Everyone Has a Story

I have always been intrigued by other people's stories. Where their journey has taken them and what they plan to go next. This is one reason a lot of the books I own are biographies or autobiographies. The most recent one I have finished was Anthony Ervin's, Chasing Water: Elegy of an Olympian. I vaguely remember watching him swim in the 2000 Olympics and a few times after that. Listening to him on the Rich Roll Podcast brought some of those memories back but shed light on something I didn't recall, Anthony Ervin has Tourette's. As soon as the podcast was over I ordered the book.

When it arrived I couldn't wait to put the first crease in the binding and get to turning the pages. The book is co-authored and written extremely well. The words flowed smoothly, which is saying a lot as they typically jump around when I tic, and made you feel like you were right there as the stories unfolded. Then he got to the Tourette's. He did a great job explaining what it is like living with Tourette's. As quick as I got to the part about Tourette's I was through it even quicker. I remember thinking to myself, that is it!?!?!

After finishing the book I got to thinking about my story. Yes, I have had Tourette's since I was 11.  Yes, I tic all day long, everyday. Yes, Tourette's is one thing I can always count on being there. However Tourette's is only a small part of who I am. This isn't to say I don't think Tourette's hasn't helped make me who I am today but it isn't all I am.

So as I tell my story I will never shy away from talking about Tourette's but I will remember I am so much more than my Tourette's

Thank you

I wanted to take some time, not much as I know how precious it is, to say thank you.  It is the support from my family, friends, and people I have yet to meet that keep me going. This journey has been a learning experience and I look forward to continuing to raise awareness for those living with and impacted by Tourette's Syndrome.  I have received support from so many people and in various forms too.  The support includes but is not limited to kind encouraging words, donations, sharing of my message, and design help. From my family to yours THANK YOU!!!

Life Time Tempe Tri 2016

Walking down the stairs to the water I knew I was prepared.  Three days prior I got my open water freak out out of the way, spent the previous 12 weeks training, and had raised awareness for Tourette's to the best of my ability.  It was now time to enjoy the day.

The water was a perfect 82 degrees and the sun had risen enough that it wasn't an issue for sighting.  The start line is a good 50 meters from the stairs which makes for a perfect warm  up.  I also believe this warm up helps with not freaking out 100 meters in, which was the case at the 4 Peaks Racing Splash & Dash.  I am not a floater so I am always happy when there is a kayak or dock to hold on to.  The Life Time Tempe Tri has just that.  I didn't catch the guys name but had a nice chat about swim starts, as we had the same issue of not wanting to waste energy treading water.  Before we knew it the horn went off and it was time to swim.

The swim was a normal swim.  I started in the back enjoyed my space and focused on breathing.  It wasn't until I made it to the 1st turn buoy that the waves behind me started to catch up and pass me.  I held my line and just kept swimming.  A major improvement is that I was in the fast swimmers way, sorry.  Why is this an improvement?  It is an improvement because it meant I was swimming a good line.  As all open water swims near the end I try to fully enjoy/soak up as much of the experience as I can.  I do this because open water swimming, while intimidating, is very freeing and I don't get to do it all that often.  I made my way to the stairs and was helped out by one of the many awesome volunteers.

Once out of the water it is a short run enclosed by spectators cheering you on to transition.  My spot in transition couldn't have been much better I was 4 racks from the bike out/in.  Very little time spent "running" with my bike.  Once out of transition and on my bike it was smooth sailing.  I really didn't train as much for the bike as I would have liked but like the saying...it was just like riding a bike.

I enjoyed the bike for several reasons; it is relaxing, there weren't any rude riders yelling at other riders, and I got to see many of my friends.  It is easy to spot people on the run.  The bike is a little harder.  I was still able to pick out Bryan, David, and Manoj just to name a few.  I cheered them on whether they heard me or not.  Before I knew it the 30 plus minutes on the bike was over.  I re-racked my bike, took off my helmet, changed my shoes, and was off on the run.

Tempe Town Lake is one of my favorite places to run.  The run is my go to and where I feel the most comfortable and this run was no exception.  I got into my rhythm and the miles went by rather quickly.  Two miles into the run my Jakroo top was the start of a conversation.  A guy passed me and we started talking about Tourette's.  Turns out his nephew has Tourette's.  Shortly after that discussion ended a friend spotted me and cheered me on as she passed on the bike.  How did she know it was me?  Could have been my ticcing gait or the tri top!  Which means awareness is being raised.

