Third Week - Ironman Texas 2020 Training - Need Help Here.

This third week was a struggle as well.  Only a last 4 days of bearing down salvaged the week from a complete disaster.  This does not look good for the home team.  The heat and humidity are killers for sure but I wonder if that could be partly an excuse for poor performance when the fact could be that I am too old and over the hill for this game any longer.

But, I go on just trying to put down one day at a time of the training.  One day at a time; one step after another: this is like the ironman itself.  Trying to put discipline to this life isn't easy and I guess it that way for everyone to some degree.  Got to bury myself in the thought that if I do my best then whatever.  That is like a free fall into faith.  Need help on this one God.

Miles of the Journey: Second Training Week- Ironman Texas - Not So Good

Miles of the Journey: Second Training Week- Ironman Texas - Not So Good: The answer to another week as good as the first one was no. Fatigue in this heat wrung me out and I felt I needed a day off after 2 months o...

Second Training Week- Ironman Texas - Not So Good

The answer to another week as good as the first one was no. Fatigue in this heat wrung me out and I felt I needed a day off after 2 months of training some every day.  The second week could be called a stagger.  I did the best I could with the body and mind I had to work with but it wasn't a great week.

Years of this have taught not to believe the present is permanent, whether it be good or bad.  Whatever; it will change. Years of this have taught me to be ready for the downturns and don't lose hope and focus.  Years of this have taught me to relish and absorb the hope and joy when things are really great.  These will make your umbrella for the rains of doubt, fear, and fatigue which are sure to come.
Basically, in the balance, it is about not feeding the doubts and watering the hopes.  There is a grin as I write this and I can know my ship is still aright, and my hope is secure.  Praise God.

(Age 75, Eating Plant-Based  (no animal, no eggs, no dairy) for over 3 years now)

First Week - Ironman Texas Training - Done

It went well.  The heat was abysmal, especially for the runs.  Workout costs in cooling oneself went way up. The swim wasn't great but I got through it without bonking which is a first in 4 attempts in the hot water.  Bottom line:  I am dealing with it and overcoming:  overcoming my age, overcoming the heat, overcoming the lure of doing something else at the time. I have kept my eye on the prize and I am happy and grateful.  God seems close and I think that is perhaps the prime mover in my personal success.

                                            Now Lord, may I have another week like that?

At 75 - Praise God, Hope Hasn't Aged - The First Day

  My first day of  the journey to Ironman Texas 

Praise  God for the Purpose and the Hope to Start

Nurture the Will, Build the Courage, Overcome the Doubts of the Lesser Self

See the Vision, Take It All In

Maintain the Discipline--Train Day After Day, After Day

And Finally, On That Special Day - Pray Hard, Breathe Deeply,

Savor the Moments - Embrace the Risks

Be Thankful

And

Get In the Water At Ironman Texas 2020

My Blessing: The Opportunity to Hope

Thursday, August 1, 2019

My Blessing: The Opportunity to Hope

It is hard to believe I have been at this ironman business for so long and harder still to believe that I would be going at it again.  It is sort of like the remake of an old movie over and over yet each time, something is a bit different.  Each time it seems, I have found a new way to fail.    This time the same enthusiasm is there along with the same fear, yet this time,  the fear is more subdued.  This time there is a quiet confidence cooking here that I haven't had before. Perhaps it is due to a close feeling with God, that seems to pervade my spirit more than ever.   Not that I haven’t felt close to Him in the past, but through my failures, I suppose,  our relationship has grown and is growing richer still than I could have imagined it could be.   I am in a good place all the way around.

Today I am working on my training plan which should start in about 4 days. In a way it like packing to go on a trip;  an adventure in faith.  For those who don’t know this is an event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike, followed by a full marathon (26.2 miles) within 17 hours.   To prepare for this the training is going to be really hard.  The event will be really hard, but I know how great the reward and I feel ready to pay the price whether I succeed or fail.

There will be some giving up involved:  giving up leisure coffee most mornings with my wife; giving up staying up to watch a movie or reading; giving up a lot of fun, outside work here on my place, and so many other little things that will have to be set aside until.  But I think I am ready for a bit of self-denial.  I think I need the plan and the discipline enforced by the faith in my calling.  I will hope and pray to give a good accounting of myself before God.

God has given me this opportunity to hope if only for today.  I am thankful for that and my prayer is that I will be allowed to finish this and see the tears flow down my wife's face, feel her hug, and hear in my heart words from God:  "well done my good and faithful servant."