What do I do in my off-season...

Here is what I do with my off-season (at least this year). We sold our 32' boat this summer and now we have a smaller 22' boat -- but it is brand new and just as fun.

So, now that I'm not working out 18 hours a week -- I'm adding new toys/electronics/etc to the new boat.

Gotta get it ready for next years Great Lakes cruising...

I've been tagged

Ok, thanks to former Wisconsinitte now Colorado'n Tri-teacher, I've been tagged. So part of being tagged I need to answer the following.

1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?

Didn't run. Every once in a while I would get the thought that "I should be running" and I'd hit the treadmill at the health club, but that is about it.

2. What is your best and worst run/race experience?

Best - No question, IronMan Wisconsin. The entire day went so well that it makes all my runs, bikes, and swims feel "not so good".

Worst - Not really "worst", but my 1st Marathon happen to be 2006 Madison Marathon when the temps reached the mid 90's. I'm all about setting a goal and getting it done. So my only goal for the marathon was to run the entire course -- no matter how fast or slow, just always running. Well, at mile 22 I needed to walk for a 1/2 mile otherwise I might not still be here today.

My best race? If your just talking about running, then probably the 5k that I ran after Oldest Mini's Cross-country race. They had a community race that I didn't know about until right before it was to start. I didn't have my running shoes on (old running shoes), no running shorts, no garmin, etc. So, I ran to the starting line and a few seconds later I was running the course. This was about a month after IronMan, so I was in pretty good shape. Ended up running 7:03 miles on average -- pretty darn fast for my legs -- but I did run a 17:40 5k in high school so that was a bit better.

3. Why do you run?

Health, mental health, and just the enjoyment of it all. It also has allowed me to participate in IronMan, MTB racings, cyclo-cross, etc.

5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.

I only wear shorts/sweat pants all year round -- no suits, no jeans, no ties, no "fancy" clothes -- just sweat pants...

Mid 60's, no wind, partly sunny...

Today was my day off from training after a 12 hour week. So we spent part of the day walking around State Street (one of the main streets used for IronMan Wisconsin) with temps in the mid-60's, no wind, partly sunny, college kids out, and Wisconsin Football spring game fans walking around.

Have I mentioned that I Love Wisconsin weather lately?

Most likely not...

WOW!! 50's and Sunny....

Enough said...

Top 10 reasons NOT to race your 15 yr old son

I raced Oldest Mini back to the condo on one of our beach runs -- about a mile away. The deal was that if he beat me, he'd have free use of the laptop / Internet the rest of the evening.

So, here are the Top 10 reasons NOT to race your 15 year old Son on the beach:

Number 10 == I'm 43 years old and he is NOT...

Number 9 == He is 15 years old and I am NOT...

Number 8 == He is on the track team and I am NOT...

Number 7 == I ran track about 6 decades ago or more...

Number 6 == It was only a mile back to the condo -- needed 10+ to have a chance...

Number 5 == Did I mention that he is 15 year old and I am NOT...

Number 4 == Too many sand castles to jump...

Number 3 == Mrs Team BRAZO is much smarter -- she just kept her pace...

Number 2 == I'm going to watch the BADGERS move on to the Elite 8 anyway -- no need for the Internet ...

Number 1 == You'll injure YOUR hamstring -- DID THAT!!

Hilton Head Island - Bike capital of the World

So, this week we are on Hilton Head Island, SC. We drove down from Madison with the mountain bikes on top of the Prius. Our gas mileage went from around 50 mpg to around 35 mpg -- but it was worth the expense.

Hilton Head has done a great job making the Island bike friendly. Just about all roads have paved bike paths next to them that allow you to ride to just about any location on the Island -- they have 50 miles of paved paths.

Not only do they have the miles and miles of paved paths, they have 12 miles of "tide created" hard sand bike riding right on the ocean. So, you can ride your bikes right on the surf and depending on the tides -- you have 100 to 150 feet of beach to ride.

We also took a little trip to Savannah, GA and stopped at a community park to enjoy some single track riding.

