Aperture Ashley Photography

Move over Kenny Chesney...there is a new kid in town. Just kidding. Recently, I had the privilege to work with aspiring portrait photographer Ashley Johnson. These photos were shot in Fort Worth at the T&P Tavern and the world famous Stockyards. It was a fun shoot as it challenged some of my abilities, especially the first photo that is shown as it was a balancing act. 

http://apertureashley.com/

If you would like to know more about pricing and booking, email Ashley at shewhoisashley@gmail.com

http://apertureashley.com/

Dallas 555 Series July

Spectators

The Five55 Series Dallas' premier stroke and stride series started it's fourth round for the year. The spectators (see above) were out in full force. 

Best race announcer ever

The race announcer made sure to let the guys know I won last I won last month, then guys started moving closer and closer to me before the start in hopes of jumping on my feet, which isn't that hard to do.

Five55 Swim Start

I got off to a good start as I was able to jump out front. Not much contact in this swim, I believe I was 5th or so out of the water and was starting to gain on people that had previously pulled away. 

Starting the run down

My legs felt much better this go around than they did last month. I jumped out to a...continue reading here. 

http://www.bloggerfit.com/2012/07/five-55-series-dallas-july-race-summary-william-ritter/

Thanks for reading!

Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs

It was a tough weekend of racing. It didn’t go as planned, but I had great company with my buddy and mentor Todd Hamilton who made the trip waaay more fun. I can’t forget his wife who made some awesome food and kept our bellies full. Todd did good there. I met Todd Friday night for a big dinner then we hung out with his 11 year-old son Luke who’s an aspiring triathlete himself and we played this guessing game “What am I?”Then we hung out in the pool a little bit before my 8pm bed time.

Relaxing in the pool Friday night before sleep time.

Saturday morning came early as we had to get ready and hit the road. I had an easy 30 minute run to do and it was pitch black around his neighborhood, but I was going super slow anyways, it didn’t matter. Then his wife again, did an excellent job and made us another excellent meal. On our way to Lubbock we stopped by the Lake Mineral Wells State Park and I did a very short swim out and back. The water very calm....continue reading here. 

www.bloggerfit.com

Dallas 555 Series - June

Swim Exit @ 555 Series in Las Colinas

As some of you know just under 2 months ago, I broke the radial head in my forearm when I veered off the Trinity Trail and I didn't quite make it back on when my tires clipped the side of the pavement. I had minor road rash but my arm hurt!!! I got back on my bike and was able to ride to the house. It wasn't long later my arm was swollen up my elbow and down into my fingers. It was worse than I originally thought it was I went to the orthopedic the next day and it was confirmed that I had fractured it and had just missed surgery!  This was just a week before the Kemah Tri that I was forced to miss. The main concern was if I was going to be able to gain full range of motion back with full extension and external rotation. With Dr. Steven Meyers diagnosis and his advice,  my Coach Brent Poulsen from rEvolution Multisport, and lots of Faith we were able to come up with an aggressive game plan to get me back in the game. It wasn't long before I was attempting to swim and back in the weight room with a broken arm and slowly gaining range of motion. I appreciate everyone who reached out to me with concern during this time.

June 5th I was just able to race in the 555 Series and to start knocking off the rust. This is a series that started in April and goes through October on the 5th of every month consisting of a 500m swim and 5k run with Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin.  I lined up on the far right side to keep everyone else on my left side away from my Arm. I was  next to David Balis who had won the last two. He is a way better swimmer than I gave him credit far initially, he was gone as soon as we took off. He managed to come out of the water in just over 8 minutes and I had just come out of the water in 10 minutes. We had all assumed the swim was quite long. I came out of the water in 10th of the men. With the fastest transition I passed 5 people going out onto the run. It took me a while to find my legs, which means I still got a lot of work to do. I opened the 5k a slow pedestrian 6 minute mile, when I was going for 5:30's. My legs felt so wobbly, I thought I they were going to give in and I would fall. By the first mile I wanted to drop out, I couldn't even seen anybody else in front, but somehow I kept digging and it wasn't long until the turn around and I was in 3rd and chasing down the top swimmers Adam Wilk and Balis. Within 2.2 miles I caught Balis and finished the 2nd mile in 5:42. I was getting faster on the last mile holding just under 5:30, but with a half-mile to go I put my effort on cruise control to start working on recovery for the next day finishing the 5k in 18:02.

Next week - ready or not I'll be racing in my fourth go around at Buffalo Springs 70.3 in Lubbock. It's one of the hardest 70.3's on the circuit due to the heat, wind, and hills. Last year was a death march as it reached 114 degrees.

Texas A&M Commerce University Graduation

Texas A&M Commerce University Doctorate and Masters Class of 2012

The day finally came. The day I thought would never come in the beginning and even when I was half way through. I finally did finishmy masters degree in business administration with Texas A&M Commerce.  I'm humbled by this achievement by the massive amount of work, focus, and faith it took to get it done and all my friends who helped me and supported me through the last four years. I thank you all. 

