{"id":23667,"date":"2021-11-29T23:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T23:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/?p=23667"},"modified":"2026-04-12T17:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T17:59:11","slug":"2021-nfbgtopwbsiag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/2021\/11\/29\/2021-nfbgtopwbsiag\/","title":{"rendered":"2021- Nov 29 \u2013 From Bremen Germany, triathlon on pause, wife back surgery is a go!"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"23667\" class=\"elementor elementor-23667\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2651226 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2651226\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6781d3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6781d3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20211129_1939531-1024x768-1.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab3c080 elementor-widget elementor-widget-thim-ekits-heading\" data-id=\"ab3c080\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"thim-ekits-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thim-ekits-heading thim-ekit__heading\"><h3 class=\"title\">Triathlon<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-268b601 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"268b601\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sometimes, life comes first. And after about 14 months of planning, the trip has arrived. More will be posted below. So, training is currently on pause until we return on or about December 16 and I will formally determine next steps then. I have receive my Ironman California deferral sign up and will be doing that while we are here in Germany. We are staying in Bremen, at a little hotel found here:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83b38ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"83b38ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m19!1m8!1m3!1d9586.98737967827!2d8.5574163!3d53.0788208!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m8!3e6!4m0!4m5!1s0x47b72a9c02db4a29%3A0x916cd9094a34341f!2sHotel%20Backenk%C3%B6hler%20Dorfring%2040%2027777%20Ganderkesee!3m2!1d53.078820799999995!2d8.5574163!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1764352925770!5m2!1sen!2sus\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"><\/iframe>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44b6901 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44b6901\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So far, everything has been pretty well arranged and straight forward. The only blip has been the correct communication of dietary restrictions that Liz had communicated and were not ready for when we arrived. However after a quick phone call, options were offered.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-047d6e8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"047d6e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote><p>Our experience thus far has paralleled much of what I try to do during a training build up and an event. Some things go exactly to plan and others well, not so much!<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-233a7a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"233a7a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I do hope to get some walks in with Lucas, which I have already gotten one short night walk in, however I intend to get more in as we go. I am glad to have thought of and did bring my trusty\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.noxgear.com\/tracer2\">Noxgear 360 vest<\/a>. Their cyber Monday deal is wrapping up and offering it at approx 49.95 \u2013 this is their gen 2 model, I currently have the gen 1 model \u2013 battery operated. Anyway, it worked wonders as it brought the 2 cars that came by in deep German street covered in darkness to an almost stop to assure they weren\u2019t going to destroy anything. I appreciated the courtesy I don\u2019t often see while in my own running areas at home.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98aa162 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"98aa162\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0639e65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-thim-ekits-heading\" data-id=\"0639e65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"thim-ekits-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thim-ekits-heading thim-ekit__heading\"><h3 class=\"title\">Travel Related Thoughts<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8613c46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8613c46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nfd-container nfd-text-md wp-block-group alignfull\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"nfd-max-w-prose wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c0ca7d81 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Well, we did our best. We set up everything in advance and did all the things including:<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"nfd-max-w-prose wp-block-group is-vertical is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c0ca7d81 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><ol><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Booking early<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scheduling special meals with\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.delta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Delta airlines\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Using the <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.delta.com\/us\/en\/flyready\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Delta Fly Ready<\/a> s<\/span>tuff<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Filling out\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.schiphol.nl\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amsterdam<\/a><\/span> attestation documents<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Readying passports <\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Covid 19 updated testing <\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Following the protocols defined by the clinic Liz is receiving Back disc replacement surgery<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f90ec8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8f90ec8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The meals on the Delta flight were the most