CNN FitNation Carlos Solis first training day

When you get a call from CNN you return it. Or probably should. I am sure there are some cases where if you are the bad guy you don't. You keep running from them. Well Carlos Solis is one of the good guys and he is running for them. In fact ran his first timed mile in 30 years. In a very respectable 13:24. When asked he guessed he would run a 20 minute mile. He will be running sub 12 in the not too distant future with proper training.


And knocking off more time as training continues. That is one small aspect of my job here.
Carlos is a type 2 diabetic. Other complications can result from this condition if neglected and/or not treated properly. Exercise, diet and lifestyle are his triathlon right now. He will be joining 5 others from around the country to compete in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon next September. All along CNN following his journey. Dr. Sanjay Gupta plays a role in this and has his CNN health show on the weekends. Have a look at some of the videos from the newly chosen candidates(soon to be athletes) on CNN's FitNation page found on their front page. They just may have an effect on you. Did me. We have a long journey ahead. No journey I am not familiar with. Keep it up Carlos. You rocked today.

Meet CNN's Fit Nation triathlete: Carlos Solis

I am honored to present Carlos Solis. He is a member of CNN's 2012 Fit Nation Triathlon Team. Six individuals out of several thousand around the country to have been chosen for their Fitness Nation "Six Pack" Triathlon Team whom will all embark on a new and healthy triathlete-like lifestyle.Quick note: Carlos is a type 2 diabetic. He is also a 5th grade teacher in nearby Ontario. He is aiming to improve his health by activity and lifestyle. The Celebrity Malibu Triathlon is the destination. Training for that destination is the journey. Check out their personal intro videos they sent to CNN Fit Nation as an application for this much sought opportunity. They are very touching. Very real.
CNN contacted me today via a head hunter by the name of Gary McMurtrey. A few email exchanges turned into a full conference call interview and I guess it was meant to be. I am honored and equally excited to accept the job offered coaching Carlos Solis as he enters his newly acquired multi sport life. You will meet Carlos around here. He will be training with LavaRacing for the next 8 months. Or more. Welcome Carlos. You are in for a great ride! That I can assure you.

Triathlon Clinic next week!

Next weekend will be exactly one year since Jodi and I competed the ITU race on the tiny island off Honduras of Roatan. A big race in a small place where many aspiring and hopeful future Olympians were in appearance from several different countries trying to shag points in hopes of making the team. So many great memories and I remember them all as if yesterday. The pizza box Corey lent me and called it a bike carrier. Thumbing it to the town from the airport (with huge like pizza boxes). Racing on a never before ridden(by me)one-size-too big/compact cranked/ 25mm tires/ overly demo-ed Kona bicycle(which by the way treated quite well). The awesome clear blue coral reef visual warm water one mile swim. The bike was the hilliest 40K course I have ever raced on. And then chasing down the two overly carbon-ed bike ridden competitors in my age group on the run. To win. One of my all time trips and experiences. And I have been fortunate and blessed with many over the years.
I just returned from being out of town and computer-less this week. I kinda missed it. Not as much as my wife, Roxy and my bikes, but missed it none the less.
One of my first email's opened was from one of the longest running and successful race directors in the country. Inquiring on if I would be interested in leading a two day dish of camp. He is offering an "A" camp and a "B" camp. Has advertised as the "A" camp for podium chasing competitors which he would like me to coordinate and lead.
Almost exactly one year ago consisted of racing, scuba diving and lounging on a tiny island off Honduras. This year? Looks like I'm working and doing what I love to do again. May not be as warm and tropical. But still cool none the less.

Rest up "A" listers!!!!

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April Xterra Southwest Championships @ Lake Las Vegas

I pulled the trigger. Signed up for Xterra SW Championships. This pic is from just last week training out in our desert place. The similarities between here and the course out in Lake Las Vegas are crazy alike. Steep, gnarley loose and shaky desert-rock-scattered everywhere. I trained and raced the Vegas venue 2 years ago just as I am now. The difference now of course I am riding a 29er. The tracking, handling, confidence, etc., are second to none. Faster times are pretty much a given. The only problem is everyone else is on the 29er train now

Rudy Garcia-Tolson

Rudy Garcia Tolson is an Olympian. Gold medalist at that. With no legs. He will be returning to the Olympics again and has been training at the Olympic Training Center in Boulder, CO all season.
He is also an Ironman. With no legs.Yes he has competed and completed the Ironman distance. On this day he and I are putting in long, hot, windy and desolate miles out in the desert preparing him for the 2009 big dance of Ironman World Championships in Kona. Kona is thee ultimate dance. I was spreading the aloha riding a Kona bicycle on this training day (carbon King Zing). Rudy has a big heart. A braveheart. He is now getting some of the good returns of his hard and disciplined efforts. You will be seeing more of this kid. And one can never forget: It was Terry Martin whom scooped this kid from the nest and taught him how to fly...............................

United States Triathlon Team

Cool. I guess. Kinda. But I don't really weigh into it much. The 2011 Divisional age group Team All American list has been sent out and my name is on there. They claim the top 2% in the country qualify for Team All American status so guess I did something right. Will I race at the U.S. Nationals or Worlds Age Group Championships in 2012? Nope. Not on the road anyway. But a World Championship competition sounds for whatever reason better in 2012 than it did in 2011. And since we train 90% off road......
My personal focus will be Xterra. The down and dirty off road and pretty gnarley big boy competition. And if I qualify for World Championships it's held on a beautiful island. I have competed on the south side a handful of times. Even managed to shag an age group World Title there. They now have moved the race to the still(and maybe more) beautiful North side of Kanapali. I like racing new venues.
Bumped into a buddy of mine at the 99cent store a few days ago. Scott will have run every Rock and Roll Marathon in the states, in one year, finishing with Phoenix in a few weeks. He inquired on my plans for 2012. I told him I was hungry for some big races. The Xterra Series culminating with World Championships in Hawaii next October for the big show.

"Cool Dave. You miss Xterra. Xterra misses you. Go see what you can do" (thanx Scott:)

2012. To a blessed New Year to all.

2011 is done. The majority of people I know believe 2012 will bring good things. Myself included. If it works for you I wish a personally successful active year. I have been fortunate to have enjoyed this multi sport lifestyle for many decades. It has been very good to me. Physically, spiritually and emotionally. Of course I have my trying times of hardship, loss, sadness. I thank God I have Him (or Her) to help me walk(or run, bike, surf, etc.) through it.
I have my own personal goals for 2012. Stay connected. Spiritually to that higher power that has miraculously allowed me to get this far. Physically to continue to rock and roll. Party like a rock star. On the bike. On the run. In the water.
Life is short. Take care of yourself. And those around you. And if possible maybe even some not so close.. or as fortunate. Make 2012 a great one. Beginning today........