Stop Posting ICE Rumors

STOP Posting ICE Rumors...

I got into it again this week, and like I tell people, its not personal, but posting ICE rumors is bad. Mostly cause 99.9% of them are fake, but even in the event you somehow managed to crack the inner workings of one of the most secretive agencies... it won't prevent them from coming and doing their dirty work.

It is well documented why you should not post these rumors, I mean just ask google or ChatGPT, "why you shouldn't post ice rumors", it will tell you clearly why it is bad (image attached).

click to enlarge

So, for those of you, and its been several, who got offended when I commented on your post that it is bad to post ICE rumors, and kindly asked you to take them down... and you got upset. My comment started out polite, you interpreting it as an insult, might be because you actually didn't have good intent, then it became an insult.

I have mentioned this to lots of people, who were like, oh I didn't know, and took it down right away. THANKS! You rock. If you have other friends who post stuff, you could comment my blog link so they know its not good to post (and explains why).

I have mentioned it to people, whose motives I then have to question, who were like, naw I want to keep to it up. So for you I assume you,

A.) want to look important, "look I think I know what ICE is doing",

B.) want us to think, "hey look I care about immigrants", but you really don't, cause posting ICE rumors is bad,

C.) maybe you just thought, "hey I think likes and shares are more important than people's safety so I am keeping this up."

Anyhow... hopefully this helps others advocate for helping stop ice rumors. Also, great time to give the reminder that groups like National Immigrant Justice Center (I posted their KYR recently) and La Casa de Amistad have great resources on how you should prepare for what unfortunately is inevitable these days... If you aren't in South Bend, holler and I can help you find good local groups to you doing similar work.

Let's stop stirring fear, lets be ready, and lets fight for our friends and neighbors.

Present, Responsive, Consistent, and Credible

I was interviewed the other day by a site called Canvas Rebel and they asked me what I thought helped build my reputation in the region. Those four words popped up to me right away and I felt like the gut reply really captured my thought well, and authentically. You can read my full write up here: Meet Sam Centellas

Be present, be responsive, be consistent, and be credible. 

Present: I am there, I speak up, and I am where I am supposed to be whether I am tired or not. I think showing up is very important, speaking up about what matters is critical, and not being a wall flower but being part of pushing for whatever is next. 

Responsive: I answer emails quickly, and I make appointments and keep them. I think people under estimate the power of replying quickly, and more underestimate the power of giving your opinion. 

Consistent: this is hard as I am building a new company right now, but being consistent in what you say, how you say it, and when/why you say it is important. Always share why you do things, not just how. 

Credible: Do what you said you will do, everyday. Do everything with all your skills and don't slack, I do procrastinate, but I don't cut corners. Work hard where it matters and give it your all, ignore all the fluff and distractions.

I wanted to document these answers on my blog here and share it again. I also wanted to add something that I think is important as well, and thats about having fun. I never take myself too seriously, and also like to have fun and encourage others to do so. When we have fun and let loose, the real us comes through, and people get to know, and connect with, the real you. 

Sharing with people my love of cars, my love of tinkering, my love of trying new things... I would have made many less connections over the years. I hope the people who know me, might know me as a hard worker, but I hope they also know me as a fun car guy. 

Check out the interview... they pasted my bio in there as is, so ignore how dry that is, but the rest I enjoyed doing and thought it represented me well. 

Note: I am not perfect at any of these things, I don't claim to be, but I am saying they are important. I strive for these, and often fall short, but it doesn't mean I don't push myself to be better, and hope others push to be their very best selves as well. 

Why I Went

No Kings Rally. June 14th, 2025. 

I went. 

I have not gone to a "rally" in I can't remember how long... honestly since maybe when it felt like a part of my job at La Casa de Amistad. 

I'll tell you why I usually don't go to them... they feel often like a performance. Like a, "hey look at me, I believe these things", well, err, at a minimum saying, "Hey look at me, I want you to think I believe these things." 

I got jaded, honestly still kinda am, and was always disappointed in the follow through, follow up, and true actions of myself and many of the people who attend rallies. When it came time to help register people to vote, only a handful of LWV members (I love them!) and Greg Chavez (he was the best)... pounding pavement. When it came time to actually speak out again racism, to push against structural issues in our world that cause the problems we often protest... often crickets. 