We are staying in a condo on the beach which makes getting in our IronMan training fairly easy -- swim in ocean or pool, bike along the ocean, and run in the surf -- my dream training...

Chalk up another location...

One thing that I love doing ever since I started running again (3.5 years ago), is running on vacation in great locations. This week we are on Hilton Head Island for our Spring Break vacation. Yesterday Mrs. Team BRAZO and myself ran along the beach and the mini's rode their bikes next to us.

The beaches are much different from what we are used to because of the big difference in the low and high tides. Because of the tide range, the beaches tend to be flat with hard sand -- this makes running and riding the mountain bikes much easier.

So, someday soon Mrs. Team BRAZO and myself plan on retiring and spending our winters running the shores of some great beaches and I'm sure Hilton Head will be included in the mix.

Next up -- some great bike trails (single track in Savannah, GA) -- I'll blog on that later...

7 Things...

So, thanks to XT4 – I’m it and it is my turn to spill 7 things about myself. I guess just random things that you may or may not know about me.


1) I wear sweat pants or shorts 7 days a week 365 days a year -- thankfully, I work for myself. I won't eat at a restaurant that has a dress code...

2) I only shave when my stubble begins to itch and then I just use a hair trimmer -- no razors.

3) I’m a water nut – not the drinking water, but the Oceans, the Great Lakes, etc. We have a cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan where we spend the majority of our summers. We have a 32 ft Trawler that we also keep in Sturgeon Bay, WI and spend probably 30-40 days/nights per summer on the boat. In 2006 we spent two months and 900 miles cruising to the North Channel (one of the top 10 places to cruise a boat in the world). All our vacations involve the Ocean – outside of Texas/Alaska/Hawaii, we have been to all the states that touch the ocean.


4) I'd cancel all my phones if I didn't have a Business -- even then I don't answer it often...

5) I've used the Internet to create multiple businesses -- not Internet based businesses, but used the Internet to research the business ideas. It worked pretty good seeing that I have been "semi-retired" for the last 7+ years.

6) Thanks to the teachings of my Dad, I have become a master MacGyver – there is very little that I can’t fix – sometimes with duck tape and staples, but it’ll work. Thanks to my Mom's teachings, I'm also very good with my money -- "it isn't how much money you HAVE/MAKE, it is HOW much you spend that matters".

7) I have spent the last 19 years with my sole mate and best friend -- and I compete in IronMan's to help extend the years remaining with her.

So there you go, not too exciting…

Indoor Water Parks -- Thanks Goodness...

Well, the training is going along good. I'm finding it a bit hard to get motivated to jump on the bike trainer or the treadmill, but I'm forcing the issue and have completed most of my IronMan / Marathon workouts scheduled to date. This is the time of year that I look forward to the warmer temps of Spring but still stuck in the midst of Winter.

Last week I completed a 16 mile run on the treadmill and next week I have a 18 mile run scheduled. I'm not quite sure if I'll put myself through the pain of the treadmill for 18 miles, so I might cut that back to 16 miles and wait until I can get outside to run.

This winter has been extermely harsh with cold temps and major snow. This has forced all my training inside (outside of some x-country skiing and snow shoeing). Very much looking forward to some Spring runs / rides.

Tonight Team BRAZO is headed to the Wisconsin Dells for a night at one of their Indoor Water Parks. Looking forward to sitting in the outdoor hot tubs, sliding with the kids, and just staying WARM...

Snow Plow training or IronMan training...

This month we have been hammered with snow in Wisconsin. The kids love the snow and this year with the snowshoes and cross country skis -- I also enjoy it. BUT, it is getting a little old. I own some real estate in which I plow one of the properties myself and have snow plow drivers do the other properties. I have been in the truck with the plow on a bit too much this year -- I feel like I have Plowed more than I have IronMan Trained this month.

Oh wells, next month in Wisconsin will probably be 60's and rain...

Merry Christmas!!!

Chris Farley...

