Library in the Hallowed Hall

Tacboy n' Bigun have an official Library. Think of old mahogony ceiling beams with book shelves from floor to ceiling. Reading chairs and large tables (triangular of course). Each time you remove a book there is that 'book smell' with a little dust needing to be blown off.

Were looking for titles for the Library. Book Titles

Also we have a large Dictionary in the Library. Think aged edged pages, about a mile thick. We need Dictionary words related to the official Dictionary of the League of Triathletes.

Any ideas you have we would love to hear!!

Leave us a message at 813-990-0951.

Tac's been busy training and still looking for that career change. Ugh. Lots of stress, but I'm thankful for a very supportive and praying wife! The podcast has been a great escape as well. Thanks for all your nice comments!

Have a great week and help us build a our mythical library!!

Team Ortho Couer d'Alene 2008

Taconite boy begins his training today. 20 Weeks to Ironman. In some ways it seems like it far off in the distance, but in reality those weeks just seem to fly by. Before you know it, your suiting up and getting into the water with 2500 of your best friends.

Last year when Tac did Ironman Wisconsin he decided to participate in a Janus Charity Challenge by raising Funds for SAVE (Suicide Awareness and Voices of Education).

What a rewarding experience! I determined that any future Ironman's would always involve a Janus Charity of some sort because it made the process so much richer.
By the way, we raised $3000.00 last year for SAVE and Janus added another 800 to total 3800.00!

Thank you to all of those who supported Tac and SAVE last year!

Well this year to race at Couer d'Alene was through a Team Ortho slot.

O.K.

Sounds good to me. Team Ortho is dedicated to raising funds for Orthopedic research to better the lives of those who suffer from joint ailments. Much of the research that they fund is used not just here in the US but all over the world to help devloping nation populations. Team Ortho also encourages general joint health by sponsoring multiple ameteur races all over the country.

Tac will get right to the point. He needs your help. If 200 people donate $10.00 I will have reached my goal! (I'll tip in the rest if need be) of $2500.00

Team Ortho uses the Janus Charity site to raise funds, credit cards accepted. If you would like to send a check please contact Tacboy by email.

Here's the link...


Team Ortho-Taconite Boy

Thanks for anything you can do!

Just like the podcast...

Tac's going to post on something that has nothing to do with Triathlon :)

New podcast up on Monday by the way.

Some opportunities have arisen that allow me to pursue another passion in my life, photography.

Tac's looking at purchasing a 40d Canon and looking for anyone who has some opinions on lenses for Canon in general.

Thanks
(and Go PATRIOTS)

Tac

My Weak off Update

According to Bigun and Greyhound my week off of any training is wussy butt. So here's a list of what Tac has accomplished.




1. Tempo Eating
2. Pop tart fartleks (thx Bigun)
3. Sleep intervals
4. Sinusitus pill popping
5. Sam Adams Slurping.

Seriously Tac's been doing nothing this week to heal some sore spots and prepare for his the Ironman training plan. Tac is using the Beginner Triathlete 20 week silver plan. He used BT last year for his 1/2 Iron and a 12 week bridge from that to the full distance. I highly recommend the site. No kick backs here, just like the plans. Only comment would be that the swim portions of the plan can be too heavy. Spend the money on the silver plans, they include good workouts, with excellent strength training routines (by D3 Multisport). Both Trimama and Tac cut about 25% of the swimming out of our plans and had fine Ironman swims.

Here's the Link...Beginner Triathlete(If BT wanted to send tac something for free, he will never turn down because he's a schwag whore)

Happy race planning!

Tac

We Need Your Lovely Voices

Tacman and the Bigun need some piffy comments. Please leave some love at our podcast number! :)

813 990 0951

Thanks!

TacBoy 'n Bigun - Episode 2

Episode 2 is up! Titled the hallowed hall.

Click on Tac's sidebar link to iTunes, or head over to Bigun's sight for a online feed.

Thanks for listening! (or pretending to)

TacBoy is officially off from all training this week. Ahhhhh. The 20 week plan to Ironman CDA begins this Sunday. Until then just stretching and resting. The Taco Bell/Pop Tart weight loss plan is finished. Tacs down from 204 at ironman to his current weight of 185. One part he forgot about losing 20 pounds is that your not only lighter on the scale, but also in the wallet. Holy Crap I've had to buy all new clothes recently. Trimama requires her super-stud to not look like bilbo baggins!

Tac Out...hope you enjoy the podcast.

Podcasting is Fun

Tac is liking his podcasting. It's a nice distraction from the extreme stress going around him right now. Tac would like to thank all the the people who have left encouraging comments.

