From an early age I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. The inspiration and counsel that I received from so many thoughtful and passionate individuals gave me the understanding that I could not let their work stop with me. They had given me a burden to carry. This burden should not be viewed in the negative sense, because it is one I carry with joy. I pursued the areas of physical education and exercise science is college to create my path towards a career of working in schools. As a junior in college, I realized very quickly that my credibility as a fitness leader was severely lacking. I mean I had always been an active kid. I played sports (basketball and soccer), but never pursued actual, personal health and fitness. It is then, for the sake of my future students and the relationships I purposed to create and foster, that I made the commitment to pursue fitness and health.
It all started with joining my father for bike rides. He had been riding somewhat competitively on the amateur level for as long as I could remember. He took me out and showed me the ropes on the road. It was and is great to share this activity with him. I spent a couple of summers doing some low level road racing, and having a lot of fun. During the second summer, my brother-in-law mentioned that after he finished swimming with his team in college he was going to train for a triathlon. At this point, I had never swam a lap in a pool, but the idea sounded intriguing. I began learning to swim and added in a few runs trying to implement training strategies I had learned from undergraduate degree. That next summer I completed my first ever sprint triathlon and the Muncie Endurathon (half ironman). It was official. I was hooked.
There have been many positives from this lifestyle change. None of these returns can be greater than sharing the love of fitness with my own children. Yesterday, I was able to be a member of their race support crew as they participated in the Kids Tri for Kids race at Southport High School in Indianapolis, IN. Thanks to Coach Todd Shellenberger of TS2 Coaching for putting on a great race for the kids! Here they are as they finish their races!
