90 Miles of the Journey

Just got off the bike trainer after almost 6 hours. Am I sure I want to do this ironman thing, anyway? Makes me wonder, spending so much time in one room, in one place, doing the same thing for almost 6 hours. One could say that is crazy. However, working an eight hour day at a tedious job is the same thing, isn't it. And, one does that at least 5 days each week.

And I have had some jobs I counted hours until the end of day. Isn't this so much better pedaling a bike, watching bike races, getting pumped up at the finishes, thinking about the ironman bike, monitoring speed and cadence. It's a good day and for the ability and time and opportunity, I thank you God.

Two Miles of the Journey - Swimming

Years ago it was colossal that I could swim a mile. And, sure, back then I stopped, got my breath, adjusted my goggles, took little breaks until I finally finished enough laps to have swum a whole mile. Amazing !

Today I only swam 2 miles: a regular recovery day. There was no stopping. I mostly had the pool to myself and swam strong, without stopping. Not bragging here but mightily thankful, that it wasn't that hard. If I had had more time, I would have done much more. But my goal is just to get out of the water feeling good at Ironman Texas. I did that for two miles of the journey today. After my good bike/run yesterday, I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. Thank you God...I appreciate this so much.

"Strength doesn't come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming things you thought you couldn't."

Another Mile of the Journey

Great workout. Did 50 miles on my indoor bike trainer and ran a two mile brick run today. Tomorrow I have a 2 mile swim to do. Now, my fatigue level has me almost asleep as I type this. The ironman journey can often be fairly mundane and tiring. There is no fanfare, no applause, just get out of bed and train. The mud slushed under my feet today and no one even knew I was out there on the trails. But, I can't help but believe that in these moments we can grow our strongest. Out on the course, no amount of rah-rah is going to push me past where my body is screaming for me not to go. Lord continue to give me strength.

Training Continues

Monday January 11th...training for IM TX resumes. The training has been consistent but not great. My long rides and long runs have not come off like I had hoped. The weather has been cold, wet, and dreary and where I live, running on trails gets very slippery; the feet get very wet and cold; not something I look forward to. The bike has been indoors and doing OK. Last week I had 166 total miles with a 50 miler for the longest.

Support, motivation: I watch IM DVDS and bike race DVDS. Sometimes this isn't easy to pull oneself up and out, but its the journey and I can say that almost without realizing it, this journey is changing me. Looking back at my records I can see I have done a lot of overcoming putting in the miles training swim-bike-run. And just about the time I think no one notices, my granddaughter reminds me of a workout on my training schedule which is on the refrigerator. I am so blessed to have the burden to carry, this mission to fulfill.

Ironman Victories

According to the 2009 Ironman World Championship race coverage, Elizabeth Thompson had previously suffered a stroke and had to essentially learn to walk again. There she was, lining up for one of the toughest one day events there is. She had come so far already. And I like what she said about the upcoming day. Essentially she said that if she makes the starting line; that will be a victory. If she makes the swim cut-off; that will be a victory and if she makes the bike cut-off; that will be a victory. But, if she completes the entire race it would be a victory unimaginable.

I feel the same. After years of failing at this, just to make it halfway healthy to the starting line of Ironman Texas, would be a victory. Each portion of the event I might complete will be my own personal victory. So, I take the race apart to put goals, challenges, and rewards along the way. And that Elizabeth Thompson perspective produces more of that "peaceful easy feeling" that I have seemed to be carrying into my workouts. And, prayerfully, I will be able to carry that into race day; to accept myself; to be defined by my effort, not necessarily the outcome.

Terminator Triathlete II

Over the years I have had more than my share of event disappointments and sometimes I get beat up a bit mentally about it. What comes to mind is the picture of the terminator robot in the movie "Terminator" -I don't remember which one-. He gets blown up, burned up, shot up, mashed, melted, and mutilated. Somehow though his pieces find each other, and the terminator puts himself back together again.

So, here I go again not knowing how this is all going to work out. Like in a "Rocky" movie the fighter Clubber Lang is asked about predictions for the fight. He responded: "pain." Maybe I am a little too comfortable and complacent? Maybe it is time that cushy world to be blown apart and the terminator triathlete find his pieces and come himself together again. Getting beat up and getting back together seems to be the only talent I have. And I get lots of help finding and putting my pieces back together.
because God is in the re-creation business.
Maybe soon I will be almost together again - except for a few loose screws. Like the terminator say, "I'll be baaack."

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/texas.aspx#axzz31yYyfXwh

Active Recovery: The Lesson in the Tree

The tree was rotten and kept dropping limbs that impeded mowing. It looked sturdy enough still but my son climbed an extension ladder and threw a logging chain around it about half way up. We hooked two logging chains together and to the tractor. One light pull and the tree collapsed, breaking in pieces. What once had seemed so strong and immovable had succumbed to a pull at the right place and persistence to see the work through. Now there is smooth earth where the tree once stood and soon we will plant spinach on the good soil there.

Strange day off from training: active recovery I suppose. But, the lesson of the tree is the lesson of the quest: Sometimes we believe the tree cannot be moved; cannot be changed, but through the right pull at the right place, plus patient persistence, obstacles can fall, and our goals be met, and our lives bear fruit in due season.

For pulling my stongholds down, the right pull at the right place, is imbedded in my relationship with God. When I am close; when I am letting His power work through me, my rotten trees fall before me. Tomorrow another training day, and through the Power within me, another chance to down the obstacles between who I am now, and who God would have me be.