Oh Austin! How I miss thee! (Uh, the city)

First off, I road 1.5 hours on the trainer yesterday afternoon, but did not get in the 30 min. run I'd hoped for. I did, however, go bowling, which was fun. And instead of doing homework...again...I'm thinking of how much I miss and love Austin, TX.

When (if) I graduate on May 9, I will make a stop in Kansas to visit Resie's family for a bit, then we are headed to home sweet home! I'm hoping that RunTex (the world's greatest running store) will have room for me once again. I enjoy working there and getting to help people find shoes that will get them out and running and staying fit. That place is a great place to work, with some of the most underrated staff I've ever been around (http://www.runtex.com/). Anyone working there knows there stuff. Mr. Justin Gabriel (An Austin legend) trained me himself. Not to mention one of the most widely known runners in Austin's great running history Bernard Manirakiza. I love talkin' crap with that guy even though I've only beat him once! haha

Then there are the guys at Jack and Adam's Bicycles. I have to give credit where credit is due...these guys got me into triathlon. I went to watch the CapTexTri in 2005 and met Adam Reiser who told me that I could be a great triathlete. Then I started following triathlon and the Ironman where I watched Desiree Ficker take 2nd in 2006 and thought she was just amazing.

Quick side story... Thank God she'll never read this blog, cause the first time I met Ms. Ficker I was racing her at the SkirtChaser 5k (shout out to http://www.skirtsports.com/ and the DeBoom's...great people). I went to introduce myself and she was like "I know who you are...and I just hope you finish 2nd so I can win the money" then she shook my hand. Of course, I stayed cocky and told her I wasn't gonna let that happen. Just as soon as she turned to leave I looked at my buddy and roommate at the time Justin Litchfield and said, "Oh my God, Desiree Ficker knows who I am!!) Again, I'm so very glad she'll never read this blog, haha. Anyway, good times.

Back to Jack and Adam's. Jack has taken care of me since I showed up in Austin thinking I was going to rule the triathlon world. An avid athlete himself at one time, he always let's me know how things are and tries to bring me into the real world, which is awfully hard to do. Not only that, but the people that work at J & A put up with my cocky attitude and lack of bike maintenance knowledge on a constant basis. (they draw the line at changing a tire, 'cause if you can't change a tire, you need not ride a bike...no really)

And finally, there is the beautiful people there in Austin. Not just beautiful in looks (though there are some awfully pretty people there), but just great, supportive, knowledgeable teams of people. For instance, the people at T3 (http://www.austint3.com/), a great triathlon team with great coaches and support, Dr. A.J. Zelinski and his staff at Advanced Rehabilitation (http://www.atxrehab.com/) have helped keep my body together with all of the crap I do to it, like breaking a collar bone, and finally the infinite knowledge of the guys at Source Endurance (http://www.source-e.net/), though I am easily the most uncoachable and inconsistent athlete on the planet, Derrick Williamson, Dave Wenger, and all of the people at source endurance have continued to help me hone my skills and use cutting edge technology to get the most out of the physiology that I have.

I am truly blessed to know all of these people and consider them friends of mine. The one wish I have ever had is the ability to be able to pay them back for all of the support they give me.

Thank you Austin!

Anyway, I'm off to class, then more homework that I keep putting off ;)

hasta!

Yorek

P.S. I know that this post looks like a huge commercial, but I am completely honest in everything that I say. I would not be the athlete I am today if not for the places and people that I know in Austin, TX. Honest truth.