difficult thus far. I called a week in advance to arrange a gluten free and dairy free meal option for Liz. In flight \u2013 Liz was informed quite abrupt;y by the flight crew that on flight they have either dairy free or gluten free. The attendant whom I recognized from previous travel was very abrupt and trying to head Liz off, a bit too much. The frustration from Liz, was that I called ahead to arrange something and onl flight she and Lucas were then left with limited options. To the attendant\u2019s credit, he circled back with apologies and options \u2013 mainly left over fruits and salads. This is where not travelling and having lost status is a bit painful, but in hte end options were offered, not a perfect experience, b t the efforts were appreciated. He lastly circled back toward the end of hte flight asking if we were returning or moving so that he could suggest us calling ahead and ordering a dairy free and a gluten free option for flight home for best offerings. Well, I paid for first class and hope its much better as I often am upgraded not paying for the 1st class experience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9024d82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9024d82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The flight attendant had the most curious English accent, and it was striking to me it was English first followed up by spoken German. We even got to add a fly belt to Mr. Lucas for safety, a novel feature not necessarily granted on use operated flights. Anyway, not stealing the details Liz may post about in the future (will link here later), but we ended up arriving, meeting our taxi service and being whisked off after a declarations Polizei asked if I had a coat. It\u2019s 0 degrees Celsius and recent Utah weather had me prepped for that.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52c029f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52c029f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pre-trip we determined we would check the car seat and the new\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ospreyeurope.com\/shop\/gb_en\/osprey-poco-plus-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Osprey back Back (poco Plus)<\/a>.<\/span> Just before the trip we purchased it at Al\u2019s Sporting Goods next to us. During our flight we determined as we tracked the flight and we were delayed about 1 hour getting out, that should we need to, I would go ahead. Well we did that, as I left the passport control I got up to a point until I came to a change. It wasn\u2019t necessarily clear, so I held up for Liz. Thankfully when we got to the boarding area, the bus was about 5 minutes away from picking folks up to go out to the KLM City hoppers.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2deccc6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2deccc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The journey through the AMS airport was the most difficult. It was just far and for Liz and I had to make a choice and I just ran ahead. We had a small hiccup in the lines getting through passport control. Unbeknownst to us the new Covid-19 variant had 13 cases pass through the Schiphol airport so many precautions and protocols were occurring. In the end, a forward thinking person, doing her awesomest as an employee and human started calling out to those in a time crunch. That was us and she moved us up and after watching two folks get through it was our turn. Gratefully all of our pre-trip efforts worked. We just had to show passports, unmask to be validated, then show our vaccine cards, and I was off.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b9fd83 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0b9fd83\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65bd664 elementor-widget elementor-widget-thim-ekits-heading\" data-id=\"65bd664\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"thim-ekits-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thim-ekits-heading thim-ekit__heading\"><h3 class=\"title\">Liz Back surgery<\/h3><h5 class=\"sub-heading\">Link to the facility and to Dr. Ritter-Lang<\/h5>\t\t\t<div class='desc'>\n\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/betterdiscreplacement.com\/disc-replacement-surgeon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">!!!Click here!!!<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fe2e40 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1fe2e40\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Well the whole reason we are here is for Liz to receive a spinal disc replacement from and by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Oif2NNpk2E4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Ritter Lang<\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-321660f elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"321660f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=Oif2NNpk2E4&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4cfc14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c4cfc14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can link back to two (2) blog posts for more info until she writes a detailed blog post detailing and journaling her person experience:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd6b126 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd6b126\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/im-back-lets-do-this\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shane blog post 1<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/2021-august-3-head-space-triathlon-and-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shane blog post 2<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\">Liz personal post<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-088ad3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"088ad3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In summary from my perspective. The pre trip handling was pretty good. The hotel part, is a bit sketchy but we are working it through. The travel, well that\u2019s the unfortunate norms of the game of travel and we are crazy for bring little Lucas, but we felt we needed too. MOre to come on the back surgery details from Liz.