After spending part of the day on the trails cross country skiing, we came back to the Cottage and enjoyed an evening watching a Saturday Night Live special on Chris Farley.

Chris was born and raised in my home town of Madison Wisconsin. He stared on Saturday Night Live for many years and in many movies with his SNL co-stars. In 1997 he died from a drug overdose.

Here is a video tribute to Chris Farley:

This is what it is all about…

When we attended Oldest Mini Team BRAZO’s swim meet the other night, we noticed something that just made you sit, watch, and say – that is what it is all about.

The swim meet was Conference Relay’s, which means that they just swim relays during the meet. Each team probably had around 15 to 20 members on each team and each relay would have between 4 and 8 team members swim depending on the relay.

Well, during one of the relays I noticed that a kid on the starting block getting prepared to swim once his teammate finished his 100 yard swim. I noticed that he was much smaller in stature than the other kids at the swim meet. Watching this kid, I could tell that he was very excited and kept on getting into his position to start his leg of the relay. His teammates were all around him pumping him up for probably his first competitive swim.

Once his teammate touched the wall, into the lane he jumped. I had noticed during the meet that a few of the swimmers didn’t really have much of a stroke and were either a bit slow or they were just chopping in the water. Well, this kid because of his small stature was going very slow but steady in the water. His left arm did not complete the full stroke, but his right arm did get him to move.

During his swim all of his teammates were lining the side of the lane yelling and screaming him encouragement, even though they knew that his swimming would certainly cost them the race – they just didn’t care. When he finished his 100 yards, you could just see the ultimate joy on his face with all his teammates congratulating him on his swim. I had tears in my eyes just watching.

Now, that is what sport is all about. Not those FREAKING loser 4th grade football coaches that don’t play the kids that may be a bit slow, not those FREAKING loser parents that yell at the coach for playing the slow kids, not those FREAKING schools that play favorites to the top athletes in the school, and not those FREAKING loser 3rd grade little league coaches that hold “drafts” to fill in THEIR teams for the upcoming little league season.

But instead it is about PARTICIPATION of ALL kids, teaching the kids that it is about having FUN not winning, teaching the kids that it is about TEAM support, and teaching the kids that TRYING is the only important part.

On this Thanksgiving weekend I give THANKS that we still have some good sports that the kids can participate in – if we only had football, basketball, and baseball – we would be in a world of hurt (have you seen the news lately??)….

IronMan in training or Future President....

Youngest Mini Team BRAZO

Nantucket Bike Rentals – could it be a Trek Equinox TTX 9.9 SSL…

Today we decide we would rent some bikes to explore the island of Nantucket. The weather today was just about perfect with the highs in the high 60’s and not a cloud in the sky.

We make our way over to Young’s Bike rental just a few blocks from our cottage. Once there I notice that they rent out basically all Trek bikes – our bike of choice, seeing that we own 8 Trek bikes. We pay for the bikes and a gentleman begins to setup each of the family members with their bikes.

He starts with the youngest Mini Team BRAZO – the gentleman walks over to the large group of bikes, surveys the bike situation and finds the perfect bike for youngest Mini Team BRAZO – a brand new, never ridden before, Trek MT 220. Youngest Mini Team BRAZO was ready to roll.

About this time, I’m looking around to see where they might be keeping the tri-bikes that they break out just for those special riders every once in a while. Not seeing where they are kept, I just figured some back heavily locked room contained those bikes.

So, next up was oldest Mini Team BRAZO – again the gentleman sizes up oldest Mini Team BRAZO and determines that the hot Trek mountain bike would do perfect for him. Oldest Mini Team BRAZO was ready to roll.

Now it is my turn – the gentleman stands back a bit and looks me up and down to determine what bike would fit me best. While he is doing this, I’m trying to point my foot down in order to “beef” my calf muscles up just a bit. I’m also tightening my thigh muscles just so he would have a better idea of my bike requirements. I attempted, during a cough, to throw the word “IronMan” into the room with little success. At this point I’m wishing that I had indeed gotten that IronMan tattoo on my ankle – then I would be able to just lift up the pants a bit and wham he’d see why I would require one of those “locked away special” Tri bikes.

