What's Next Dave?

WAY Behind: Check, Check, and Check

2011-06-12T15:04:00.006-05:00

Hello web world! Time to catch up a bit, lots of things knocked off the bucket list in the last year:

I finish Ironman Wisconsin last fall. It was a great day. In the process of training for it, I made a bunch of really great friends through my WellFit Chicago Ironman training group coached by the awesome Elizabeth Waterstraat. If you ever plan on doing an Ironman, look up Liz or WellFit. They will get you there!

BTW- Liz won her age group and qualified for Kona today at Eagleman. That is some 10 months post having a baby. She is a really incredible.

Also, the Mrs. Whatsnextdave and I have been busy. In December we purchased a little home in Roscoe Village in Chicago. It has been a great neighborhood and we love our new place. I have actually started a blog documenting the countdown to baby: 146 Days.

AND it was just in time to get some new space, because it wasn't too much longer when we learned we were going to have another roommate. We are expecting a baby, due November 1, 2011 (also my birthday).

Lastly, and least important... I went to Vermont a few months ago, . If you are keeping track at home, that only leaves 5 more states.

Cool Story About My Friend Amber

2010-10-02T15:01:00.002-05:00

Here is a cool story about my friend Amber. Her total kickass at Ironman Wisconsin is no surprise to anyone who ever tried to keep up with her on a ride or run. She is a total stud, and this is such a great story about her.

So here is the story. She has worked very hard for this and earned her successes. Great job!

Ironweek is Here

2010-09-09T17:20:00.005-05:00

"The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people."

Welcome to Ironweek 2010. It's all pretty real.

I had great intentions of keeping up the blog through my Ironman training this year, but as it turns out it takes a whole lot of time to train for these bad boys. The training, trying to hold down the job, staying married, and occasionally see friends (although I failed on the last one) didn't leave much time for writing.

But nearly a year ago I did sign up for Ironman Wisconsin. I had no plans to until that day. I had been following people the Sunday of the race, checking out their photos on Facebook the next day, and thinking about when I would take on the big race.

At work the Monday after, I called the pre-wife (this was 2 weeks pre-wedding), "Hey, remember how we talked about doing that Ironman... what would you think if I signed up for Ironman Wisconsin next year?"

"You might as well take care of it now."

Well, she didn't say no. I pushed a bit further, "You do realize this is going to be a LOT of training. WAY more than I did for the half."

"Listen, I support you. If you want to do this, go for it."

Huh. OK.

So I posted on the facebook.

David Murphy What are you guys doing at noon today? Is anyone taking the plunge into IMoo 2010?

My friend Tammy was first to respond, something about how watching the day before made her tired. Then...

Elizabeth Waterstraat Do it!

Kelli Are you - Seriously I think you should!

No matter who you are there are certain people you look to for approval and guidance. Liz has been my tri coach since June of 2009 and Kelli had been my training partner who had done Ironman Louisville a few weeks earlier. In the case, they were the exact people I needed to hear from.

David Murphy I do Imoo

Holy crap was that premature.

Even That Guy From the TdF Wants Me to Ride in Madison

2010-07-21T16:57:00.004-05:00

You got to love Robbie Ventura. One minute this guy is on TV telling me all about the conditions on le Tour, interviewing the riders, giving the first hand perspective of the course, the next minute he is emailing me telling me to preview the Ironman Wisconsin course with his Vision Quest Coaching:

I will have to miss one Robbie so I can enjoy a little riding in Iowa, but I will have to join your guys when they do it again in August.

Ironman Wisconsin, Not the Easiest

2010-07-16T09:53:00.004-05:00

There is a good article today from TriJuice. It compares average finish times from the different Ironman races. The good news is, it doesn't look like Ironman Wisconsin is the hardest to finish, its like the second hardest.

Crap.

Jackson Hole Vacation

2010-06-22T17:05:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Whatsnextdave and I joined my sister and brother-in-law for a quick vacation to Jackson Hole, WY. It was an amazing trip, with awesome hikes in Grand Teton National Park, a great ride up the Teton Pass, and fun meals and times in the cowboy town of Jackson.

Here are the details of some hikes and the ride up the pass. Will supplement with photos in a bit.

Hike on top of Tram at Jackson Hole - Details

Phelps Lake, Death Canyon Hike - Details

Cascade Canyon Hike - Details

Teton Pass Ride - Details

Goodwin Lake Hike - Details

Great Quote from Runner's World Daily Kick in the Butt

2010-01-12T11:47:00.002-06:00

"At age forty-three, when I found myself standing in my garage in a new pair of running shoes, I knew that it was my moment of truth. Behind me lay forty years of bad decisions and broken promises."

