#2: 13 Questions With.....

Without further ado, allow me to introduce to you 13 Questions With.....

Andy Blasquez!!

Andy' active family!

I have known Andy for a few years now through the triathlon group Team Macca X where a 500+ diverse individuals from around the world and we are like one big family, we are all there for one another which is very special. This is also how I met my last interviewed member Tim Ford.

My reasons for choosing Andy for my #2 of 13 Questions With..... is due to his big heart and the love that he portrays towards his family.

Family is so important to me, I have made mistakes in the past that has pushed family away but through that experience I have learned the true value of family and because of that I respect anyone that can train for an ironman, balance work, life, emotions and most importantly raise a family.

Now no one is perfect and I believe Andy would agree neither is he however, he is a Husband and a Father attempting to be the best he can be and show his kids that anything is possible "I just want to show the boys that a) Don't worry about falling down. That happens when you take risks.  It's about getting back up again. and b) The lessons I've learned in this journey are more about character than fitness.  These lessons continue to overflow into my whole life.  They make me a better man; more humble, more willing to work, more willing to help."

Now I have learned a few things about Andy over the last few weeks, one thing which I know pretty well, is that a smile can hide what you are dealing with, he has also told me about stories from his younger years, hardships, his addiction to seeking adrenaline and his reason to keep trucking forward despite having his biggest race ever cancelled on him 4 minutes before start time.

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1. Andy, firstly thank you for your time! to get the ball rolling tell, me about this adrenaline seeking that you have? as you know I did motocross for 17 years so you have captured my attention. "I don't know why, but I struggled with depression on and off for as long as I can remember.  I tended to be a pretty successful young guy. Things came easy; friends, sports, academics, flirting with the cute gals, but when "the show" was over, depression always crept in. As a result, I really did dive in to anything that could get my adrenaline going. I loved American football, but only until I played Ice Hockey.  It was faster; more dangerous. Then that got old too. Then the true "X-Gen" really came out in me.  BMX, Downhill mountain biking, snowboarding, motocross, street luge, and on and on. The faster, stupider, and more dangerous it was...the more likely I was already doing it."

2. That is really interesting, I guess the activities made you focus on living in the moment rather than over thinking everything else, so, how did you get into triathlons? "My brother and I were into racing road racing and after accident where I had a head injury, broken neck, back, hands, femur, ribs, shoulder, sternum, collar bone, etc.  That did it.  I still suffer daily from the effects of that race weekend. So I guess I had to learn a new way to make myself suffer without drawing such negative attention to myself?  You guessed it, buddy.  Triathlon."

3. You mentioned things have come easy for you in the past. Was triathlon easy for you to pick up? "I said that things came easy to me.... But triathlon? Not so much.  I pretty much suck at ALL of it. I'm built more for MMA than a marathon. I think that is why I like it so much.  I just can't get it.  It's so elusive. It's not going to land in my lap. I have to go get it. Today, I'm still trying.

4. You mention you haven't done a full... I can remember the day you were meant to race IRONMAN Lake Tahoe but they cancelled it due to conditions (Click here for info) I can't imagine going through that after everything you have sacrificed. What went through your mind? "I apologize in advance for this one.  I didn't really know that I hadn't "shared" this story in its entirety.  I'd tried...but I'd never been able to...finally I guess it was time.  When we left the San Francisco Bay Area we'd heard about "the Fire".  By the time we got up to the north shore of the lake, you could barely see through the smoke.  Nerves really got me. I couldn't sleep at all.  11, 12, 1 am, then I finally fell asleep.  Expecting to wake up by the alarm, instead I woke with a lump in my throat.  It wasn't nerves, but smoke.  The entire hotel, the entire valley, the entire north side of the lake was filled with brown smoke. With the pros on the line and AG's in the queue, and only 4 minutes until the gun was to go off...the mic came on. "Athletes. We have some bad news!"  All I could think of is, "Yea!  It's cold as hell, raining, and I've got 140.6 miles to go before I'm comfortable again.!"  The mic continues, "We are sorry to inform you that, due to air quality issues, Ironman Lake Tahoe is being cancelled." Initially nobody could believe it.  My boys were looking at me with those eyes that were mixed between...what does that mean? Tell me that isn't right! and You can fix this, right daddy?" Scott, Jason, and I decided we'd swim.  I needed to swim.  We did the 1.2 and met at T1.  We rode, backward, to the summit of Brockway.  I'd made it to the top...for the first time. I was ready.  I have to say though, when we looked down toward Truckee, it was thick, dark-dark brown.  There is NO WAY that this race could have been run.  It was the only choice IM could have made. To add insult to injury, however, the event has been cancelled. That stung."

