DO WORK

Everything! For one...I have the blog back up and working! Just a couple mods that required a bit of attention....

New job and a new life to boot...and guess what...I couldn't be in a better place right now! I wouldn't trade my life for anything right now. Thank you to everyone who has made my life what it is today. Everyone who lent a hand, leant advice or even an ear! Wow...what a life change.

On the training front...just scaled back from what I used to do. Not a big adjustment, maybe 7-10 hours a week for now. I manage to get to the gym every day either for a run, spin or weights...sometimes all three. Have yet to swim but that will come in due time. Someday it's just an hour and others like today, it's 3. Today...I actually sat on the trainer for an hour, ran on the treadmill for an hour and then a series of free weights. Have to say...it sure feels great to workout like I do now. I actually look forward to my gym work. It's a place where I get away from the daily grind and cut loose.

On the business front. I've been hit in every direction regarding advice on business, marketing, finances, and yes...fitness too. I called the Yahoo-Microsoft bid last week after Yahoo missed earnings. Was a good move and for those who were in at 18-20 dollars a share made a small fortune depending on how much you owned.

As for other business endeavors. Well, there's plenty of work coming my way...not to mention the occasional business venture I've decided to tie myself into. Now if you can possibly imagine....take the same sort of aspiration and drive I had for triathlon...and imagine that in my professional life. Needless to say, I've found myself right at home with no lack of boredom. Every day is a treat. Whether it be my affiliations in the sport of Triathlon, small business consulting (i.e. - web development, or even marketing) and of course...my bread and butter 9-5 job...let's just say I've got plenty on the table.

Looking back over the past 5 years of my life...I never thought my approach in the triathlon would pay such a bid dividend in the end. The self marketing approach I took to the sport, the aggressiveness and intensity I placed in my training, my ambition....everything! In the end...I wouldn't change one thing! It made me who I am today. All-in-all, it was the best learning experience of my life...

For those who are interested...I will be making some sort of change to my website over the next month, so be on the lookout for that. It just needs a little different prospective to it, maybe a just a small makeover. Colors, menus, drop down tabs...normal stuff. Oh yeah...that would be a big reason for the photo change on the home page. It will be a progress...and still pondering what direction I want to take.

As for my blog, I will still speak about the sport and fitness...but will move a lot of my talks to that of a business mindset. Finances, consulting, even athlete marketing and how to attain sponsorships. It still baffles me how many athletes pursue sponsorship the wrong way. How to give back to a company, how to get ahead, and how to survive as an elite athlete...all very hard for most athletes out there. I see so many talented athletes starving when they should be reaping the rewards as branded athletes.

I will also offer myself up to consulting, which is what I seem to be getting a lot of request for these days. I have someone who has taken up a vested interest in my thoughts and opinions. While I haven't signed on any dotted line just yet...I am thinking long and hard about where to spend my energy. The consensus is to capitalize on what I know and may possible provide...from the athlete level, the ecommerce-small business individual or even the investor.

For now, there just seems to be a lot to think about and a never endless sea of opportunity. Something I am extremely thankful for. I honestly think the best thing about all this good fortune, is I have had such an amazing response from the triathlon community. Opportunites to work with some of the best companies the sport has in it. The roles I have been asked to take, the jobs I have been presented...I couldn't be more proud to accept! Being able to give back to the sport is something I am very passionate about and hold true to my heart. This is something I will continue to pursue as long as I can, and as long as people and companies search for my thoughts...

More to come...

Mg

Well, it's been some time since I've updated the site. I suppose it might have to do with where I am in my life right now...or maybe I just needed some space from the sport (Triathlon).

I haven't done very much in the realm of "Surf the Internet" for Triathlon related topics, keep up with my friends blog, keep up with my own blog or anything related to all the above. I couldn't tell you what's being said on Slow "Bitch" or what new article has or has not come out...etc, etc.

A friend of mine once told me that when I removed myself from the sport a bit...I would see how wrapped up people become and how how silly all the this/intensity really is. In all honesty...I can actually see this now. What are we really doing out there? We race, we train and that's about it. To take it to such extremes, to become so obsessed or so focused on one thing...I think we sacrifice the sports purity as well as take away what the sport is all about.

Oh...and the hatred people have for others in this sport who "have" or "have not" had success makes me sick. I should know...as I have been the brute of several conversations...both good and hateful. I constantly hear gossip, about this or that. Who's won, who's doing better. How they shouldn't have won because there wasn't any compitition or they might be on drugs. It's like...if it's not you the athlete, then why care about anyone else. Why not bash or play down someone's hard work.