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-903b88d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"903b88d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d9ff04 elementor-widget elementor-widget-thim-ekits-heading\" data-id=\"7d9ff04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"thim-ekits-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thim-ekits-heading thim-ekit__heading\"><h3 class=\"title\">General thoughts<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9623eed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9623eed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">ou know. I thought this would cause a ton more stress. Sure there have been a few unanticipated hiccups and we are indebted and grateful to Liz\u2019s aging mother and father for pivoting and helping. Liz\u2019s mom will be there alone with the kiddos from December 9th on. A lot of faith is being extended as she has had a kidney transplant and a back surgery to help her scoliosis. However, when you choose to live away from family, as we chose to do, we had to work through and coordinate things months in advance. When things came forward that we couldn\u2019t control, we sought alternatives and options and moved forward adapting the best we could no matter how frustrated we were in our efforts.<\/span><br \/><br \/><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Leaving the kidlets behind is not an easy thing. you can see Liz\u2019s thoughts on Facebook here If you are friends with me or Liz on facebook, the link should work):<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1eeed59 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1eeed59\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Liz Facebook post (historical)<\/span><ul><li><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/zentriathlete\/posts\/10223358917735300\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click Here<\/a><\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d39f74b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d39f74b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">To be frank, we have those questions too. And some of the simple responses. Because this is where the surgery with cutting edge technology and materials and physicians are. Should you happen upon this blog post and go to this link about\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/betterdiscreplacement.com\/disc-replacement-surgeon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.dr-ritter-lang.com\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>. You will be able to blush over hte info at first glance, or be like my wife, who has a degree in journalism and was taught how to research and distinguish information. She learned and was taught by one of the best professors who recently passed this last year \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hjnews.com\/obituaries\/byrne-penny-m\/article_9bca9a9d-c29c-552d-b8ca-30eda2d37a1c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">P<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">enny Byrne<\/span><\/a> \u2013 who despite her tough as nails in the classroom persona \u2013 was an absolute gem of a human that was endeared to Liz from the moment she was pregnant to the few times she had to bring baby Dennis to class. We even made it to their always invite list and were even welcomed on a Christmas Eve. I mention this because after being married and together approaching almost 20 years, this is one of the main reasons I chose to fall in love with her. I chose to pursue her as she did me. Eventually, we agreed to be married in the Church of Jesus Christ Washington DC temple on July 16, 2004. We dated far too long, almost 2 years, and we should have trusted our guts and just eloped. Oh well. One of the many lessons learned in our catalogue of life, is that we study things out, we research them almost exhaustibly and then when we feel prompted we take action \u2013 at times that means to let the decision go and times like this, we take a leap of faith \u2013 faith is action, and we stoically move forward. My girls have been listening to the Taylor Swift song \u2013 \u201cShake it Off\u201d :<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-259866f elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"259866f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/nfWlot6h_JM&quot;,&quot;cc_load_policy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;yt_privacy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d6a56e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d6a56e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Shared here to share in the fun of Juniper and Astrid\u2019s current fave songs to listen too!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-909c02c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"909c02c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">IF you pay attention to the lyrics, TS is often perceived by her public audience in two majors ways. Clueless, and or Brilliant. Its not often both, and she has indeed been quite an interesting celebrity. Liz and I seem to have a similar reception to family, friends, colleagues acquaintances. What I find most interesting is the circle of influence we have in <a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"https:\/\/zootsports.com\/pages\/teamzoot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Team<\/span> Zoot<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and their absolute genuine love and support for Team Livingston. So yes, we have researched this option. Yes, we thought about back fusions and have been doing a myriad of other options for the last 15 years. But unlike the 16 year old (me and Dennis \u2013 see above) with many lessons learned and the skeptical confidence we both have acquired through the year via empathy, we are now in Germany ready to move forward.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37aa4ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"37aa4ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We are indeed grateful to all the general support to those that are closest to us and those that are just learning or folks stopping to now truly understand what we have been sharing on the socials for about the last 14 or so months, since we first started down the rabbit hole. We are grateful to Liz\u2019s parents for coming from Philly and doing their best with our 3 left back with them. So far, it appears to be going well, but we and they have many days ahead of them. Each of our children are AWESOME! We love our circus of dragons. They truly are delightful, until their fury comes forward. Much like any parent will say, but even in their general challenges they have come so far and grown so much. The best feedback we receive from those outside our closest of friends is when we receive reports of just how great they are.