So, after sizing me up, the gentleman walks to the back of the shop and picks out the bike just for me. While he is determining my bike, I’m looking at the rental helmets to find that perfectly sized Aero-helmet that they must have waiting just for the special biker.

At this point I turn around and I’m just about to tell the guy that I wouldn’t need the Aero drink bottle on the front of that awesome tri-bike that I’m sure he’ll be bringing my way.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT – who the heck is THIS bike for – NOT Me – did you see the calf muscles?? Did you notice the larger thigh muscles?? Did you notice the shaved head – duh, IronMan haircut (well ok, maybe the high front peaks on my head confused him on that one)?? Is there some elderly person right behind me?? Come on, this is not good.

So the gentleman hands me my bike and says “this is the perfect bike for you”….

(And NO – I did not ride around with the IronMan jersey on – the kids demanded that I take a picture with it on – what I won’t do for my kids…)

Somethings I just don't need to know...

I received this e-mail from a local tri-group.

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Subject: Seminar on "Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes"

A local tri group and some others have put this together, if you are interested:

Please join us in a special lecture by Dr. Patrick McBride to be given next Thursday night (10/11) at 6:30 at the Coliseum Bar. The title of the talk is "Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes".

Dr. McBride is the associate Dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, as well as the associate director of UW PreventiveCardiology. He has lectured nationally/internat ionally and written extensively on this and related topics in preventive Cardiology.

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The meaning of Team BRAZO…

Ok, ok, ok enough already – I think I have answered well over a thousand e-mails asking – what is the meaning behind your blog name Team BRAZO. So, I have two choices -- I can continue to over load my inbox with your emails or I can do a blog entry to explain. Guess what, I decided to do the blog entry.

So, a number of years ago (14 ½ to be exact) my wife and myself had a baby boy and we named him Alex Robert Meyer. Then about 9 ½ years ago my wife and myself had another baby boy and we named him Aaron Robert Meyer. So now do you get the meaning of Team BRAZO? Pretty clear to me at this point – you get it now? Do I need to go any further with my explanation? I think not.

But, for you that might be a bit slow today with your processing – maybe a bit too much IronMan training lately? I’ll continue, in 2003 we purchased a Trawler (boat) that we would keep in Sturgeon Bay, WI and we would use to cruise the Great Lakes. The Trawler was purchased from a gentleman in Orange Beach, AL and he had named the Trawler "Patricia" after his wife’s name.

Do I need to continue, now? Did you final figure it out? Pretty easy with all that data – just think hard and you’ll get it. Come on, I don’t want to sit here all day explaining this to you – I have IronMan workouts to do – well maybe not yet, but soon.

Ok, well we didn’t know any Patricia’s and even though his wife was a very nice lady – we needed a new name for the Trawler. Well, this is where the story ends (thank goodness, ha?).

See our most prized possessions are our two boys – both of their names form the initials – ARM. So you got it now? Right in front of you – just dig a bit deeper.

We figured it might be a bit strange to name our Trawler ARM when we contact the marinas for a slip “Sister Bay Marina, Sister Bay Marina this is ARM on channel 16, over” – just didn’t sound right.

So, we decided to use the Spanish word for ARM and that happens to be BRAZO (btw: the only Spanish word that I know – besides tres). Now our Trawler is named BRAZO.

So now when we compete in any road race, triathlon, bike race, etc – we have our 9 ½ year old (he likes that ½ -- makes him feel older) draw tattoos on our bodies that say TEAM BRAZO.

During IronMan Wisconsin, my family had signs for me reading “Way to Go TEAM BRAZO” – I wonder if this seemed a bit strange to Team Mexico (Team Mexico had 350 participates in IronMan Wisconsin 2007) – what the heck is TEAM ARM…

You’re never going to believe me but….

