Tow the line Amber!

Amber had a great season on the 7th grade Basketball team with St. Pats.  Many of you already know she has been on the team since 5th grade.  She had a fantastic year and really contributed. 

Couple of quick stats - Amber hit 100 points with about 3 games left in the year and lead point score on the team.  Her last game against Mesa, they won by three points.  Amber scored 16 of the 30 points contributing to the win.

Amber works hard in practice and on the court.  I am grateful for the staff that work with her and looking forward to what next year brings...

Queens, not Kings of the run!

The girls kicked butt.  For years of chasing the boys around, it's a delight to give the real credit due for accomplishments - the girls (Donna, Jenn, Cheryl, and Debbie) did awesome and we really appreciate watching their efforts this past weekend.  All the girls surpassed their expectations, and ours for that matter, and Donna pulled off a third place in the women's division.  While not quite as impressive as the ladies, the men did not do bad themselves.  Sean was blasting the early hills and great competitive pace only to pay the price for the recent injury.  John much of the same but he finished.  Bart was dealing with no training and sleep depravation and finished admirably.  Rudy was flying but seemed to constrain himself to the fellowship.  And me, I was simply having a blast with not much care but recording the experience - albeit fun to blast and compete the early climbs...

Good on Sean for getting the group in this very meaningful time together.  It was a charity race in a very unique setting - Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands chain off Santa Barbara.  We got to run 14 miles on some of the best terrain in California for a trail run and the group seemed to raise $15000 towards charity.  Not bad.

The video says it all - c'mon, you can always spare 10 minutes for something fun and interesting.  Watch it to the end!

Central Coast Adventure Sprint - Santa Margarita 2011

Our team, "you shoulda seen the other guy," took first overall and mens division on May 15, 2011.  This picture was taken before the race and we looked all serious tough.  Truth be told, we were cold, and simply standing away from the pre-race instruction in the sun to simply get warm.  Our pre-race plan was simply go hard, have fun, use teamwork and make good decisions along the way.  We got the first three right, and suffered mild time loss in the latter - but that is exactly how adventure racing goes.  Everyone has issues along the way, you just continue to do your best.  My team mate Korey was simply on fire.  We paddled hard, rode hard, and ran hard (if you call it a run?).  It was more of a mountain climb up a waterfall canyon.  Simply amazing...  In the end, it was good enough for first overall.

I've been involved in various multi-sport activities since 1992.  Adventure races never dissapoint in the end, but you may go through the post race " I should done this or that."  No matter your placing, they are a blast, and you will be glad you did it.  I hope to do this one day with my children and set an example of a very rewarding activity.  These races are not overly selfish, as many individual sports become.  You complete the task with a person you choose to finish with - good or bad, you must complete it together as a team.  So much to this concept that words cannot explain.  Go find out for yourself.  I am thankful beyond words for this young man in my life and these experiences together.  It was truly a blessing to enjoy this day with him and see his training pay off.  Praise God for these experiences and and this special friendship.  Looking forward to more of these...

Pismo Beach Volleyball

Proud of Amber and her friend and teammate Jennifer aka "Boo"...  They both played in a local tourney this past weekend and placed third with very little practice together.

Looking forward to watching them go for it again.  God bless these great young ladies!

Hey Batter Batter Batter - Swing Batter!

Sean's first day at bat.  Not bad for his first time!  Three base hits and he brought in 2 RBI's before the games end.  Sweet!

A Life Milestone!

A dream has come true!  My 11 year old daughter Amber road her first road bike today!  Her grandmother was generous in giving her a bike that the family and I presented her for Christmas in 1997.  Kind of like an heirloom.

Cycling activities has been a cornerstone for life adventures and fitness in the Martin family well over 25 years.  Welcome to the tradition my daughter - be safe and enjoy this wonderful adventure in life.

It was awesome and almost tearful for Jenn and I.  In our family, it is kind of like the experience of watching them first walk.  And I am pretty serious about that...