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b09eaf6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b09eaf6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><div><div><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Unfortunately, Liz and I don\u2019t often get out and away from them much, so we adapt and choose different alternatives to help Liz and I first stay close and together and then include the kidlets. Some days we are good at it other days we are not. At the end of the day, we try to focus on the consistency and the approach of<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44d90ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"44d90ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/inspiration-53.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5110237 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5110237\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thanks to the late Miss Maya Angelou!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4d6f57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c4d6f57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To that end, we are doing our best. We have found the best approach. One of our biggest faith-based lessons in our together life is that the universe has a great way of propelling us forward or kindly and often not so kindly alerting us of our mistake. Growth mindset and our faith-based approach to life, has afforded us wisdom and many lessons learned along the way. As we are on the brink of having Liz undergo this surgery, I am grateful to her trust in me, and mine in her (I\u2019m sitting in Bremen Germany 2 minutes away from where this all occurs on Thursday).<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6203b27 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6203b27\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1286220 elementor-widget elementor-widget-thim-ekits-heading\" data-id=\"1286220\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"thim-ekits-heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"thim-ekits-heading thim-ekit__heading\"><h3 class=\"title\">The intersection of Triathlon and Life from above<\/h3><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db010b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db010b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most of triathlon training and life wisdom and lessons learned is anything but sexy. It happens often in isolation. it happens outside of the watchful eye of critics or other supporters. It is relentless forward progress. It requires what I call the 4 D\u2019s:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f0839a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f0839a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Desire<\/span><\/h3><h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Determination<\/span><\/h3><h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Discipline<\/span><\/h3><h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Dedication<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-baa0fef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"baa0fef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"\">Once on that path, it can be very lonely. We become available to lessons learned (mistakes) or wisdom earned (opportunities or success). We must defend from becoming \u2018prisoners of the moment\u2019 and\/or losing sight of what we are trying to personally accomplish and achieve. What I love when life and triathlon intersect is learning how unbalanced either is. For example, I can be mindfully very present and low key in triathlon and an absolute psycho in life (ask Liz she has a few examples I imagine). For me life is full of family, my life needs, goals, aspirations and stuff. Then comes work. Work is not who I am and neither is my hobby of triathlon. Triathlon is there for me to do, but I am a Husband and life partner first. I have been blessed with 4 wonderfully imperfect children and I am their imperfect Father. My wife trusts me mostly and I trust her too. Life and triathlon always intersect for us, and we try not to lose sight of Family first. At times it occurs, and we takes those instances and try to understand the lessons learned. One of my absolutely favorite memories of triathlon was at a 70.3 in St. George. I stopped on the run, said hi to my wife, and then knelt down to Juniper and Astrid at the time. Astrid was a baby and Dennis gave me a high 5. My father caught the moment of me kneeling with Juniper and Astrid.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-471009b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"471009b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/20170506-31872017-703IMStG-1536x1023.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0853650 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0853650\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/BMC.jpg\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5484b48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5484b48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Well it\u2019s late, I need to wrap this up and we\u2019re a go to start the intake processes in the morning. Giddy up!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Triathlon Sometimes, life comes first. And after about 14 months of planning, the trip has arrived. More will be posted below. So, training is currently on pause until we return on or about December 16 and I will formally determine [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22542,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","_eb_attr":"","pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[817,456],"tags":[835,836,838],"class_list":["post-23667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prnci","category-2021-check-ins","tag-tag-triathlon","tag-tag-endurance","tag-tag-tn"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23667"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23674,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23667\/revisions\/23674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happyinthehills.com\/zentriathlete\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}