5. I can not even comprehend what that would have been like, why did you choose Lake Tahoe as your first Ironman? I heard it is pretty hard taking into consideration the climbing, altitude and usually unpredictable conditions. "I don't know what it was that attracted me to the event.  I don't know why Arizona or Florida don't interest me a bit?  I'm attracted to Lanzarote, IMLT, Boulder.  You know?  So I went up in 2013 to volunteer so I could be first in line to register for 2014.   That said, before I got all the way to Olympic Plaza at Squaw Valley I saw what looked like a tornado had hit.  These athletes (some on bikes and some running or walk/jogging) looked like they'd been through hell.  Driving over the rollers put butterflies in my stomach.  The bike loops starts at 2100 meters and go up from there. I first volunteered at T2 and was charged with clearing out the changing room. With about 2 minutes to cut off, I ran into the changing room and it was like a triage unit. Pain was everywhere. I found a guy who was a complete mess, grabbed all of this belongings and said, "Come with me.  You have ninety seconds to get to the other side of that line over there.  If you're going to quit...quit there.  Not here.  GET UP!"  I walked him to the other side of the Bike to Run line, sat him down, and we had a chat while he put his shoes on.  He trudged away into the woods.  I have no idea if he finished, but that was a pretty special moment for me." Unfortunately, during this time Andy learned of some sad news, his cousins husband passed away in a wing-suit accident "Well, I got a phone call while volunteering and my aunt asked if I could help her pick up his truck.  I thought, Sure!  I'm here already!  Then she said, "You didn't hear?"  Me, "No?  Hear what?"   Aunt Jenny, "Walden was just killed in a wing-suit accident on Mt. St. Helena"" Andy was "I stopped the car, half way down the driveway.  My wife said, "What's wrong?"  I said, "I'm gonna do it.  I have to do it.  Can we do it?"  The four of us decided that I would. We went inside and registered. I was in.  I would do it for Walden. For his wife (my cousin Danielle)"

6. I am sure he is looking down on you proud Andy. Do you think you will be back to race IRONMAN Lake Tahoe? Sadly, the entire event has been cancelled.  I won’t have a chance to do that race.  So…someday…Yes I will do it alone. The solitude and the effort will make help mend the ache.  Plus, I want to show the boys that a) Don't worry about falling down.  That happens when you take risks.  It's about getting back up again. and b) The lessons I've learned in this journey are more about character than fitness.  These lessons continue to overflow into my whole life.  They make me a better man; more humble, more willing to work, more willing to help."

7. You are very driven, I respect that! Can you tell me about your family? You and your wife are always smiling in your photos, its beautiful to see. "Yea, Adrianne was young and pretty...but that wasn't it.  She was a bit sassy.  She was courageous. Not in a stupid way, like I'd been, but in that, "I'm going to take over the world" kind of way. The kind of gal that never studied, but breezed through high-school, college, and graduate school without breaking a sweat. Always with the highest marks. She's fantastic at things I'm horrible at, and vice versa. It might sound sappy, and you may remember this, but we broke for a short bit.  That's when we knew we really wanted to be together. SO happy this time around.  Indebted to her for taking me with all of my faults.  Many of those faults I find hard to admit...even to myself.  She's a strong one. As for my boys, they are my purpose. Michael James,  He's 10.  Big as a house.  Funny as can be. Bright, kind, and really, sensitive.  He's a bit of a young soul, and I'm good with that.  I couldn't love him more than I already do.  Jeffrey James, He's 8.  Physically, he's incredibly strong, but his hear to so, so loving. They both have legs like a racehorse. If they ever end up cycling...watch out.  They'll be breaking' chains!"

