Chris

Leaving at dusk everyday and consistently logging 80 hour work weeks, Chris provided for his family working a job in the financial world. Dreaming of early retirement Chris plotted and planned his exit from the grind. His wife Niki holds down the fort, cooking organic and playing chauffer to an ever busy Anna ,7 and Miller, 4. The stress of multi-million dollar deals and long hours tested Chris day after day but his cool and calculated attitude would never let on. A hard worker, to say the least Chris’s life changed in a moment one day when he received news that his company had been sold. Instead of being one of the casualties, Chris became one of the success stories. All the planning and hard work came to fruition that day, the moment when Chris was able to walk away and retire at 39 years old.

So what do you do when all of the sudden your calendar opens up for the first time in 20 years? Chris decided to try for another long time goal, complete an Ironman. “There’s no way he would have been able to train the way he has with a wife and two kids and a job. It just would not have been possible before” says Niki. “Plus we’ve been able to spend time training together, until he leaves me in the dust on the run.”

Taking the same calculated approach to preparing for the Ironman Chris did his research on nutrition, proper training regimes and the latest equipment to aid the journey. Training became his new ‘job.’ “I’ve loved the lifestyle and plan to keep that aspect of my life in tact. I’ve also realized that I’ll never really stop working. Now I just work for myself. It’s been a blessing.”

Chris participated in a few smaller races while training, a cheering and supportive family on the sidelines. Niki in charge of snacks, Anna handing the “Go Dad” signs and Miller capturing it all on film. As always, the whole family participated in helping dad reach another life long goal. This year Chris realized not one but two of his biggest goals. You could say he was one of the lucky ones. Some sit on the sidelines and wait for things to happen. Chris has never and will never be that type of person. So although luck did play a part in Chris’s life this last year, a lot of fortitude, guts and hard work did too.

In 2017 Chris reported back that as of this year he had completed three Ironman competitions and supported Niki in completing one too several years ago. She tells us it was the best year of her adult life, living the life of a fully supportive amateur athlete. Considering the percentage of people in the world who have completed an Ironman is .01%, I would say this couple is pretty amazing. Chris also learned how to race cars and competed in a European circuit for the last two years. He’s taking 2017 off to concentrate on raising teenagers. The kids are now 16 and 14. Someone’s gotta teach Anna how to drive.

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About the currency project

The Currency Project challenges us all to see the beauty through the pain, the positive that can come from a negative and the heartbreak that can turn into a new beginning. Life is uncertain but our faith, hope and love can never be taken from us. Our true currency in life is what we make it.