All American

Like i said it was time for a change. I dont know if it was the 110 degree heat or the fact that wherever i went i got double takes like i was some kind of homeless person; but the hair had to go. Mary calls it my "All American Haircut". She figured that if i was going to be on tv i was going to have to look somewhat presentable. Salon de Jack changed my life, and to the trials we go! Thank you all for your letters and emails, and please continue to pray for me! The time is finally here, and believe me, im ready!!!!!!

Of course we had to start by cutting it into a mullet of sorts:

Jack in his element:

Vanessa didnt like it:

Very artistically done Mary:

Mission Accomplished:

The Remains (straw included):

7747 to 8066

There's a Change in the Wind

What a crazy few weeks it has been! The Dominican Republic was a blast, but George Fox University in Newberg Oregon is even better!!! In Santo Domingo, team USA placed 1st 3rd and 6th at the Pan America Cup. Chris Helwick won at 7800 and i placed third with a 7747. The trip overall was a total blast and such a good experience for me. I really felt like i competed well but had a few events where i struggled because of lack of competition. Talking with Jack we came to the conclusion that for the first meet of the year 7747 was not a bad score at all. After getting back in the states Jack and I thought that there might be another opportunity to do a decathlon at George Fox University as a last chance meet because i was pretty low on the USA list. After the first day of competition we realized that i should just keep it going and see if i could break 8000 which would put me higher on the list and give me the 'A' Standard. With one event to go it came down to running a sub 5:00 min to break the barrier, wow, i never thought i would be in that position. When all was said and done a 4:46 gave me 8066 for a decathlon PR! Its crazy how much has changed within the past few days.

So i am back in San Luis now resting and training in preparation for the trials at the end of this month. Its crazy to think of how much my life has changed in the past 4 months, and as i look forward to the trials i think of all the people who have helped me get here. From my father to my friends, coaches, and fellow athletes, i would never be in the position i am now without their support and prayers. I thank you all for everything you have done, i would not be here with out you! I will put a post up after the trials to let you all know how i did and i look forward to seeing some of you there!

Of course, me and Jack celebrated in style: by drinking his fathers day gift - Beers of the World!!!

It looks like it got out of hand.... but don't worry we were able to control ourselves.....

Olympic Trials Here We Come!

Going Places Cont.....

Hey all thought i would post some pictures of the last few weeks, enjoy!

This is a good video that Mary got of me catching a wave!

Sarah Kraybill came to town to visit Jack and Mary and we all went on a beach walk together. Kraybill was one of the first to talk to me at SPU when i was a freshman which makes her the coolest person ever:

The fam bam after a walk:

Here is a video that Mary just took at the track today. Apparently Vanessa thinks its funny when i run:

Santo Domingo here we come!!

Going Places

Hey all, this is going to be quick as the surf is calling Jack and I by name. Its been awhile since the last post and things are going great. I am into 100% training and feeling as fit as ever! It might just be my month as I got invited to go down to the Dominican Republic to compete in my first decathlon on May 31st and June 1st. I am extremely excited and also extremely anxious to get down there and (in the words of Mary Hoyt) git'r'done. I feel better than ever and at this point the sky is the limit and i cant wait to see what is going to happen. There will be 3 Chris' on the trip and its supposed to be great conditions to compete in, and when you put on the USA uniform it always gives you that little extra adrenaline. So off i go to the sand a surf and i will update when i get back from the DR, please keep me in prayer for safe travels and to compete well and i hope to have good news when i get back!!

How The Days Fly

Well its been a while since my last post and lucky for us all there will actually be pictures on this one! Mary Hoyt has granted me access to the family files (and also the laundry machine) so we are ready to go!

Lots has happened in the past few weeks. The biggest thing is the trip that Me, Jack and Nell took down to LA to compete in the Mt. Sac Relays. Becuase of my hamstring i was just a fan but Nell did great finishing with close to 5400 points in her first hept in close to two years. Being down there really made me excited to be competing soon.

I am almost at 100% with the hamstring and hoping to do a meet in the begining of May down at Claremont in Southern California. It is supposed to be a smaller meet with a good facitlity which will be perfect.

Workouts have been getting progressively better and my speed is starting to come around. It hard to see others complete decathlons and sit on the sideline but i know my time will come and when it does i will be ready for it.

The surfing has definalty taken a step in the good direction, i am having no problem getting on some bigger waves with Jack and both of us try to get out on a saturday at dusk to catch some waves and watch the sunset.

Everything else is going well and as time flies by and June gets closer and closer my nerves begin to tingle a little about what might and can happen. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support and i will post again soon.

April is here

Its been a little longer than i week since i have posted but i will try to get you up to date on all the happenings here in SLO town.

To start off with its going to be short post as Vanessa and me are watching Baby Einstein together. Today was the first real day of rain that we have had since I have been here. Overcast and misty all day, the weather reminds me of Seattle on a warm day. Most of the athletes i saw today on the track complained about the weather but what they don't understand is us Seattleites think of this as a good day. My hamstring has been getting progressively better as the week goes on which is really encouraging. I get it worked on at least 3 times a week before practice and i am starting to hit some pretty tough workouts which gives me some confidence back. I think by the next couple of weeks i will be in full swing again which will be great.

We had a meet this past weekend at Cal Poly and the weather was overcast and windy all day so there weren't too many good performances. I threw 181 feet in Javelin into a nasty head wind and then also threw 145 in the discus while at the same time trying to high jump so in reality the marks are pretty good. No meet this weekend as we prepare to head down to UCLA next week and tune up and try to hit the Mt. Sac Relays decathlon the week after that. I know i wont be in the best condition ever to do it but i am still going to give it a shot.

The new place is treating me well except for one neighbor who likes to play his hard metal music into the night, but other than that its great. My days basically consist of getting up, going to physical therapy, going to practice, grabbing some food, going back to practice, maybe getting in a few games of ping pong with Paul and then heading home to get dinner and rest up for the next day. Being down here really has put into perspective how much time i was losing training in Seattle and then also working close to 40 hours a week, i don't know how i ever did it. I really feel that in the end even if i don't make a team it was worth the chance to come down here and give it my all.

The weather is supposed to get nicer as the week finishes and me and Jack plan on hitting the workouts hard to get ready for the decathlon in 3 weeks. I am sorry that i have no pictures to post this week as i am on Mary' computer while babysitting the kid :) I hope all is well and look forward to keeping you updated in the coming weeks with more pics!

2 Post, 2 Days

Thought i would put some more pictures up for all who want to see. Its another great day here in SLO Town, i helped Nell move into her new place this morning and now just hanging out at the Hoyt residence. We plan on going to the beach soon for a little jog and then hitting the surf, enjoy the pics!

Here is the first video of Vanessa dancing to some guitar playing:

Here is me and the kid having some breaky:

Twins: