July 24, 2007

Back in the pool!!

So, after seeing my amazing wife run another triathlon this month, I got the bug to do it myself. I am such a copycat! This, however, gives me something else to work on while she's gone, along with covering the Fever and Vanderbilt football (and, you know, work blah blah blah).

So I've asked someone I work with to help me out and prepare me for this triathlon in the Nashville area. I like this one because it breaks up the run portion (making it swim-halfrun-bike-halfrun) and it's late in the summer, giving me a little more time to train.

If I do well in the training early and feel up for it, I'll try this one that's closer to home, which is nice because it gives me a push goal. It's exactly the same as the one that Meagan and I did last year, so I'll have familiarity on my side!

But I'll be pushing in training. I'll have only half the time to get back in shape, so it will be a push, but it will be a great push, especially if I can maintain it by doing some 5K/10K's throughout the fall so I can be nice and fit when Meagan gets back.

Speaking of which, I can't believe that it's almost August and almost time for Meagan to go. I'm so excited for her, but I already know that I'm going to miss her. I think that's one of the main reasons why I'm stacking all of these activities up while she's gone -- if I'm busy, it just keeps my mind off the fact that she'll be gone. Then again, it'll only hit me again when I come back from a run to an empty house or cross the finish line in Septemeber looking for her face and realizing she's half a world away. I'm bordering melodrama, I'm sure, but I don't think I'll know just how much I'm going to miss her until she's gone, something I don't like to think about since I already know that I'm REALLY going to miss her.

That said, I'm SO excited for her -- it's the chance of a lifetime, and I'm thrilled that the chance is hers. I only hope that somewhere down the line we'll be in a position where we can both go back and I can be a part of such an amazing experience.

July 06, 2007

New post!! Holy crap!

I've been very negligent of this blog recently, and to the four of you who still read this, I apologize profusely.

However, I have some fun news for you! I've been asked to write for Vandymania this fall and cover the Vanderbilt football games in person -- that means I'll be in the press box or on the field as the game goes on, which is tremendously exciting for me. Don Yates, the fella that runs the site, has also graciously offered to pay me for my time, which is most excellent as I can officially call myself a semi-professional sportswriter now! :)

As such, I've printed business cards, so if you would like one, please feel free to email me so that I can mail you one when they arrive. They reference the websites that I'm currently writing for, as well as a new blog that I've set up to archive my articles -- Michael O'Neill Journalism Feel free to check there weekly, as I'm hoping that as soon as an article of mine gets published, it will amgically appear there.

I may be branching out and covering other events in the near future (Brickyard 400, Indiana Pacers, Tennessee Titans), and will update both this blog and the sports one as soon as I find out for certain.