Hike - Details
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Great Quote from Runner's World Daily Kick in the Butt
"At age forty-three, when I found myself standing in my garage in a new pair of running shoes, I knew that it was my moment of truth. Behind me lay forty years of bad decisions and broken promises."
John Bingham, The Courage to Start
To sign up for these click here
Friday, January 8, 2010
How Much for an Ironman Trophy?
I get that doing an Ironman is a big deal. It's an accomplishment that takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication (at least that's what people keep telling me). And I can see where Ironman finishers would want a memento of this impressive feat.
So when I received my daily top stories email from Ironman, I was fascinated by the story on the new "Ironman Trophy".
So as I visualized my future trophy intimidating anyone that walked into my future corner office complete with a couch and wet bar, I hit the link to see more details on this "work of art."
Available in both types of patina colors: BLACK MARBLE and TAN! Watch out, it weighs more than most infants (16 pounds).
WHERE CAN I PRE-ORDER ALREADY??????????
Price = $695.00
I'm sorry... WHAT? Does that include someone doing the race for you? Does it come with a free Emma Snowsill? Can you at least put Macca's time on it? How about a free disk wheel? No?
Oh, wait... I get it. People (the World Triathlon Corporation in particular) now understand how triathletes love blowing money on their hobby.
But they forgot to ask if it passes the triathlete test for irrational spending... Does this make you more areo?
So when I received my daily top stories email from Ironman, I was fascinated by the story on the new "Ironman Trophy".
"Ironman athletes hardly need to be reminded of how much dedication, time and support is required to finish a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon run. Many will proudly display pictures of their achievement in their offices at work and around their home. Now, thanks to the folks at Ironman Trophy, there's a very special way to recognize your accomplishment - a spectacular bronze trophy."
So as I visualized my future trophy intimidating anyone that walked into my future corner office complete with a couch and wet bar, I hit the link to see more details on this "work of art."
Available in both types of patina colors: BLACK MARBLE and TAN! Watch out, it weighs more than most infants (16 pounds).
WHERE CAN I PRE-ORDER ALREADY??????????
Price = $695.00
I'm sorry... WHAT? Does that include someone doing the race for you? Does it come with a free Emma Snowsill? Can you at least put Macca's time on it? How about a free disk wheel? No?
Oh, wait... I get it. People (the World Triathlon Corporation in particular) now understand how triathletes love blowing money on their hobby.
But they forgot to ask if it passes the triathlete test for irrational spending... Does this make you more areo?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Welcome to 2010
Happy New Year! Many people take a moment this time of year to think about "what's next," so I thought it would be appropriate to write a quick entry into the old blogosphere. I hope your 2010 is a great one and your adventures are exciting. So put together your list of what's next and start knocking them off.
As for me, I don't need any help building lists, but rather on the focusing and execution of the lists. So the next few weeks I am going to update the list, work with the WND team to make a Life List and a 2010 List. Hopefully by adding a list with a date stamp on it, it will help with the focus and the execution.
In addition, I am going to start incorporating other people in my goals. I always intended for many of these things to be done with friends and family, I am just going to make it more obvious.
Lastly, as we welcome in 2010, I want to take a quick look back at 2009. Although I was not the best blogger (averaging only 2 per month), it was a monumental year in What's Next Dave World.
All and all, a pretty terrific year for me, highlighted by the fact Melissa agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. A lucky guy indeed.
So here's to your 2010. Make it memorable. Make it a good one.
Auld Lang Syne as I heard it to bring in 2010 from our good friends Umphrey's McGee at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
As for me, I don't need any help building lists, but rather on the focusing and execution of the lists. So the next few weeks I am going to update the list, work with the WND team to make a Life List and a 2010 List. Hopefully by adding a list with a date stamp on it, it will help with the focus and the execution.
In addition, I am going to start incorporating other people in my goals. I always intended for many of these things to be done with friends and family, I am just going to make it more obvious.
Lastly, as we welcome in 2010, I want to take a quick look back at 2009. Although I was not the best blogger (averaging only 2 per month), it was a monumental year in What's Next Dave World.
- Admitted Tri Addiction and Hired a Tri Coach
- Did a Half Ironman
- Did an Olympic Tri in under 2:50
- Got Married
- Knocked off another state on the quest to 50 (HI, 9 to go)
- Learned How to Surf
- Had a Surgery on Major Organ
- Left the US twice
- And signed up for a race on his new wife's next birthday (Keep it classy Dave)
All and all, a pretty terrific year for me, highlighted by the fact Melissa agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. A lucky guy indeed.
So here's to your 2010. Make it memorable. Make it a good one.
Auld Lang Syne as I heard it to bring in 2010 from our good friends Umphrey's McGee at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Busy Summer Happenings
Hey strange web world...
