I Am Going To Own This Swim!

It's still in progress, but I am really confident that I am going to do well on the swim portion. Please remember that doing well is relative. ;-)

Why do I have this sudden surge of confidence?  Today in my swim class, after a week of not swimming because of being from insane Austin allergies or the flu or both, I hopped in the pool today and swam 3 consecutive 100s (longer than I ever swam before starting my training), and the last one was for time.  Even with a little fiasco with a lane mate (she thought floating on a kick board in the middle of the lane at the wall was a good idea) I managed to knock out my 3rd 100m swim in at time of 1:21.  I have no idea if this is a good time or not, but I was really proud of myself and it was far faster than I was expecting to have swam even my first 100.

Maybe my coaches are right, I'm swimming way too fast and could handle slowing it down a bit so that I can go even further.

Things are looking up my friends!

Now, if I just felt as confident about my Motor Learning test of Thursday. Yikes!

Getting a Little Run In

It was so nice to get a little run in today. Spring Break could be longer than a week if it wanted to be. I won't be mad. Promise. I was also super happy to average less then 8 minute miles, even with my alternating running and walking to keep my achilles happy. (Ps, it's still not happy).

http://www.active.com/donate/albo/GMGWZinser

Can You Limit Your Sitting and Sleeping to 23.5 Hours a Day?

I think this video is incredible, and while I'm doing the Tin Man Triathlon to raise funds for cancer research by doing something I have never done before and have to push my body to accomplish (especially in the swim portion to do), the fact is that the physical activity will help me steer clear from a multitude of chronic diseases, including certain cancers.

So, hopefully as encouragement to myself and inspiration to others just to get out there and live life somewhere else besides behind a desk or front of a TV here's an amazing video that really opened my eyes to the importance of being active, just a little bit.

Achilles No Likey!

So my right achilles has not been incredibly happy with the transition post surgery to fore-foot striking while I run. I went back to my normal run stride today and took it easy. I haven't had any complaining from it yet. Fingers crossed. I need to start cranking out more runs to get ready for CapTex. Keep Fighting!

http://www.active.com/donate/albo/GMGWZinser

Trying to Keep You Posted

In this day and age, with all the ways to keep people I informed of what we're doing, I am finding it difficult to find a way to post my training results on a daily basis to this blog. All of my training apps, Nike+, Map My Ride, Training Peaks, etc., can post to Facebook and Twitter, but I'd like to have it here as well. If anyone has suggestions, please direct them my way.

Until then, screen captures will have to do.

Swim - Bike - Run

As many of you know, I lost my dad to cancer a little over two years ago. He initially went through treatments of chemotherapy and radiation that were thought to have eradicated the cancer from his body. In a fluke change of doctors and various new tests, it was discovered that his cancer was still present and extremely aggressive. At this point, he had to undergo three different cycles of chemo all at the same time, and all proved ineffective. Fortunately, my dad never suffered any pain from his cancer but in the end it took him long before he actually died. As his cancer had spread to his brain, it created personality changes in him and prevented him from communicating or taking care of himself effectively. I was lucky enough to be with him and help take care of him during this time.

While my dad and I did not always get along, he was extremely keen in how to provide unconditional support and encourage me in whatever crazy idea I might have, and boy do I have quite a few. Previous to his death, I had talked about how after competing in my first marathon that I had become bored with the repetitive training wanted to switch over to triathlons. As a last gift before my father died, he bought me my Pinarello road bike. I love that bike so much and love that it reminds me of him every single time I ride it. It seems extremely fitting that I do my first triathlon with GoMitchGo, a group that is raising money to find cures and better treatment options for those suffering from cancer.

Please make a donation here in memory of my ever-encouraging dad and in support of my efforts with GoMitchGo to help advance the research for cures.

I hope to keep everyone up-to-date on my training progress here.  So, please, visit frequently and come along on this adventure with me.

Keep Fighting!

Adler-ism

"When I first started out, I had been fired from every job I ever had. The good thing about being unemployable is that it gives you a sink-or-swim mentality. When I began making pots, I figured someday I'd be lucky enough to hawk my wares in a rain-soaked craft fair, but I also realized if I didn't make a go at it I was really screwed."

Life in the South Pacific has to be Something Like This

Misses and Wishes

What I'll miss about 2010:
-my dad
-my knee
-Metamorphoses
-LA Marathon
-My birthday in San Francisco
-the road trips
-American Idol Finale
-America's Got Talent Finale
-Zinser Family Cruise featuring Extreme Country

What I'm looking forward to in 2011:
-My new knee
-Europe
-getting back to school
-new adventures
-old friends

Marathon = 26.2 miles / 42.195 Kms

In high school, while sitting in my Latin class hearing about ancient Rome and Greece, my mind would tend to wander. In particular, hearing about Pheidippides and his historic run from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians. This story paired with the fact I was already getting up at 5:45am every morning to run in the dark, cold Panhandle mornings for cross country fueled the mental fire of me hoping to run a marathon one day.