Everyone wants to cheer at a rally, hold a funny sign, and post a social media video while standing in the middle of the street. When it comes time to do the work though... less people show and sacrifice to create the change.  

I thought about not going. I thought about my struggles with feeling like a hypocrite...

Who hold signs but don't donate to causes,
Who say abolish ICE, but can't drive to the westside to buy groceries,
Who march up and down chanting but won't volunteer,
Who have Black Lives Matter stickers, but drive their kids to all white schools.

I went. 

For sure not for the speeches... cause honestly most of them are just saying things to get cheers. Normally no one at a rally gets their mind changed, no Trump support listened and said, "wow that is a good point, I better take off this hat." When I spoke at those back in the day I would always tell people things to do to help. Like if you want to make this better, spend money on the westside, stop sending your kids to all white schools, donate to non-profits until it hurts. Are we more focused on padding our 401k than we are on supporting causes that matter?

Some of my advocacy wear.

I went.

Glad I was there for the kid, you maybe saw as well, walking around the place alone, with a pride flag and dyed hair, quiet and walking loops. They needed us there, so did some of the young immigrant kids, whose parents hear slurs often and are discriminated upon regularly... to feel welcomed. I think about the young black kid who walked by a sign that says racism is wrong. To know the discrimination they will face growing up is not their fault, that it is wrong, and that we are working on it. 

I really want less rallies and more people actively doing the things that are going to make the world a better place. Rallies don't change things, things change when you change and push others to change. What do I mean? Doing things like this:  

Shop at a Mexican grocery store.
Read about the economic oppression of black neighborhoods and what we can do about it.
Buy shampoo and brushes from a black-owned beauty supply store.
Volunteer in a program that supports low-income, minority, and/or immigrant communities.
Call out friends (or anyone) when they say something racist.
Donate to a cause/place that is actively involved in fighting racism, oppression, and that is helping to empower others. 

I went. 

It was for my kids honestly. I am not great about talking to them about these things, I assume they know how I feel, and what I think is important, but and it was a good opportunity to share with them. Not just that people don't like Trump's orange skin and hair, but that his policies are terrible and racist. That the people he appoints and promotes are not qualified, his policies are mega bias, and that racism is wrong. 

I am not rejuvenated, maybe more worried than ever, but hopeful. I am feeling, what can I do now? That is what I walked away from Saturday thinking. It is not enough to just try and teach my kids right, but how do we do more, how do we harness rally energy regularly, monthly, how do we advance causes that matter? How will do you do it? How will we all do more than just rally, how will do fix it all? 

I went. The following day, I went with the kids to Rosales Market to grocery shop, we got ice cream at La Rosita. It's something, it's a start. What are you doing differently now? 

I went. Glad I went. Now where do we go next? 

Trust the Process

Trust the process... often used in leadership development programs, or when you think about growth or capacity building, and lately I have been thinking about it related to politics.

A few weeks ago a local leader and colleague wrote an article about community engagement. Sharing the difference between Builders and Wreckers, and that lately lots of anger and frustration at public meetings had changed the decorum of many public boards. The article sparked a little controversy, on why maybe some people are made out as wreckers, and that it comes from years of frustration. Read article HERE. 

It all got me thinking about the process... and the public's ability to "Trust the Process" when we have realized that many of our processes are broken. Interestingly, Jeff's article above came out the first week of February, as the current administration (federally and at our state-level) really started going off the rails of traditional decision making and as our local school board started some extremely non-traditional decision processes. 

Right now we are not only seeing leadership by popularity, but we are seeing it by any means necessary as well, a brutal combo. 

Right now we are seeing a lot of, "This is what I was elected to", and then non-transparently doing a lot of things that don't really feel related to what they were elected to do. 

Trusting the process is easy, when structures you understand and checks and balances exist. Trust is easy when the people in charge want to help, but maybe just disagree on how. 

Trust is not easy when leadership only appears to care. To me the fake appearance of care is actually worse... as trust is impossible when you don't believe the person across from you cares about you or your future, but only about theirs. 

