Just Say Thanks

Being a military brat, I can't thank you all enough.
Please watch this 2:30 minute video then just say "thanks."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSfFYxSdKdo

A great video to make you smile.... and make you feel good about headin' to www.keepersofthegrill.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJn0z-Lv2TQ

while you are at it, and while you have a smile on your face...go to www.keepersofthegrill.com and get some grilling gear and don't let that cheese burger get squeezed like this guy has done. Still pretty funny though. Wait till the end when they do it in slow montion.... So funny!

KOGNation does TRIAthlon

Swim
Bike
Run

Yeah baby!!!!!!!!!!


Ok....so, the triathlon is over and the wings have been eaten and pizza is on tap for sometime this week. Mmmm

So, I made the trek to Austin and Saturday night I learned something....do all the shaving you need/want to do actually 2 days before the event. I was up late the night before, but in all honesty...I couldn't sleep anyway, so I am glad I slept well the days before the event.

A few things....
The swim was 800 meters (half a mile)
The bike was 11.2 miles
The run was a 5k (3.1 miles)

So, I set up my bike in transition area around 6:15ish and it was quicker than I anticipated and then my group just sorta hung out and got bored and was ready to go, and we couldn't go. HAHA Anyway, it was good times and it gave me time to check out some of the other "Clydesdale's" and lemme see....if I could beat them. I know there was some that I did beat, and I did get beat by some of them, it wasn't about beatin' all of em or whatever, opposed to coming in at my goals set for myself.

Essentially, the goal I did not reach was my swimming goal.
Here is what happened: So, this is the first time I have ever done an open water swim. On the way out to the first bouy, it was easy, I lined up with the Sun coming up over the water and you knew you were going straight if you couldn't see. Then on the first left turn, I was going pretty straight, then all of a sudden, I was what I assume was close to 50m off course. Needless to say, I zig'd then I had to zag back. Then the left turn around bouy #2 and I had to try and motor to make up for the extra time I just added because of the first zig/zag. So, I did it and I made it past the first small bouy and all of a sudden I look up again and I did it again....another zig, thus makin' me have to zag. GOOD GRIEF I said to myself in the water, and as I got closer others got closer as well, and I got a foot or a hand or something in my side and that was a breathe taker to say the least, but no worries, I have my feet on the ground and I am pullin' myself out of the water and runnin to Transition 1 area.

So, something not anticipated or known was that the swim to T1 was in the ball park of 200yards through the grass and in the actual transition area they had stickers and wood chips. That stuff hurts man, and it was longer than I anticipated not to mention the run to T1 was uphill....yeah yeah, uphill (both ways), barefoot, (no snow) but there was plenty of stickers. :)

I knew I had to make up time on the bike, so I did my best to get on and off the bike as quickly as possible and while I was on the bike I did my best to hammer to the best of my ability. The course was hilly, but I took advantage of the downhills. On one hill, I actually got up to 38mph. It was awesome, and maybe a little scary too, but I kept it going and did my best to use my momentum for the uphills. One hill was so long and steep, as I approached the peak, I was only going 9mph ... and I was still passing people up. I can for sure say, I got blown away in the swim by many. In the bike ...some people passed me by, but I for sure passed many more people on the bike than those that passed me. It was awesome and I did well on the bike, I exceeded my goal there. Then I rounded the turn off of my bike then I hear my brother rootin' me on. I wasn't sure if he was gonna come or not, but he and his family sure did come and it was great to hear he and my nephews rootin' for me! I got off of the bike and made it into T2 and I smoked this transition time and began my run.

THE RUN: Now it is right at 9am, and the run is an "in a mowed field" run. Another thing I have not trained for... I have done mostly track and on occasion paved road time for running.... Ever jog down hill? It kinda hurts....especially after biking for 35 minutes. Anyway, the sweat begins to really fall, and you can actually hear it...imagine every foot step sounding like squish squish, squish squish, squish squish....My feet, shoes, socks...yeah, they are totally soaked.
Now, that brutal down hill is over, and oh my goodness, here comes a pretty long UPHILL. All I really wanted to do was start walking, but I kept on lookin' at my watch, and knowing I wanted to finish in the 90 minute ball park, I kept on saying to myself...."DO NOT STOP!"; "You can't stop running"; "come on...get after it!"... "Keep goin' Johnny!" I am not sure I have ever mentioned this, as I do my best to remain as positive as possible....all that to say, I really do not enjoy running...AT ALL! I would imagine it was somewhere along the half way point in the run that I really got hot and began to question a few things, but as I kept on goin' up that hill. I finally finished and here are all of my times you can look at via this link: http://results.active.com/pages/oneResult.jsp?pID=62682592&rsID=81125&orgID=216392