The Sam Rayburn Statue

In the line up

Dr. John Wesley Carlos

During the graduation Ceremony it was an honor to hear the speech  and shake the hand of  Dr. John Wesley Carlos, from Harlem, New York, who attended East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M Commerce University. Carlos was led East Texas to their Lone Star conference championship in 1967 with wins in the 100, 200, and 4x400m relay. By1968 he was the bronze medalists in the 200 meters and he was pronounced the World's Fastest Man in 1969. Currently he is involved in humanitarian equality and has a booked "The John Carlos Story". 

"Black Power" 

After graduation it was a followed by a few more pictures and a big dinner Mi Cocina! 

Lance and I

Me w/ my Dad & Mom

Sunday my parents and I took a stroll downtown to see to see the Water Gardens while they were here. 

Thanks for reading!

Tough Road

I've been on the Tough Road a few times. I was an injury prone runner in high school sticking my legs in a bucket of freezing ice water after practice every day to live for the next meet. I got over that by the time I started college.  Post college I got over metatarsal stress fractures. Then I entered the triathlon world.

I have had my share of bicycle wrecks. I once hit and flipped over a car with a nice tailwind pushing me and walked away from it from no serious injuries. I've been over top of the bars and I've had the bike slide out from under me. The strangest one is when a deer ran across the highway in Eustace, Tx, and me of all people happen to hit it. I walked away from each of these injury free minus the road rash with nothing serious.

Yesterday on a recovery ride of all things, I couldn't wait to get back home. I was coming back into downtown on the Trinity Trails and accidently veered of the trail. I tried to get back on and missed. My tires hit the side of the trail and down I went, pretty hard for just tootin' around. I fell hard on my right arm. Completely a rookie mistake.

Today I visited the sports doctor and He diagnosed it as a radial head stress fracture and I got quite a bit of  swelling around my elbow. It looks like I am out of commission 4 weeks minimum, at least for the swimming and cycling. I'll be substituting it with therapy and rehab.  I will be aggressive as much as I can so I can get back out there. I was looking forward racing the Kemah Triathlon but there's no chance of that happening now. I have a lot to be thankful for and glad it wasn't anything worse. Overcoming these set backs is nothing new for me.  My goal is get over this and get ready for Buffalo Springs 70.3.

Tour de Fort Worth the Stock Yards

I took another Tour de Fort Worth this afternoon on my own. With the Arts Fest taking place downtown it was hard to ride a bike through that area, so I rode off to the famous Fort Worth Stock Yards of course.

Everything was going fine on the way back as I was cruising on the Trinity Trails then I veered off the trail and trying to get back on I went down and banged my elbow up---with that said I'm not sure what Kemah next week will mean for me yet.

Give Into Me

Here is my first single recorded tonight! Thanks to Stephanie Lindsay and Kyle Jensen for making this video possible.



Thanks for watching this!

Mayor Price's Tour de Fort Worth II

This was the 4th week of the Mayor's Tour de Fort Worth and second one I have been able to attend. This one "not to miss" as my roommate Kyle was upset he got caught in traffic and later had a flat tire as he tried to catch up to the group.

This route started just off 7th. st. at the Fire and Police memorial.

It was hard to get close to the Mayor as one of the largest groups came out and including several news reporters and photographers.

The Mayor Price showing off her Fort Worth bike jersey.

It turns out I was even standing next to a reality talk show host, Janee Harrell before we rolled out.

We rode all the way towards the north end of the Trinity Trail to the Waterfall.

Some of the views can only be captured when you ride a bike.

One of the largest groups yet.

If your wandering how I'm so cool and get to bike ride with the Mayor then click on this link. http://fortworthtexas.gov/tourdefortworth/

My own Tour de Fort Worth "Down Pour"

I set out on a bicycle ride after church today in my black dress socks. I thought they made good cycling socks and matched my mis-matched kit I was wearing. I knew cycling through Ft. Worth had good scenic views so I grabbed my camera and off I went, I was going to have my own Tour de Fort Worth. I rode through Magnolia St. a place I'll go back to, but didn't get any photos there because I was just too busy checking things out but a lot of hole in the wall locally owned restaurants. It's also a place wear the hipsters hang out. I saw a few artsy guys with tight jeans and single-speeds.

Dress socks make for good cycling socks

After taking the bike lane down Magnolia and Main St. I found my way to the Ft. Worth Water Gardens. People were around taking pictures. I had to see what it was all about.

I walked all the way down there in bike shoes. It gets quite loud by the end. Not long later as I was leaving the Water Gardens. It just pours down! There were parts I where I could barely see, then it started lightening and I found shelter in a parking garage on 4th St.

Here is my view from the parking garage over-looking "The Vault Underground Lounge"

Once it started to clear-up sorta I tried to find my way back to the house. I stumbled upon this gigantic church. I never saw the name of it, but the church is huge with a large statue with Jesus letting everyone know he won the race. He is pointing #1.

Still trying to find the street I had taken to get to downtown back to the house, I came across this statue, which I've seen several times passing through. One day when I have a friend with me we'll climb up on the horse.

Somehow I completely ended up on the North side of town. Finally, I recognized the Trinity Trails. This is a view of downtown from the North side of the trails. Although not a picture perfect day, I was just glad to be able to find my way back, because I was getting a bit chilly out there.

Happy Easter!