I mulled about what to write, drafted this, and like many blogs lately... let it sit in my que of unfinished drafts. Then, interestingly the other day cleaning out some storage space with Mari, she found a book a poems, from my fraternity Brother Tim Hall called... Trust the Process. I opened it up and thumbed through a few passages. In our fraternity we talk a lot about trust, leadership, and I create many of my views and ways I train on leadership to lessons and experiences during my time as an undergraduate and alumnus of Sigma Lambda Beta. 

Something from the book: 

"When the day looks impossible the couch feels comfortable
and sun rays splashing from the bay windows look uneventful.
and sun rays splashing from the bay windows look uneventful.
Trust the process.

When a conversation with your partner seems daunting
and your feelings eat away at your tongues ability to produce words.
Trust the process.

When depression is the dust that refuses to be swept from the floor
and all you want is freedom from having to clean up the destructive thoughts that fall.
Trust the process.

When song doesn’t sound as beautiful
and melody no longer scales your arms with goosebumps.
Trust the process.

When fear resembles the worn notebook in your book bag 
the rarely opened Evernote app on your phone
or the twice folded post-it notes dusting your desk that stare / and stare
and hover / and wait / and tire / and toggle and are misplaced
then are found and still not used.
Trust the process."

~ Tim Hall

That poem book spoke to me. Lots of small short things, some deep things, and this flowed through lots of different things I have been feeling lately. Gracias Tim. 

I think we all have to remember, to get trust, we give trust, to create change we have to be willing to change, to move forward we must be willing to leave things behind. It is easy to expect others to do what you think should happen, it is harder to do it, to be an example, to be flexible when we ask for it, to genuinely show care to those who don't show it to you.... to stand up for a fight you know you'll lose...its hard, but maybe that is part of the process as well. 

Since it is Easter season do I have the teachings and experience of Christ, the passion, and how that connects to trust the process maybe? Religion and how it has been distorted is on my mind a lot. So this blog doesn't have a purpose, except I need to blog more, share more, and trust the process. 

Injustice, Exclusion, Discrimination, and My Why

I am struggling ya'll... I think it has all crept up on me slowly, the negative talks about DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in our political stratosphere, of course how it impacts me, my history and my family, but last week it hit my work more directly. How do we walk back on DEI goals, DEI purpose, DEI initiatives... I hear all these companies and educational institutions just going through and removing all those words from their websites. 

It has me all thinking about what should I do? 

How do I talk differently about my work? How do I engage in the larger political spectrum about all of this above and beyond my work work? How does this impact my consulting work in supporting other nonprofits? 

I honestly rarely don't have just a strong gut reaction on what to do and just do it. I pride myself on being a focused and quick decision maker. I feel torn, on one side speaking up will create trouble, yeah maybe good trouble, but what might be the collateral damage of that trouble? Lose funding at work? On the other side, not speaking up sends a message that I agree, that I don't think it's a big deal, it doesn't align with what I think and feel. 

I wanted to put my feelings out in the stratosphere. 

I feel the opposite of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (good DEI) is Discrimination, Exclusion, and Injustice (bad DEI). Having good DEI programs has clearly not eliminated bad DEI. Has it made it better, sure, well maybe, I guess it is hard to say. Saying bad DEI is over clearly doesn't make it true. 

It feels nice to have good DEI programming, to me and to those positively impacted or that are receiving a service, program, etc. Clearly though it bothers those who think think good DEI programs have harmed them, their outcomes, and those of their children (reverse discrimination). 

I do know that sometimes good DEI programs are harmful, not just to those who claim reverse discrimination, but to the very people they are focused to help. So many programs that pander, lower expectations, and honestly reinforce the cycles of poverty that keep people in poverty. I have seen that all over from my time in higher ed, to community centers, to my current role in the CDFI industry. 

I have seen good DEI programs make tremendous impact. That inclusion for someone who was historically excluded, by giving them a "fair" chance at opportunity... is life changing. 

So what do we do? 

We know, well I know, that saying discrimination is over, doesn't make it so. I also know we need programs, education, services, etc. for those who have been subject to bad DEI. Nothing is perfect, good DEI along won't solve the worlds problems, putting our head in the sand and pretending bad things aren't happening also never solved problems. 

