Reflecting on year one of the Brooklyn Landsharks, smiles come easy. Personal highlights include sweating, creating, negotiating liquids, bestowing names, stimulating the economy, getting stronger, and sleeping. Specifically:

I perspired with friends and strangers alike for a worthy cause.

My creative inclinations got traction with our logo/t-shirt design and video projects.

My medley approach to swim legs (i.e., freestyle/treading water/breast and back stroke) left me uncontested as our aquatic anchor (read: last place every time).

Naming my race bike “ciao-colored jet plane” paid dividends in fast cycling times and bemused reactions.

Buying the latest gear increased my flair (primarily) and performance (when I remembered to charge up my devices).

I drew strength from the tightly-knit Landsharks, a supportive girlfriend, my caring and generous parents and siblings, and, well, exercising.

I slept well. Some, with early Saturday morning practices in mind, might even say too well. To them I say sometimes when you snooze, you win! And to all I say let’s make sure this year yields many more smiles than the first!

http://vimeo.com/3657965

As presented at the Brooklyn Lyceum, where roughly 70 Landsharks supporters gathered to watch Super Bowl XLIII amidst a mouth-watering spread of handmade dips, wings, a bacon explosion!, cake, and eighteen feet of sandwiches.