John Bingham, The Courage to Start

To sign up for these click here

How Much for an Ironman Trophy?

2010-01-08T17:39:00.002-06:00

I get that doing an Ironman is a big deal. It's an accomplishment that takes a lot of time, effort, and dedication (at least that's what people keep telling me). And I can see where Ironman finishers would want a memento of this impressive feat.

So when I received my daily top stories email from Ironman, I was fascinated by the story on the new "Ironman Trophy".

"Ironman athletes hardly need to be reminded of how much dedication, time and support is required to finish a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a marathon run. Many will proudly display pictures of their achievement in their offices at work and around their home. Now, thanks to the folks at Ironman Trophy, there's a very special way to recognize your accomplishment - a spectacular bronze trophy."

So as I visualized my future trophy intimidating anyone that walked into my future corner office complete with a couch and wet bar, I hit the link to see more details on this "work of art."

Available in both types of patina colors: BLACK MARBLE and TAN! Watch out, it weighs more than most infants (16 pounds).

WHERE CAN I PRE-ORDER ALREADY??????????

Price = $695.00

I'm sorry... WHAT? Does that include someone doing the race for you? Does it come with a free Emma Snowsill? Can you at least put Macca's time on it? How about a free disk wheel? No?

Oh, wait... I get it. People (the World Triathlon Corporation in particular) now understand how triathletes love blowing money on their hobby.

But they forgot to ask if it passes the triathlete test for irrational spending... Does this make you more areo?

Welcome to 2010

2010-01-06T22:29:00.005-06:00

Happy New Year! Many people take a moment this time of year to think about "what's next," so I thought it would be appropriate to write a quick entry into the old blogosphere. I hope your 2010 is a great one and your adventures are exciting. So put together your list of what's next and start knocking them off.

As for me, I don't need any help building lists, but rather on the focusing and execution of the lists. So the next few weeks I am going to update the list, work with the WND team to make a Life List and a 2010 List. Hopefully by adding a list with a date stamp on it, it will help with the focus and the execution.

In addition, I am going to start incorporating other people in my goals. I always intended for many of these things to be done with friends and family, I am just going to make it more obvious.

Lastly, as we welcome in 2010, I want to take a quick look back at 2009. Although I was not the best blogger (averaging only 2 per month), it was a monumental year in What's Next Dave World.

Admitted Tri Addiction and Hired a Tri Coach
Did a Half Ironman
Did an Olympic Tri in under 2:50
Got Married
Knocked off another state on the quest to 50 (HI, 9 to go)
Learned How to Surf
Had a Surgery on Major Organ
Left the US twice
And signed up for a race on his new wife's next birthday (Keep it classy Dave)

All and all, a pretty terrific year for me, highlighted by the fact Melissa agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. A lucky guy indeed.

So here's to your 2010. Make it memorable. Make it a good one.

Auld Lang Syne as I heard it to bring in 2010 from our good friends Umphrey's McGee at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

Busy Summer Happenings

2009-11-09T19:58:00.008-06:00

Hey strange web world...

Over the next few weeks I have some time off of work and I plan to do some more posting. For the time being, here are a few photos from my "A" race this fall:

Thus, WhatsNextDave Gal is now Mrs. WhatsNextDave.

Here are a few more photos. Thanks to Michael Rastall for his great talent.

Welcome Back to Wrigleyville Mr. Ricketts

2009-11-04T20:14:00.001-06:00

What's that I smell? Is it hope?

Good interview. He is probably right about the family stuff. Wrigleyville is a great place for a 22 year old, but I have seen a number of awkward situations with kids at Wrigley.

I like the discussion of player development. I think that is something the Cubs have literally traded away over the last 10 years.

So Mr. Ricketts, you are saying the right things, but of course you are. Let's see what it means for the north sides favorite ballplayers.

Triathlon Swimming... LA or Chicago?

2009-11-03T18:55:00.002-06:00

This is from the LA Triathlon this year. As I am still working on my swimming, I am please old lake Michigan doesn't get rolling like this (in the months I would think about getting in it.

In related news... for you swimmers on the west coast, this was off Sunset Blvd a few weeks ago:

Link of HUGE Shark jumping out of water

Sure, the water is only really good for swimming 5 months a year here, but I don't have to worry about that guy swimming at Ohio Street Beach.

Lastly, in cool news, my boys from Umphrey's McGee were featured in The Toilet Paper on Sunday. I guess they have really made it.