So what do I do? 

I think a lot of people are capitalizing on all the drama, on both sides... on the help side, I see it in two ways, one in making a business out of fighting what is happening, and two is in those offering to help you "realign" your DEI strategies. 

Interestingly,  I recently dusted off my OutSight Consulting website, and then maybe more importantly, and I was reminded when facilitating a workshop, WHY do I do things? I facilitated a discussion and used the Start with Why video... and now realize I am reflecting and thinking, "WHY do I want to do what I want to do and how do I talk about it all?" ~ with this DEI focus especially? 

So what should I do, and maybe more importantly WHY do I want to do it? I have honestly at times been debilitated lately thinking about my work and volunteer roles, not being able to focus on what to do, and I need to spend some time figuring out why I am doing things first maybe. 

New Year, New Traditions

Not a New Year Resolution... cause if you know me, you know... I don't do those. 

I do always talk about focus in the new year, and a search on my blog for "new year" and you can read a bunch of those, mostly about how the new year will bring new adventures... it always does, good or bad, bring new things. 

In my continued thoughts about transition, both in work and life, I was thinking lately about holiday traditions. My thoughts are usually always focused on the positive and the direction I hope the future goes in. 

This year though it was all clouded through uncertainty and transition, but also because I thought about how many holiday traditions might be ending. At first I was kinda sad about it, but then I thought, all traditions change, either slowly over time and evolve, or just go away, BUT the focus can be on the new traditions being created. 

Lot's of things did stay the same this year, like I love to cook a Christmas Roast Beast... a big Boston Butt, which also makes for some good booty jokes with the kids, amazing smells in the house, and leftovers all week. I drink an Irish cream of some sort while cooking and check it on while the kids open gifts. 

This year is maybe the last year for doing lights outside this house with Cruz. We have done it together since he was old enough to help, well before he was actually helpful... Ha. The tradition of sitting around as a family and decorating the tree is already kinda over, and I am trying not to feel some type of way about it. 

There are things didn't happen this year, and thats okay. Maybe you are reading this and also feeling some type of way about things that didn't go maybe either how you planned, or how they used to, or just changed. Maybe you lost a loved one, maybe you moved, maybe your kids grew up and didn't run down the stairs excited to see what Santa brought them... life moves forward, things change, it is okay. 

My focus... is on the fun new things that we did get to do this year. Maybe it was the first, and only year for it, or maybe they become a new tradition? Time will only tell, but I keep telling myself that all traditions start as a one-time act, on some day, being the "The First Annual"... 

Some maybe "First Annuals" here... Trip to Grand Rapids with Jenn and the kids to visit my oldest. This house and South Bend are no longer her "home" so we went to her home, and enjoyed time in her city. A ski trip, just me and the kids a few days before Christmas... hardly a tradition yet, and with Mother Nature all weird maybe never be a tradition, so this might have been the "First and Only Annual", ha. N got to stay and do Jenn and I's Sunday Brew Werks game time... usually we do it with the little kids, but they were in Detroit so we had an adult version with her and some friends who stopped in. 

Maybe a budding tradition... last year I did a new side view mirror on Ns car for Christmas, this year I did some other maintenance for her while she was here. Maybe not the most appreciated or fun gift, but sometimes gifts are as rewarding for the giver as they are the receiver. Another was doing presents with Jenn and the kids all together. 

As usual this blog is maybe just therapy for me, and hopefully therapy for you. All traditions started somewhere, they all end sometime, and they all get kicked off one year. Maybe 2024 was that year, or maybe you focus on making 2025 the year for new, and amazing, traditions. 

Folding Polos and New Chapters

Well September 2024 a lot of things wrapped up for me... weirdly for years now September has been a big transition month. This year was no exception, let's walk through them all. Little reflection on change and transition at the end. 

