Mouse Popsicles: Things Remembered Along the Way...

Mouse Popsicles? What the heck are Mouse Popsicles…? I’m not sure that I want to know. This is a sign along Hwy 28 in South Carolina just north of the Town of Walhalla. I’ve passed this sign dozens of times over the years while riding my bike up and down that stretch of the road, which leads to Georgia then North Carolina – three states in one ride! Every time I pass the sign, I’ve always...

Just Not “Feeling” It: Looking Beyond ...

Photo: My view riding at the back (not the front) Normally, by this time of the season, I’m fully engaged in training for an Ironman, feeling strong and eager to toe the line in a race. However, right now, I’m just not “feeling” it. After I had watched the Columbia Triathlon a week ago, Krista had asked me, “Did you miss not racing?” I answered, “No, I was happy to just watch.”...

SOF Academy: The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday...

“The only easy day was yesterday.” - Navy SEALs motto Photo: David ready to skydive (Photograph by: Gunnar Örn Arnarsson) Each day was different. Each day brought new challenges to push each of us outside of our comfort zones. We learned to skydive and ended the week with an assisted freefall jump. Two skydive instructors jumped with us out of the plane at 13,000 feet and stayed with us until we arched,...

SOF Academy: Regret or Glory – Which Do You ...

“There are 2 aspects in life that will haunt you for the rest of your life that will last forever: Regret and Glory…which one do you want burned into the memories of your soul – Regret or Glory?” - Special Operations Force Academy Instructor Jono Photo: Team “Slit Throat” dressed up for our late night Field Training Exercise (I’m in lower right hand corner) The following is a...

SOF Academy: I Earn My Nickname “Monkey Butt...

This was one of the lighter moments during my week long adventure at the Special Operations Force Academy in Virginia Beach, VA. After a morning of SCUBA training in the pool in Virginia Beach, we drove to Lake Rawlings on Tuesday afternoon to practice our open water SCUBA diving. On Wednesday around noon, while we were packing up our gear (personal gear, air tanks, BCD’s, wetsuits, etc) in order to head back...

Special Operations Force Academy: Was It Worth It?...

Photo: Special Operations Force Academy Participants + Instructors (me on far left) When I completed 7 days of the Special Operations Force Academy and SEAL Adventure Challenge yesterday, I cried. This week was arguably the longest week of my life and I walked away learning more about myself than I expected. This week also brought me full circle on on a number of significant life events that have been haunting me for...