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I have recently realized how inexperienced I am at building a website.  I have all of the ideas, I just can't seem to figure out how to get them on the site.  I have recently reached out to some other ASers for help to get this ball rolling.  I don't know what I would do without you guys!!  Thanks so much.

Well, I had a great run yesterday of about 16 miles through the super rough lava fields.  Man!!  This was definitely not an easy run.  It was alot of fun though!  I saw two donkeys, some wild turkeys, pheasants, and a decomposed cow.

Newton Running sent me a new pair of sponsored running shoes that I haven't run in yet.  They are kind of awkward, but they are supposed to make you run more forward and on your toes, so we will see how that works.  Either way, I need another pair of trail running shoes very soon.

I will have two more long runs before I taper down to race day!!  One will be 18 or 20 miles and the other will be 22 miles.  Speedwork in between.  Obviously I am biking and swimming as well to get ready for Lavaman in November.

My back is doing fine.  Slight pain during and after the run yesterday.  We went hard in Paddling practice about 30 minutes after my run so I was pretty pooped, but I got a chance to put some ideas down on paper for the website and such.

I will attempt to gain sponsorship from GoPro cameras to post feeds of my training and racing experiences.

Super stoked about that.

More later.

Cheers,
Helgi

Feeling Good...Feeling GREAT!!

I have had a great week and a half my friends!! I have been on the radio, beat my record personal record for a Volcano Rain Forest Runs half marathon at 1:43( listened to my coach Rick Rubio on the negative split). I have trained like a madman (this is my favorite part), and I have gotten a better handle on my swim. Video interviewed with my buddy Gabe as we take the menu of Waikoloa Grill 'n Bar to the next level (love that guy). I have received sponsored "gravity" shoes from Wendy of Newton Running Company and a super well thought out and constructed pair of training shorts and a training tank from Scott and Julie Gix of Oomph Sports!! Can you believe they make everything by hand?  And Stephanie of Bio Astin and I are in conversations about marketing for their super awesome natural astaxanthin supplement that notably helps me stay limber, even with the pains of Ankylosing Spondylitis, and recover fast from my hard core workouts.  Thanks so much for all of the support y'all! After the Great Waikoloa Canoe Race today, where our crew would have had a shot at the title, had we not taken on so much water, I am here with Bri working on getting The Helgi Olafson Foundation off of the ground. We are super close and Super Excited to make a difference for the future of Ankylosing Spondylitis.  Many of the forms are filed.  We just have a few more to get our 501c3 status.  Also, we narrowed the mission down to one sentence:

"The Helgi Olafson Foundation strives to globally unite the Ankylosing Spondylitis community for the fight to find a cure."

This plus a gallon of h2O

My tank was in serious need of refilling after today's 70 mile bike ride and over 500 meter training swim!  1 hour and five minutes from Kona Bike Works to Waikoloa Bike Works. And an 8 mile paddle with Waikoloa Canoe Club.  Great Waikoloa Race this Saturday.  Big run tomorrow with a negative split.  Its time to ramp up for Portland Marathon.  Six weeks to go.

Time to perform Helgi!

The Helgi Olafson Foundation is officially almost OFFICIAL!!  So far we have a Tax I.D. #., a GE License,  and have articles of Incorporation filed.  We will be completing the next steps within the next week.  Then it will be time to get the website up.  The website will feature a more detailed training account with history and the website will hopefully be more user friendly than this blog.

I am working on the mission statement and I will post it here as soon as I get that worked out.
Something along the lines of:

The Helgi Olafson Foundation (HOF) strives to educate the world about the causes and effects of Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS), through "networking" the journey of Helgi Olafson, who has had this disease since 2002, and is training seriously to become a Professional Triathlete. The Foundation will be operating with the main focus on fostering a more comfortable future of those with Ankylosing Spondylitis.  AS is a manageable disease if one takes the reins, and focuses on living a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and listening to their body. 

HOF is looking for help networking when this is all said and done.   We are nothing without a network.  I am very excited to have met as many people in person, on the phone, or through email as I have!!  I can't wait to meet more of you.  Strength in numbers. 

Some other website stuff: 
Helgi's training blog with recorded results of training/diet.
     -coach Rick Rubio's feedback and corrective action
     -training/diet plan to fix issues
     -goals/results
     -pictures
     -race schedule
     -stretching routines
Links to:
     -other bloggers involved in Arthritis and endurance sports worlds.
     -websites associated with promoting AS related awareness and the future of endurance sports
     -Sponsors
     -Road to IRONMAN
     -Waikoloa Canoe Club
     -Waikoloa Grill 'n Bar
     -Bike Works Hawaii
     -Social networking platforms
Open Forum for networking progress and updates for other AS bloggers, endurance athletes, and those who want to get involved with this cause.  
DONATIONS to the Helgi Olafson Foundation
DONATIONS from the Helgi Olafson Foundation to other NFP Organizations and those in need.

Research Studies
AS News
Stories about others with complications that are also taking or have taken the Road to IRONMAN, and how it changed their lives.

Board Members and about them

Equipment Donation for others in need where HOF takes in used or new endurance sports gear like bikes/ bike parts, clothing and electronics.  The foundation's qualified repair specialists, will then rectify any problems or safety issues with the equipment, and find a new home for said piece of equipment.

What do you think SO FAR!?!?

I am getting excited.

Quick recap on the day:

Radio appearance in KONA at 7:00 a.m., then some race-speed time trials after some coffee with swim 500 M, bike 13.5 Miles, and run 4.5 Miles.   Looks like I need some work!! Then off to Bike works Kona to see if my sponsored training gear from Oomph Sports had arrived yet.  No Dice.  Hopefully soon.  I then proceeded to climb Hina Lani and take the high road back to Waikoloa Village.  I definitely needed the nap that I took.  Great day for me today.  Tomorrow will be great too!!  Who is With me?

Thanks for reading.

Sincerely,
Helgi Olafson


    

I am excited to say that I will be recieving a complimentary pair of Gravity Running Shoes from NEWTON Running this week as well as some training gear from OOMPH SPORTS this week.  I am in the process of filing for my NFP Organization this weekend.  I will call it the Helgi Olafson Foundation.  I plan on setting up a few systems within the foundation to help others in need.  I will also donate a large portion of incoming donations to other NFP Organizations to the Spondylitis Association of America, the IAAM, the Arthritis Foundation and more.  I want to also help athletes with the desire to succeed and compete, but not enough money, get the gear that they need to perform.  I would like to serve as a hub for old quality gear and have it inspected and repaired if necessary and redistributed to individuals in need.  Its about fostering the growth of Endurance Sports.

I would also like to offer to speak wherever the world may take me about Ankylosing Spondylitis, and wrestling it to the ground by inspiring others with A.S. to take action by listening closely to their bodies and be honest with themselves through diet, exercise and rest, while maintaining a positive attitude.

I need a website built and I am in the process of manifesting one as soon as possible.  This all needs to get set up before Portland, so I can use it to my greatest advantage.

I want to thank my Coach Rick Rubio and my friend Bri Standing for helping me out with getting this thing going.  I couldn't do it without you guys.  Also I would like to thank all of the readers of my blog.  I am glad I get the chance to have people who matter to me actually watch this unfold.  You are all great people and I am glad to have you in my network. 

I hope, through the Helgi Olafson Founation, that we are able to help others with Ankylosing Spondylitis and I hope that I can be a key factor in educating the world about A.S..  Last but not least!  I hope I have a shot at racing with the Pros!!

Time trials next week with Coach Rick!  Swim Bike Run

Standing Tall after Mana Road 10 mile run.