Empowerment Zone
Five years ago I embarked on the path of getting more involved in our public schools. I was asked to serve on the board of an independent non-profit board to oversee five schools that surrounded La Casa de Amistad in our district. I was honored to be asked by leadership in the Indiana Department of Education to take the role. We had lots of ups and downs, our first two years were heavily impacted by the pandemic, hard to create organizational and transformative change during a pandemic... but we innovated, we tried new things, we had successes, and of course some set backs and ultimately we even got an extension of our MOU with the district and state. 

I was appointed the chair at the onset, and served in that role until we recently voted to fold back into our school corporation. I honestly was sad to see it end, we had momentum rolling, dynamic leadership and initiatives... but changes to budgets and operational transitions just made it better for us to merge back with the corporation (News Article). Public schools in Indiana, and nationally, are at a major crossroads and I am not done being an advocate for change and improvement in our public schools. 

Street Survival
In 2008 I moved to South Bend and volunteered with the SCCA for a Tire Rack Street Survival school... I got to coach a student at my first one, and the following year they asked if I would become the chair of the local schools run by my club. I agreed, and it brought me a ton of satisfaction. I didn't get to coach anymore, but I loved running the program, talking to parents, recruiting coaches, and helping students. I was the 2017 Volunteer of the Year for the national program, and in 2018 was inducted into the BMW Car Club of America (they were the major sponsor) Circle of Excellence. I am one of few non-BMW owners in that circle. 

I got to meet the one and only Pete Veldman through the program. It was before I did fundraising, and he was truly a special man. I wrote a blog about it, The American Dream, and I got to work with his family on philanthropy for La Casa and through the Tire Rack on this program. Interestingly I had been wanting someone else from the club to take over being the chair in 2019... I had done it for ten years and thought time to pass on the baton. Well then pandemic hit, and until this year nothing pressured me, or the club to change leaders. My OWI a few years I know makes people question if I can/should be running a driving school... so I am stepping back and going to take a full break from the program for a while. 

IU South Bend
I moved to South Bend to work at IUSB in 2008. I worked there for four pretty transformative years in my life and fell in love with the community. I especially enjoyed the connection to the Latino Student Union, Sr. Cynthia, and those who got me roped in with the local Latino community. I developed my "Abuelitas Hands" lecture there, which I got to do a couple small tours speaking and presenting that around the country.. might dust that off again soon. It ultimately ended up leading to the job at La Casa de Amistad that changed my career trajectory. 

I was asked by the previous Chancellor to serve on the campus advisory board, AKA like their board of directors. It was a huge honor, as it was mostly major elected officials, mayors, and CEOs of large local companies. I blogged about that first meeting (Pumpkin Pie Titan). I served diligently, chaired a few committees, and in September I was at my max term limit for board members. So without much fan fair I rolled off the board. 

FOLDING POLOS
Shirts and things I use often are on hangers and ready to go. I had a couple SBEZ shirts/polos that I work for every meeting. Our meetings were public and we were often on TV. The Street Survival polo was the uniform we wore when volunteering so that will get folded and stored up. I will still wear my IUSB Fleece... that was a gift from the chancellor and as the fall weather sets in I'll wear that again soon. Always repping the Titans! 

So why am I writing all this... not sure, maybe just journalling my life. Also maybe sharing for others going through change that I feel you, its hard, doing something for ten years, you can't just walk away. You can't just fold up the polo and forget about it. Maybe I should donate the polos, but its nice once a while when go through bins to find an old shirt that reminds me an event, a program, and reminisce. 

I think having a ceremonial way to transition is important, create some closure. So maybe folding the polos and putting them away will help me move to the new chapter in life. 

While I will enjoying have three less things to worry about scheduling into my life, I will cherish the times I spent working on those and cheer others in those roles to future success. 

So here is to new opportunity, new adventures, and maybe a new polo shirt for the shelf. 

Birthday Headlight

Just needs a mechanic shirt...

I just turned 46, and someone asked... what was my favorite present? Well I got a few things, one was a present of time from my oldest when we visited Grand Rapids, Jenn as always goes out of her way to find creative gifts (cool insole creator for my dress shoes), and the kids usually get me something very practical (crocs and weighted vest). 

I usually get myself something that I have wanted for a while and spoil myself. This year it came with a special present from Cruz, and memories of working with N as well back in the day. My MKZ, my Lincoln, AKA the "other" Z, has been needing a new headlight bulb. While I appreciate so many friends who point out it is broken, it was getting annoying...