Praise God for this time in life...

Junior Lifeguards - Avila Beach

Amber's hard work in early summer paid off.  She trained for the swim test, and passed it exceptionally.  Her reward was 5 weeks of junior life guard participation in Avila Beach. 

For approximately 5weeks this summer Amber woke early and participated in beach fun, fitness, and beach guard training.  Her mornings were filled with fun activities, a one mile beach run, and various other lifeguard based activities.  Her participation and enjoyment made her father and uncle very proud and she is the fourth lifeguard in our family following in the footsteps of her Uncle Sean, Aunt Donna, and her father...

She competed in many regional lifeguard competitions and I had the joy to watch her in action in Santa Barbara.  She had a blast with 250 of her buddies and nearly 2000 other competitors on the beach and I praise God for the instructors and staff that made it safe, fun, and learning for the kiddos!

Warm up in Carpenteria.  Amber in the center!

More warm ups and showing a little strain!

Amber in action ready for the long swim in SB!  Amber learned the trick for swim starts from her dad - the inside edge. 

What a blast for a ten year old.  I hope these experiences and fitness instruction sets a early desire for the outdoors and adventure.  I thank God for His creation of our oceans and these wonderful and powerful playgrounds and landscapes.  Amber - your family is very proud of you and your dedication to JG this summer and look forward to more together!

Adventures in Marriage

team  It's Bizness Time - the ultimate team - 3rd place

Jenn and I had the pleasure to recently celebrate our 13th year of marriage in participating in this years Central Coast Adventure Challenge sprint course at Lopez Lake. Korey and TT joined in the fun and it did not dissapoint and we planned to complete the course together in unison - it was aweseome the wifey did amazingly well...! 

The course consisted of kayaking, mild orienteering to each check points with map navigation, mountain biking, and a run/mountain climb complete with ropes and some minor team tests... 

A little test of teamwork, balance, thinking - the old(er) guard and the new guard.

Team It's Bizness Time with the Faciliators - along with the kiddos and nanna/papa.

Great time of fellowship, suffering, team work, and pure gutteral fun.  So proud of the wifey in her efforts.  Life and marriage is an adventure and this day was a blessing.  I praise God for our marriage "oneness" and His amazing and mysterious gift.  Looking forward to more marriage and adventure together!

Thank you Korey and TT for your friendship in all of this.  Let these experiences illustrate some of the realities of marriages - challenging, tough, messy, exhilirating, joyful, and utlimately a great gift...  Thanks for the grandparents and kiddos for giving us this moment of fun as well...

First CI - New Stick!

Jenn treated me to a new stick - a Channel Islands, closed cell foam epoxy glass screamer.

I had the pleasure to recently surf it at a place in SoCal that I grew up surfing.  We called the place zeros.  They now call it many more things.  The place has not changed an ounce.  Awesome time, and more on that later. 

My surfing protege was with me for the photo - I will call him, mini-me!

Sean's First Season of Basketball

Seans first basketball season was awesome.  The little man played and participated passionately.  He even scored a few buckets in one game.  Awesome time, great coach, great bunch of kids.  Thanks to SLIME for being our team sponsor.

Pacific Coast Trail Run - TT and Big Seany Boy

Christina signed up for her first trail run at Montana De Oro State Park. The event ran today and her running pal was a no show. Her Uncle Sean decided to run along for company and to record the event. The coarse was exactly what you can see in the background - mountain goat climbs on coastal mountains 12km and 1700 feet of vertical. Very impressive run TT!

TT running towards the second ridge below Valencia Peak.

TT showing smiles with gritty determination!

Sean and TT atop Valencia Peak at a bit more than half way. You can see the rock in the background. Gods handiwork on display!

Love to see the family enjoying Gods creation and pushing the athletic endeavors. Praise God for these special times!

The Mustangs - Go Amber!

Amber has skills on the court and leadership! What a blast to watch...