You Talk'n to Me?

2009-09-03T17:34:00.003-05:00

3 days 20 Minutes.

2009-09-02T14:06:00.004-05:00

I have been a little chilly the last few nights coming home, so I grabbed the ND pullover today leaving the house. As I did so I whissled the first couple of notes of the Victory March, like at the beginning of the game after the band is on the field and the announcer is introducing the band and the director, etc.

da, da, da, daaa, daaaaa, da ,da

"Oh no," says Melissa.

"Oh yes."

[Sigh]

"Hey hon, you know what we need to do on Thursday?" I ask the pre-wife.

"No," she says mentally running through our wedding to do list.

"Do you know what week it is?"

"Football week."

"Yes! But specifically..."

"Notre Dame football week."

"Right honey, so what do we need to do on Notre Dame football week?

"Take our meds?"

"No. Think pregame night time activities."

"Drink beer?"

"We can do this while drinking beer."

"Oh, We watch Rudy," she said proudly.

"Yes we do."

For all the info on Notre Dame's Season Opener, Click Here.

Focusing on My Mistress - Goals for 2009

2009-05-23T08:37:00.006-05:00

Hello from the land of ice, beer, and hockey, that's right I am celebrating Memorial Day weekend like any good American, in Canada. WND Gal and I are up her visiting her aunt and uncle and cousins. Not too different from last Memorial Day weekend when we almost made it to Canada visiting my relatives.

Now, let's get to business. This blog and my WND life had been lacking focus recently. Excuses are both plenty and worthless. It's time to kick it into high gear.

Case-in-point was the annual JP Morgan Chase and Co Corporate Challenge 3.5 mile race Thursday night. You might remember last year I ran a sub 7 minute mile race, but held back a bit because it was only two days before the Bayshore Half Marathon. So I thought this year I could hold a 7 minute pace.

That worked for about a mile and a half, at which point I cramped up in my shoulder and my neck. Very odd, and not much fun. Anyway, I ended up running about a 7:40 pace, which was a full minute slower than last year. In all honesty, that is probably about what type of running shape I am in. I have not been nearly as consistant running as one needs to be to advance his base.

So let talk goals.
This summer is all triathlons all the time. I have referenced my cyberfriend Donald's great post on about his marriage to marathon running and his mistresses of triathlons before, and without a doubt I feel I am on a tryst this summer with the tri's. Last year I think I burned out a bit. I started my running very early in the year, and my training was unfocused while I was trying to do too many types of events (tri, martathoning, and that crazy idea of mountain racing). I think all the ideas where good, but it was just too much to train properly for them.

So I am focused on triathlons. The "A" race is the 2009 Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon August 1 in Benton Harbor MI. It is the big Ironman branded half IM in the area. The choice was that one or one in Racine WI. I decided to go for the bigger race, and one where the run was not 100% in the sun.

"B" races are the Olympic distanced Chicago Triathlon (late August) and maybe the Hy-Vee Triathlon (late June). "C" events will include the Udder Century Ride June 7 and a few running races.

How does this fit into The List?
There is the whole Ironman thingy. I am probably looking at the summer of 2011 for that. I also hope to cross off a couple other things off the list this summer too, first on that list is getting married (Sept 26, if WND Gal doesn't leave me due to too much commitment to my mistress the triathlon). Hopefully I can do a few other things too, I feel kind of ambitious.

Notes:

I am excited to be blogging again. I hope I can keep it up. Work has been kind of a bear and the wedding has added some stuff to the schedule, but summer is a good time to write. Everything seems brighter.
Happy Conrades weekend. I think I will write a post about this fantastic sounding ultra race in South Africa. This year 12,000 people are running it!
I am bikeless in Toronto this weekend. It is strange not to be riding today, but I am about to take off for a run. Hopefully we will have some good photos to post when I return.
Congratulations to my NYC blogging friends (link and link). They both had pretty good races in the last few weeks, so much so they inspired me to look into their training methods. More on that later.

A Good Post on Open Water Swimming

2009-05-18T12:27:00.001-05:00

In honor of all the cold water swimmers in Galena over last weekend, here is a good article on how to improve your open water swimming:

Triathlon skills: how to improve your open-water swimming

The Gift of a Nice Run

2009-04-24T17:37:00.004-05:00

The quote of the day from Runners World:

"Running is a gift I give myself almost every day. Even on those days when things haven't gone great, I can come home and give myself the accomplishment of a 30- or 40-minute run."

