rjredstrom

I started training for and participating in triathlons in 2007. I am an ex-smoker and quit a little over a year ago because as I was training for a race and was hitting a fitness level wall......imagine that? Maybe it was the smoking!!! It just didn't fit with swimming, biking, and running so it had to go......thank goodness! I have several close friends and family members who have survived a diagnosis of cancer and really hate the disease! Heck, two vets have tried to diagnosis my dog (a beagle named Porkchop) with cancer and he keeps passing all the tests while sporting his yellow Livestrong collar and leash!

Finding the sport of triathlons and the multisport lifestyle has been a true blessing in my life. As a youth I played every sport possible and was a pretty good athlete up through high school with a rugby stint in college. But - as an adult with continued studies, career stress, divorce, a house fire, and a few other life experiences (and excuses) not uncommon to many of us, I veered away from my healthy past.

In August of 2005, frustrated at work and trying to bounce back from a divorce, I dove back into the gym and just worked out all the time. I was a robotic gym rat, knowing that if I just kept working hard, a happy and joyous life would soon return. It finally started to happen as I began to crawl out of myself but was getting stagnant with just lifting weights all the time. I added some cardio, mostly running, but quickly became bored with the running. I had run off and on for most of my life anyway; it just didn't float my boat. I thought about cycling but felt it might soon grow boring as well. I thought about swimming as I had some great experiences in competitive swimming as a kid but just couldn't see myself swimming all the time......especially since Winter was approaching. Then out of nowhere - Voila!! Triathlons popped into my head and that didn't sound boring and seemed extremely challenging. Besides that, I didn't know a single person who did them, trained for them, etc... and that made it even more appealing; new, adventureous.

Only problem again, it was Winter! I scratched that itch by going skiing for the first time in my life and loved it which really quenched my thirst and fueled my spirit for the attempt at a triathlon. I scoured the internet, learned as much as I could, talked to cycling folks at the bike shops and I swear I got hooked just learning, training, and preparing for the 1st race. Over the past couple years I have really taken to the sport. At the same time my life became brighter than it ever has, my career has become very fulfilling and opened up some great advancement and leadership opportunities. My health is fantastic and I have regained the competitive juices and endorhins I so enjoyed as a younger athlete.

My stepfather has defeated prostate cancer. Another very close friend has defeated breast cancer and while I don't see as many yellow bracelets as I used to, I can't ever seem to find a good reason to remove mine and still give them to others.

Life is good!