I immediately began training (and acquiring equipment) for the 1992 Wildflower Short Course Triathlon.  1 sport a day, and I took the 7th day off.  Wow, it was hard work.

In 1993, I guess I was searching for more pain because completing 2 Half-Ironmans was agony.  I don't know why I didn't stop there.

In 1994, a friend and I decided we could go even farther so embarked on marathon training.  After 3-1/2 hours of running and then not being able to climb a street curb it was ironic;  to be so well trained and so incapable at the same time.   I didn't know how but knew in a couple years I would finish an Ironman.

In 1995 I got much faster.  I knew to qualify meant being in the top 4%.  I raced short, Olympic, and Half-Ironman distances.  I even won a couple races, qualified for The Boston Marathon, and go All-American Honorable Mention.   Most importantly I finally gave my new time-consuming joy to the Lord.  I had to release control, get my priorities straight, and divert the new attention I was getting to my Heavenly Father.

1996. This was the year! Family and friends were already booked for the Big Island.  There was pressure.  And yet there wasn't.  I ran smiling, not looking back, for I felt God's presence.  He qualified me and sent me to "The Big Dance" in Kona and built up my character along the way.  I did the Hawaii Ironman, but even better, my fellowship in Christ, like my training, was at a level it's never been before.

1997 was the true test.  To be able to sit out with an injury that threatened my ability to ever run again, and be thankful for God's blessings, and flexible enough to except any path He put before me.  I took up Mountain Biking and did well and continued to give credit to the Lord.  After 6 months, God sent a cure in the form of a few simple words spoken by a friend and doctor.  On an epic bike ride in August, I started my 1998 Ironman training!.

1998 was a wonderful year of connecting ,fellowshipping, and appreciating.   I was running again!  Even though the first few months were full of injuries (Napa marathon was 30min off my best), I learned the most valuable lessons yet.  And, trusting God, it led to qualifying twice in Texas and Colorado and going back to Kona, finishing the Ironman, under harsh conditions. Strength and perseverance were put to the test!
This year was also special because of new friends, Chad, David, and Brooke, 3 strong Christian athletes I got to know and train with.

1999 and my feet feel fine!  Ready to see how fast I can go.  New Zealand Ironman and The Full Vineman are the main focus.  I'm hoping for a relaxing late summer to catch up on the rest I missed in the winter.

But Achilles pain developed shortly after Ironman New Zealand and the rest of the year was a cat-and-mouse pain game with my Achilles heel.  I tried tricks and form change and orthotics and massage and night splints, but it had a mind of it's own.  Fortunately it held together through each race and I had a year full of racing, doing 4 ironmans in 13 months!  Ironman New Zealand, Vineman Full Ironman, and Ironman Florida were all new and exciting.

2000 and the Achilles feels terrible.  I took a lot of time off, not running at all for a month at a time.  Nothing changed but, with enough fortitude, I found I could run through it and still win races.  It was my most successful year yet!  I won the Southbay Triathlon and the Angel's Camp Triathlon and took 2nd at Wildflower and Keauhou.  However, the 2000 Hawaii Ironman was the last straw.  Mentally, I couldn't run through it anymore.  Somehow I got through but decided it was my last.