8. Your boys sound like they are the world to you, do they keep you on your toes? They're special boys. They keep me going. They were by my side, at 6:26AM, standing in the rain on the shore at Lake Tahoe when the announcement came that it was cancelled.  I don't think they're over it. Now...I need to cross that line...as a model for them. I want to do IM Boulder...for the splendour. I want to do IMLT on my own, for my own peace. I want to put that damn race in the books, even though there's not going to be anyone there. Nobody but my wife and sons. I want to show my boys that you don't give up. Our mantra has become #itsalwaystooearlytogiveup"

9. How do you manage to balance training for an ironman around family? "I struggled to balance work, family, being a good husband, and building for what seemed like an impossible task. I'd bike when I could, but we lived in the flats. I swam a lot. I ran at night, often late at night.  It was more often than not, when I'd put the boys down to bed, read 'em a bedtime story, kiss 'em on the head, then walk out of the room to, "...Dadda? I love you!"  "I love you too boys."  "...um...Dadda?"  "Yes?"  "um, are you going to bed now...or are you going to the pool again?"  It was hard to find the balance. I put in about 10 to 12 hours per week, then as we got closer I started my long rides; my long days.  Once a month I'd make the 4 hour drive to Lake Tahoe, Ride one of the two bike loops, do a short 5k off the bike, and head home. Important times for me.  LOTS of soul searching on those drives.  Lots of alone time on the bike, visualizing success."

10. What events have you raced and what has been your favorite and what do you have planned? "To date, my first race was IM California 70.3, then Folsom Long Course 70.3, Surf City 70.3 in Santa Cruz, CA, then IM St. George 70.3.  If I can mend well enough to get to it and through it, I'll do HITS Palm Springs 70.3 in December of this year. "

11. What accomplishment would you say you are most proud of so far? For me, if I had to choose only one, it would be the relationship I enjoy with my wife. We really have been through hell. Neither of us broke. We are more in love today than the day we said our vows.  I am proud of the fight we fought, and that we never gave up. I love her, deeply.

12. I love your honesty and commitment mate. To keep my tradition running, what did you hope that I’d ask you, but haven’t?  And what is the answer?  Brilliant question. I think this interview has been deep enough.  Let’s lighten it up and simply ask, “What race would you like to race, more than any other.”  Honestly, I really want to do Kona, but not for the reason that you might think.  My parents used to live in Hawaii.  I really do think that Hawaii is a special, special place.  There’s something magical; natural that happens over there.  I’d love to honour the islands.  To really learn the power of NOW, but soaking in the sun, loving the wind, smiling over the hills, embracing the spirit of aloha.  Yeah.  It might sound really lame…but I’d love to just be at peace at Ironman Kona.

13. I feel it is important to mention thanks to those who are always there for us. Would you like to give thanks to anyone?  Again, pretty fantastic question.  Of course, I need to thank my little family.  My wife and sons really do understand how this sport makes me a better husband and father.  It makes me a better person. I need to thank Team MaccaX too.  The support I’ve received from members of the group has been overwhelming. But as much as anyone, I’m indebted to my younger brother, Tim.  He has always been there for me.  Through all of my pain; through all of my mistakes; through all of my growing…he’s been there.  He’s still there.  I know I’ll get that “full” in the books, and more to come after that.  For now, I’ll do what I do, which is to stay grounded; keep balance, and to offer my support to whomever is in need.  Thanks Mike; for this honour and this opportunity.  Hugs brother.  Big, big hugs.

Thank you so much Andy, its been a pleasure talking with you and thank you for being so open, the whole point in "13 Questions With....." is to share the stories of amazing athletes from all walks of life. I am sure you have opened some people' eyes to how hard training really is but also, how important it is to have a healthy life balance and show those who support you your gratitude and love. CLICK HERE to Andy' interview after the Lake Tahoe cancellation to get a true understanding of the conditions.

Until next time, thank you for reading and train hard :)

Robo