Great opportunity to chat with Bob Babbitt on Competitor Radio Gotta love him for covering endurance sports! It’s an awesome archive of great interviews – I listen to them all. It is very cool to be on the list – between Dave Scott and Freddie Rodriguez no less!
Listen to my interview = HERE =
Wish me Luck?
live tracking Late tonight, I’m taking a redeye to Miami before the even longer flight down to São Paulo. There will be plenty of time to sit and think, which is exactly what I need to prepare for 135 miles in the mountains of Brazil (that and sleep) I don’t feel ready, although I don’t [...]
TeamUSA.org Article
Met with Aimee Berg after the New York City Triathlon, we had a nice talk (okay, I jabbered about my self for 2 hours) and she wrote the following story. Thanks Aimee! TeamUSA.org Tweet
Competitor Radio Interview
February 9th, 2013 
Wish me Luck?
January 14th, 2013 Late tonight, I’m taking a redeye to Miami before the even longer flight down to São Paulo. There will be plenty of time to sit and think, which is exactly what I need to prepare for 135 miles in the mountains of Brazil (that and sleep) I don’t feel ready, although I don’t know how you feel ready for this, unless you’ve got Shackletononian experience (amazing new word – you read it here first 
We’ve got 48hours to complete the course that winds throughout the hills and mountains along part of the Caminho da Fé, a pilgrimage route in the Mantiqueiras. There’s over 30,000ft of climbing and that is scary. I have no clue (!) what that looks like. Over the past few months I’ve been seeking out hilly, off-road training rides and I have yet to come close to a ride that averages anything like this Ultra Marathon’s terrain.
However, it is scary in a good way. This is a challenge and for all the grandiosity associated with such epic events, it is for sport. I’m going for the experience, to see what I’ve got, to see Brazil, to meet Mario Lacerda (the race director who’s agreed to have me =), and to live a little!
You can track the race on this live map – I will be some sort of blip with bib # 1009
Race start is on the 18th-20th of January and starts at 7am (South American East Coast Standard Time, is what they call it – maybe)
Walter Reed Visit
November 12th, 2012 Molly Shen from KOMO news did a story about my visit to veteran friend Dan Berschinski and other wounded soldiers at Walter Reed – it was an amazing experience and an eye opener. We are awfully isolated over here, especially tucked way up in the Pacific NW – much of that is a blessing and much of that is thanks to many generations of veterans and active duty service members. I was thrilled to be able to help in any little way and believe we all can and should do more.
Golf to benefit the CAF
May 16th, 2012 Welcome to the 1st Annual AJK Classic
to be held on the 25th August 2012
We are very excited to announce a great day filled with Golf, Friends, Food, Drinks and an Auction to benefit a wonderful Foundation, the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
This is a Foundation that I am extremely passionate about and greatly respects what they set out to accomplish.
I am where I am today because of all the support I’ve received and now, with your help, I’d like to “give back” and “play it forward.”
To register or contact us regarding Sponsorship Packages please follow the link: AJK Classic
To Donate please follow the link: Donate to the AJK Classic
A word about the CAF:
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) was founded in 1997 by a group of triathletes who were attempting to raise money to buy racing equipment for their friend, Jim MacLaren, who was one of the best amputee triathletes before he was tragically struck by a car while competing in a triathlon and paralyzed. Since that time, CAF has grown into the preeminent resource for support and equipment for para-athletes across the United States and beyond. In addition to fundraising through charity events like the AJK classic, CAF also raises money and awareness through events that encourage participation, including their San Francisco to San Diego bike ride or the San Diego Triathlon Challenge.
Like thousands of other athletes, CAF has greatly impacted my life and made it possible for me to compete in triathlons around the world. In 2011, I qualified for Nationals and the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. I had only recently started racing in triathlons and at the time, I was using an older handcycle that did not meet the required regulations. Without a new handcycle, I was told I would not be able to compete in the World Championships. While I was ecstatic to have qualified for the World Championships so early in my racing career, I was devastated by the possibility that the cost of regulation equipment would prevent me from participating in the race. Through its grant program, however, CAF stepped in and purchased a regulation handcycle for me – allowing me to compete at Kona and finish 2nd in my division. Today, I continue to race with the handcycle given to me by the CAF.
There are countless other stories like mine, where CAF has provided support and equipment and given competitors like me the opportunity to compete. This is what makes CAF such a special organization
I support the CAF and hope that you will help me raise money so that they can continue to step in and give athletes the chance to compete and reach their goals
Thank you,
Andre Kajlich
TeamUSA.org Article
August 25th, 2011 Met with Aimee Berg after the New York City Triathlon, we had a nice talk (okay, I jabbered about my self for 2 hours) and she wrote the following story. Thanks Aimee!
TeamUSA.org
Camps got your BACK!
August 25th, 2011 A funny thing happened on my way home from Youth Camp this year…and NO ONE LAUGHED!
