The Price is Rigth Auditions in Hurst on Saturday

For anyone who may be interested, CBS' The Price is Right will hold auditions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Carpet One Flooring Outlet Warehouse, 825 Airport Freeway in Hurst. The show is conducting a national contestant search for the first time in the show's history. Applicants should bring a completed application and eligibility forms that can be found at www.cbs11tv.com/contests. Three contestants will attend a taping of the show and one of those three will receive a bidder's spot on Contestants' Row.

Anonymous advice for living life to the fullest

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning
how to dance in the rain."

— Anonymous

Health Insurance Reform Reality Check

There seems to be a great deal of rumors circulating the internet and in town halls regarding the health care reform. Below are the facts directly from the Senior Advisor of the President, David Axelrod. If you are interested read up and become well-informed about this critical issue. I know this is a long post but it's very difficult to boil-down this complex of a issue.


8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Learn more and get details: http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/?e=11&ref=hicp

8 common myths about health insurance reform

1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
2. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.

Learn more and get details:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/?e=11&ref=myth1
http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq/?e=11&ref=myth1

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html
2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html
3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html
4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes/
5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline/
6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/
7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html
8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf?e=11&ref=report

Step 1. Take a leap of faith

Given that my summer break from classes is almost finished and I will soon resume the rigorous schedule of a full-time graduate student engrossed in research, studying, and teaching, I have begun to reflect on my first 6 months in this new phase of my life as a professional student (Round 2). This last six months has brought on many challenges, but I would not change this for anything because I realize that I am living my dream-to earn my PhD. Living in the moment for a time, I considered how blessed I am to have the opportunity to pursue this dream and make it my reality. I considered how countless others have yet to realize their life-long goals, either due to the lack of opportunity or the lack of ambition to pursue their dreams. I do not want to go into a long tirade about the chronic social ailments that prevent people from gaining well-rounded and solid educations or pursuing other individual goals and I certainly do not want to imply that I had to overcome some of the more prohibitive of these obstacles such as destitute poverty or being a refugee from war-torn nation. Rather what I would like to share my thoughts one of the most ubiquitous challenges I think everyone faces when they set out to realize their dreams; the challenge of overcoming fear.

As I see, there is a great deal of fear involved in pursuing dreams. I will be the first to admit that it was very scary to contemplate leaving a steady paying job that supplied the much needed income for me to afford my mortgage and provide the necessary funds to help support my family. We prayed a great deal about the decision for me to return to school but our preparation for change didn't stop there. I'm a firm believer that our Father in heaven may provide you blessings and opportunities but He expects his children to work for it. We researched funding opportunities and met with our financial advisor. We worked up our budget and figured out that we could afford school with grants, loans, and the meager salary I would be paid as Research Assistant.

But the fear doesn't stop at money. I also have my own healthily share of self-doubt and struggle with confidence. I realize though that it is natural to fear the unknown but you will never achieve anything if you are too scared to start. In order to achieve great things you must be willing to step into the unknown. You must embrace your fears and take a leap of faith to set yourself on the path that will allow you to achieve your dreams. I have take this first step and landed on my feet and for that I am forever grateful.

Yet to be completely forthright, I have much larger ambitions than earning my PhD. From a very early age all I knew was that I wanted to save the world through advancing the cause of environmental stewardship and engaging people in efforts to clean and protect our planet. I see now my chance to make this impact is coming to life through my PhD work. I know now that I am on a path that will provide me opportunities to educate people about their natural environment and the perils it faces due to human activities. I can see opportunities opening up as I submit my writing and research and as I help to build the foundations of what my lead professor and I envision to be a national program that will not only protect the environment but will also address and protect many facets of public health. All this because I took that first step.

So it may be difficult; the task may seem to large or your goal to lofty for you to achieve, but I can attest that overcoming the fears of inadequacy, inability, self-doubt, and financial insecurity can be accomplished through prayer and diligent research. The support of family and friends also make an amazing difference in the lives of those who sacrifice to achieve their life-long goals. I am surrounded by people that have encouraged me and helped me get to this point in my life and I am so very grateful to have this network in my life. Most especially my husband, Patrick, who reassures me and strengthens me when time are hard and tests, research, and other rigors of the PhD program seem to be mounting an offensive on my sanity and abilities. His love and support make this whole process possible and I in turn work hard to support him in his dreams and ambitions.

So if there is something out there you want to achieve be it a degree, a job, freedom from addiction, or any other goal whether it be big or small, I would like to remind you that one of the first steps on this new road you've chosen is more like a leap-a leap of faith.

Questions to ponder

"The simplest questions are the most profound. Where were you born?
Where is your home? Where are you going? What are you doing? Think
about these once in a while, and watch your answers change."