According to my watch, I finished in 1:31:24 (but my chip time according to that link is faster, so I will take that time)...haha

A few things to consider:
As I was going up that long hill during the run, I probably told myself to not stop running at least a thousand times, that along with one foot in front of the other, keep workin', .... I think you get the point of tryin' to self motivate. I have had, at times, during this 9 week process some training sessions with friends that have either run with me or biked with me or swam with me, but all in all .... I would say 90 to 95% of the training I did was all by myself. I learned for the first time in my life to self motivate, and it has not been easy...sometimes I would put it off for a few hours and I would pay for it by having to swim in the heat, or bike in the heat or something like that, and towards the end my body was so tired, I would maybe try and find an excuse to not do it, but as soon as I showed up I would handle my business and get it done and then go home or wherever I needed to be. I think triathlon's are a lot like relationships, whether it is a friendship, or something deeper, it takes a lot of work, it takes dedication, and it takes a process of decisions made to make it all work. Lately, I have obsessed over this triathlon (not necessarily a good thing) and my business (Keepers Of the Grill) has suffered because of it. Part of that too, is that I have worked so hard on it in the past and I have not really seen the fruit I would like to see it bear as well, so it was much easier for me to sort of put off doing something extra for it. As I was going up that hill in the run, I realized I need to work harder at it if I want it to be a success and figure out a way to make it appeal to others in order for them to "buy into the idea".... So, I anticipate I will do another triathlon, I am not sure I will ever do anything more than a sprint as I really do not enjoy running that much, although maybe an Olympic distance with a shorter run (when the weather is not so hot) may be tolerable. I also think to do a Team Tri with a super fast swimmer (that can swim straight) and with a runner that can run really fast....I will do my best on the bike. That could wind up being pretty fun.

I tell the story, and share the pix to reemphasize a few things....this being the main: If you really want something, YOU are going to have to put in the work to achieve YOUR goal(s). Sure you may need some help along the way, but all in all, YOU are going to have to do ALL of the time. 10 months ago, I looked in the mirror and stepped onto a scale and I weighed 270 pounds. I used to be a college athlete and I have a Kinesiology degree.... I KNOW BETTER! I changed my life and my lifestyle and I made a decision to become a better me and look like the kid I was when I reported to camp when I was 22yrs old. The day I reported to camp, I'm not sure why I remember this, but I do, I weighed 218 pounds <-- (my goal weight)...the Wednesday before my Triathlon, I tipped the scales at 216 and I beamed from ear to ear that day. And even today, as I know I put in the time, and the result was VICTORY!

Special thanks go to Jeff and Jane for being there throughout the whole entire process and for running with me a few times, to Fergz for counting swim laps for me that one time I had to do a monster swim, to Scott "BIG HACK" Smith for swimming with me and biking with me at times, and for Alyssa <-- BIG HACKS main squeeze for swimming at times too, I can't begin to number or name all of you that have just sent me notes of encouragement, and a special thanks to Dinah Jane for doing that gawd awful 4 mile run with me and for being there with me and takin' pix and holdin' Max at the same time.... You were and are a trooper.

This is Johnny Tsunami signing off and reminding you:
Believe in yourself and anything is possible!

Johnny Shred.......

So, this is not KOG related, but I have had to many people say I need to post this here....

All the best KOGNation:

So, I have a confession to make.....
The last time I wrote a note (Quarter mile of hell), was the day I conquered Ogle Tree Gap Hill (aka the quarter mile of hell) I was so fired up after writing that, and there was plenty of day light, I just went and did it. And I DID IT!
Funny thing is, I had just gotten my bike back from getting a tune up, and my brakes seemed a lil tight, well, they for sure as heck were....they were not totally engaged, but slightly engaged the whole time I did the hill. When I got home and got under some real lighting, I spun the tire, and sure enough, there were kinda rubbing. It makes the journey all that much sweeter!

A few things that happened ......
As I got to the base of the hill, I called my old and best friend J.Brown and he prayed for me. I actually faced the sun, got on my knees and listened to the words he lifted up to God. It helped I know, and inspired me all the more.
As I get older and hopefully wiser, that hill signifies for me a milestone of life. It wasn't just the hill that I physically conquered, but as I allowed my legs to piston me up that hill, I left a lot of "stuff" there too. I did not realize it either, but the folks that live at the top of that hill have a "shrine to Jesus" up there and it is the first thing you see as you finish it.....what a great way to remind us that He is there with us during all of the hard times in our lives.

I left a lot of things there too...... I left the fat guy there, I left many hurts there, I left my theatre angst there, I left many fears there, I simply kept pumping up that hill, and it was if it got easier and easier, not physically, but without a doubt emotionally. It all just continued to fall off of me!