Ok, I know this is going to be hard to believe. You may think that I’m just making this sh*t up. You’ll probably think that I’m just another nut case trying to pump himself up with the use of his blog. You’ll probably think that all that IronMan training has eaten up a few too many brain cells, well that may be true, but that is besides the point.

So, after I tell you what it is that I’m going to tell you – you’ll probably click that back button on your browser and delete me from your favorites (ya, right – like I was there already). You may e-mail your friends and family to just stay away from the “big liars” blog spot. You’ll probably think that my ego is just a bit too big and that I just needed another reason to blow it even larger.

What I have to tell you is in regards to the number of visitors to my blog last Thursday. Of course, as soon as I tell you – you’ll say – “whatever, he is making all this up”. You’ll say – “no way he had that many visitors”. You might actually say “He probably just brought his blog up many times that day and all those hits were just him”.

Well, that is not true – I’m talking about “Unique Visitors” – not just hits on the blog but the number of actual readers that day. So then you’ll start saying that – “sure, he just went all around stopping at each coffee shop and logging onto his blog just to pump up the numbers”. Well, I don’t drink coffee and I haven’t been to a coffee shop in a few months. Next you’ll say “well ya, but he has been a computer programmer for years and he knows how to go into the Internet and just boost his Unique hits to his blog”. Believe me when I say – my skill set does not include anything harder than tracking a few insurance policies for a few companies.

It might be hard too believe, but here it is – last Thursday my blog (yes, Team BRAZO, not Google.com or Yahoo.com) had three (3) blog readers – yes, three (3) unique visitors – that is 3 as in Tres for all my Spanish readers – I’m not just bragging – this is absolutely 100% the truth (I’d stick a needle in my eye if I was lying).

How do I know that that many people hit my blog in one 24 hour period – simple, I used Google Analytics. So, I’m now waiting for the calls and e-mails from Google regarding my blog site over-loading their servers, the e-mails from my future “sponsors”, and the coming fame and fortune that I will be enjoying.

So, the next time you come to my blog to read the latest blog entry – just know that you are not the only one – you are just one of many – you’re just a small part of the fan base – just a number to us at Team BRAZO. We have many too please and just know that we can’t please all three (3) of you at once…

How this IronMan "thing" started for me (cont.)...

Move forward to November 2005 – After spending time raising two awesome boys, climbing up the Corporate ladder, starting and selling a couple businesses, and just enjoying life – I decided the time had come to start my Fitness Career. I started the process by running a mile and a half every other day as fast as I could – at the time I thought the process was “No Pain No Gain” – I’m so glad I read about the “Go Slow – build the Base” method. Went through about 4 months of major tightness problems with my calfs/legs/knees – some days I would actually have to begin my runs by hopping through the pain until the tightness would subside a bit to allow me to run somewhat normally. My thought was that if I didn’t run every time I had an injury then I would not create the “fitness habit” that I knew I needed to create. A few months into my running I went into Moving Shoes in Madison to purchase a pair of running shoes. I specifically recall telling my wife as we left Moving Shoes that I wanted to be considered a runner. Well, 2006 I would run the Mad-City Marathon (in the 90 degree weather) – my goal had been reached.

Next up IronMan...

How this IronMan "thing" started for me (cont.)...

Wait, wait, wait -- 27 years ago I was a FREAKING junior in high school -- holy smokes, that makes me a bit above old. Hadn't given it much thought over the last 27 years and I'm not one to attend the class reunions -- so I'm not reminded of it much. I must hurry to get the rest of the IronMan's around the world done before time runs out!!

Ok, back to the "story"...

Move forward to 1986 – After a few years of a non-running life, I began another phase in my running life. The purpose of the running was not to get in shape, not to run faster and not to run road races, but instead it was to spend time with my best friend at the time (and now) and my sole mate and (now)wife. We would run through the Arboretum in Madison just about every night and then enjoy a nice frozen custer from the Michaels on Monroe Street. We did this until we finally figured out that we were actually more than just friends -- we married in 1989 – my goal had been reached, she was now my wife.

Next up 2005...Oh, and stop the yawning...