12/5/24 – On Monday I had my second attempt at the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Financial Accounting Reporting (FAR) Exam. I started studying for this after I took the Audit (AUD) exam in October. I had 7 weeks to cram for my 2nd attempt because it was my 2024 goal to pass both the FAR and AUD exams. I think I did better than my first attempt in May before we went to Mexico for a week but I don’t think I hit the required 75 to pass. I changed up my studying by focusing on doing more Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) than the Tax Based Simulations (TBS) but it sort of went to shit went I hit those TBS. I will get both scores 1/29/25. Now that is done, I am planning on going back to Audit. As a Senior Finance Manager at Raytheon of Program and Cost Schedule Controls, Audit mostly relates to what I’m doing in my role. I need some wins under my belt and need to build momentum here. In 2025, scores won’t take 3 months to come; 2 weeks going forward. Therefore, my initial plan is to plan on studying January – May and taking the exam mid-May before heading to the Grand Canyon for Memorial Day with Fiona and Roxypoo. This exam is as hard as I expected and although I’m a bit low, I realize what it means to do hard things and that hard things take time. I will continue to look back at my IRONMAN journey to know that nothing came on the first 8 attempts before I got to Kona. It took me 3.5 years to earn my spot. Hopefully it won’t take me 3.5 years to pass all four 4hour exams, but it could.

Overall, 2024 has had highs (Cancun 10 year anniversary) and lows (having to put down Sydney before her 13th gotcha date), but it has mostly been dedicated to focusing on studying and training. I’m averaging around 12-15 hours per week studying and 12 hours per week training while also working 40 hours per week. I cooked a lot less and we did less. I avoided even smaller races to focus on studying but it definitely zapped me and I’m quite burnt out and tired. With the studying and training, I also earned a promotion after working more than 6 years for the same boss working on a key program for Raytheon. That role had 100% attrition of my team which I had to fully replace within 6 weeks. So yea, it’s been a bit stressful.

As for now, we’re flying above southern California en-route to San Francisco before out flight to Aukland, New Zealand to compete in the 70.3 World Championship. Besides 2 Konas and the double header in St. George, Utah, this will be my 5th World Championship; making up for sucking at all sport as a youth. We’ll see old friends, meet up with Fionas Mum, then head to Adelaide, Stawell, the Grampians, Melbourne and visit family, friends, our new niece and have a great time. The last time I was in Australia was 2 years ago when we visited for Christmas.

I brought my AUD study material but am going to enjoy the holiday by racing amongst the best in the world, seeing family, having fine Australian Wine, amongst many other things.

As always, I will have a full race report after the race but for now you can follow me on the ironman tracker app, YouTube, OutsideTV, Instagram viper30ma or Strava. Thanks to Fiona for being a great wife to me especially this year as I studied hard to pass this exam.

Oh, and how could I forget! I am now officially an Australian Permanent Resident. I could fly to Australia and work and live indefinitely (and get free health care). This was the first major $7,000 hurdle to becoming a citizen and moving to Adelaide in 2027. Stay tuned!!!