CHARITY IRONSTRUCK SIGNING

Sometimes you just have to do something. What has happened in Haiti is almost incomprehensible. Basically, an entire nation has been totally destroyed. There are very few buildings even standing and there simply is "no" infrastructure left. No food, no water, no schools, no hospitals, no homes, and in many, many cases no mom or dad, no brother or sister, or maybe no family at all.

So many of us in the past, including myself, are quick to reason that there is little that we as individuals can do to help with a disaster of this magnitude. Sure, Canada and many of it's people pitch in to help right away. However, it seems like it's always the same people. There are many of us who do not know what to do or who to trust with our cash donation. Will it get to the desperate people we are seeing on the T.V. and in the newspaper?

I believe there are several fine charitable organizations that have their heart in the right place and are almost always the first at ground zero when disaster strikes. I believe Samaritan's Purse is one of those organizations.

If you happen to live in Calgary, come by Market Mall Coles bookstore on Saturday January 23rd between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and buy one of my triathlon books for yourself or someone you know. They retail at $21.95. For every single book sold I will donate the full value $22 to Samaritan's Purse. So if I can sell 20 books, I will donate $440. If I sell 50 books I will donate $1100.

Every single person who buys a book will be part of this effort.

The Calgary chapter of Samaritan's Purse will be filling thousands of bags with hygiene products for the people of Haiti. Soap, shampoo, shaving supplies, and toothpaste are just a some of the over one dozen products that will be in each bag. They are meant for families and will have a wide range of products.

Anyone who buys one of my books will be supporting this project and the people you are seeing on T.V. are the same people that will be receiving this package from Samaritan's Purse as fast as they can be packaged and shipped.

Samaritan's Purse has been in Haiti since day one. They have a barge full of tons and tons of heavy equipment and temporary shelters in the Gulf making it's way to Haiti. They are also putting water purification systems in place. Samaritan's Purse is in Haiti for the long term, as re-construction of Haiti will be a mammoth undertaking.

Come out and buy a book or if you live in a distant city do whatever you can to help the people of Haiti any way you can.

Do it in a big way, or do it in a small way, but just do something because ultimately, we all belong to the family of man and should help each other in the hour of need.

Another Tri Season

As the holiday season is over you can almost feel the on-rush of adrenaline in Calgary as the start of another tri racing season is in sight. Sure there have been races going on in other parts of the world with warmer climates, but the bikes have been parked and the wetsuits have been hanging in the closets in most of Canada for the past several months.

There are some burning questions about the coming year that I can't seem to get off my mind.

--Will Craig Alexander show up in Calgary in August and be part of Ironman Calgary 70.3. It seems that it's the least he can do for not showing up for the 2009 version.

--How big will the Ironman Canada field be this year and where will it all stop? I believe there were around 2600 starters in 2009.

--Will I ever be able to get through chapter one of book five?

--Will Ironstruck...The Ironman Triathlon Journey ever reach best seller status?


By the way, if you are looking for one of the best resources ever for triathlon and running books, be sure to visit Mindset Triathlon. You will save 30% by downloading books plus there are never any shipping charges to worry about. This is a great alternative for runners, beginner triathletes, or the novice Ironman. You will also find both of my Ironstruck books on Mindset. Currently both Ironstruck books are ranked in the top ten on the Mindset best-seller list.

Click on their banner and have a look at the great books that can get you off on the right foot as a new season begins.



MINDSET TRIATHLON: The ultimate online book resource center that will help you achieve your triathlon goals.

IRONMAN CALGARY 70.3---TIME TO ENTER

Another year is upon us and it's around this time that many triathletes start looking seriously toward the upcoming triathlon season. One thing I learned over the years is just how fast the eight months between New Year's and Ironman Canada can "FLY" by.

The entries to Iroman Calgary have been open for some time and this could well become a world "destination" race and will most likely be a race that will sell out every year. The fact that race organizers did such a great job in the inaugural event make this all the more likely. Even today I still run into people during book signings who say how much they enjoyed the spectacular point to point bike course.

It might be a good idea to think about signing up in the near future so you don't get left out.

