Karel and I have a unique marriage. We work together, train together, live together and travel together. Although we have a lot in common, we are also very different. But like any relationship, each person evolves overtime and you learn how to live with one another, and for one another.
Over the past 14 years, I continue to make a big deal of Karel’s birthday - he could care less about becoming one year older.
Although getting older can be rough (he reminds me every day how "old" he feels), it’s a beautiful thing when you can add another year to life and grow older with someone that you love.
Through every setback, tear, heartache and fear, Karel has a unique ability to turn my worries into laughter. If you ever get to spend a few minutes with Karel, you'll quickly realize that he has an extraordinary sense of humor. He is also never afraid to speak his mind. Athough Karel's personality makes him one of a kind, he will constantly go out of his way to help others.
Happy 44th Birthday to my caring, dedicated, supportive, speedy, whitty, hard working, open-minded, croissant loving, always in need of just one more bike, one-of-a-kind husband.
Here are a few fun facts that you may (or may not) know about Karel:
(Karel had nothing to do with this list so this is my fun facts that I'd like to share about Karel ;)
- He came to the US in 2000 with only a backpack and a goal to pursue the American dream.
- As a lifelong competitive cyclist, Karel did not ride a bike from 2000-2004 so that he could work 3 jobs a day in order to make it in America.
- We met on a group ride (on my birthday) in the Clearwater area. We were set up by mutual friends. Karel's English was not very good and I did most of the talking in the early months of our relationship.
- He can get sucked into watching music videos for hours.
- His Netflix is filled with gangster/mob shows and drama and action movies/shows.
- He enjoys learning about history.
- He has a brother (Jiri) who is 11 years older. Jiri has three young adult kids. Jiri loves off road running, bike touring and being adventurous. He is not competitive like Karel.
- His dad rode a bike up until his mid 70's - and still raced!
- His sister (10 years older than Karel) passed away from brain cancer in 2002.
- He was the GM of two Trek bicycle concept stores from 2008-2014.
- He raced as a cat 1 cyclist from 2007-2012.
- He eats mostly plant-based but doesn't put a title on his dietary style of eating.
- He loves croissants, bread, chocolate, ice cream and pastries (but nothing too sweet).
- He likes to cook and enjoys trying new foods (he doesn't have any food allergies and will eat pretty much anything).
- He loves gadgets and trying new things. He will quickly tell me/you if he doesn't like something.
- He doesn't care of quinoa or sweet potatoes.
- He loves animals - especially cats and kittens.
- He has never chased a race weight.
- He has a special compartment in his stomach that no matter how full he gets at a meal, there's always room for dessert.
- He became a US citizen in 2018. We had a very difficult (and expensive) immigration process that lasted almost 10 years.
- Czech is his first language. He taught himself to be fluent in English.
- All of Karel's family lives in Czech.
- He crashed on his bike when he was a teenager (doing a silly stunt in front of his friends) and had a major surgery around his eye.
- He has never broken a bone
- He started wearing glasses two years ago (his arms weren't long enough to read).
- His hobbies include building bikes, working on bikes, anything electronic and fish (we have a 50 gallon fish tank with fresh water African cichlids.
- He does not like to be late.
- He is an amazing triathlon coach. He truly understands the sport and has the ability to know what an athlete needs to work on in order to improve (and what workouts will help).
- He is very witty but also very compassionate and helpful.
- He would choose pasta over pizza.
- We both enjoy watching cycling, formula one, triathlon and sport documentaries.
- Karel learned to swim in 2012 when he decided to become a triathlete.
- I am the planner in our relationship and I keep us organized during our races and travels.
- He has very strong morals and values.
- He loves coffee. Not for the pick me up but for the taste. And he’s really particular on the type of bean and style. He always travels with his travel espresso machine.
