Morning Rush

I recently captured a photo that I am really proud of, and it was received well on Instagram & Facebook.  Here is the photo, and its the perfect Facebook cover photo.  Feel free to take it as your cover photo & share.  www.CHANCEphoto.net

The "35 million dollar harp"

     I travel all over this great country of ours.  Being away from home is difficult, but sometimes destinations with friends can make it easier.  Last week I was in San Francisco, and was able to coordinate schedules with Justin Kern ( thegoldensieve.com ).  We headed out to the Golden Gate bridge to make some photos.  It was unusually warm for this time of year, which helped to produce a marine layer/fog combination at sunset that was amazing.  I was captivated with the whole scene.
     The Golden Gate bridge took just over 4 years to construct.  The chief engineer Joseph Strauss insisted on use of the most rigorous safety precautions in the history of bridge building at the time (Jan. 1933), safety nets & hard hats.  Unfortunately, 11 men died during construction.  Safety nets saved the lives of 19 men, who were dubbed "the halfway-to-hell" club.  Why its' unique color of "International Orange?" "Consulting Architect Irving Morrow selected the distinctive orange color because it blends well with the span's natural setting as it is a warm color consistent with the warm colors of the land masses in the setting as distinct from the cool colors of the sky and sea." On opening day in 1937 the San Francisco Chronicle referred to the bridge, "a thirty five million dollar steel harp." (all bridge info found via goldengatebridge.org )
     Justin and I had a good time hiking around trying to capture photos from many different vantage points, and at twilight we found the best overall view of the bridge, bay, and city.  We were surprised to be the only ones at this great location. Hiking back to the car via the light of our iPhones, we reflected on the variety of natural beauty found in California. What a great experience,...thanks Justin.

It gives me wings...

Red Bull, I believe it is or was the first energy drink in what has become a huge market. Are we all tired, or are we just soft?
I am a big fan of their sugar free version. I have used it in my training & to help fuel me through two Ironman Triathlons.
Red Bull is a marketing master, and they fund so many great sports & athletes. As an avid photographer I am very pleased with their "illume" project supporting action sports photography. I have the book from 2010. The exhibit/project was skipped for a couple of years, but is back on for 2013 with submissions window open December 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013. www.redbullillume.com
I would love to have an image worthy of the competition/exhibit/book! The images in the book are all amazing & unique. They also have an iPad app "Red Bull Illume HD" to showcase images from the 2010 submissions.
Red Bull also works with GoPro cameras to capture many of their athletes performing at the highest levels. GoPro uses much of this footage in their promo video. http://youtu.be/GUEZCxBcM78
It's a perfect match for both companies. I have watched the 5:12 video many times, and I dig it every time. It's great to see Red Bull support so many good things & share it. GoPro camera system provides one of the most unique points of view. It's as though you're doing these things yourself. Super creative stuff.
Thanks for a great product & supporting so many creative endeavours!
Me starting the run portion (26.2 miles) of Ironman Wisconsin 9-11-11 with my can of Red Bull sugar free to help keep me going.

My photography has in a lull. Life has been busy.  Recently one of my photos was used at work on the cover of a quarterly newsletter.  Fall is one of my favorite times of year for photography, and hope to add lots of images to my website soon. www.CHANCEphoto.net

My photography website.

I recently joined the Morton Arboretum Photographic Society.  The Morton Arboretum is a great place for many outdoor activities, and year round photo opportunities. My work schedule will limit the amount of involvement I will have with the club, but I plan to attend/do all that I can.  I joined just before the deadline to contribute to their first annual photo exhibit.  I really enjoyed seeing all the great photos!  To my surprise one of my images on canvas was purchased.  This pleasant event got me thinking...  I am in the process of constructing a photography website.  I am excited to share my images (an additional storage location too), and the possibility of this hobby becoming self-suficient, maybe...  I want my site to look clean with a nice logo.  It is quite a process to learn, and I am trying to take my time to hopefully not waste time or money.  When it's ready I will be sure to share.  It's a fun project. (this photo is of the Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville Florida, High Dynamic Range image processed in Nik Software HDR Effects Pro)

I can't get over how impressive this is.... Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home" - NEW street trials riding short film

Andy Irons 3 x surfing World Champion dies at 32

Thoughts & prayers go out to his family.

Blogging on the go..., and some perspective.