Tac listens to lots of podcasts. His current list is Onion Radio News, Paste Magazine, Relevant Magazine, GYGO and lately he's been thinking of trying out some latin casts for picking up a little spanish lingo.

Of course owning one of these helps in listening to the podcasts...



(that pic makes Bigun sooo jealous, he he he)

Tac just got his new iPhone update. Thank you master Steve for providing your minions with this update. We are so honored that you allow us to continually dump our hard earned cash upon the Apple shaped alter of Jobs bliss.

Back to reality. Tac is getting closer on the job front. He's aware it's taking awhile, but patience and persistance have paid off. He is now narrowing down specific jobs and is getting ready to apply soon.

Thanks again giving the podcast love. New episode should be up by the end of the weekend.

Tac out and 10 days till IMCDA training!

The League of Triathletes Podcast is here!

Were still waiting on iTunes to finish the uploading, but for now here is a link to our first Podcast!



Episode 1

Trimama's Leaving Me!

Tac's sure of it. He heard her speaking to her 'friend' over the phone yesterday. What has Tac done? How did he mess up this bad? He knows what happened. Last Thursday morning was the battle scene. 5 am, small counter by the toaster. She reached up for my last Cinnamon Roll Pop Tart.

Nobody messes with Taconite Boy's pop tarts.

Since when did Trimama eat Tac's coveted Pop Tarts!! One harsh comment led to another and she's gone.

Well at least gone until Sunday night when Tac picks her up. Her friends include the likes of Lana, IronJenny, local running homies and of course blogger host royalty...Commodore.

Arizona is the official destination for the first Tri blogger reunion tour of the year.

Tac's sure she would love to run the Rock and Roll Mary, but she'll make a great sherpa!

Have a great time dear. I'll miss you, the tribe will miss good food.

Tac's quite the heel. Well at least he has a bad heel. He's ignoring the idea that he has the dreaded, first word hangs outside a european village window, second word sounds similar to a facist with a bad cold. Because that would really suck donkey kongs. Tac's looking for therapy's for this troubled heel so any ideas would be appreciated :(

Tac out...and happily under-trained

UPDATE;
Tridummy is going to be there as well...sheesh!

Podcast? Yes. Podcast coming out soon. Remember it's free so dont expect too much!

Tribal Christmas

We have survived the Holiday flu! Apprently Tac's illness was felt by each and every member of the Clan ending with Trimama in bed today, one week later with a slight fever :( Despite the technicolor spewing, the time spent together was good and a reminder of how blessed we are to have close family and friends.

New Years Eve will be spent with more good family friends, toasting champagne, sipping wine and probably enjoying a few really good cigars. Tac has 4 weeks until any form of training begins. So until then all he needs to do is accomplish a major career change and manage three to four work sites.

Wish Tac luck (or a coveted prayer).

Thanks

Here's a little window into the Tribe's Christmas eve...

Have a holly jolly flu...

Tac wakes up this morning with significant digestive issues. You will be spared details. It's all about the timing. Trimama and I were planning a hot christmas shopping/watch the vikes at our favorite pub date tonight. Hopefully, if well rested the plans will go forward.

Chopper is all over the presents this weekend. Angling to open "just one" prior to Christmas Eve. Mama and Tac are holding strong, but he does get points for tenacity.

Hope you have a great Christmas weekend

Tac

The Chopper

Chop got hold of Tac's Mac.

Too funny

Tac

Holding My Own

>
Well resume building is going well. Tac's been throwing the virgin document before some corporate friends for feed back and refinement. Please be gentle with me.

Not one aspect of the 'changing careers' adventure has been very simple. The cultural shift from manual labor/small business owner to corporate employee is hard to envision and prepare for.

Yet were holding our own. WE meaning Trimama has been a HUGE support through this process, both emotionally, practically and spiritually. Thanks dear.

The Christmas season is moving along nicely, the kids took part in our small church's music program this Sunday. Very cute. We are planning the big family get together next week. Where multiple tribes will descend on Grandmas house. Which always has a nice cinnamon smell on Christmas day. Presents will be opened, good food and wine shared and general thanksgiving for the blessing of family will be the theme. Looking forward to that.

Grandmas house will be making new memories, but Tac's been scanning in some OLD photos of said superhero and a certain Triathlon Mom from their early days. Pictures to appear some time soon. What? Now? O.K. here's one...

Pre-Chopper Pic


Well off to do the 'not training for IMCDA yet/not really base training/more keep in shape from all the Hershey kiss cookies' swim.

Tac out

Have you ever tasted home made Ice cream. Holy cow, Tac has reached new levels of super hero status with this latest advent gift. Ironically, or not, the boys are the main chefs for the sweet frozen treat. Tac's preatty sure we produced about 40,000 calories worth of Creamy goodness over the last 4 days. This is exactly why Mama and Tac bought this machine, not the calories, just to enjoy creative outlets with the tribe.

