Ironman Texas 2022 Week #5 - The Beauty of Each Day

 Taking a sort of rest day. Had my first cramps in a while last night and have residual soreness in more than a few spots.  I think it might be the more intensive work on the indoor trainer, but who knows.  It could also be  that I am just too old and beat up for all this.  Word on the street says this is a big bite for an old man.  Last night I read that men 75-79 comprise only .7 percent of ironman participants.  I could say I am one in a hundred but it is less than that really. But, until I stop and find a reason to feel sorry for myself I really don't think that much about how old I am or my slim chances of getting through.  When it scary I just don't look down if at all possible.  Worrying about what's coming after me would only lessen the beauty of the present moment.  What is to lose that won't be lost eventually anyway? Why not be quite different?

The child in me is still  giggly at the prospect of actually finishing Ironman Texas 2022, and I am into protecting children from the world. In this case I protect myself as best I can by keeping my head in the sand about my age. This is my fifth week at this and I am still standing, "haunting the outskirts of my time," moving forward, however slowly and painfully with the beauty of each  day being enough. The hope that is freshened and inspired by this  morning time of my journey is God's adventure for me. 

IROMAN TEXAS 2022 TRAINING WEEK #5 Getting Lost

 Company here and so many distractions that the training for the fifth week was not that great.  There was a 60 mile bike ride with a 2 mile brick run following and later in the week a 2 hour run, but the passion seems subdued, in danger of more disruption from whatever personal wind might blow.  

This is ironman training at its best.  This is where its made or broken in the harder personal challenges that come against us;  to have to reach down and declare who and what you are about. Today I feel somewhat angry with myself and want to reaffirm not to let my calling down again. God help me to keep that promise.  God help me to live out my promise to Him, myself, and my wife to do my very best.  That hasn't happened yet, but I am determined to make it so.

I am tired of getting lost in the mire of everyday life issues to the extent that I lose sight of the journey I am on and what I am doing it for.  God help me to see the bigger picture of where this is leading and find my way to the whatever finish line He has in store.   Amen.

Ironman Texas 2022 Training Week #4 - Stagger Mode

 After a fairly good week, my training and personal momentum appear to  be in stagger mode.  Company is coming for several days and other family and personal stuff going on will  take me aside from myself.  My training is like a boat in the rapids that has gotten off course and it will be  a chore to get the vessel pointed in the right direction again.  After the next seven days are over, I think my craft will be in calmer waters and I can possibly move on down the river on my journey in the direction of my dreams

At the same time, it is not a good thing to wish it to be next week. That is, to wish pieces of your life away seems to be refusing the gift.  It would seem that all moments are worthy of living well in.  Not to do so might be seen as ungrateful for the moments God has given us, that we should wish them away; refusing the gift of the moment.   

The October Ironman Texas talk has me all excited and looking forward and I am so thankful for that.  So stagger mode or not, I am still moving forward this week, doing what training I can and thanking God for the time, the health, and the opportunity. Even in stagger mode, I am truly blessed.

Ironman Texas 2022 Training Week #3 - Sunday Morning - The Hope Within Me

 This training week is about over and it has been a good one.  The problem might be that it is I may be getting ahead of itself.  I don't want to be overcooked already in December for an event in April.  This coming week #4 is full of family obligations which should slow me down some.  So even an interruption may be good.  Getting started back may take some inertia overcoming though. "A body at rest tends to stay at rest."  

Yesterday was Ironman Texas 2021.  It was a lightly attended event probably for several reasons but at least they got it in.  That leaves me hopeful that the 2022 event has a good chance of coming to fruition.  It was exciting to share all the pre and post race excitement with the participants on the Facebook group and it left me hopeful for that same excitement in a bit over 6 months.

My test is to try to not get all heady and pumped up and put God off His front and center onto a back burner somewhere to be called if needed.  I need Him front and center whether I realize it at the time or not. The need is still there.  Of course, this is too big for me at age 78 to get through by myself.  I must take care always to realize what desperate straits I am in and not be led to believe otherwise by the glitz and excitement that is so much fun.  

This is all good and I can't wait to get back to the schedule after this coming week is over.  Thank you God for the Hope within me.

Ironman Texas Training Week #3 - Rocky Road

 Seems like every ironman venture gets to this spot in training and the dogs of war come out after me.  Lots of personal things that had to be taken care of have arisen, leaving me off my nutrition, behind on my schedule and a little exasperated.   Now, it is a chore to gather myself back up and make another effort forward on this journey.  This is where it is at: the real challenge is the day-to-day, in my opinion.  The event is full of inspiration and motivation to keep going as long as you possibly can, but the day-to-day, suffered out alone, for me is the biggest challenge of all:  the will to go on when you just are at your end before it even begins. 

My team is behind in this game and it is going to take a long drive to get it team rolling toward the goal line.  The saying that God will bring you through what He brought you to. I do hope He wants me to go on through,  because I really think that is where my heart is.