Not really "on the go," but blogging via my iPhone. (wanted to test it out)

Perspective, a way of viewing things. I think all of us should look at ourselves from the perspective of someone else. Maybe just take a moment to think about all the things you have, be it items, experiences, people in your life. Be different from our society which seems to focus you what you are lacking, items, experiences, people in your life.

I have worked very hard & am lucky to have a career & position that I used to dream of... I need to think about where I am, and continue actively living that dream. Focusing on the many good aspects, and not on the bad few.

The photo is from my "office." This is how the sunrise looks from 41,000 feet. Truly living the dream.

Back in the game...

I was able to get in....so here I go again. On September 11, 2011 at 7 am I'll be in the water in Madison Wisconsin starting my 140.6 mile journey. My Ironman 2.0 adventure has begun. (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run = 140.6) I am hoping to prepare more than my first attempt (2006 finished 12:38), and see if i can beat that time. It's a long day and so many things can happen, finishing is top priority. I hope to document this journey here. VERY IMPORTANT, none of this is remotely possible without the support of my wonderful family.

Great training video on how Apollo Ohno trains.

Eight is enough*...

I like running, somedays I might even say "I love it." Marathon training is a whole different animal, it's exciting, feels good to be focused, and then toward the peak of the longest distance training runs it's just plain hard. I do all my training alone, which is good and bad. This was my last plain old marathon.
(* the Marathon in an Ironman excluded)

the LIVESTRONG experience

I was at the starting line of the Chicago Marathon with new purpose. I was raising money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the fight against cancer. I have always been donig these endurance events for myself, and this one was different... My Dad is now a cancer survivor. My good friends sister was knee deep in the fight at that very time, and this was what was driving me this time. Not a good time to be fund raising, the economy & unemployment. I put social media to the test, I put the word out on email, Facebook,and Twitter. The quick responce was outstanding! Many of my friends stepped up and, even a few strangers made donations.
The best part was closer to the Marathon when the LIVESTRONG Team started emailing plans back and forth for race weekend. I finally felt like I wasn't training alone. Although I was training by myself I knew we were all in this together. I only wished that once the 50 Team members were selected we could have all communicated via a forum to help eachother through the highs and lows of marathon training. We would have had a great exchange of ideas & those with more experience could assist the first timers. I think it would have strengthened the sense of team.
I valued this experience, and the new friends gained. The fight against cancer effects us all.

Chicago Marathon take 6

I have done this distance before... I trained the most I ever have, and "should" be able to run it in such & such a time. I have been pleased with my half marathon time & those of shorter distances. I feel I haven't performed up to my potential in the marathon. So this year I put in a solid training effort, and was trying to give it one last good shot. I enjoy running very much, but when it comes marathon training it gets to a point where it becomes un-fun. I planned on a goal of 3:45, and on race morning decided to shoot for 3:50 so I could "enjoy" the experience with two of my LIVESTRONG tram mates Matt & Eric. An important part in preping for race day was clothing, temps at the start weree to be in the low 30's. Balancing being warm enough but not hot isn't easy, and shedding layers as the temperature warmed up. I felt great through half way, stuck with the pace team, and kept up with my nutrition. At mile 17-ish I saw Dean Karnazes taking time to stop running and sign a copy of his book for a very excited lady. Dean was running 2 Chicago Marathons this day, at the finish he was running the course a second time, all for carity. He was Twittering the whole way. I enjoyed his on going comentary on the drive home.
At mile 20 things started to get rough... I put my head down and started counting my steps. I have done many different endurance events, and keeping "menally occupied" is key. I think mental strength is actually the most important part. You WILL go through times when you ask yourself, "why am I doing this...i am hurting," and overcoming these "lows" is important. I also focused on one of my best friends sisters who I've knowen most of my life who was currently under going cemo-therapy, and she pushed me along. A couple of miles later I began to feel bettter so I put in a surge of efort and would ride it as long as it lasted. Approaching the last mile, slowed from the 3:50 group but the 3:55 pacers hadn't passed me, realizing not reaching my goal, but trying to focus on that fact that it was still a personal best time of 3:56. Running for smething other than myself is a valuable experience.

Better late than never...

These next three posts are from October 2009 time frame. I didn't realize that I hadn't posted them...

The Eddie

Race Across The Sky

Looks good & well done.

Social Media Revolution, check it out!