My favorite part of any endurance event is seeing my family at the end of the event and the end of this race was no different.  My wife does a great job of supporting me during my training and getting everyone out to the race.  Being the head of the cheering crew is a lot of work and she does it so well.  Got to meet one of my tri sisters after the race as well.  The Tri Mafia is another great support and can't wait to meet more of the family members.  As one event ends training for the next begins and that would be the Rock n Roll Arizona Full Marathon in January.

ScholasTIC Supporters

Why ScholasTIC Supporter?  That is a great question.  I chose this charity because I believe in their mission statement:

"To provide scholarships for college bound high school students with Tourette Syndrome in California; foster a love for learning and reward the perseverance it took to get to college"

As an individual with Tourette's who is also an educator and an endurance athlete, talk about needing perseverance, ScholasTIC Supporters was right up my alley.  I was intrigued but not completely sold.

I reached out to ScholasTIC Supporters to get some questions answered.  How did they get started?  Where does the money go?  How much of the money goes to helping those with Tourette's?  The answers I got were; a mother of a child with Tourette's who wanted to help families who had college bound students with Tourette's. the money goes directly to the scholarships, and all of the money, 100%, goes to helping those with Tourette's.  I had one last question.  How can I help?

After several emails back and forth we set up a Razoo donation site where I could collect donations for the scholarship.  I wish it was really that easy.  There were two less than successful attempts before we saw some success with the Razoo site.  They were great learning experiences and helped bring about some awareness but not as much as I had hoped.  This is where perseverance is paying off!

I share a little more of my story over on the Razoo site.  Stop by that page to read it.  Here is the link to my Razzo donation site.  While there leave a comment of support, share the page with others, and/or make a donation to help college bound students with Tourette's.  The whole purpose is to raise awareness and help show that anything is possible.  It is all of these reasons that make ScholasTIC Supporters and Ticcing Away the Miles a perfect fit for one another.

2.4k In 365 Has Started

Yesterday was the start of the 24k in 365.  What is the 24k in 365?  It is how I will be raising awareness about Tourette's.  I was diagnosed with Tourette's around the age of 11.  Yesterday I turned 35.  So I am Ticcing Away the Miles 100 at a time for each year I have been living with Tourette's, 24 years means 2,400 miles.  All of which will be logged before I turn 36.

Where did this idea come from?  About 2 years ago I started this blog to help raise awareness for Tourette's.  The blog is also a way I can share my experiences and show my boys they can do whatever they set their mind to.  Making blog posts went well for a very short period of time.  This didn't mean that raising awareness and preserving where still not a focus but posting about it took a back seat.

Over the past 2 years I have continued to run and cycle, mostly running.  Somewhere along the way I decided to add swimming.  I was not a swimmer and feared it greatly because of my tics.  How can someone with face, head, neck, shoulder, and torso tics swim?  In my fear controlled mind they couldn't.  Over the course of several months I overcame that fear and learned how to swim.  The was the start of #tri4tourettes.

Using both #ticcingawaythemiles and #tri4tourettes I took to social media to raise awareness.  I connected with some great people, completed several triathlons, and partnered with a charity, ScholasTIC Tourettes Supporter.  I wanted to put all of these pieces into something bigger.  That something bigger is bringing this blog back and starting #24kIn365.  I will share out more of the details as this journey unfolds but for now I got to start getting some miles in!

Refocused and Ready

My name is Brian and I have Tourette's.  I am bringing this blog back to life to help raise awareness of Tourette's, a vocal and motor tic disorder.  I plan on doing this by combining my passion for being active and my experiences living with Tourette's.  I was diagnosed at 11 with Tourette's and on Friday I will turn 35.  That means I have been ticcing for about 24 years.

Starting Friday (8/19/16) I will spend a year Ticcing Away the Miles with a goal of 2,400 miles, 100 miles for each year I have been ticcing.  I will count swimming, biking, running, and hiking in the total mile count.  This journey has been years in the the making.  I am excited to revisit, revise, and revive Ticcing Away the Miles.