— Richard Bach (1936- ), American author, in `Illusions,'
1977

And here is yet another question I wish to pose because I just recently had to come up with an answer myself. I learned a few weeks ago that one of our office managers has terminal cancer that has progressed and she now has only a few months. Everyone in the office got together and made her a giant card with funny pictures of everyone she worked with. What do you write on a card that is being given to someone in this position? "Get well" just doesn't cut it at this point.

Can the weatherman prevent disease outbreaks?

Consider this. We know that mosquitoes carry disease. We know they require standing water to breed and standing water usually follows heavy rain events.

So what if we could prevent an outbreak of disease by monitoring weather. Well scientists at NASA and the Department of Agriculture are doing just that. Using satellites to monitor heavy cloud cover and surface temperatures, scientist can predict areas that will receive heavy rainfall and according to Dr. Ken Linthicum of the USDA's Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, rainfall is a key precursor to disease. For example, his fieldwork in Africa revealed that the subsequent flooding following heavy rains provided the ideal conditions for mosquitoes to lay their virus containing eggs.

Ultimately the scientists at NASA and USDA were able to use satellites to determine when the heavy rains would occur and then due to the accounting for the known gestation and life-cycle of the mosquito, they had 4 months to institute preventive measures such as vaccines and mosquito control to control the spread of disease.

I'm thrilled to know that there are some scientists out there thinking outside of the box and devising innovative ways for dealing with pressing public health issues.

Vegetarians feed the world

For more reasons than one, I've adhered to a vegetarian lifestyle for eight years. I choose the word "lifestyle" here rather than "diet" because for me being a vegetarian expands beyond eliminating meat in my daily nutrition. Here are some of my top reasons:

1. A vegetarian diet is more sustainable and has much less of a carbon footprint compared to the typical omnivore's diet. As future professor of environmental science, I genuinely work hard practice what I preach. Believe it or not meat based diets have been proven to directly contribute to global warming and other environmental problems of our day. Though it is not the latest research, a 2006 U.N. report detailed the findings from an intensive investigation of the impact of livestock of the environment and concluded that the production of animals for human consumption is “one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems.” According to this study emissions from livestock operations account for 9 percent of CO2 derived from human-related activities and 65 percent of anthropogenic sources of nitrous oxide, which is nearly 300 times worse as a green house gas than CO2. Where does all this gas come from; well my friend let's just say cow's could probably benefit from some Gas-Ex as well.

2. I just can't deny that animals have the right to live and breathe in clean, natural conditions; however factory farm production of meat, eggs, milk, and other animal products often deny these rights. Though I rarely eat eggs, I make sure that the eggs I do buy came from hens who were allowed to roam free and were feed grain free from antibiotics, probiotics, and the suite of other chemicals that are so often forced upon these animals. Though I believe that PETA does have a good mission in mind, I believe they often scare off potential supporters such as myself by their animal-rights campaigns littered with photos and descriptions of the inhumane conditions of farms raising animals for meat. For this reason I will spare you these details because I cannot handle them myself.

3. Imagine you're starving and have just ordered your meal at a new restaurant with friends. Who do you think will get their order first; the omnivore who ordered steak, chicken or some other meat which has to cook to a specific heat, or the vegetarian who rarely has such cooking restrictions on their food? The convenience and speed are sometimes great perks of being a vegetarian.

4. More food for more people. 70% of the grain we produce in this country goes to feeding our livestock. Imagine how many more people we could feed that grain to.

5. Healthier diet for my heart, body and mind. Some of the most prevalent disease plaguing people today are obesity, heart disease, cancer, and strokes. Research has shown that vegetarian are 50 less likely to develop heart disease and have a 40% lower cancer rate than their meat-eating counterparts. Additionally, vegans are 9 times less likely to be obese.

6. And finally, I just can't imagine anymore eating something that once lived and breathed. I'd much rather stick to my soy-based meat products, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables, and let the fish and animals go about living their lives to the fullest. I just wish more of these animals had the opportunity to do so and were not living in concentrated animal factory operations (CAFOs) (i.e. factory farms)

But for those of you who are still holding strong to your omnivorous diets, I have no beef with you whatsoever. My viewpoint on vegetarianism is completely nonjudgmental. In fact I will be the first to admit that though my lifestyle may not be ideal for everyone, vegetarians are appreciated in one way or another as so bluntly put by one of the Marx brothers

"I'm not a vegetarian, but I eat animals who are."

— Groucho Marx (Julius Henry Marx) (1890-1977) Jewish-American
comedian

Wise words for would be marathoners and those with puffed up egos

"The difference between running the mile and running the marathon is the
difference between burning your fingers and being slowly roasted over
the coals."

— Hal Higdon (1947- ) American long distance runner and writer

When spell check just doesn't cut it...

..just keep in mind the words of the famed Spanish writer Baltasar Gracian:"A synonym is a word you use when you can't spell the word you first
thought of."

Environmental Respect Begins with Outdoor Play

Though I don't post much on it I am an ardent environmentalist and adamantly believe in the preserving the outdoors for future generations. I worked for 2 years as an environmental consultant and I realized during that time that my mission in life to "save the world" would not be accomplished working for corporate America which usually bows to industries and construction companies and finds ways for them to accomplish their goals of increased capital and development while following all the environmental laws and making a minimal impact on the environment. As well-intended as this career seems, I more often than not felt I was sacrificing my environmental ethics and not making the difference in the world I knew I was meant to. So I returned to school to earn a PhD in environmental science after which I will seek to gain a faculty position at a university teaching the next generation about the importance of respecting our environment and living in a sustainable manner.

But how do you foster environmental respect?

Well, a recent study found that the "wild play" of children such as camping and fishing build the a better foundation for children to grow into adults who respected the environment than activities such as gardening and mandatory environmental education programs.

So the lesson here let your children explore their world and take them to the few wild place left so they can experience fresh air and seas of green vegetation. Maybe this will be your way of contributing to a more sustainable future.

You might be a triathlete if....continued

-You have unexplainable gassy spells during training

-Your spouse has smoother legs than you sometimes (only works if both husband and wife are triathletes)

-You use training as your catch-all excuse for chores and social gatherings you'd rather avoid

-Your dog recognizes the difference in the shorts you put on which determine whether you will be riding and she can't come along or you will be running, in which case she will get excited because she may get to go running.

-Your dog carb loads for the long run you take her on. Really mine does.

You might be a triathlete if....

-You use past race numbers as wallpaper



-When asked your age, you give your race age, not your actual age

-You've discovered that body marking produces interesting tan lines


-When you see road signs indicating how far the next town is, you think how long it would take you to run or bike that distance

-You've caught yourself worrying about drafting rules while driving on the highway

Sand, Sweat, and Tears: A Race Recap for the Lonestar Half Ironman Triathlon

After 5 long months of dedicated training, I can proudly say that Patrick and I completed our first Half Ironman (HIM) this past Sunday at the Lonestar Triathlon Festival. For anyone interested, the following is a recap of some of the highlights of the race. For anyone unfamiliar with the concept of a HIM, let me preface this recap by explaining that this is a multi-sport race combining 1.2 miles of open water swimming, 56 miles of road biking, and 13.1 miles of running. The course maps for each of these legs can be viewed here.

For this endeavor we elected to seek the help from a triathlon coach. David Gillen, a friend and co-worker of our brother-in-law, proved to be an invaluable asset as a coach and in the end a good friend as well. We learned so much about the technical aspects of training, both physically and mentally, that I would highly recommend other ambitious multi-sport athletes to seek the help of a coach. If you live in the North Texas area, David would be a good place to start.

On to the Race:

The Swim:
1.2 mi
Time: 45:50

The swim was a saltwater swim in the Offats Bayou and proved to be a bit daunting. Having never swum in saltwater aside from the romps I took as a kid at the beach, we opted for a short practice swim the day before. Being an early season, race the water temperature was cold enough to make wetsuits legal and we found out quickly the advantage wetsuits give you in salt water-you are buoyant you don't have to tread water!

The practice swim was a great warm-up for race day but still nothing can really prepare you for the onslaught that is a mass open water swim start. My wave was the second to last and as I lined up with the other women I was amazed at how similar we all looked; we were just a sea of black tight suits and pink caps. The swim start was actually about 50 yards away from the entry point so we all made our way to the two starter buoys after entering the chilly water which I'm told was about 64°. I was feeling remarkable confident and made my way to the front of the pack. Light jokes were made between strangers and we all laughed with one another. Little did I know they were all trying to lower my guard.

I'm still relatively calm even as the race announcer starts counting down from 5 for our start. The blow horn goes off, I start the timer on my watch, and I dive in and go. Immediately a barrage of arms, legs and what I can only assume are the Gladiator Q-tips start beating me down. I'm hit in the face and nose a number of times and worry I'll come out with a black eye or bloody nose. If you don't think swimmers are tough, you haven't tried your hand at these race starts. I finally make my way to the outskirts of the wave and settle in for my haul. Looking ahead, I see only a long line of red buoys with the heaven-sent triangular buoy, which marks a turn, seeming to be miles away. I devise a plan to just swim buoy to buoy and not worry about the vast span of open water in between me and the swim finish. Though my time was slower than I would have liked, my plan worked and I remained calm and collected throughout the entire swim. I exit the water feeling refreshed and accomplished. “I did it" I tell myself. One of my biggest mental challenges is behind me.

