Download or read book Chasing Kona written by Rob Cummins and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2017-12-27 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sitting watching TV with a cigarette in one hand, a black coffee in the other and nursing a crushing hangover I switched channels until I found sports. There was some sort of bike race on and I half watched while lighting another cigarette off the butt of my last one for a minute before switching channels again. Just as I hit the button on the remote the commentator mentioned something about the athletes swimming before and running afterwards as well as racing the bike. I thought he said something about the run being a marathon but that couldn't be right. This sparked my interest and I switched back, but he was talking about something else so I waited for him to get around to describing exactly what this race was. I didn't have long to wait as he said they first did a 2.5 mile swim, then 112 miles on the bike all topped of with running a marathon. I was stunned. I didn't think that would be physicially possible and as I lit another cigarette I wondered how many days did they have to do it. I guessed it would have to be three days. Swim the first day, bike the second and run the third but it still sounded like a crazy thing to do. Then he said that they did it all in the one day, one after another without stopping. I was completely incredulous. And hooked. I remained glued to the TV and learned that these bronzed, muscular Greek God looking athletes weren't all professionals either. There was an amateur or "age group" race as well Although I could hardly tell the difference between the pros and amateurs. They all looked unbelievably fit. As I sat there mesmerised I swore to myself that I'd race there someday. I'd stop smoking and drinking and somehow do "The Ironman" At the time I had no idea what that meant or how I would do it and after a while as things have a way of doing I got busy with life and I forgot all about The Ironman and Hawaii. I forgot until several years later when I had actually given up smoking and had taken up triathlon. It had taken me two years and sixteen races of swimming breast stroke before I learned to swim properly. I never once looked even remotely like Kona material but I wanted to have a go at doing an Ironman. It took another three years before I plucked up the courage and lined up for my first one in Nice, France. I finished in the last quarter of the field, hours behind the athletes racing for those precious Kona slots. Nothing I had done up to then had given any indication that I should have had a reason to believe I had a chance at qualifying, but three years later when I asked Aisling, my wife if she thought it was possible she immediately said yes and then she added let's do it. Aisling's belief in me started us on a journey that led to me treading water on the most iconic start line in triathlon, waiting for the cannon to fire at the start of the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. This is how we overcame all of the odds and discovered what it would take to get to the Ironman World Championships. This is our Kona story.
Download or read book Exploring Winding Roads and Dusty Trails written by Joe Gonzalez and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2019-02-26 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is it that makes a person dream and come up with some of the wildest stories one can dare tell to a husband, wife, friend, or stranger? First of all, are they funny stories or scary stories? Are they stories anyone would dare to believe? Are they stories that ordinary people would really like to hear about or read about? And what in the world created such funny or unbelievable stories? Was it stress, or was it insomnia? Or are we just natural dreamers? My stories probably come to me from having too much time in my hands and thinking too much. The following stories probably came to me as dreams when I was doing a lot of daydreaming back in the seventies. At the time, I was pulling my weight while working at White’s Auto Store warehouse in the small town of Shallowater, Texas. I was a certified forklift driver pulling orders, license, and all. I worked in what was called Area 8. I pulled the big boxed toys, bicycles, and lawn mowers. I also pulled the fertilizer bag orders. Working inside a warehouse had many disadvantages. There was always dust all over the place. The warehouse was always hot in summer and pretty cold in winter. Many times when it was slow, I would let my mind just wander off into oblivion. That’s when my stories were born and began to take shape. Characters and names of characters would pop into my mind out of nowhere.
Download or read book Chasing Greatness written by Barrie Shepley and published by Balboa Press. This book was released on 2022-06-14 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Barrie Shepley’s quest to find greatness in himself and others has been far from a straight line. His job as a professional coach and TV sports commentator has taken him to all corners of the earth where he’s experienced many unexpected twists and turns. The stories that Barrie tells will have you crying, laughing, holding your breath, and, at times, even applauding. His stories are about sport but also about life, love, success, and failure. Whether a sports fan or not, this book carries lessons for us all. Learn about Barrie Shepley and his unforgettable journey from small town roots to the highest level of sport success, but also learn what it means to find the best in yourself along the way.