I had made my way quite successfully through a week of dancing, climbing, soccer,and gaga (obviously I am horrible at all of them – save for my domination in gaga ball=). I survived all sorts of fun and demanding activities in Ohio only to go down in glory in front of a huge audience of fellow travelers back at SeaTac airport. My backpack was huge and heavy and I was toting my racing chair along – an Ironman-wannabe can’t travel without SOME gear.
So, I had just walked in front of all these people to pick my spot while waiting for the underground train. My right toe just grazed the ground and everything was CHRYSTAL CLEAR and in Sl-o-wwW mowwW-t-i-onnn. This boy was goin’ down!
No biggie really, it’s a pretty common occurrence for someone without biological knees or feet and only one of them hip thingers. With all the gear though, it was going to be messy – I went down in about 5 different acts…each one more awkward and outstanding than the last. The entire way down I was just thinking about the people’s reactions – it’s always about the same: ‘Oh Dear!’ can usually be heard somewhere from one of the more fragile bystanders, then there’s some running over and offers of assistance mixed in with ‘are you alright’ types of really normal things that are completely fine, understandable, and appreciated.
Okay fine, but as I lay nose (honestly) pressed to the hard, shiny floor that had just amplified the fall with the mess of metal legs clanging against it on their way to the ground, I was listening to men’s dress shoes clicking quickly over and I thought “Damn – I wish I was back at camp!” Instead of popping right back up, I just lay there reflecting (and sort of hiding). Just minutes after saying goodbye to the last camper that I traveled home with, I already missed having the company of a fellow amp to laugh about this with.
I WAS FINE!
IT WAS FUNNY!!!
Here, amongst all these darn normal people, the only thing I could do was get embarrassed.
Within this tale of clumsiness lies the beauty of camp. It is full of kids (and counselors) that can relate. You just don’t get that the other 51 weeks of the year and it feels really good to know, somewhere out there, are a bunch of people going through the exact same things as you. I definitely draw strength from that and I believe the kids do too.
Thank you so much for your support of the Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp. It is every bit WORTHY of your donations and I hope that you will keep supporting it. The second I feel otherwise – I will be honest about it and find another way. We would like to grow this camp. EVERY year, more kids lose a limb to a lawnmower accident alone (over 500!), than are currently able to come to camp.
There is plenty of need and camp fulfills a vital role in kids’ well being. We are all grateful for it and for your help.
See you next year CAMPERS!
I did it!
July 8th, 2011 Yes, it’s a lame title – but I’m not worried. It feels good to set out towards a goal, work through the ups and downs, and pull it off. I am excited exactly because – I did it.
I made up my mind back in September to do this race and never did I expect it to go this well. The physical and mental training routine was: work at it, focus, get better, get stronger, be lazy, slack off, regroup, recommit, and repeat. There has been a lot of small failures along the road, I didn’t just setup a training schedule, stick to it and go win a race. Life just isn’t that easy and it’s hardly ever simple. I messed up the whole way through the process, BUT I addressed the issues – some of them on this blog. I was honest with myself about my desires and how much I was doing to achieve them. This time around, I am most proud because I pushed through the setbacks and flaws. I am learning to accept that there are certain things I won’t ever get right and some that, if unfixed will cost me my goals.
The only thing that would’ve made this last week better, is if I could have shared it with my old man. As it all went down, I’m happy and fortunate that my wife, my mother and both my sisters were with me to experience a half Ironman and all the anxiety, adrenaline, fatigue and emotion that makeup an event. Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 was my first Ironman experience. In my mind, it was epic.
It was hot (high of day = 112) it was windy (20-28mph all race long) and it was long (the bike course was only 56 miles but it felt like 56 after the first 40). I spent most of the race in 2nd place, worried that 1st place was leaving me behind and fearing the moment I would see 3rd place slide into my field of vision and pass me. Well, neither happened and I caught up with 1st place on a steep hill during the run, in our racing wheelchairs. After taking over, there was another big downhill followed by a climb. The temperature was really started to bake and I just wanted it to be over. The next sight made it clear there was plenty more work. There’s an intersection after the climb and you make a right. It is flat but straight into the wind. You can see far and all you see is runners on the left and right of the road, most of them walking, all of them spent. It was a grueling trip past a couple aid stations to the turnaround. Once I made that – I was home. It was downwind, I got to see my lead as I passed #2 and I knew I had it. Such a good feeling – about as good as 5hrs of sweat can feel, I suppose. Well, I made it the final miles and startled my family at the finish line. They were expecting to see the other guy first, then start looking for me. Suckers.
Without going on for several paragraphs to explain, my handcycle didn’t conform to the rules. At the awards ceremony, it was explained that although my equipment wasn’t why I’d won, I would not be on the podium because of the regulations. So, I was extremely excited when, Marc Aten and Jason Fowler acknowledged what I had done by declining the 2nd qualifying spot to the World Ironman Championships in Kona. Which means – the stage is set for the next goal and we’re going to Hawaii!
-Andre
