Austin Runner Magazine Articles

Starting Spring of 2009, I will be a contributing author for triathlon specific articles to Austin Runner magazine
      

I wrote this article for Austin Runner Magazine in 2007. It's a training plan for a beginner to ramp up to complete a first Olympic Distance triathlon. This plan is for the first timer looking to cross the finish line, not the experienced triathlete looking to win an agegroup.

Jack and Adam's Newsletter Articles

I wrote this article for the September 2007 edition of the Jack and Adam's Bicycles Newsletter. It briefly covers the topic of nutrition in the morning before training or races.

I wrote this article for the September 2006 edition of the Jack and Adam's Bicycles Newsletter. It covers my thoughts on the issue of consistency in training.

Masters Degree Thesis

 I decided to post a copy of my Masters thesis on-line. There are a couple reasons for this. First, when I was researching my topic, I found a couple theses on the web very helpful. So although the topic has nothing to do with racing or triathlon, I hope that somehow by adding to the collective knowledge on the web, I may help someone interested in my topic. Also, if you're having trouble sleeping one night, feel free to use this rather than counting sheep. I've also had a few friends and family members express interest in parusing it, so posting it here makes it easier to share with family and friends.

For those interested, the title is:
Operation Palliser: The British Military Intervention into Sierra Leone, a Case of a Successful use of Western Military Interdiction in a Sub-Sahara African Civil War

Download my thesis:

In the thesis, I examine the scenario in Sierra Leone in 2000 when Tony Blair ordered Operation Palliser, the deployment of British forces to Freetown to evacuate British and EU citizens as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) moved towards the capital city. After the evacuation, the 'paras' from the First Parachute Battalion stayed in Freetown and bolstered the struggling United Nations UNAMSIL peacekeeping troops. Meanwhile the Royal Navy deployed its Amphibious Readiness Group to Sierra Leone. The task force parked a contingent of Royal Marines from 42 Commando as well as air and other naval assets off the capital city. The presence of the British forces seemed to create a pause in the fighting long enough for the peace process to take hold and the UN to re-posture itself. After Operation Palliser, the British continued its presence in Sierra Leone to support the peace process with Operations: Basilica, Barras, Silkman, Khuhri (Indian operation with support from British), and Vela. The British Joint Task Force Headquarters also integrated with UN and Sierra Leone military leadership. They also committed to a long-term training process with the Sierra Leone military with the creation of IMATTs.

I examine these actions, as well as political moves by the British within the historical and cultural context of Sierra Leone's civil war. I discuss complexities of the use of military forces in humanitarian interventions and unilatteral/coalition/multilatteral actions in complex political emergencies. Additionally, I apply the lessons from the British actions in Sierra Leone to other historical cases of Western Military interventions: Somalia, Rwanda, Liberia, and East Timor.