ARTHUR BLANK

With the weather finally turning here in Chicago, I can appreciate this a little more. I am going to try to give myself that gift after work today. Nothing too crazy though. Tomorrow is The Race to Wrigley. Let's hope WND Gal has a little better race than last year.

Hottest Tri Ever? Ironman China

2009-04-24T15:08:00.003-05:00

Blogging is fun, but reading race blogs from elite level athletes is fun too. For example, this story from Chris McCormack about his experience doing the Ironman 70.3 China is crazy. I have run marathons when I was hot, but it was NOTHING near 120 degrees. It's a good read.

Ironman 70.3 China - Toughest Triathlon Day of my career

Also, just picked up the new Triathlete Magazine last night. In it, it talks about qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Kona. Yeah, right. I used to think the only way I could get there is by winning the lottery to get in (there is one). Now, I have found there is another way. It only cost $10,000. See the article here.

Happy Boston Marathon Day!

2009-04-20T08:59:00.002-05:00

The Granddaddy of Them All. . . The Boston Marathon is today, and all the news is how Boston Billy, Bill Rodgers who won in 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1980 is running it again, and how he thinks there are some Americans who might be competetive this year.

26 more miles for Boston Billy

Boston Marathon Champ Bill Rodgers Sees U.S. Runners Winning

Ryan Hall dishes on tapering, the Boston Marathon and Chicago

Good Run in Des Moines

2009-04-19T22:20:00.002-05:00

I joined the family in Des Moines for my mother's birthday party. It was another great Iowa weekend. The weather was warmer, I got a great run in on Saturday, and saw some good friends, and enjoyed great family time.

Here was the run:

I took off from my parents house and took the back roads down to the old location of Raccoon Valley Little League. This is where I played 12 summers worth of baseball. It has since been moved because it was in the middle of a flood zone and didn't make it back after the floods in 1993. It's now part of water works park and they have a nice little disc golf course there. It was strange running through there as I couldn't even place where the different fields where.

The whole run was enjoyable. I enjoyed the expanded bike path and was pleasantly surprised by all the flowers on the route.

Quick note: Tomorrow is Patriot Day. I am looking forward to seeing how my good buddy Ryan Hall does in the Boston Marathon.

Thank God for Baseball Season

2009-04-17T11:18:00.002-05:00

Soccer just isn't cutting it. Case-and-point: Funniest German Video Ever

Breaking News from the Cubs

2009-04-14T10:52:00.000-05:00

Cubs To Continue Tradition Of Playing Baseball

Why I Love Baseball

2009-04-13T10:45:00.004-05:00

Fun
Pronunciation: \ˈfən\; Function: noun
Etymology: English dialect fun to hoax, perhaps alteration of Middle English fonnen, from fonne dupe
Date:1727

Definition: 1. When men can act like boys and it's not only ok, but exceptional.

Use in a Video: Johan Santana of the Mets (a starting pitcher non-the-less), with an unique, personalized handshake for each one of his teammates before his start.

Yes, I will continue blogging about endurance stuff at some point, but I am in a baseball mood today.

Newest Lance Armstrong Interweb Report

2009-04-13T10:28:00.002-05:00

He Tweets, He blogs, He videoblogs. He breaks his collarbone and rides the next week, He pisses off the French. Yes, Lance Armstrong is a Superman.

Love him or hate him, here Lance Armstrong's latest video message to all of his virtual peeps:

Lance Video

Cubs Home Opener... And I am at Work

2009-04-13T10:12:00.004-05:00

I haven't missed an opening day since I have moved to Chicago, until today. But it's raining, so I might miss the home opener tomorrow. Either way I couldn't be more dissappointed in the whole situation and still consider myself an adult.

In other Cubs related news:

Goat's head found outside Wrigley Field
April 13, 2009 4:50 AM
A new Cubs season, a new attempt to lift the curse.

A goat's head was found on the Harry Caray statue outside Wrigley Field early this morning. Police said they were treating the whole thing as a prank and didn't intend to pursue an investigation. The same thing happened two years ago, they said.

This morning I listened to WXRT radio do their annual deal from Yak-Zies on Clark. It isn't the same as starting off there and then heading over to Murphy's, then to the bleachers to sit through some crappy weather to watch the Cubs.

Some people find sitting in 40 degree rain miserable, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Maybe this will be the year, and maybe it won't, but either way I will be watching from start to finish. I am back. I am on-board and strapped-in for another 164 games of the Cubs Roller Coaster ride.

God Help Me, and God Bless the Chicago National League Baseball Club.

GO CUBS!