44 Things About The Beast

There are the things you already know about me. I like to workout. I like to eat healthy. I like to run a podcast to help you do the same. However, there’s a lot more to me that would give you a much better connection to me so today I’d like to share 44 of those quirky, unique, normal, chaotic, interesting, and boring things about myself, The Beast.

I could probably set this up a whole hell of a lot better, but I’d rather just dive right in.

*Also, I stole this idea from Krista Stryker so check hers out by clicking here.

1. I broke my arm on my very first grinding attempt on roller blades. Back when roller blades were cool, I would spend all of my time away from school and basketball wandering the hardcore streets of Sacramento, California. I was always the first kid who would do the stupid sh*t others wouldn’t. That’s not bragging as it was stupid and I got hurt a lot doing it. Anyways, the roller blades were retired a long time ago so I doubt that will be happening again anytime soon.
2. I sobbed for 30 straight minutes right after my first marathon. It was the most fulfilling thing I’d ever done, but damn it was exhausting. I wasn’t prepared for finishing a marathon, but I did and I will always look to that accomplishment as a major feat in my life.
3. One of my true loves is Sydney, Australia. There are some places, whether cities, buildings, arenas, beaches, etc, that people have an unexplainable connection to. Sydney is that way for me. How Frank Sinatra felt about San Francisco, I feel about Sydney.
4. I have an addiction to buying domain names. I always think that I have more time than I do so I buy more domain names to do projects that really never get launched. Just ask Benny and Caleb.
5. I wanted to name our son Sydney, but my wife thinks it’s a girly name. Unfortunately, I tried to win this over her with a flip of the coin (and I actually did win a coin flip on this), but that still didn’t work. I am hoping for a girl the second time around so I can get that Sydney name in the family.
6. I got chicken pox at a somewhat later age of 14. Most kids get them earlier and they aren’t as bad. Unfortunately, I got to experience the pain over a 6 foot frame instead. Not fun.
7. I sold my first profitable website only 10 months after launch and bought my wife’s engagement ring with the dough. Probably not a great idea as the site was really taking off for it’s infancy, but I am happy I was able to get my wife a ring that represented a lot of what we believed in (see Brilliant Earth for more about ethical jewelry). I didn’t sell the site to buy the engagement ring. I sold the site as I was tired of talking about simplifying life in list posts. Buying the ring is just what I happened to do with the money.
8. While in season, I eat a whole watermelon per day…on average. Yes, there are some days where I eat more than 1 watermelon. I figure there are worse things to be addicted to. (see #22)
9. I am not a fan of Harry Potter and/or Lord of the Rings. I didn’t (and honestly still don’t) understand/know they were different books/films. Sorry, just not a fan.
10. I am an extreme introvert. I love being by myself most of the time. I love to workout on my own. I get anxious and uncomfortable in large settings of people. I like to keep everything inside. I actually enjoy being an extrovert.
11. One of my favorite phrases that I use daily is, “No Worries.” Picked this up in Aussie and I have used it every day since.
12. I lose interest…quickly. Whether it’s wanting to move onto another project while I have 20 already going on or someone is just generally talking, if I am not interested, I move on.
13. I like to disagree to disagree. Most people I have interacted with in life hate people who disagree with what they assume to be the only right answer. I love pissing these people off even if I somewhat agree with them. Why? Then I really find out whether they have a true understanding of their own argument. Plus, it’s fun seeing people get super frustrated when I question their beliefs.
14. I used to be super-competitive and a poor sport, but have (almost) totally given up on those ways. Though I may push it a bit harder in a race here and there to pass someone, I don’t flaunt it or point fingers at the person I passed these days. I used to love competition with others, but now I just compete with myself. A lot more satisfying and less depressing.
15. I used to believe muscles were the only thing “true” fit people focused on. Boy was I wrong. The fittest people typically are those the furthest from a gym. Don’t get me wrong. I still love “hitting the weights”, but I workout in a lot different ways these days.
16. Podcasting has been one of the most fulfilling one’s for me to share my knowledge and experience on health and fitness. I put it off for the longest time, but once I started, I loved it. Unfortunately, while still in new and noteworthy, I got sick and couldn’t take full advantage of the growth potential. Each episode in February 2013 was downloadable 400+ times and since has averaged 150+ download per day. Plus it is daily now (Monday-Friday) so we should continue to grow the community over the next few months. Check it out here.
17. I can’t sit still. My wife thinks I have ADHD. I would agree, but would never take pills for it. I’d rather just workout a ton and keep tapping my foot constantly.
18. My greatest personal accomplishment and greatest moment of my life was running out of the Arco Arena tunnel to play in the high school basketball championships on the court I’d always dreamed of. This was one of my biggest dreams as a kid. It was only a high school basketball game, but that feeling coming out to the roar of the crowd still brings me chills.
19. I have NO willpower. I don’t keep cookies, crackers, or anything that I will not control myself with in the house because, well, I have no willpower. I can stop myself from buying it at the grocery store, but if it is in the house, I am eating it.
