It's almost time to Unleash the Beast!

"It's all about the process, if I prepare relentlessly the outcome will take
care of itself".

That quote is from Simon Whitfield and pretty much sums up the last 6 months of training for me. He posted it on his blog a couple of days ago but I watched an interview with him on YouTube months ago and where he said the same thing and it stuck with me. I thought about it every day!



In the past 6 months have pushed myself harder and have been more singularly focused than ever in order to show up in Temecula ready to lay it down. There's nothing left to do. I have done the work, made the sacrifices, bled, and now it's time to have fun. Racing IS the fun part.

You can only control so much on race day. The only thing you can really do is show up mentally and physically prepared. On the starting line you either know you did everything you could of to put you in a position to have a great race or toe the line with doubts. I can confidently say it's the former for me. No matter the outcome I know I couldn't have done anymore.

The weather is looking perfect for Sunday... and by perfect I mean blazing hot & sunny... my favorite conditions!


There are so many people that have helped be get to where I am right now. I will need a whole post (it's in the works) to thank them all. Beth and my family are at the top of the list.

I used to get so wrapped up in training that I would shut everything out else out. I thought that is what was needed to "go fast". Don't get me wrong I am still very focused but Beth has helped loosen me up and have more fun both in training and away from it. Meeting her and letting her into my crazy life is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me.

me and beth living it up in Maui... post race.


Then there's my family... They ARE AWESOME and have been behind me 100% since I started this crazy mission/life of endurance sports in January of 2006. While I know they thought I was crazy they have always been super supportive. My sister and nephew Jake were basically my support crew my entire first season and even came with me to Maui for Xterra Worlds. I am sure I did not thank them enough. My parents and brother, even while living on the east coast, are very involved in my racing. I can count on a phone call within a couple hours of finishing a race from my mom and my dad (they are both on the line at the same time using separate cordless telephones!) asking me about my races whether it's the a big Xterra race or a local 10k... and now they have started calling asking about Beth's races. They are on it and I love it. My mom has my race schedule written on down on her calendar in the kitchen all the way back in Virginia!

Me and my parents enjoying a post race beer in Richmond last year


Even my aunt and uncle have shown incredible support which I didn't expect. Not that they are not awesome but I didn't know what they would think about a bunch scrawny dudes running around in spandex with shaved legs... but they are into it. My uncle is the one that got the "Team Walsh" shirts made last year when I raced (blew up in) the 70.3.

My uncle showing his support... getting his hair cut at the Xterra West champs last year to raise money for CAF.


Thanks to everyone that has left me comments, sent me emails, or called me with words of encouragement.

Sunday morning it will be time to Unleash the Beast!