Over the next few weeks I have some time off of work and I plan to do some more posting. For the time being, here are a few photos from my "A" race this fall:
Over the next few weeks I have some time off of work and I plan to do some more posting. For the time being, here are a few photos from my "A" race this fall:
Thus, WhatsNextDave Gal is now Mrs. WhatsNextDave.
Here are a few more photos. Thanks to Michael Rastall for his great talent.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Welcome Back to Wrigleyville Mr. Ricketts
What's that I smell? Is it hope?
Good interview. He is probably right about the family stuff. Wrigleyville is a great place for a 22 year old, but I have seen a number of awkward situations with kids at Wrigley.
I like the discussion of player development. I think that is something the Cubs have literally traded away over the last 10 years.
So Mr. Ricketts, you are saying the right things, but of course you are. Let's see what it means for the north sides favorite ballplayers.
Good interview. He is probably right about the family stuff. Wrigleyville is a great place for a 22 year old, but I have seen a number of awkward situations with kids at Wrigley.
I like the discussion of player development. I think that is something the Cubs have literally traded away over the last 10 years.
So Mr. Ricketts, you are saying the right things, but of course you are. Let's see what it means for the north sides favorite ballplayers.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Triathlon Swimming... LA or Chicago?
This is from the LA Triathlon this year. As I am still working on my swimming, I am please old lake Michigan doesn't get rolling like this (in the months I would think about getting in it.
In related news... for you swimmers on the west coast, this was off Sunset Blvd a few weeks ago:
Link of HUGE Shark jumping out of water
Sure, the water is only really good for swimming 5 months a year here, but I don't have to worry about that guy swimming at Ohio Street Beach.
In related news... for you swimmers on the west coast, this was off Sunset Blvd a few weeks ago:
Link of HUGE Shark jumping out of water
Sure, the water is only really good for swimming 5 months a year here, but I don't have to worry about that guy swimming at Ohio Street Beach.
- Lastly, in cool news, my boys from Umphrey's McGee were featured in The Toilet Paper on Sunday. I guess they have really made it.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
3 days 20 Minutes.
I have been a little chilly the last few nights coming home, so I grabbed the ND pullover today leaving the house. As I did so I whissled the first couple of notes of the Victory March, like at the beginning of the game after the band is on the field and the announcer is introducing the band and the director, etc.
da, da, da, daaa, daaaaa, da ,da
"Oh no," says Melissa.
"Oh yes."
[Sigh]
"Hey hon, you know what we need to do on Thursday?" I ask the pre-wife.
"No," she says mentally running through our wedding to do list.
"Do you know what week it is?"
"Football week."
"Yes! But specifically..."
"Notre Dame football week."
"Right honey, so what do we need to do on Notre Dame football week?
"Take our meds?"
"No. Think pregame night time activities."
"Drink beer?"
"We can do this while drinking beer."
"Oh, We watch Rudy," she said proudly.
"Yes we do."
For all the info on Notre Dame's Season Opener, Click Here.
da, da, da, daaa, daaaaa, da ,da
"Oh no," says Melissa.
"Oh yes."
[Sigh]
"Hey hon, you know what we need to do on Thursday?" I ask the pre-wife.
"No," she says mentally running through our wedding to do list.
"Do you know what week it is?"
"Football week."
"Yes! But specifically..."
"Notre Dame football week."
"Right honey, so what do we need to do on Notre Dame football week?
"Take our meds?"
"No. Think pregame night time activities."
"Drink beer?"
"We can do this while drinking beer."
"Oh, We watch Rudy," she said proudly.
"Yes we do."
For all the info on Notre Dame's Season Opener, Click Here.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Focusing on My Mistress - Goals for 2009
Hello from the land of ice, beer, and hockey, that's right I am celebrating Memorial Day weekend like any good American, in Canada. WND Gal and I are up her visiting her aunt and uncle and cousins. Not too different from last Memorial Day weekend when we almost made it to Canada visiting my relatives.
Now, let's get to business. This blog and my WND life had been lacking focus recently. Excuses are both plenty and worthless. It's time to kick it into high gear.
Case-in-point was the annual JP Morgan Chase and Co Corporate Challenge 3.5 mile race Thursday night. You might remember last year I ran a sub 7 minute mile race, but held back a bit because it was only two days before the Bayshore Half Marathon. So I thought this year I could hold a 7 minute pace.
That worked for about a mile and a half, at which point I cramped up in my shoulder and my neck. Very odd, and not much fun. Anyway, I ended up running about a 7:40 pace, which was a full minute slower than last year. In all honesty, that is probably about what type of running shape I am in. I have not been nearly as consistant running as one needs to be to advance his base.
So let talk goals.
