What It's All About...

My first race with Tommy.

Lucy the Lab Goes for a Run

My first children's book that I am currently working on. I found an incredible artist, an Italian living in Dublin to do the illustrations. This book should be out in a few months and I hope to make it a series. They will focus on promoting positive messages about exercise and health to children through the character of Lucy the Lab.

Here is an example of one of the illustrations:

This is a side project while I wait for my new tell-all novel "Sweat in the City: Confessions of a New York City Personal Trainer" to be sold. I recently signed with the LKG Agency as my literary agency and am very excited to have them representing this book.

En Route to NZ

So here we go. 10 years after my first attempt at the Ironman and now I'm going back to where it all started. I'm sitting at JFK waiting for my flight to San Francisco; then it's a 4 hour layover, 13 hour flight to Auckland, 3 hour wait in Auckland, and a 3 hour bus ride to Taupo.

I cannot wait to race. Let the games begin.

Back to New Zealand

Almost 10 years ago I decided to do my first Ironman triathlon. I was working 10-15 hour days as a personal trainer in New York City, paying my dues and trying to establish myself in the fitness industry. I knew little about triathlons and even less about Ironman at the time, but it was a huge challenge and, better yet, the race was on March 6th, the day before my 30th birthday. To be an "official" Ironman finisher you had to complete the race before midnight, so I would have to cross that finish line before the stroke of twelve to accomplish this huge goal.

I was severly undertrained and unprepared for the race, but I could not have been more excited. Luckily for me, a few pro triathletes took me under their wing when I arrived. They quickly realized how much of a newbie I was and gave me great advice; from nutrition to clothing to how to fix a flat. All information I should have known and been practicing for months, but better late than never.

I was an abysmal swimmer and I had never biked 100 miles in my life, or even 75 for that matter. But my goal was just to finish. Running, walking or crawling. To complete this race with a smile on my face. To really challenge myself and start the third decade of my life off with a major accomplishment.

I survived the swim. I recovered from two spills on the bike. It was rainy and cold. But I plodded on, and I made it. With a exhausted-yet-triumphant salt-stained smile on my face, well before midnight.

Since then I have completed 17 more Ironman races around the world. Germany, Australia, South Korea, Malaysia, China, and a handful more in the US. I even went back to New Zealand in 2006 for a second time, but a typhoon caused the race to be cut back to just a bike and run. Now, in a few weeks time, I am going back again. A decade later, with the race taking place on my 40th birthday.

Reflecting back over what has happened in these past ten years, I am taken aback. I have made my passion my vocation. Books, videos, lectures, racing, a Master's degree and much more. As I tread the fresh water of Lake Taupo just before 7AM on March 7th with the helicopter hovering overhead, patiently waiting for the cannon to start the now long familiar day of suffering, I will think back on just how far I have come.

And just how much farther I want to go.

Merck Fitness Shoot

Shot a spot for Merck Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday in New York City. Worked with a great group including director Mark from Cinnabar Pictures. He's seated to my right in the picture - we're joking around while going over the script. Got to use a teleprompter which makes the whole process so much easier. We shot in front of a green screen and they'll be placing graphics behind me in post-production. I hope to ge a copy of the spot and will put it up on the site when I do.

In Memory of Jerry Luff

Growing up in New Canaan, one of the families in the neighborhood that we Hollands often played with were the Luffs. With twelve kids between the two families, six on each side, we definitely caused more than our share of childhood mayhem.

Jerry Luff, "Mr. Luff" to me, was disgnosed with Mulitple Myeloma almost a decade ago. When I was asked to be the coach of the new MMRF [Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation] marathon team I was honored and jumped at the chance. I now help runners prepare for half-marathons and marathons while raising money for this important cause. The MMRF is truly unique in its research and development of new treatments and Kathy Giusti, the founder of the MMRF and a survivor herself, is a remarkable woman who works tirelessly at working towards a cure.

I have run dozens of marathons all over the world but this year's Chicago Marathon will be truly special - I am running it in honor of Jerry Luff. I am also helping to raise money for the foundation; if you would like to support this tremendous organization you can do so here.

The picture is me with Mrs. Luff.

Midnight Run

Just returned from a late-night run. Ramping up my training for Ironman Arizona in November, adding in two-a-day runs. Did a quick four miles this morning, a one-hour bike this afternoon. Started at 11PM tonight and ran easy again for seven miles through the darkness and humidity, using only the occasional streetlight or passing car to find my way.

What an amazing run.

The last time I ran at this time was back in high school, one of the innumerable times I would have to drive my inebriated girlfriend home in her car, then run the two miles back home. This happened on numerous occasions; one night in particular stands out. I was running home yet again in the pitch darkness, navigating by trying to stay on the barely visible double yellow lines in the middle of the road. Suddenly from behind me I heard what sounded like footsteps in the distance. I picked up my pace, the footsteps quickened as well. I "dropped the hammer" and hit an all-out sprint, the footsteps got louder and louder, and were soon accompanied by heavy breathing. I suddenly found myself in the middle of a low-budget horror movie. At the last possible moment I looked back over my shoulder, now doing just over a four-minute mile, only to see the shadowy outlines of two enormous German Shepards closing in on me. I jumped up and over a huge stone wall, praying that they wouldn't end up on the other side with me, and luckily I ended up alone in a sweaty heap on the grass. I could hear them panting on the other side in the darkness, as if saying "We can wait. You've got to come out sometime, sissy." I must have sat there for an hour before the two finally crept back off into the night. I hopped over the wall and hammered the last mile back home, cursing my inebriated girlfriend while looking over my shoulder the whole way.

I think I'm going to do many more of these late-night runs to seriously increase my run mileage for the Ironman. No Ipod. No distractions. Just the chirping of crickets and the sound of my feet beating a steady rhythm on the road.