Yet the best part of the swim is what comes immediately afterward. I’m not talking about the crowds screaming and clanking cow-bells to mark your arrival and accomplishment. No what takes the cake are the STRIPPERS! And you thought triathletes were all work and no fun. Wrong-just before the transition area are a suite of well trained race volunteers who will rid you of the extra skin that is your wetsuit. All you need to do is strip yourself down to the waist, flop down in front of them and assume the position. They handle the rest.

The Bike:

56 miles;
3:29:33;
average: 15.6 mph

The ride was one of my highlights of the race. Fifty-six miles on a one and a half loop course with some amazing views of the coast. Though the beach and ocean were a beautiful sight, they were muted slightly by the still ever present destruction from Hurricane Ike. There were plenty of beach houses under construction and every few miles there were billboards, both professional and homemade from scrap wood, for various restoration construction services. One house in particular that stuck out on my ride was one where the entire back was removed, making it much like doll house you could peer into. Everything was still there; the disheveled bed, open dressers, a TV. I had assumed before I came to Galveston that the destruction would have been cleaned up by now, but what I realized is that many people probably could not afford to rebuild, or maybe, as I would like to think, they realized that the beach is probably not the best place to build a house.

Still one thing I should mention about the ride is that there were exactly 5 turns on the way out and 5 turns on the way back. The majority of the ride was spent on the long stretch of 3005. As we drove the course the day before, we noticed that the course is so straight that all you see is miles and miles ahead of you and a straight line of countless telephone poles that curve slightly with the road. Oddly enough, the redundancy of the route didn’t bother me. In fact, this was the longest straight-away I’ve ever ridden so I stayed in aerobars the majority of the time. Having very few turns and being in the most aerodynamic position for the majority of the time allowed me to get and keep my average mph up, however I learned there are unexpected advantages to the very different ever-changing terrain in which we trained. At home, I rarely stay in the same gear long. The rise and fall of the road require that I constantly adjust my gears for optimal pedaling power. What I didn’t realize or appreciate about my local training routes, is that the frequent changes in slope and thus my speed elicit the work of a variety of my leg muscles, with no one set of muscles or single muscle taking the brute force of the entire session. However, with the long straight-aways at the HIM, the majority of my ride was powered by my quads, which though it left the other parts of my legs refreshed, brought on a new type of fatigue I had not experienced in previous training rides. Despite this, I originally thought I was going to take nearly four hours to complete the route and I came just under 3:30' so I was stoked that I flew this fast. This stellar time was yet another highlight of my overall race.

The Run

13.1 miles
2:26:56
11:13 min/mile

At the very tail end of the ride the slight breeze that dusted me with sand and gnats picked up and hit me like a wall. For the last mile or so of my ride I struggled to keep my average mph up to 9 or 10. As I dismounted my bike I knew I was in for a treat on the run with the kick up in the wind. Luckily there were only a select few portions of the run course that battered me with this force. Unfortunately, this run course was a four loop course and as time went on my fatigue grew, the wind only seemed to grow stronger.

However, like so many training session, the wind doesn't dampen my spirits and I honestly had a great time on the run. The four loop design of the run course was pleasant and scattered with a variety of musicians, my favorite of which was the steel drum player at the top a slight hill, right before the portion of the run that followed along the paved path next to beach. I also enjoyed the humorous quotes and signs posted along one stretch of the run. My favorite signs read: “If love is blind, why is lingerie so expensive”, “Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets” and “If you’re going through hell, keep going”. But the best part of the run came at the end of each lap, where David was there to cheer me on. Then at the end of lap 3 Patrick was there with David and I was getting really excited to end the race and celebrate with them. Finally lap 4 came around and as I approached David near the tail end of the loop, he told me Patrick was at the end waiting for me; just as I expected. I finished the final lap; completing my first 70.3 and as I crossed the finish line, shortly thereafter was my biggest fan waiting for me. I feel into his arms, more out of exhaustion than due to a need for a bit of romance. We held one another and I knew we were both tearing up. It was a tender sweet moment, one that I will hold as one of the best memories of my first 70.3 experience.





After all was said and done, I must say this was one of my best experiences yet; by far one of the best races. Though I'm not adequately trained now for my upcoming Ironman (IM) race in St. George, Utah on May 1, 2010, I'm certain my coach David can get me ready. But what is equally important for a full length IM is the desire and mental strength to complete the race. After such an amazing experience that spanned 70.3 miles, I can honestly say I'm really excited to try my hand at the full 140.6.