Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Oh sure...I'm here for ya Trimama

Typical fall day. Blue bird skies, mellow breeze and a small passing early fall thunderstorm. The trimama is embarking on one of her epic rides in preparation for IMFL. I'll let her give you the 'training' report if she wants, but in case some details of her day are neglected, I have the equalizer..... MY OWN BLOG!!!

Taconite Boy had three jobs going at once, one new employee to interview, two estimates to finish and a huge entertainment center to distress and age with lacquers. So, a typical day for boy wonder here.

Ring Ring

Tac boy "Hello?"

Trimama "(breathlessly) Hi, where are you?"

'Where are you' is phrase Tac Boy knows too well. She doesn't really care where I am, just if I'm available for rearranging my schedule to do something.

Tac Boy "South Minneapolis, why?"

Trimama "Well do you know how I could bike home from Egan?"

Of course I knew that this meant can you pick me up from Egan because it's going to rain? Like I'm going to stop my major business projects to drive half way across the metro to pick her up. Yeah...I'll just tell her she can wait out the rain storm and finish here ride because I don't have time for this!

Tac Boy "Where do you want me to pick you up?"

Well at least I take a stand when she puts on John Denver at home.

For the record, I did bring Trimama back through torrential rain just in time for the sun to come out for the last half of her ride. I may be entering my off season, but right now I'm all about seeing her get across that finish line in Florida :)

Tac out? Boy wonder out? Crushed rock out....
I'm gonna need to work on a sign out

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

First Taste of Iron



Well here I go, posting for the first time as taconite boy apparently no longer as trihubby (although trimama says I'm always her hubby ;) Good day to post, I just signed up, paid the bill and am heading towards Ironman Wisconsin in 2007! I guess the last several years have been preparing me for this. It was only 20 months ago that I noticed trimama working out a lot more in preparation for her first triathlon. Around that time I was listening to one of my favorite radio shows and the host was plugging(or mocking) his friends site called Trigeek Dreams. I liked this guy, a middle of the pack busy dad of four who loved the challenge of triathlon. With further encouragement (or harrasment) from the wife I signed up for my first tri later that month. Wait a second, how did I get from dipping into the water of the tri world to doing an IRONMAN! I have no idea, but I'm sure it will become more clear over the next year.

What's Taconite? Good question, I'm glad you asked. Taconite is a the rock pebbles that are mined from the Iron range in northern Minnesota. In fact the upper portion of the state is called the 'Iron Range'. The Taconite that is mined from the range contains about 35% Iron. The process by which the iron is extracted requires the taconite rocks to be pulverized and mixed with other chemicals. Since mining is a blue collar job, and I own and operate a blue collar business the similarities work for me! The unique challenges of pulverzing my body in training and mixing my life up with all of the other athletes in this crazy sport after hard days at work are either crazy or God inspired....or Both. I know I have good support from both my family and my faith, so bring in the pulverzing truck and lets get going!