To Honor our Veterans and those currently serving on Veteran's Day Applebees is offering a free meal to anyone showing their military ID or proof or service. Famous Dave's is doing the same thing for Veterans only. You only have a few items from the menu to choose from, but hey, it's a free meal. Happy Birthday Marines!!!

famous dave's! pulled pork ftw!

Thank you NRG!! The race in Vegas was an absolutely amazing experience!! Doing the race with Dave and having Jay, Mary, and Aubrey down there supporting was incredible. For all of you supporting from home, thank you! All of the wonderful comments, thoughts, and energy sent our way was definitely a HUGE help and inspiration, especially during those parts of the race where my body and mind just kept telling me to stop! Being my first tri, I didn't quite know what to expect or how it would go. Part of that wonder was my lack of sticking to a classic tri training regimen (I fairly certain Dave and Heber can relate), as well as having injuries and other factors. Despite all of that, I finished far stronger than I could have imagined proving to me once again two things: 1-I don't have the slightest clue when it comes to my true ability as a human being until I get my head out of the way and attempt whatever it is I am doing with all I've got 2-Crossfit works period. Although my tri training sucked, I stuck very closely to the 3 days on, 1 day off schedule that was suggested to me by Dave and James since I began crossfit nearly a year ago. I love Crossfit and I love Crossfit NRG, what I mean by that is Crossfit as a program and fitness model is awesome and is the most effective tool for being truly fit I have ever done. In January of 2008, I was more than 45 pounds overweight and just plain out of shape. While I lost most of my extra weight training for a marathon, I have gained most of my strength speed and agility from doing crossfit. Loving Crossfit NRG means all of you! Dave, James, and all of the many people (to many to name) who make up NRG are so incredible, motivating, and inspiring! In the year, my life has only been enriched in so many positive ways because of NRG, so for that I humbly say THANK YOU!!

well said Bryce, thanks for kicking my ass in vegas.

I have to second Bryce. I LOVE crossfit. As many of you know, I completed my first and last Ironman this past weekend. I'd like to thank Dave and James for getting me ready for that horrific event.
For those of you who are interested in reading the story of my Ironman, here we go:

My actual triathlon training was 'limited' at best. But I decided to put the CrossFit modality of General Physical Preparedness, (GPP) to the test. We had an interesting experiment between my three brothers and myself. Only one of the four of us had trained a lot and ate pretty good. He finished in 13 and a half hours or so. This was his 3rd Ironman. The next brother to finish trained a lot swimming and biking, but didn't run a lot because he hurt his knee in early September. I don't believe he followed any specific diet. This was his first Ironman. He finished around 16 hours. Then I finished in 16 hours 25 minutes, (I should also note that I waited 25 minutes for all my brothers to gather after the swim, so really my time was 16 hours), having never done an ironman, riding a bike twice, swimming twice, and running a handful of times in the past 2 years. So basically my training was completely crossfit, three days on one day off. The last brother did not finish the bike in time to start the marathon. He did not train, did not eat well, but had done 2 or 3 Ironman triathlons previous.
The swim (2.4 miles) took me an hour and twenty minutes, (only twenty minutes longer than it took me to swim 1.2 miles in 2007, which I didn't train for either). This portion was like being in a washing machine and a wrestling match, your climbing over people while trying to fight waves. Good thing ithe race wasn't today, a hurricane is hitting florida.
The bike took 8 hours 3 minutes. This was boring, and my butt hurts. I was never confident enough to drink and drive, so I'd pull over to get water. (shut up dave).
I ran the first 20 miles, but then my legs cramped up and I had to walk the last 6.2. During these 6.2 miles I would try to run, I'd pass some people and get a ways ahead, then when I'd walk to stop my legs from cramping, the people I passed would pass me, WALKING. So I decided I'd try the speed walk. Speed walking is the most depressing thing, ever.
Though I didn't exactly beat my brothers on the race, I finished. And I can deadlift way more than them so they can EAT IT!
If anybody has questions on how to prepare for a fast pace during an Ironman, ask David Buckles.
If anybody has questions on how to prepare for an Ironman with the smallest amount of training possible, hit me up.

What did I learn?
Ironman's suck.
Riding a bike is boring as crap.
Swimming with a wet suit is pretty much cheating because you float.
Don't rent a bike, because if you do it will probably end up being two small.
Apparently you can walk/limp through the marathon and still call yourself an ironman.
Riding on a bike can bore you to tears.
Apply your own sunscreen, or have someone you trust apply sunscreen on you.
Have clothing that is easy to remove so you can enter and exit the bathroom quickly. (This cost me BIG TIME).
Riding a bike is boring as poop.
If you want to eat good fats during the race, bring your own because they don't have any there for you. (Not even almonds or pizza, I had to steal potato chips from volunteers).
Swimming in the ocean makes your nose runny.
Don't let your brothers push you into something as boring as riding a bike for eight hours.
Training for triathlons is for the birds, just do crossfit.
Did I mention the bike ride was boring?
I do however recommend getting your butt adjusted to riding on a bike, that crap hurts.

CrossFit is amazing, and here is why:

I get a better workout in twenty minutes then I do riding a bike for eight hours.
In that twenty minutes I can get a good cardio workout, while reaching gains in strength too.
Loud Obnoxious Music.
I can do it every day and not be bored out of my mind.
The results are measurable.
The crossfit culture is amazing, pretty much anyone I've met in Crossfit is super chill.
and on top of all this I can drop heavy crap from overhead and scream and people don't look at me funny.

What do you guys love about Crossfit?

Thanks for reading my novel. Thanks for everyone's support and love, I love all y'all and can't wait to get healthy so I can drop heavy stuff from overhead, but until then I'll be tearin it up with PVC pipes.

You guys are crack ups!! I loved reading your stories!
This place is all mushy and I just love, love, love it!

Dear Dave,
I will try my darndest to be ready "on time" today. Thanks for the heads up, pal.

And...Happy Birthday Marines

excellent story Heber, I can't imagine sitting on a plane for several hours after and endeavor like that. Bryce and i walked around like zombies every time we hit a pit stop on the way home yesterday.

Thanks for telling us your thoughts on the triathalons Bryce and Heber. Heber I could have saved you a bunch of time. I've never done an ironman but I could have told you it was going to suck. Next time you have to travel 112 miles I suggest you try this invention called the car. It will get you there much quicker and with minimal effort. I agree that dropping heavy stuff from overhead is way cooler than being able to walk fast. If you think that floating because of the wetsuit is cheating than I suggest you wear a weighted vest to counteract the buoyancy. This will allow you to swim under all the other swimmers to avoid the wrestling match that is occurring on the surface (if only you didn't have to come up for air).
Congratulations to you both on your accomplishments. I am proud of you guys for still being alive and being able to finish. But If you are true ironmen than you will do the WOD today:)
Happy Birthday Marines!