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Source: Joseph Vinciquerra
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When I was twelve years old, I had to run around this dirt track out back behind my school for gym class. It was one half of one mile. It was 800m, and I couldn't - for the life of me - run it continuously, even though 98% of my classmates could. The following summer, I practiced running around that path (mainly because I didn't have anything better to do) and when I was thirteen, I could run it. Four times continuously.

When I was fifteen years old, I entered my first mountain bike race... And finished last. Yet my bike took me to far off places with more independence than a 15 year-old should ever be allowed to even dream of. And so I rode. I rode every day that I could. The following summer, I was racing in the Expert category, and finishing well.

I remember competing in my first road cycling race and seeing a horrific crash two bikes over from me just as clearly as I remember my first road cycling crash going 30 mph through a turn. I remember my first stage race at the Tour de Toona, which I DNF'd most gloriously. But I also remember the pilgrimage back to Altoona, PA the following year to finish what I started; finishing far from the top in GC, but finishing. I remember growing as an athlete over the following years, and the endless summers of racing every weekend with close friends and training partners all over the state, winning races when I could, helping others win races when they could. I remember winning the New York State Road Racing Championships. I remember my first foot-race, my first 10k training run, my first winter run, and my first discovery of trail-running and all the ease the open trails would provide my restless mind.

I remember my first multi-sport event; a dirt duathlon where I took second. I remember my decision to switch from cycling to multi-sport, and my dream to become a triathlete. Maybe even an Ironman triathlete. I remember racing the Shamrock duathlon for the first time, and missing the podium by one spot as it plays in sharp contrast to racing the Shamrock duathlon this past spring and taking second amongst the region's best. I remember buying a book called: "Total Immersion" which helped me teach myself to swim. And I remember when a 1000m workout in the pool was unattainable. I'll never forget the feeling of finishing my first open-water swim, nor will I forget the pride in grabbing my first podium spot in a sprint triathlon.

Finishing a marathon was an incredible achievement, and I can't wait to do it again this Fall. Faster, and with much more aggressive goals. Racing a Half-Ironman and coming in just a touch over 5 hours was beyond even my own expectations, but with the foundation laid, I'll be eager to see just how close to 5 hours I can get this August at Timberman. What an evolution it's been, for sure. And as of this morning - as of 9:15 am on July 24th, 2006, even I have a hard time comprehending that I've officially begun the next chapter in this story.

See you on the sand in '07.

Joseph Vinciquerra, Amateur Triathlete
Swim. Bike. Run. Repeat. This is our routine, our Grind. Joseph is an accomplished cyclist, marathoner and age-group triathlete currently residing in the Northeast and training for Ironman Lake Placid 2007. Coffee is a common theme with Joseph, as his love for training and racing is matched only by his affection for deep, dark, and complex javas. Between workouts, Joseph is an aerospace engineer, working for one of the world's largest research and development centers. Contact information: The Daily Grind Blog | jvinciqu@gmail.com.