A new headlight bulb at the dealership is almost $400... yes, just the bulb, the tax of owning a "fancy" car (and a HID bulb). If you know me, you know when it comes to repairs I am CHEAP... especially when I am think I can do it myself for less. 

First step was, checking cost of bulb, well that was $130! What! No wonder the repair is nearly $400 from the dealer... so then I looked up on youtube how to do it... nothing, except how to replace the whole assembly with an LED (cheaper) version. Finally I found a how to guide and well, it looked complicated, but not impossible... I thought, I can do that, but faster and easier. 

Whew it was a lot!

So I thought, well it's a birthday/holiday weekend, and good excuse to bug my little dude to help. I got the bulb and carved two hours of time to get it done... figured while we are in there we do some other maintenance and service work as well. 

Well, it took longer than we thought, and at about the hour and half a mark, I got stuck trying to get some bolts out, and I was ready to call it quits. I thought, we are going to have to take the bumper off, and is a few more hours of my time worth trying to save $250? Or call it quits now, put it back together, and make an appointment at the dealer? 

So I talked to dude, and he of course was quick to talk smack... " yeah old man, I didn't think we could do it in time" (he had football practice coming up). My hands were already busted up, my face was dirty from grime falling from the wheel well on me... I asked should we quit, and he said its up to you if you think YOU CAN'T do it... and I took it as a challenge, but also as a good lesson opportunity. 

I watched the help video again, and then saw the next two bolts I needed and we got to work. We can do it, so why quit? I have the skills (Ivy Tech Degree) and the tools and I won't quit cause the going got tough. I focused, stopped rushing, and dude didn't bat an eye lash at my request he get under the car again and keep taking off the bump bolts and we got to work. 

It took about another 1.5 hours to get it done, and I taught dude a few things... while we took things apart we cleaned each part. Let's do it right while we are in there and do other work that is helpful once we take things apart. Little lessons like trying to find the right/best tool to make the work more efficient is worth the time. Also general lessons like important steps when lifting a car (jack stands, wheel chocks, etc,). 

We got it done, to change the headlight bulb we had to jack the car up, remove the driver wheel, remove driver wheel well liner, remove lots of under hood plastic trim, remove the grill, loosen (and practically remove) the entire front bumper, lower bumper shroud, and remove the headlight assembly... all in all about 20-25 bolts, 15-20 clips, a few wiring harnesses... and we got the bulb out, put the new one in, started putting it back together when I realized I forgot the dust boot on bulb socket, took it apart again, and then got it all back together. Lesson to him... don't rush, or you make mistakes. He had to leave to football, so technically I got it done, but he helped with all the hard stuff I just put it back together. 

Cleaned up!

I hope dude looks back fondly at these lessons like I remember working with my dad on things... I remember similar lessons with N as well and I hope N remembers those lessons positively (Old Post: Buelos and Thanksgiving). I know I am not always 100% best influence, but I tried, worked hard, and hope kids feel like it was time well spent with me. It was a nice present of time from dude for my birthday. 

Saved $250, taught dude somethings, and reminded myself I still know how to work on cars, even a newer hybrid Lincoln. Other planned work; I did wire up some new LED lights inside the car, routed in a new charger in the backseat for them, and replaced the air filter while I was at it... now I need to find time and some money to work on my fun Z next. 

Barron Lake Times 3

This past weekend was my third trip around the Barron Lake Triathlon. While visions of grandeur danced in my head, I had some improvement but overall left feeling, well, honestly a little blah. While I did take 2nd in my age group (of 5), I know since I decided a little late into the summer to try it, my 30 days of hard work leading up to the competition was not enough... I should have trained better, and could have performed better. What I did though, was focus effort on areas where I struggled in 2023. 

They say triathlons are just as much mental as they are physical.. well I totally felt that this year. I saw it last year, as my slow swim threw off my bike, but my running confidence came through regardless of how far behind I was in the race. 

