Questions about Ceej

Q: When did you do your first Ironman?
A: After racing in several marathons, I decided I was up for the challenge of an Ironman. I finished Ironman Louisville on August 26th, 2007.

Q: Where do you live? Where were you born? What nationality are you?
A: I am a recent transplant to San Francisco.  Previously, I lived all over NYC for six years- on the upper east side, midtown, Astoria Queens and Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.  Before that I lived on coastal New Hampshire and previously the southeastern seashore of Connecticut. I am Irish-Catholic, with a thick dollop of Polish mixed in!

Q: Why do you sometimes call yourself Draco?
A: Draco is my alter-ego which began from a yoga/meditation mantra. I was searching for a repetition/mantra which would evoke fierce inner strength. “I Am My Own Dragon” is the phrase which occurred to me, and Draco was born.

Q: Who are your heroes?

A: First and foremost, Jon Blais. Jon, a long time triathlete, was diagnosed with ALS on May 2, 2004 and in two short years became a powerful voice to find a cure for the disease. Despite essentially having a death sentence, Jon continued to fight and inspire until the very end, crossing the finish line at the Kona, Hawaii Ironman in October 2005. Jon Blais embodied the life of a Warrior Poet and fought like a true hero until the very end.

Additionally, Team Hoyt is a giant inspiration for myself and so many others. Team Hoyt is a father/son team of Dick and Ricky Hoyt who compete in marathons and triathlons together. They are from MA and have raced in 229 Triathlons (6 Ironman distances, 6 Half Ironman) and have a personal best time for a marathon of 2:40:47. To put that in perspective, my personal best of a marathon is a shade over 5 hours, and I am not pushing anyone in a wheelchair. Team Hoyt is an amazing example that anyone, no matter the challenges, can participate in and have fun with athletics.

Finally, my fallen friend Nils Nissen lives on in the foreground of my thoughts as someone who challenged himself to live every single day to the fullest and to simply enjoy life. I knew Nils very well. He was a loving son and great friend, a passionate biker and skier, and filled with a youthful exuberance. An extraordinary human being. He supported me in my triathlons, silly dreams, and crazy ambitions, and his support now ranks among the greatest honors of my life. I wish I had known him longer. I wish I could have thanked him for it more profusely than time and circumstance allowed. I miss you so, so much, buddy.

Q: Do you travel much? If you come to ______, do you want to hang out?
A: Yes, I do! I am a frequent visitor of the west coast, lakes and mountains of upstate NY, New England, and prettymuch anywhere in ski country. And, of course! Let’s eat some cupcakes and go for a run! Email me.

Q: I am coming to NYC in a month. Where do you recommend to hang out? Do you want to hang out?
A: Sure. My favorite places are constantly evolving as the city turns over it’s “soil” and new restaurants and whatnots sprout up. That said, I can recommend the following tried-and-true, consistently awesome places for your non-touristy hitlist: Sugar Sweet Sunshine bakery on the Lower East Side, Difaras pizza in Brooklyn, Da Andrea for amazing Italian in the West Village, and Soho Park if you want cheap burgers and a beer in Soho.

Q: I want more. Where else can I stalk you?
A: Lots of places. Try: Facebook, Photobucket, and TGR.

Questions about Dances with Corgis

Q: Who designed your website & what blogging platform do you use & who did you register your domain with & who hosts you?
A: My website was designed by the awe-inspiring Felix Wong. Felix is a bit of a Renaissance Man- an avid triathlete, semi-retired tech guru, world traveler and ultra runner who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. I use wordpress as a platform and registered my domain at GoDaddy.com. DanceswithCorgis is hosted by Maia.

Q: Who did took that lovely photo in your header?
A: It was taken in the Montana hills by the talented photographer and avid mountain biker Anthony Saracelli. You should check out some more of his fantastic trip reports here! It is just gorgeous where he lives, I am dying to get out there some day.

Q: What camera do you use?
A: I use a Cannon Powershot SD600. I make my videos on a Cannon FS100.

Q: Why is this site called Dances with Corgis?

A: People ask this quite a bit. Those who guess it has something to do with combining my lifelong loves of dancing and welsh corgis dogs are on the right track. Those who recognize that the phrase is evocative of the movie “Dances with Wolves” are also headed the right way. Those inspired to recognize, simply, that the wolf did not die at the end of the movie should say to themselves, a-ha! Two Socks survived, unlike his detractors, who had guns and killed for sport, no less. Similarly, no matter what life throws at me I shall survive in these confusing times. It is, in short, both metaphor and analogy, a slogan both paying homage and reeking of heaviosity.