It's been averaging about 2 degrees here lately. So, we make ice cream...what the fruit. Oh well the cold seems to creep into the brain and lends towards insanity and that's why we have 16 quarts of Ice Cream in the freezer while Tac is trying to lose weight.

Must resist, must resist...yes.

It is working. Tac is down a full 20 pounds from last year at this time and is heading to knock off another 10 before training begins in late January. Last year was the backward year where a bottle of wine every night during the holidays and tons of snacks made the spandex a bit tight on your resident superhero. Whoo whoo. Have not seen these numbers on the scale since the early formation days of the Tribe. Good grief, guess kids will do that to a dad. Well it feels good to be lighter entering my fourth Tri season. Tac's always known that to really see good bike times (for tac thats 6 hour IM rides) I needed to drop weight. So that makes anticipation for the upcoming season that much sweeter.

Man, I gotta update my side bar soon. The plate spinning quotient is a tad high right now, but Tac does see some breathing room in sight! Have a great weekend!

Tac out

Cant fight this feeling any longer

Well if you have stopped over at Trimama.com, you've realized that the smokin hot Trimama is taking on her second Ironman challenge in Arizona.

Sweet!

Apprently Iron Jenny is in for the ride as well. Tac should have a good time cheering them on as the official sherpa at the Fall IMAZ 08. Correct, Tac is not racing Arizona next year. That was part of the decision that we made regarding Florida as well. The frantic pace of marriage, family and buiness would make dual training for an Ironman to challenging of a task. So we've reached a compromise.

Tac has always wanted to do this race. In fact about 3 months ago he wished he could go, but realized that was now impossible.

Until he recieved an email from TriStud (think local male version of Iron Jenny) who had some interesting race 'opportunities' available. Needless to say, the email went out on Saturday, the confirmation is now at about 90% so Tac is spilling the beans.

The official A race for Taconite Boy in 2008 is HERE!!

Thanks Team Ortho!!!

Tac Out....whoooo hooooo hu uh..hu uh

Tac's got news

All he can say right now is that some big stuff just happened (triathlon related) and he's waiting to post the final details until he's able to confirm.

It's taking Tac all of his superpowers to restrain from spilling the beans, but he's gotta wait to confirm.

Dang it

Tac out...and VERY EXCITED

Tac's just sayin

There seems to be some friction at work lately. He's preatty sure it has something to do with either envy or irritation regarding Ironman accomplishments. It's not like when Tac's working he wears it on his slee...




Maybe Tac does have the Greyhound schwag-whore disease?

Tac out...and be careful bragging out there Ironmen

UPDATE Trimama has changed her blog location. Point your browser here

Trimama.com

Can't tell what Tac likes more...the Thanksgiving/Jessi Ventura like boa or the hat...hmmmm

What Taconite Boy can tell you is that the tribe is ready and were heading down to trot our turkeys all over your a__. Either that or were just going to join about 8000 other people and 'gobble!gobble!" our way through the 5k tomorrow. I dont think you can miss us in these...



Local bloggers and friends join us here after said festivites!

Dunn Bros. Minnetonka Mills


View Larger Map

Tac out...and have a great Thanksgiving!

Turkey Trot 07

Were heading out for the Turkey Trot on Thursday morning. Mama, Tac and the Tribe are heading down with other local bloggers, then heading over to Minnetonka Mills Dunn Bros. after the race. Join us if you can!

Tac out

I'm not a multi-tasker..

Well at least that's what one of my most junior employees (and nephew) told me several years ago. He stated this after Tac had forgotten to bring some item to the job site that morning. Tac loves employes, they make him money, they usually become friends and he can count on them to never understand how complex, hectic and crazy the life of running a business is.

Well all the multi-tasking super-powers will be needed for the next few months. The hunt for the new job has begun with preparation and training commencing this week. Within 6-8 weeks Tac will begin sending out the resume to prospective companies. While radically changing careers takes loads of mental courage and energy, Paradise Painting has it's many various demands. Jobs to find (in a fairly slow market), payroll to meet, projects to manage and bills to pay (Trimama's going shopping). A tad overwhelming...Maybe my nephew is slightly right :(

Tac wrote this favorite quote on the chalkboard in the kitchen several months ago...

There is one way to love God,
To not take a single step without Him
and to follow with a brave heart
wherever He leads.

Totally dig that.

Sense a theme here?

Taken by Simply Stu in lake San Antonio-Wildflower 2007



Version 2



Taken by Bigun in Gulf of Mexico-Ironman Florida 2007

Theme is...Tac's a fortunate fella

Tac out...and have some plans for local homies on Turkey day!!!