                                    2019                  Goal(24)  2023                  2024
Swim (500 yards)       12:21(4th)         12:00        16:39 (5th)        15:17 (3rd)
Bike (15 miles)           53:32 (4th)        50:00        54:18 (4th)        51:20 (2nd)
Run (5k)                      27:29(3rd)        25:00        25:40 (3rd)        25:37 (2nd)
Total (+ transitions)    1:37:31(4th/4)                  1:40:04 (3rd/7)   1:36:29 (2nd/5)

So this year I had some more realistic goals, which maybe helped, but maybe also caused me to sandbag it a little. My swim goal in 2023 was 10, and I did it in 16 and felt terrible and it threw off my time on my bike as I was all down on myself. My swim goal for 2024 was 12 minutes, and my watch said I did it in 14, so getting out of the water I was feeling better. 

Some swim context... I remember last year feeling like the swim was a lot longer and no way I did that much worse as I felt like a better swimmer. In 2019, when I felt, and was slower, there were 32 (of 65 males) that swam it in under 10 minutes.. and a handful in under 6 minutes. So the field was not much larger than this year, so it had to be a shorter swim as my 12:21 time made me 55th of 65 total. So clearly in 2019 the swim was MUCH shorter so I need to ignore that 12 minute time then for now... but I will get there! 

The mental part that got me this year, was both of my transitions were bad. For example, the swim to bike transition, my class winner did it in 1:17, and it took me 2:41. So I was a minute and a half slower... I was three minutes slower in the swim, so now swim plus T1 put me 5 minutes behind him. The same on T2, transition from bike to run, the leader did it in 46 seconds, I did it in 1:32, so while only 46 seconds slower, it was perfectly twice as slow. In total, the leader did transitions in 2:04 and I did it in 4:14... thats over two minutes slower, and that part is mental and preparation. I have not paid a lot of attention to the transitions, but those 2+ minutes would have moved me up to top 20 overall, maybe 17-18th. 

The other mental part is my bike. Two things got me this year... but first let's start with the positive. I trained more for the mount, last year I was slow to get on the bike, I struggled to clip in, and had to stop and restart... cost me extra time and momentum... but also mentally cost me more as I again was off my game during my cycle time mad at myself. My blog last year described that a little, today I will focus on my tech. 

2024 Barron Lake Swim

I started the bike strong, I mounted well, got up to speed quickly and was feeling good. I had been training using my phone, which would show my current speed, and my average speed and I made a goal of trying to get to 18 MPH average... it was a stretch compared to my training times, but I thought it was possible. However, at the competition I realized phones were not allowed, and the rickety old timer on my bike, which gave me trouble at the start last year is all I would have it only gave me current speed. So I figured if I kept her above 19 MPH most of the time, it would average out for the hill climbs when I would be slower... good in theory, and I was off to a good start. Well shortly after the 5 mile mark... on a fast and bumpy downhill... my rickety timer... fell off the bike. Now I had no speedometer! I tried not to let it get to me, and I pushed on, but now I had to motivate myself! 

So to compare, I remembered that in 2023 the first half of the ride took me 31 minutes, and the second half took me 23 (at the mid-point last year I stopped feeling sorry for my slow swim and slow bike start and pushed it). So I know my times, and I hit the half this year in 26 minutes! That was 5 minutes ahead of my pace from last year, and if I could match my second half pace would be a cycle time of 49! Well here comes a confluence of issues... lacking tech, and being over confident, I went slower! I did the second half at 25 minutes. So the 5 minutes I shaved off the front half, I lost 3 of those minutes on the back half... being mentally over confident cost me time (I can blame tech a little).

Not much to report on the run, except a slight tech challenge again. On the transition, I missed twice trying to get my watch to switch from bike to run, and I stopped and waited in the transition area to make the switch. I think I was already near the gate so not sure how accurate my running time was... and that the 15-20 seconds I lost trying to get my tech right hurt. While I was "faster" I felt more gassed this year and didn't sprint the ending which I probably could have made it under 25 minutes... disappointed in myself. 

This year in 2024, the winner of my age bracket got a 12:02, and only two swimmers (of 50 men) swam faster than 10 minutes, and only 11 were under 12 minutes. So I feel like my 15 minutes was pretty good in terms per percentage of field. So I thought to break down some percentage of field stats and blended in some other stats as well. 