Not to mention, also in high school, I took a trip to Greece and actually ran in an ancient stadium in Delphi and in the first modern Olympic stadium in Greece. (I have pictures of both. Just you wait.) All this history only added to the fire of my personal goal to run a marathon at least once in my life.

Cut to 3 months ago. I signed up to run a marathon. Part whim and part strategy, I believe this is the first time I've been in a place long enough and in a situation that I could do regular training. Also, The APLA training program offered an amazing camaraderie that would make the endeavor that much easier.

So yes, I am doing this and raising money at the same time. If you're feeling generous and this personal endeavor to not only enrich my life but to also help others has inspired you to donate to my marathon, you can donate by clicking HERE.

Like I said, this was 3 months ago and this past weekend I ran 12 miles. This is longest I've ever gone on a single run. While running, I was fun. Unfortunately, I had to cover a shift for a co-worker and, as a result, had to go straight from my run home to shower and then off to the store.

Standing on cement for another 5 hours was not fun. My little legs were shaking and I was taking absolutely every excuse to sit down. I'm not sure my legs have ever been so tired.

When I woke up on Sunday my legs were a bit sore and by Monday I was completely fine.

I am almost halfway to a full marathon and my body is holding up well. This is the first time that I truly see the long held goal actually turning into a reality. It feels really good and I'm so excited for March and to run the entire route and see that finish line. I can't wait.

Marathon, you are mine!

Maybe You'll See It Now?

See a Resemblance?

Let's hope so.

Would You Hire This Person?

Will's Outlook: Sunny; LA's Outlook: Rainy

This week has been quite the whirlwind. After leaving the ballet completely blown away and inspired to take on the world, I manage to fill out a few more job applications and mail a few more resumes. One such endeavor was at a job placement agency that specializes in advertising and public relations firms. Perfect, Right? They call me back for an interview on Thurs. Even more perfect, right?!

I go in for the interview, and might I interject, "What are people thinking when they get dressed for interviews?" I chose a very dapper look consisting mainly of business blues complete with tie. My fellow interviewees did not feel the same commitment to their wardrobe. Ryan, who interviewed after me, wore jeans, white button shirt (NO TIE), and a blue blazer with gold buttons. Was he confused and actually thought he was going to a very WASPy party at a country club? Let's hope.

Oh well, I mustn't be concerned with others choices.

Moving along, I was called in to be interviewed by a girl who spoke almost no English. My confidence that this agency will be able to find me work immediately diminishes. The conversation between us goes something like this:

Me: "I just moved to Los Angeles two weeks ago because I thought there would really great opportunities....."

Girl: "Uh Huh, How long have you lived in LA?"

Me: "Umm, two weeks?"

Girl: "Oh wow, so not long! How do you like it?"

UGH!! Seriously this girl is my hope to getting a foot in the door at some amazing PR firm? All hope is definitely, totally, completely lost.

While I'm sitting there another agent gets a call from a firm needing someone to come scan all day. Names are being thrown around the office.

Random Agent #1: "What about Lisa?"

Random Agent #2: "Oh she's at an interview."

Random Agent #3" "Good for her! Well what about ...."

This goes on for a bit. I'm completely surrounded by all of these ladies bantering about sending someone to work while my agent sits amongst them randomly circling things on my resume.

Girl: "Oh, you've worked in film."

Me: "Yes, I've some production work. For instance, I worked on 'Jumper.'"

Girl: "OH! I like that film."

She makes this last remark as she circles the word "Jumper" on my resume. She then proceeds to circle random words on my resume for no apparent reason, all the while, these three very loud ladies are discussing how they need someone NOW!!!

I'm thinking, "Me, I could go now. I'm here. for a job. Send. Me. Now."

Finally, one of the ladies must have been feeling the thoughts seeping out of my head.

Random Agent #1: "YOU!"

Me: "Me?"

Random Agent #1: "Yes YOU! Are you available to go scan?"

Me: "Yes"

So, cut to me standing in front of a scanner for 5 1/2 hours.

Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to be out and doing something, but that was very boring. Not only that but the fact that nobody talked to each other in the entire firm. SO weird, but what matters at the end of the day is that they liked me, said they would ask for me by name if they ever needed anything else, and offered me an interview for when they were hiring 3-4 months down the road. Thanks? I guess.

Meanwhile, I've had interview offers from 3 other places including Bloomingdale's (Imagine me in a very stylish and expensive suit) and CB2 (Imagine me in the best styled apt in LA).