I truly believe Triathletes in general, are very insecure athletes. With this sort of personality...I think it is only natural to belittle someones accomplishments or downplay anothers role in the sport, only to make yourself feel better. In the end...it is a very tastless thing and have no desire to be apart of the gossip anymore...another reason I have removed myself from the message boards and the inner circle gossip.

What I have done is put myself omongst good hearted-positive people. Athletes and businessman who look at the good in the sport and take life by the horns...not by the reigns. People looking to lead and refuse to sit 5-10 deep in the pack. Those who do not talk or gossip about anothers progress, failures...or anything to the contrary are the people who you can trust!

One of my favorite quotes is "The people you choose to keep around you says a lot about you as an individual"

I think over the past 4 years I've learned countless things that help me in Sport as well as Life. In the beginning...I was about as intense as you could get. Now...I keep the intensity, but with a much more reserved approach. I've listed a couple things below I've taken with me through this journey.

• Training is training....you do what you body will allow and nothing more.
• You push your limitations when you can... Your body will let you know when it's time.
• You don't over think your competition. This sport is an individual sport. For most athlete athletes...99% of the field...You will not be able to race the person next to you! You both have different levels of fitness. You both train different...and in the end...the person conditioned at the highest level for the given distance will be the one who wins the race... That's it!
• One of the most important things to remember is your time...and something I hear every day. If your an 11 hour Ironman...you won't suddenly jump to 10:15 come race day. Your training will let you know where you are...and just becuase you can run a 3 hour marathon...doesn't mean you can even touch 3:30 after an hour in the water or 5.5 hours on the bike. Different beast yeild different results. Get it together people. You should know how fast your going to go at Ironman give or take 15 minutes in either direction...depending on how your day roles.
• I honestly think I had more fun and progressed as an athlete when I become less structured and did what my body told me to do. I assessed each day when I woke up...NOT THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND CERTAINLY NOT A WEEK OR MONTH AHEAD OF TIME. I think this had to do with my guidence and coaching leading up to this point. I did not develope this sense of feel overnight.
• Coaches are essential to progression in an amateur athlete. I think veteran athletes turned coaches can lend valuable information that will help guide a novice athlete into a better, more well rounded competitor-triathlete.
• Experienced triathletes looking for cross collaboration will benefit from having a mentor as well. Someone to bounce ideas off of and help make things more simplified. Over thinking things is a big issue with Type A personalities. Having a second ear to shed light on situations and future plans helps bring some of the things outlined above to light.

Bottom line....we forget how special the sport and life really are. We forget whats important in life when we wrap ourselves up in something so tight...we cannot see the light immediately outside the box we have put ourselves into.

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On a personal note....

I was put in a tough position not so long ago. Being an aggressive and passionate person...I took control over my situation and made things work in my favor. I'm not one to lie down when things get tough, but stand up stronger than I actually am, and make strides that yield positive results.

My mindset has been "A Man Makes His Own Way...Nobody Gives It To You...You Have To Take It!

On that note....Yours truly has gone back to work in the professional industry. I did take a part-time marketing job with Canon but have since moved over to a new position I will speak of later on down the road.

As the ones close to me know...this move was made for both financial and personal reasons. My life really changed overnight. Back into a suit and out of race clothing has been a big change.

What was the most interesting....was finding out who my true friends were vs. those who were pass-through acquaintances. I receive over 60 unique IP addresses a day to my website and blog... That is THE AVERAGE. The site itself receives over 1100 average hits a day. Of those 2000 or so people who visit my site on a monthly basis....it was very interesting to see who cared to reach out and who did not. I was very surprised at who came forward and who sat back.

To those people who did...I appreciate all the kind words and even though I didn't get back all of you...please know that your words and thoughts were with me at all times.

Back to my life...

Well, lets see....I bought a new car, updated my entire wardrobe, moved into a new place, bought my first LCD TV...a nice little 40 inch...and even got a Sony PlayStation 3 to watch Blue Ray movies on. Needless to say...it has been an interesting process...completely different priorities than those I carried just 3 months back.

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I have also started a web design studio / business for athletes and coaches. Currently I am working on a few commissioned websites that range anywhere from $1500 - $3500 per site depending on the complexity of the project. I focus on one at a time and pay close attention to detail. Things have been nice on this front. I retain all creative design and each site maintains it's own unique and feel separate from another.

