i was lucky enough to meet quite an eclectic group of folks while training for and racing IM Wisconsin back in 2002. we keep in touch daily via a private chat room and get together at least once a year at a race. in 2004 it was Memphis in May. I almost didn't go due to injury but since I had the ticket, I went. my good buddy Gomer drove up from Louisiana and brought his best friend Chip. Chip says he knew immediately it was meant to be. we kept in touch that summer and he then came to watch me race IM Wisconsin that fall. I consider our first 'official date' to be when we met that October in Hawaii so i could watch him race at Xterra Worlds. and the story just begins....