Total Times
2019 1:37:31 for 47th of 65 (72 percentile) weighed 153
2023 1:40:04 for 35th of 60 (58 percentile) weighed 155
2024 1:36:29 for 21st of 50 (42 percentile) weighed 151

Now this chart has me feeling much better than blah... climbing those percentages is great! Maybe the shrinking field means less top athletes are coming, who knows, but going from 72% of field to 42% feels good! Now I feel like investing in some more training or better equipment could be worth it. 

I included weight because in 2019 I felt in better shape, I had just finished my Fit for 40 drive. It doesn't compare to late 2020 when I had planned to tackle Barron Lake again (it was canceled) and was in probably my best shape of my life and running 22 minute 5ks... but that's another story. I did start this year weighing 166... heaviest I have been in 6 years and I cut weight pretty hard the final 30 days before the race. So that didn't help. 

So enough about my weight and back to tri data, the year over year comparison had me wanting to break down my growth by area... which while the swim is still disappointing, feeling good on climbing the run percentile! (also makes me more mad I didn't try to sprint the finish)

Swim
2019 12:21 for 55th of 65 (85 percentile)
2023 16:39 for 45th of 60 (75 percentile)
2024 15:17 for 37th of 50 (74 percentile)

Bike
2019 53:32 for 50th of 65 (77 percentile)
2023 54:18 for 39th of 60 (65 percentile)
2024 51:20 for 19th of 50 (38 percentile)

Run
2019 27:29 for 38th of 65 (59 percentile)
2023 25:40 for 20th of 60 (33 percentile)
2024 25:37 for 13th of 50 (26 percentile)

I got the bug a little more now... seeing the progress and how close I am to some higher ranking times... I want to try and see how much I can improve for next year now and maybe do I dare attempt a longer triathlon? So here is to hoping my joints stay healthy and this winter I can stay in solid shape so I build momentum into a better 2025 triathlon season.  

Previous Barron Triathlon Blog: 3rd Place at 2nd Barron Lake Tri

Crowd Goes Wild!

She touches the wall... Crowd Goes Wild! 

From USA Today, Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images file

This image is of Katie Ledecky winning a gold medal. Pic for attention (and credited in caption) but to talk about learning sportsmanship and the power of sports and competition to make people better people. My kids swam this summer, they have competed for several years now and both of them enjoy it in different ways and both take away different lessons... team work, value of working hard, importance of preparation, etc. 

As a competitive soccer player growing up I remember those lessons. It is why I have encouraged my kids to do sports even when they don't want to do them. 

This summer our swim team was missing one of my favorite swimmers. That swimmer reminded me just how awesome competition can be and the value of camaraderie. It also put achievement in perspective. 

Our swim team had a swimmer with different abilities. The swimmer normally came in last, sometimes behind by a lot, but never quit. What I love about swimming, and if you aren't familiar but you saw it in the Olympics, is that all swimmers wait in the pool until everyone is done. What I loved most about our team was that they would all be pool side cheering on their friend, clapping and encouraging, and when the swimmer touched the wall... crowd goes wild! First or last, they got cheers.

These life lessons are important, one for those with abilities to realize how privileged they are, and for those with different abilities to also know they fit in, just like they are, and we are all in this together. In a world that keeps trying to divide, make one better than the other, and push us to excel at the expense of others... I hope more people learn like my kids did, that where you finish will get recognized, but that finishing what you start, and doing your best, whatever your best may be, is more important. 

So many awesome olympic stories this summer reminded me of those, but those stories aren't all thousands of miles away, or require winning Olympic gold. Some of those stories are of a swimmer, swimming farther than they thought they could, completing something many others can't, and doing what many won't... pushing themselves to do something hard and getting to hear... Crowd Goes Wild! 

I am a competitive person. I like to win. I hope my kids know that I don't care where they place, but I care that they do what they said they would do, that they try their best, and that I want them to be able to look back at the end and say... I did my best, and for them to know I am proud regardless of where they placed. 

I want them to work hard, push themselves, encourage others and always have that feeling of when...

Crowd Goes Wild!