My current project is http://www.vo2multisport.com/, an established coaching business lead by Ben Bigglestone out of Seattle, Washington. The site will be done over the next couple weeks and am very excited to see it's progression.

Before that...I worked with Espen Kateraas http://www.espenusa.com/, an Elite Triathlete out of Washington D.C. His desire with this site was to bring his passion for the sport into the lives of others he could not directly impact. He is a very passionate person who will do much good in our ever growing industry. The site also helps him market himself along with his direct sponsors who power his life in triathlon.

I am very selective with who I work with, as the client-business relationship is just as important to me as building the website itself. The clients I have worked with thus far have been a true pleasure to do business with. They range from up and coming athletes to coaches. I have worked on a few business sites, but my services lately have been retained more for the athlete and not the businessman.

If you would like to speak with me regarding website development...please feel free to contact me at your convenience through the e-mail link provided on my site or at mark@markgingrich.com.

I should have my Website Studio up and live during the first quarter of next year. Company name to come later.

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To all my friends and family... I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.

I haven't spoken to many of you lately because I have been so busy. Please do not take my lack of communication personally. Only know that things are going extremely well here in my life and I am making positives strides aimed at bringing my life to a secure and successful front.

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On another note...I've been watching a bit of football today. Colts and the Texans are playing right now. Rooting for the Colts in case anyone cared to know...HA! Favorite teams are of course the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.

The playoffs are coming up soon and if Mr. Tony (I'm attracted to blonde distractions) Romo can keep his girlfriends away from the field come game time...I'll think we have a good shot during the playoffs. If Jerry Jones didn't smack Mr. Romo in the head last weekend...someone needs to talk to Mr. Jerry. How much did he pay Romo? 65 million...whew!

Oh...and games are so "night and day" when viewed from an HDTV vs. the old way. Whew...I'll never go back...

Again...all the best and we'll speak with you soon.

Oh, one more thing....I'm not leaving the sport....only accepting I will be an amateur the rest of my life....A VERY GOOD ONE! So look out...I'm no where near finished!

Mg

Things have been a little different since I returned home. Won't go into to much detail but I have come to a big realization in life! A very good friend...Pete Chan, helped me figure a lot of these things out. I want to say "Thank You" to him as our talks have been invaluable to my life and pending success going forward.

I also want to say "Thank You" to Espen Kateraas as he too helped me a great deal during a very hard time in my life. I think after talking with him, 4 days after I returned from Florida....he helped me straighten a few things out in my head.

Most of you have no idea what I am talking about....others know every intimate detail about what happened to me over the past couple weeks and all that I have had to overcome. In the end...I think my character will grow stronger and I will become a better person having been through it.

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Back to the "Real World" is what I like to call it. Making preparations for next season and my life in general.

I've been doing a bit of updating on my site and my blog...as you can see if you look around. Yet all this has taken a back seat to the work I have been doing for others. Busy, busy, busy!!!

A couple websites you should venture too if you get a bit of time on your hands are the newly created www.espenusa.com and www.joeymcelhaney.com. Espen is a very talented athlete as well as a very close friend! Almost like a brother...We met down in Austin during the Longhorn Triathlon and have been tight ever since. As if doing battle down in Tejas wasn't enough...Espen met me out in Panama City Beach for Ironman Florida. I think we're planning another go-around for next year!

Good friend Joey is getting a bit of a make-over...couple changes (aesthetics). Needed to make it a little sharper and a tad more crisp. Still not completely done but none-the-less...it's shaping up very nicely! I'm always updating sites I work on... With the times changing...sometimes websites need to grow too!

Joey will be racing The White Rock Marathon here in Dallas next weekend with a good friend of ours, Adam Wilk. Both will be racing hard but with two different goals in mind. I think Joey is looking for the experience to take to Ironman Kentucky and Adam is looking to add a sub 3 hour marathon to his ever growing resume. I've been talking to Joey about taking his trainer to the race and getting in the saddle for a couple hours before the race starts. Good luck to both of you!

The other fellas I have added to the list are Cliff Scherb who completed "The Double" down in Florida with me, Rob Chance who I have raced on more than one occasion (very talented individual, this guy...and a Doctor to boot!)...and last but certainly not least, Joe Bonness who I got to know pretty well down in Florida. All amazing athletes and I'm a better person for having known them.

Anyway...more to come!

To all who read...I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. To everyone who has lent an ear in support of my struggles..."Thank You So Very Much"!

Later...

Mg