Download or read book Seeking the Sacred Raven written by Mark Jerome Walters and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2012-09-26 with total page 305 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Will the 'Alala ever return to the wild? A bird sacred to Hawaiians and a member of the raven family, the 'Alala today survives only in captivity. How the species once flourished, how it has been driven to near-extinction, and how people struggled to save it, is the gripping story of Seeking the Sacred Raven. For years, author Mark Jerome Walters has tracked the sacred bird's role in Hawaiian culture and the indomitable 'Alala's sad decline. Trekking through Hawaii's rain forests high on Mauna Loa, talking with biologists, landowners, and government officials, he has woven an epic tale of missed opportunities and the best intentions gone awry. A species that once numbered in the thousands is now limited to about 50 captive birds. Seeking the Sacred Raven is as much about people and culture as it is about failed policies. From the ancient Polynesians who first settled the island, to Captain Cook in the 18th century, to would-be saviors of the 'Alala in the 1990s, individuals with conflicting passions and priorities have shaped Hawaii and the fate of this dwindling cloud-forest species. Walters captures brilliantly the internecine politics among private landowners, scientists, environmental groups, individuals and government agencies battling over the bird's habitat and protection. It's only one species, only one bird, but Seeking the Sacred Raven illustrates vividly the many dimensions of species loss, for the human as well as non-human world.
Download or read book Chasing the Golden Hoard the Story of the Lydian Hoard written by Kurt M. V. Rich and published by AuthorHouse. This book was released on 2012-12-03 with total page 971 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The theft of the numerous archaeological artifacts which comprise the so-called Lydian Hoard (Karun Hazineleri or Karun Treasure, in Turkish) is legendary. So too is its discovery, the lawsuit which embroiled the Republic of Turkey and the all powerful Metropolitan Museum of Art for almost six years, and the surprising problems encountered after the treasure had been repatriated to Turkey. With the possible exception of the exploration of the tomb of Tutankhamon, no other archaeological discovery can compete with the Lydian Hoard for its mystique and intrigue. No other archaeological discovery has influenced and destroyed as many lives as the Lydian Hoard. Chasing The Golden Hoard follows the lives of a Turkish family living on the outskirts of the modern town of Usak in southwestern Turkey as they accidentally discover an unplundered Sixth Century B.C. tomb, dating from the reign of Lydian king Croesus (Karun, in Turkish).
Download or read book A Life Without Limits written by Chrissie Wellington and published by Center Street. This book was released on 2012-05-15 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2007, Chrissie Wellington shocked the triathlon world by winning the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. As a newcomer to the sport and a complete unknown to the press, Chrissie's win shook up the sport. A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS is the story of her rise to the top, a journey that has taken her around the world, from a childhood in England, to the mountains of Nepal, to the oceans of New Zealand, and the trails of Argentina, and first across the finish line. Wellington's first-hand, inspiring story includes all the incredible challenges she has faced--from anorexia to near--drowning to training with a controversial coach. But to Wellington, the drama of the sports also presents an opportunity to use sports to improve people's lives. A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS reveals the heart behind Wellington's success, along with the diet, training and motivational techniques that keep her going through one of the world's most grueling events.
Download or read book Bearing Up Horseshoes written by Jenny Pletcher Nolan and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2010-11 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Emma's great grandmother, Lydia, is a woman who boldly looks fear in the eye and never has she lost the staring contest. It is the summer of 1979, and Lydia's granddaughter (Emma's mother) has been killed in a car accident. Emma and her brothers leave their home in Indiana to visit Lydia on Johns and Kiawah Island in the Low country of South Carolina. Once there a witch chases Emma through her dreams, and the light of day is often even more unsettling as Emma discovers her own family tree shrouded in mystery. With the help of adventure, friendship and faith, Emma discovers she may be more like Lydia than she ever thought possible.
Download or read book 80 20 Triathlon written by Matt Fitzgerald and published by Da Capo Lifelong Books. This book was released on 2018-09-18 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A breakthrough program for triathletes -- beginner, intermediate, and advanced -- showing how to balance training intensity to maximize performance -- from a fitness expert and elite coach. Cutting-edge research has proven that triathletes and other endurance athletes experience their greatest performance when they do 80 percent of their training at low intensity and the remaining 20 percent at moderate to high intensity. But the vast majority of recreational triathletes are caught in the so-called "moderate-intensity rut," spending almost half of their time training too hard--harder than the pros. Training harder isn't smarter; it actually results in low-grade chronic fatigue that prevents recreational athletes from getting the best results. In 80/20 Triathlon, Matt Fitzgerald and David Warden lay out the real-world and scientific evidence, offering concrete tips and strategies, along with complete training plans for every distance--Sprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman, and Ironman--to help athletes implement the 80/20 rule of intensity balance. Benefits include reduced fatigue and injury risk, improved fitness, increased motivation, and better race results.
Download or read book Chasing Sunsets The Cedar Key Series Book 1 written by Eva Marie Everson and published by Revell. This book was released on 2011-06-01 with total page 355 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kimberly Tucker's life hasn't turned out the way she thought it would. A divorced mother of two, Kim resents her ex-husband for moving on with his life and living it up while she struggles to understand what went wrong. When her sons end up spending five weeks of summer vacation with their father, Kim's own father suggests a respite in the family vacation home on tiny Cedar Key Island. As Kim revisits her childhood memories and loves, she soon discovers that treasures in life are often buried, and mistakes--both past and present--become redeemable in God's hand. Readers will be swept away to an island retreat where they walk alongside Kim as she discovers that God's answers may not come easily, but they do come.
