Feeling the Freedom

The water on the small lake was packed with people in the swimming area. What to do? Head down swimming right through the melee like a race start. The sounds of squealing children and the muffled tones of adults began to ebb away leaving me with only the sounds of my own swimming. I was free in the open water of the lake. No, lane lines, no turns, just stroke in rhythm; enjoy. Seems I almost went to sleep until I looked up to see I was nearing the other side of the lake. Then turn and swim from one end of the lake to the other and back again, the water all to myself. Something brought me to and I looked at the watch to find I had swam the amount of time I had planned. Heading to the sounds of the swimming area in the distance, I turned and went up and down the lake one more time. Feeling blessed; feeling free.

The Sum of the Parts

How could an event done so poorly end so well? That was my thought on finishing the Kona Eastside sprint triathlon a few weeks back. I felt so blessed in it all when I finished. Perhaps the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts?

Not Being Taken Alive

Read this morning that we can expect a lot of hurricanes this year; doom and pestilence. Long term health care costs are going up. Better get some long term health care insurance or you will surely die. And on and on, I read about all these ominous things that will surely kill me or drive me to pitiful poverty.

I have been very poor before and lived through it well. And how many times can these things kill me? Just once. And the thing that would probably kill me first would be stress from worrying about all the things that are out to get me. Should I let the worries of tomorrow steal the life of today?

I am prepared. I have peace with God and peace with myself. I will prepare for hurricanes and other various disasters.....but for now, I have a six mile run to do. It is high humidity and increasing heat. In the afternoon, I have a bike ride to do. Life is very good in spite of its ominous side. As the saying goes, "I am being stalked by death, but it will never take me alive."

Beautifully and Wonderfully Made - Run Proud

Today on my run it was hot and humid; the prelude to a rain. Tough conditions seem to induce a defensive, survival stride from me. Today was no exception. I found myself looking down the road only a few yards ahead. My shoulders were hunched somewhat, and I was doing more of a stagger than a run. My forward lean had me not picking my feet up much, and my shoes were scuffing loudly on the hot pavement as evidence. This is how you wear shoes out quickly. I was running scared in a way.

Then I remembered reading that we are to run "proud." Square the shoulders, stand up straighter, look farther ahead, see the bigger picture; embrace a bolder promise. Scripture says we are "beautifully and wonderfully made." Come on! Believe it! Run proud! I did. My pace picked up as I now seemed to be running over the road and not on it; running proud. The run took on new life and became more than just a task to complete but a blessing to experience.

Back at the truck, I was smiling broadly, drenched in sweat,and immensely thankful. Thankful that we are not called to plod mindlessly forward, staring at our feet. We are called to dream big dreams, looking up, pushing hard in the "direction of those dreams. We are not to do our training run of life without purpose, hope, joy or vision. That would be a waste of what God has given us and what He has called us to. We are "beautifully and wonderfully made." Look up.

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well. ~ Voltaire

Hope Merchant

Today, I did the Kona Eastside triathlon in Baytown, Texas. Although I was 2nd in my age group, I did have a good swim, and did really well fighting off the headwind on the bike. But, the run told me that I have lots of work to do before I take on that half ironman I am planning for October. My plan is to walk the aid stations on the half. So today I did that. It worked well, and I finished well, but the run still seemed hard.

I can remember when running came easy. Now it seems to be such an effort. At the age of 66, am I too old for this? There were only about 4-5 people over 60 doing this event. Perhaps I am trying too hard to hang on to something that has already escaped me. Perhaps, it would be wise to follow those my age who have already let go? These were the thoughts as I muddled through the run. I prayed. If nothing else, being on a downhill slide with my running ability has brought me to prayer more often; brought me closer to God.

Then a man about twenty years younger passed me and said, "You're my new hero."

"I'm your new hero? Why?"

"I tried to stay with you on the bike, but I just couldn't do it. You kicked my butt on the bike. You're my new hero."

"Thanks."

As he eased on ahead of me, I thought that perhaps, moments like this are a reason to do this stuff. How many times in life do we get the chance to inspire someone? How many times can we be someones hero, an agent of hope for someone looking down the road of their own aging ahead, when their run doesn't come easy anymore.

Perhaps, even in my old age inability, I can still be a hope merchant.

Hand to the Plow and Not Looking Back

Today, I was making rows with my pushplow to plant peas in one of my gardens. The first row had a high meander factor, you might say and I had to go back and get it straightened out. The next rows, I did what I always do but had forgotten: I found a point at the end of the row as my goal. By staying focused on that point, the plow is pushed straight. No looking back.

For me, training is like that. I do best when I just set my goals, and just do it. When I stop and think beforehand too much, I can be deterred from the straight path. My race schedule is set for this year. I am committed to the straight row to finishing a half ironman distance event in October this year. No need to look back. Just train. Follow the plan.

After gardening chores were done I went in and signed up for the next event on my schedule.

"-----no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

Ride It On Down: Climb Back Out

Trying to climb out of this training hole I seem to be in has been tough but I think I am on to something. Last year on the bike at the Couples Triathlon near Austin, Texas, I was really on a good roll. The big, bad hill they nicknamed "Quadzilla" had been overcome and I was close to finishing the bike and going strong. Excited about it all, I took the last corner too tight. My tire dropped off the jagged pavement edge and I found myself quickly heading down the ravine on the edge of the road. Two choices presented themselves immediately: lay the bike down, take the cuts, bumps and bruises or just ride it on down into the ravine. I chose to ride. It was a rough ride but at the bottom, I was able to stop, dismount, and climb back out.

In my present training I think I have slowed and dismounted at the bottom of my ravine, and have started climbing back out. It just feels like that.

Training, triathlon , and especially life puts the smack on us at times. We are presented with the choice of whether to lay it down or ride the ravine. For me, my best is usually to choose to ride, choose to be the person, the athlete God has chosen me to be.