This summer is all triathlons all the time. I have referenced my cyberfriend Donald's great post on about his marriage to marathon running and his mistresses of triathlons before, and without a doubt I feel I am on a tryst this summer with the tri's. Last year I think I burned out a bit. I started my running very early in the year, and my training was unfocused while I was trying to do too many types of events (tri, martathoning, and that crazy idea of mountain racing). I think all the ideas where good, but it was just too much to train properly for them.
So I am focused on triathlons. The "A" race is the 2009 Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon August 1 in Benton Harbor MI. It is the big Ironman branded half IM in the area. The choice was that one or one in Racine WI. I decided to go for the bigger race, and one where the run was not 100% in the sun.
"B" races are the Olympic distanced Chicago Triathlon (late August) and maybe the Hy-Vee Triathlon (late June). "C" events will include the Udder Century Ride June 7 and a few running races.
How does this fit into The List?
There is the whole Ironman thingy. I am probably looking at the summer of 2011 for that. I also hope to cross off a couple other things off the list this summer too, first on that list is getting married (Sept 26, if WND Gal doesn't leave me due to too much commitment to my mistress the triathlon). Hopefully I can do a few other things too, I feel kind of ambitious.
Notes:
Now, let's get to business. This blog and my WND life had been lacking focus recently. Excuses are both plenty and worthless. It's time to kick it into high gear.
Case-in-point was the annual JP Morgan Chase and Co Corporate Challenge 3.5 mile race Thursday night. You might remember last year I ran a sub 7 minute mile race, but held back a bit because it was only two days before the Bayshore Half Marathon. So I thought this year I could hold a 7 minute pace.
That worked for about a mile and a half, at which point I cramped up in my shoulder and my neck. Very odd, and not much fun. Anyway, I ended up running about a 7:40 pace, which was a full minute slower than last year. In all honesty, that is probably about what type of running shape I am in. I have not been nearly as consistant running as one needs to be to advance his base.
So let talk goals.
This summer is all triathlons all the time. I have referenced my cyberfriend Donald's great post on about his marriage to marathon running and his mistresses of triathlons before, and without a doubt I feel I am on a tryst this summer with the tri's. Last year I think I burned out a bit. I started my running very early in the year, and my training was unfocused while I was trying to do too many types of events (tri, martathoning, and that crazy idea of mountain racing). I think all the ideas where good, but it was just too much to train properly for them.
So I am focused on triathlons. The "A" race is the 2009 Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon August 1 in Benton Harbor MI. It is the big Ironman branded half IM in the area. The choice was that one or one in Racine WI. I decided to go for the bigger race, and one where the run was not 100% in the sun.
"B" races are the Olympic distanced Chicago Triathlon (late August) and maybe the Hy-Vee Triathlon (late June). "C" events will include the Udder Century Ride June 7 and a few running races.
How does this fit into The List?
There is the whole Ironman thingy. I am probably looking at the summer of 2011 for that. I also hope to cross off a couple other things off the list this summer too, first on that list is getting married (Sept 26, if WND Gal doesn't leave me due to too much commitment to my mistress the triathlon). Hopefully I can do a few other things too, I feel kind of ambitious.
Notes:
- I am excited to be blogging again. I hope I can keep it up. Work has been kind of a bear and the wedding has added some stuff to the schedule, but summer is a good time to write. Everything seems brighter.
- Happy Conrades weekend. I think I will write a post about this fantastic sounding ultra race in South Africa. This year 12,000 people are running it!
- I am bikeless in Toronto this weekend. It is strange not to be riding today, but I am about to take off for a run. Hopefully we will have some good photos to post when I return.
- Congratulations to my NYC blogging friends (link and link). They both had pretty good races in the last few weeks, so much so they inspired me to look into their training methods. More on that later.
Monday, May 18, 2009
A Good Post on Open Water Swimming
In honor of all the cold water swimmers in Galena over last weekend, here is a good article on how to improve your open water swimming:
Triathlon skills: how to improve your open-water swimming
Triathlon skills: how to improve your open-water swimming
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Gift of a Nice Run
The quote of the day from Runners World:
"Running is a gift I give myself almost every day. Even on those days when things haven't gone great, I can come home and give myself the accomplishment of a 30- or 40-minute run."
ARTHUR BLANK
With the weather finally turning here in Chicago, I can appreciate this a little more. I am going to try to give myself that gift after work today. Nothing too crazy though. Tomorrow is The Race to Wrigley. Let's hope WND Gal has a little better race than last year.
"Running is a gift I give myself almost every day. Even on those days when things haven't gone great, I can come home and give myself the accomplishment of a 30- or 40-minute run."
ARTHUR BLANK
With the weather finally turning here in Chicago, I can appreciate this a little more. I am going to try to give myself that gift after work today. Nothing too crazy though. Tomorrow is The Race to Wrigley. Let's hope WND Gal has a little better race than last year.
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