Download or read book Into the Deep written by Missy Fleming and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2013-09-30 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No one understands the fury of the ocean like Zoey. Ten years ago, she lost her leg in a freak shark attack. The night after her sixteenth birthday, she has yet to accept her awkward prosthetic limb or the fact she will always be different. Wary of the sea, and its hidden threats, she ventures to a bonfire at the beach. She's mesmerized by its awesome power, wondering what she ever had to fear, until a rogue wave sweeps her into the cool, salty water. Zoey believed mermaids were creatures of legend, characters in silly children's stories, but it's hard to ignore the captivating tail that's suddenly appeared, or the sense of finally being whole. She abandons her life on land in search of answers about who she really is and where she came from. What she discovers is a kingdom full of intrigue and danger, as well as a royal father she never knew existed. Settling into her role as a mermaid princess, she learns her family is under attack, both on land and in the water. Raging storms swell up, threatening coastal cities, and sea levels rise practically overnight, endangering the lives of everyone she loves. Determined to stop the strange phenomena, Zoey becomes caught up in the race to track down what, or who, is responsible for the catastrophic events. But, Zoey possesses another secret, one born of legend and more powerful than any mer or human can imagine.
Download or read book Pieces of Eight written by Deborah Chester and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2015-01-18 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A swashbuckling pirate adventure in the time travel series from the “masterful” national bestselling author of the Pearls and the Crown novels (Extrapolations). In his attempt to return to the twenty-sixth century, historian and time traveler Noel Kedran is transported back to the Caribbean in 1697, where black-masted ships rule the treacherous seas and murderous pirates kill without mercy. Stalked by enemies—including his evil twin, Leon—Noel fights to prevent a human sacrifice that could change history, and to stop his twisted twin before he destroys them both for a few glittering, golden pieces of eight. “Chester is a world class fantasist.” —The Best Reviews
Download or read book The Story of Ellacoya written by Jeanne Clark and published by Beech River Books. This book was released on 2009 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A prose poem saga that celebrates female strength and wisdom, as personified in the fictional story of an Abenaki heroine"--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book 100 Bedtime Stories for Triathletes written by Allan Pitman and published by Balboa Press. This book was released on 2017-02-23 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I f youre a tired athlete looking for inspiration, look no further than this collection of short stories written by Alan Pitman. No matter what sport youre passionate about, youll find insights that will help you hone your focus and boost performance. Youll also be entertained by his many adventures. Although hes coached more than three hundred Ironman finishers over twenty five years, Pitman shares that at times, even hes found it hard to train. Thats why he recommends having a training partner, as its easier to let yourself down than one of your friends waiting out in the cold on a dark morning. As you read Pitmans stories, youll be challenged to never settle for anything other than excellence, to set lofty goals, and keep going when you want to give up. Youll also learn how to prevent injuries, take calculated risks, build self-esteem, embrace change, and learn from failure. Get motivated and get moving with 100 Bedtime Stories for Triathletes. I am both pleased and honoured to be able to endorse Allans book. Allan is an amazing athlete. Triathlete, Ironman multiple finisher of forty three races, an Ironman in Australia Legend and finisher of 17 Ironman World Championship races including four podium appearance. As a renowned and hugely respected Ironman Triathlon coach of many years standing his words of wisdom on every page are both profound and inspirational and a must read for all athletes especially Ironman Triathlon aspirants as well as past and continuing competitors. Ken Baggs, OAM
Download or read book Gooseberry Park written by Cynthia Rylant and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2007 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this animal adventure from Newbery Medal-winning author Cynthia Rylant, Stumpy Squirrel has just settled into a new nest in a magnificent pin oak in Gooseberry Park. It s the perfect spot for her babies to be born When they arrive healthy and strong, Stumpy s three good friends--a Labrador retriever, a wise hermit crab, and a bat who eats Chinese food--are thrilled. But after a terrible ice storm destroys the pin oak, Stumpy disappears. It takes a special combination of courage, humor, and tenacity for Stumpy s friends to rescue her babies and bring her home again. Arthur Howard's black-and-white illustrations illuminate the companions adventures throughout."
Download or read book MIKE REILLY Finding My Voice written by Mike Reilly and published by Steeplechase Publishing. This book was released on 2019-03-11 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: MIKE REILLY: Finding My Voice illuminates how profoundly IRONMAN touches its participants and its fans. Written from the perspective of a World Championship race announcer and one of the most prominent personalities in triathlon, it provides an intimate and revealing glimpse into a fascinating corner of the world of endurance sports.
Download or read book Inside Triathlon written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