Forecast is proving to be mostly sunny in my world. I wish I could say the same for LA. It's been raining for almost 2 weeks! Shouldn't someone remind LA that it is indeed in a desert and do so quickly!

Turtles, Ballet and My First Celebrity Sighting

When I was little, like most smalls boys my age, I was obsessed with "The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." I'm not really sure what their appeal was for everyone else but I know now that their high flying, acrobatic martial arts is what enthralled me from the start. Too bad I didn't start gymnastics for another ten years but I can't help but think back to the night that I saw their first live action movie. Honestly, I can't even remember the movie now, but burned into my memory is me running around the front yard in the dark for hours pretending to be Donatello. I would jump and "flip" off of tree stumps and roll in the grass evading harms way. I was so taken by what I saw on the screen that I had no choice but to try and reenact it at home.


Tonight I had a similar experience.

Over the past few weeks, I had quite a bit of time on my hands to read the free circulars that make their way around this City of Angels, I came upon an exciting little tidbit that informed of a new ballet company that was having a free showcase at USC. This ballet company is called "Trey McIntyre Project" and it was amazing. I have never seen ballet so real before. I guess you could say, I've only seen classical ballet that has done a good job of separating itself from us commoners. It was amazing to see ballet done so deconstructed, yet so technical, performed to music by Peter, Paul, and Mary and the Beatles.

I was truly inspired by what I saw on stage. I guess I'm still a child because this show had me dancing to my car. When you can't help but take what you saw on stage with you, then you know you've seen something great.

Only makes me wish ballet would have been available in Dalhart. Why do I have to begin everything so late?

After I thought the evening wouldn't be more inspiring. I have my first celebrity sighting since I moved out here to LA. A celebrity probably most of you don't know and only makes me more of a nerd for getting so excited, but I saw Jacques Haim in the lobby. Woohoo, big deal, right? Well, he choreographed Cirque du Soleil's "Ka." He's basically royalty in my world. I was so excited that I couldn't say anything, but it did let me know that I'm in a place that anything is possible. I just need to stop being a scared, timid, small town Texas boy and make it happen.

Los Angeles, here I am.

All photos shown are of Trey McIntyre Project, taken by Jonas Lunqvist. More information about Trey McIntyre Project can be found here.

LA or Bust

So it's been awhile, as usual. If you only knew how busy the last few months for me have been, you would completely understand. I promise I'll make it up to all of you, but first to very important business.

I'm moving to LA, more appropriately, driving to LA. That's a long drive and I need some music.

Which brings me to the reason for this post: What's your favorite road-trip song?

Please I need the feedback. Let's get to it.

See ya in the land of movie stars, suntans, and implants!

One More Day

Me. At Work. One More Day.

Who Is Tucker Max?

So for the past several months I have been in Shreveport, LA working on the film shoot for "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell." The movie is based on the book of the same name, that is in turn taken from select stories from the blog of the same name. All of which began when Tucker Max started emailing his college buddies about his insane, extreme, over-indulged, and often over-exaggerated stories of his weekends.

It really is just the same old Frat Nation romp we've all seen but from the mind of a backwoods law student from Kentucky. So not only is it some of the most degrading and redneck material you've ever read but it's explained with the vocabulary of a lawyer. Just what we all needed, 40 pages taken to describe acts that you wish never existed, even if they only exist in Billy Bob's head.

I'll only go to see the movie to see my name roll by on the screen. You can guarantee it won't be for the midget stripper or the poo covered bathrooms. Yes, I did say bathroomS, plural.

Although, and it's probably the case with most movies, the behind-the-scenes action is more exciting. Tales involving laundered money, quarreling camera departments, actresses angry that they have to ride in a van with porn stars they went to high school with, and rotting meat in desks. It definitely all is in a day's work.

Needless to say I'm very glad this project is coming to an end.

Where to next? Who really knows, but from the bottom of my heart I say, "Au Revoir Louisiane," because I'm leaving and not planning to come back anytime soon.

Whoah! Holla! Whoah!

So I have been shafted many times trying to see Cirque du Soleil's first stadium show, Delirium.

First it was coming to Shreveport, LA of all places and I left two weeks before the show to return to New Zealand.

Then it was in Scandinavia just a short while after I left there as well last summer.

Now there are no scheduled dates and I'm out of luck......UNTIL they decided to release it as full-length feature event!!!

So starting tonight for 4 nights it's showing in cinemas all across the country. Granted the movie experience won't be as amazing but as least it's still an experience, right?!?!

If you're any friend of mine you should get your happy butt out there to see it!

Here's a little sneak peak.



I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Swedes Are Crazy.....Crazy Good

Lykke Li first American Release, "Little Bit"