Best of luck in all your upcoming training and racing in the New Year.

TRAINING NEVER STOPS

With triathlon in so many times zones around the world it's as if triathlon training never stops. There is always someone with an Ironman race coming up in the near future it seems.

Finished my book signings for the year with a great 3 day signing event at Market Mall. I set a target of 50 books total for the three days and that was a stretch as my tri books require just the right type of person to walk by my table. A novel for instance, would appeal to a much more diverse dynamic.

It was really pretty funny. I was at 48 books with 15 minutes to go on my last day and began to pack up because another author was scheduled to show up and take over the table. Patsy the manager said, "well you might as well keep going until he shows up". At five to three(my end time)I sold book 49 with no other author in sight.

"You might as well stay for a while longer" she said and at 3:10 I sold book #50.

I had made an appointment for 4p.m. expecting the other scheduled author to be there on time, but when I left at about 3:20 he was nowhere to be found. Too bad I had made that appointment. No telling how many more books I could have sold if I had stuck around.

My newest book "TRIATHLETE IN TRANISION" has done very well and is being well-received. At the same time people are still buying Ironstruck. My Ironstruck books have begun selling by word of mouth now that I have a few thousand copies out there.

Don't forget to visit Total Immersion if you need to get your tri swimming on track. Total Immersion is the perfect swim technique for triathletes as it conserves energy be helping swimmers stay relaxed and prevents the heart-rate from sky-rocketing and burning much needed energy in the process.

DO YOU NEED SWIMMING HELP?

TOTAL IMMERSION....Simply one of the best swimming techniques in the world today for triathletes of any level.

TOTAL IMMERSION is offering all ironstruck visitors a 10% discount on Books, DVD's, and all other TI teaching tools.

Simply click on this linktotalimmersion.net/store/go to the store page and type ironstruck(all small case)into the shopping cart coupon box and you receive your 10% discount automatically.

If you have your own website or blog and wish to increase the amount of your unique visitors, you might give these guys a try. They really seem to know that they are doing and in the first week or so they have already sent around 100 new visitors to my site and several have listed Ironstuck as one of their favorites. Increasing the monetization of your site or just trying to share more of your passion with the World Wide Web is just one simple click of a flashing button away.

Remember that my tri books are also available as downloads on Mindset Triathlon. Currently my two Ironstruck books are among the top ten in the top 100 list.

By the way, if you are looking for one of the best resources ever for triathlon and running books, be sure to visit Mindset Triathlon. You will save 30% by downloading books plus there are never any shipping charges to worry about. This is a great alternative for runners, beginner triathletes, or the novice Ironman. You will also find both of my Ironstruck books on Mindset. Currently, "Ironstruck...The Ironman Triathlon Journey" is ranked among the best.

MINDSET TRIATHLON: The ultimate online book resource center that will help you achieve your triathlon goals.

Have a great Holiday season and rest up for another triathlon season that will be in full swing in another 5 or 6 months.

MARKET MALL(CALGARY)BOOK SIGNINGS

Well it's been a hectic time at Market Mall with Christmas book signings for Ironstruck. It looks like quite a few people will be unwrapping copies of Ironstruck...The Ironman Triathlon Journey, "Ironstruck? 500 Ironman Triathlon Questions and Answers, and my newest book "Triathlete In Transition" on Christmas morning.

Thanks to all of you who have supported Ironstruck and helped me realize a new record for a book-signing today at Market Mall. I will be back again tomorrow...Wednesday December 23rd for my final signing of the year.

It is a sure sign of the popularity of triathlon in Calgary when I encounter so many people in my Calgary signings over the year who are interested in taking up the sport of triathlon or know someone who is. There is just so much enthusiasm in this city and it's no wonder we were awarded the Ironman 70.3 last year.

With the organizers doing such a great job in the inaugural 2009 event, you can be sure that 2010 will be even better and will most likely sell out. Entries are open now for next year so don't leave it too long.

Best of the season to any visitors who happen to be reading this and I hope with all sincerity that you realize all your dreams and goals for the upcoming year.