20. I have had an “oozy” pointed at me while at a pizza place during a robbery and, another time, I was mugged and one of the guys, after they got all of my sh*t, said, “Just shoot ’em.” What are the odds?! I was never harmed, but they both were fairly crazy events in my life.
21. If possible, I would live my entire life with my shirt off. I wish I lived in Hawaii cause I would probably follow through with it. Denver doesn’t really allow for it. As an aside, I think more people would be healthier and more fit if they had to live with their shirt off.
22. I love licorice. Especially Australia-style licorice. Speaking of willpower, I’m an addict when it comes to licorice. That’s pretty much it on that.
23. I trained for most of my races for a few years in Arizona heat of 100+. I love the heat and thrive in it. I would put on my small running shorts, glasses, and running shoes, grab my running water bottle and iPod, and run for an hour in 110 degree weather. People would look at me crazy and I loved it. Now, I live in Denver where I just freeze. 🙁
24. I jammed past a kid in a half marathon within the last 50 feet to get 3rd place…or so I thought. Turns out, he had started later than me so his chip time was faster. Snaps! He was a nice kid and had a really cool name – Sky.
25. One of my favorite races is the World’s Toughest Half Marathon. I am sure there are others tougher, but the race coordinators coined it so I go with them. It is a half marathon that starts at the dolphins fountain at the pier in Santa Barbara and climbs to a peak of 4,500 feet. Absolutely amazing views from the top where you can look back and see the tiny little pier where you started. This race is PAINFUL.
26. I love and appreciate a quality Hefeweizen on tap. For those that play hard, they are allowed to drink well. Hef is my drink of choice after a rough day pounding pavement.
27. My fastest chip-timed mile is 4:36. I ran this in, of all things, a mud run. I wanted to beat the woman’s start which was five minutes after the minutes on the same loop. This was one of the toughest miles I’ve ever run despite being the first in the race. However, I burned myself out and finished 10th overall. It is what it is.
28. I was on a Clif Bar, veggies and fruit diet at one point. Not really sure why and I don’t suggest it, but damn, those Clif Bar’s are amazing. This probably lasted a month.
29. I wander the internet. It’s bad. I go through moments where I have no idea why I am looking at random stuff and then others where nothing takes me away from my focus. It’s an ongoing habit-building process to focus.
30. I am not a good swimmer. Don’t get me wrong, I can swim and I can surf and bodysurf, but when it comes to swimming laps or free-swimming in a lake or ocean for long stretches, I suck. This is something I just haven’t learned, but definitely plan on doing so.
31. If I had 24 hours to live, I would include a run in that 24 hours. It would give me a chance to reflect and be thankful. I think a lot during runs so it would be a great way to spend an hour of my last 24.
32. I benched 315 pounds within 2 weeks of running my first marathon in 4:06. That is tough to do considering I had so much muscle mass at the time of my run.
33. My only two major fitness goals in life are to qualify for the Boston Marathon and finish an Ironman. If I only did these two and nothing else in the rest of my life, I would be satisfied.
34. I have zero tattoos. I never really got into this and would only consider it to get the Ironman logo on my calf assuming I finished.
35. I was a better soccer player than football player and a better football player than basketball player…but I gave up both to play basketball. I loved basketball when I was young and despite the opportunities that were present if I played the others, I am happy with my decision.
36. I admire both men and women’s bodies. I am okay with my sexuality (happily married to my wife of 2 years as of May 7th), but love to admire the physique of both men and women. I know what it takes to achieve what “rocked” people have done so it is an appreciation for their dedication, focus, and effort.
37. I became known as the mean guy for turning down prom/homecoming dates. I hated high school dances. It wasn’t my fault that I didn’t want to go, yet the high school girl population turned on me when I turned a girl down in front of a bunch of people. I became known as that jerk.
38. One of my favorite jobs ever was being a produce department clerk. I liked being active and on my feet at work. Plus, I constantly got to eat whatever fruit was in season so that was cool.
39. I’d prefer to live in an area where I didn’t need a car. I hate driving. It’s such a boring thing. Currently, not an option, but hopefully in a couple years. Best suggested place to live without a car in downtown Ventura, California. Hands down, best farmers market year round there too.
40. I ditched my childhood basketball team of the Sacramento Kings for the Dallas Mavericks in 1999, exactly one year prior to the Kings finally becoming a good basketball team. This worked out for me when my Mavs won the title in 2011.
41. Dean Karnazes is one of my biggest idols. Met him in 2008 and that made the weekend despite not running my best race.
42. I didn’t tell any one of my family members or friends that I had a chance to play college basketball because I knew I had to give up the dream and move on. Though I missed basketball for years, this kept me from having to take on major student loans. Great decision!
43. If I could do it all over again, I would have focused on my loves (working out, running, entrepreneurship) at the age of 18 than drinking so much.
44. Forty-Four is my favorite number. 😉

That it!

Do you feel like you know me a little better now? Hope you enjoyed.

If you want to know more or just have a question, shoot it my way as a voicemail by clicking here.

Have a good one Beast Squad!