I spun around a few bends and saw a couple walking towards the hill (their turn around point) and I told them, I made it up the hill. They were shocked and told me they were proud. I know I was beaming, and all of a sudden it hit me. I really wanna go and watch a movie. So, on Saturday night, I let all of my cares go to the way side and I darkened the doors of the Cove Theatre. I said I would never do that again, but you know what...Time heals wounds, and it's a 3 dollar ticket. I even got the VIP seat in which one gets to sit in a lazy boy, eat all of the popcorn and drink all of the root beer and they come to you during the movie very subtle like and bring you your refills whether you need it or not. (yeah, that was my idea, so you knew it was awesome!) Anyway, I am past it, and that is a huge signal to me that I am no longer holding onto it. It was a little awkward to see the owner, but it all turned out to be great and I had a great experience. And, I owe so much of it to that damned quarter mile of hell. I really owe it all to JC who keeps me and does not forsake me, but He gives us milestones to allow us to "mark" our lives with I believe, and the hill is and always will be one for me.

I can't thank all of you enough for the emails, the support, the encouragement and so many of you for simply being there. YOU have filled my cup beyond capacity, and I can't thank you enough.


This is Johnny "Shred" Ward signing off and reminding you....Don't let the heat control the meat!

KOGNations "Day of the Word" for Thursday, April 30, 2009

Rise and Shine KOGNation!
Today is a day full of great energy and positive mojo! Embrace it and spread it around! Don't smile because you wanna make someone wonder what you are up to, although, that can be fun, smile because you can't even help it as the greatness of today exudes out of you! It's a choice, and you can do it!

The KOGNation "Day of the Word" for Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Good Morning KOGNation! It's ALLLLLLLLL Good! Make the most out of what you got goin' on today, and it'll turn out roses!

YAHOO NEWS (read it)

KOGNation is in the news!

Here is the article (if the link does not work copy and paste it to your browser and then, click on the links inside the article.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/12/prweb17 46394.htm

Great article for KOGNation!

Remember....Don't let the heat control the meat!

KROGER #3 update!

So today, I visited with the 3rd KROGER store I am allowed to solicit to sell the KOGGear in!
It went well because he did not say no, it went bad cuz he did not say yes, and I am not going to hear anything until at least Friday. This is not good as it can take up to 10 days to get in an order like this and it will not give many Christmas shoppers enough time to make a purchase there prior to Christmas. Not that it really matters cuz the first day it is in there, all of it will sell out, but, just in case it does not, it poses a problem as it is biting into the time crunch!

Anyway, all in all, it is all good, and it is all going to happen the way it should.

KOGNation signing off and reminding you....Don't let the heat control the meat!

You've been KOG'd!!! (12/06/2008)

So, the newest citizen of KOGNation is Hillary.

She was shy and did not let me put the video I wanted to put up here, so she agreed to this 6 second clip.

Just think...when you join the KOGNation you may get a visit from the Founder (ME) and I will come to your home and make for you an amazing meal on your own grill (if you don't have a grill, just as a back up I always bring my little webber...((Webber, do you want to sponsor me?))

When I got to Hillary's home she was surprised for sure, and was kind enough to let me onto her patio and make a horseradish and vodka infused steak with grilled mushrooms and a nice spinach salad.

Join the KOGNation at www.keepersofthegrill.com and you never know if I may just show up at your home and KOG you!

This is the KOGNation signing off and reminding you.... Don't let the heat control the meat!

State of the KOG....

Howdy KOGNation!

The Kroger deal is simply a phone call away! (I am not sure if it will be 1 store or 3 stores initially) but the fact of the matter is, it is just a phone call away, and my distributor said it could be turned around in 10 days or less.

My challenge to you, when the deal is done, is to call all the Kroger stores in your area and DEMAND that they get KOGNation gear in there!

KOGDog....Max is actually on his bed with a portion of the blanket wrapped over him. He is settling in well!

KOGMercials! Check out the latest in Commercials (KOGMercials) for the KOGNation. They are both posted on facebook, but here are both of the links from UTube.

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=A2f7Jcf2JTg
and KOGMercial number 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munFudm2DvU

28 Person Challenge:
I was looking at the numbers and in the last 5 weeks we have doubled in numbers, and now with the additional numbers, we simply need 28 more members to double again!
www.keepersofthegrill.com is the place to become a citizen of KOGNation!

The KOGNation has spoken....opposed to membership to KOGNation and since we are a "NATION" of grillers and those that love to eat grilled food etc....We are not Citizens of KOGNation.

As additional fundage is available for it, I am going to revamp the website and offer different levels of citizenships and each Citizenship will include a passport.

I do believe that is the highlighs for the State of the KOGNation!

Remember....Don't let the heat control the meat!



(Become a KOGCutie like these two ladies have done....go to www.keepersofthegrill.com get some KOGGear and send in your photo.)