Grandpa Teaser

Training for an Ironman is a very selfish endeavor. I had absolutely no idea that the training required for an Ironman would absolutely consume every aspect of my life. I have virtually zero time for anything other than working, training, eating, and sleeping. I train every single day of the week -- usually twice a day, requiring me to wake up around 5:00 am 4-5 times a week. I try to go to bed by 9:30, but even then I don't get enough sleep. I'm always tired and my body always hurts. I never see or talk to friends and the only time I see my family is when I'm mooching a nice home cooked meal. Basically my social life is nonexistent. Weekends disappear with 7 hour bike rides and training races. But it will be worth it in the end -- or so I keep telling myself.


In an effort to make this less about me and more about what's really important in life -- doing tiny decent things -- I signed up for a charity athlete program to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Although I don't always FEEL lucky after a 7 hour hour workout, I know that I am very lucky to be healthy enough to even be able to train and compete at the level required for an Ironman event.


I have completed three marathons (Cincinnati '02; Chicago '08; Boston'09) and always wanted to be part of a charity runner program, but decided to wait until I did the Ironman because I absolutely HATE asking people for money. My timing is impeccable -- with the current state of the economy I couldn't have picked a better time to ask for your money. But I'm going to do it anyway.


My Grandpa Gene, or Grandpa Teaser as I called him when I was little, passed away from pancreatic cancer on December 26, 2005. I miss my grandpa very much. He was diagnosed very soon after returning home from my law school graduation. I'm so grateful that he was in Bloomington to see me graduate -- I have very fond memories of that weekend.

When I think of my grandpa I picture myself waiting patiently beside his bar watching him make Shirley Temples with lots of cherries --they always tasted better when grandpa made them. He also taught me to play golf (his sport of choice), and we played many heated games of hand and foot. Grandpa didn't like to lose. He had an absolutely contagious laugh, and he loved his family more than anything in the world.


Grandpa Gene recognized my passion for running and competing. In high school and college he would often send me newspaper clippings from his local paper about exceptional runners in the area and write encouraging notes before big meets. It meant alot to me that he took an interest in something that he knew was a passion of mine. I know he would be proud that I'm training for an Ironman and would want to hear all about it. I am going to do my very best to make him proud on August 30.

Cancer has also had a profound effect on me through my best friend Amanda. Amanda's mom has been living with brain cancer since 1986 and she went into a nursing home when Amanda was 18. I am in awe of how strong Amanda is and what she has accomplished and I wish that her mother could have seen her oral argument at the moot court finals, graduate magna cum laude, and run the Chicago marathon. I can't imagine being without my mom during such important life events. The fact that Amanda's mom has lived with brain cancer for 23 years is a miracle and her story is an inspiration.


Please help support more than just my dream to become an Ironman -- help me to make a positive change in the lives of others. Everyone deserves a chance to lead a happy, healthy, cancer-free life. Please make a donation to the American Cancer Society.



Please visit my Janus Challenge webpage to make tax deductible donation:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=296230&lis=1&kntae296230=9D79D7419E32434B8A76C04BDF1D56C5&supId=258884510