This will make you think.

Lake Geneva 1/2 Extreme (half ironman)

Lake Geneva Wisconsin is an awesome place only about 1 1/2 hours north of Chicago. It's the vacation spot of Chicagoans, many famous families such as the Wrigley's & Vanderbilt's have large lake front compounds. I am lucky to have a good friend who lives there, with a boat! I had done this race once before, but have gained a lot experience & fitness since that first attempt at this distance.

Great weather this year (Sept. 12), and I was excited to see what I could do. I picked out a good spot in transition, by a big tree so it would be easy to spot. The swim went well just tried to stay relaxed. The swim time of 33:24 (1.2 miles), which was okay and not a surprise since I hadn't been swimming too much. T1 (3:21) wanted to make sure I was set with all my nutrition & comfortable. Bike started okay, the course splits with the Half taking a turn which I just missed and had to turn around. Not a huge deal. After the turn I remembered a short but steep hill, with being so close to the start of the bike you're not really ready for it. Tried to relax and settle into a rhythm. Checking the time to keep nutrition on track. About about the 2 hour point on the bike my lower back really started to hurt... at times it felt like it was on fire. Never had this kind of trouble before, and with 1 more hour to go, I tried to relax sit up and stretch it. Right around this time I retrieved my Tylenol form my pocket and proceeded to hit a bump and eject it into the air... and, no, I didn't stop. I remembered a long steady hill on a major road, just after making the turn onto to that road about 100 yards in front of me was a guy who went down. I could see his face was scrapped up pretty bad as I went by (support crew was running to him). Flashback to July and the Olympic distance race where I went down... stay relaxed. Bike time 3:04:35 (18.2 mph average)(56 miles). T2 (2:26) happy to get upright and let my back change positions. On to the run and felt pretty good. Quickly I was upon "killer hill," and reminded how steep it really was. Did I mention that it's a two loop run, read: "killer hill" TWICE. Walked fast up the hill stretching my legs with long strides, and twisting my upper body which yielded a few satisfying back cracks. The first loop went well ran everything but the hill. The second loop started to hurt, and I gave it all I could. Run time 2:05:52 (9:36 pace)(13.1 miles). Pleased to cross the line with a new 1/2 PB in the time of 5:49:37. I "showered" in the lake and hurried home to see my family. I would like to figure out the back pain on the bike, and find a 1/2 with a flat run to perform more to my potential.

Chicago Rock & Roll Half Marathon

August 2 was the inaugural Chicago Rock & Roll Half Marathon. I must say it was an excellent event. Great race, weather, crowds & bands. I was hoping for a solid race pace of just under an 8:00 mile. I felt pretty good, but ended up a little behind my goal and ended up doing exactly an 8:00 mile. It's all good, keeping my eye on the prize, the Chicago Marathon in October. My wife & sister-in-law also ran the race and did great! I am very proud of them for setting their goal and flowing it through. Great job ladies!

Evergreen Triathlon (Olympic Distance) 2009

Great day in Bloomington/Normal Illinois today. This Olympic distance triathlon is the Mid-West Regional qualifier, and always great to see the college crowd out racing... Good weather, low 60's, partially cloudy, but with some wind. This year featured a new bike course which contained more hills than last year. Although the corn was high (4-5 ft tall) it didn't help too much with the winds on the bike.

My goal was to beat last years time. Here's how it shook out. The swim 28:13, which is about 1:00 slower than last year, but this isn't bad since I really haven't done much swimming. T1 was about the same at 1:52. The bike started out pretty good, cool & some wind. I did see a sign that indicated gravel on the course at the middle of the bike course. I used caution slowing, and coming into the corner, apparently not enough...I went down. Lucky I was going slow, but I've always thought of myself as a pretty good bike handler (bruised ego). Hey even the pros crash. There was medical support parked there, they cleaned me up (lost 6:00) talked with me and I was off. I ended up with a divot/flap of skin on the heel of my left hand, and a scrap on my left shoulder. Adrenaline, is a powerful thing! I rode hard trying to make up time. T2 was about the same as last year at 1:13. The run went well! Last year after dropping my gels ran out of energy on the run, and was disappointed with my result. This year I felt as though I performed like I should with a 7:43 pace and a time of 47:54.

I am still happy with my performance! My day could have ended right there on the bike course, but I was able to power through it and have a pretty good race.