Today God has made something possible I did not think was going to happen. I actually swam OVER A MILE in large non stopping chunks. I am besides myself at the moment.
I had a goal to do 500 without stopping today which would have been reason enough to celebrate since I have not done that to date. I usually swim 100's, or 50s' with breaks on the wall. I have been thinking and praying about the fact that the ocean has no walls every 100 yards. In the pool I can take it easy because there is a wall. But come race day I have to as Dore in Nemo says "just keep swimming...just keep swimming" Today I was going to break my own record and do 500.
I started out the 500 and about 300 I was thinking that's good, but stuck with it and made the 500. Praise God. Then I set out to do it again at 500 I just kept going and going and going like the energizer bunny in water and did 1000 yards! No way! Way! I praise God and think I am feeling good lets try for another 500 so I just keep swimming and I lost count because I was so excited but I think I ended up doing another 650 0r 700 yards or so. All together over 1.2 miles with only 2 small breaks.
A word on form an function...it was not pretty or efficient but I found a rhythm that worked. Now I just hope I can find that same rhythm again. I was under the Life Guard tower where I dont like to go because I dont want them laughing at me the whole time but it was the only lane open. I swam to swim today with out thinking to much and just doing.
Thanks to all who have said prayers keep them coming. A special thanks to Randy (aka coach Randy) for not giving up on me and even sacrificing his eyes so I could use his goggles the other day when I forgot mine. He looked stoned for 2 days--sorry and thanks. By the way I think it was the cool goggles that helped today Randy. There has also been a guy on the Iamtri site Skip that has been a great encouragement to me. He has done several races and has taken the time to answer my silly questions of a newbie. Which is one thing I love about sports, even though its a race some people still take the time to pass along advice and wisdom to help others. a cool thing for sure.
39 days to go and today I feel like I am on track in all 3 events.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Holy Brick
Yesterday I did one of the hardest workouts I have done in some time (maybe ever). A brick workout is when you stack 2 workouts on top of each other. I did 3 bricks or I started a wall yesterday.
After church I got on the bike and rode out to Peck road in Santa Paula and back 15 miles (52 minutes). It was an awesome ride heading to the mountains with snow covering them. Cold and windy though, glad I had on my long sleeve shirt, wind breaker, and gloves. Then I put on my running shoes took off the wind breaker and gloves ran almost to Victoria and back home (I was shooting for 2 miles, ends up I went 2.86 miles 24 minutes) Changed shoes put on the jacket and gloves rode back out to Santa Paula and back 15 more miles (55 minutes). Came home changed shoes and ran again 26 minutes. Grabbed a bar and some G2 and headed out to Santa Paula again the first 10 miles were great the last 5 I was digging deep for energy and desire (1 hour 2 minutes). Then the final run 27 minutes. I felt OK slow but what a workout.
I thought that I would not be able to walk today, but the legs feel OK. I am however, going to take the day off and recover.
Last week I swam 1.1 miles! Not all in a row but I did the distance, if I did my math correct in the pool I would have did the last 50 to make 1.2 miles but I know I can do it now I just have to get in the ocean and see how that goes with out walls on each end.
The event is 40 days out. A lot can happen in 40 days! 6 weeks seems like a long time but it will be here before I know it. I feel like I am on track for the most part. God is good and is keeping me healthy. Phil 4:13 I can do all things though God who strengthens me.
The endurance stage goes for one more week, then active recovery and then competitive stage followed by the taper and finally the CA Ironman.
After church I got on the bike and rode out to Peck road in Santa Paula and back 15 miles (52 minutes). It was an awesome ride heading to the mountains with snow covering them. Cold and windy though, glad I had on my long sleeve shirt, wind breaker, and gloves. Then I put on my running shoes took off the wind breaker and gloves ran almost to Victoria and back home (I was shooting for 2 miles, ends up I went 2.86 miles 24 minutes) Changed shoes put on the jacket and gloves rode back out to Santa Paula and back 15 more miles (55 minutes). Came home changed shoes and ran again 26 minutes. Grabbed a bar and some G2 and headed out to Santa Paula again the first 10 miles were great the last 5 I was digging deep for energy and desire (1 hour 2 minutes). Then the final run 27 minutes. I felt OK slow but what a workout.
I thought that I would not be able to walk today, but the legs feel OK. I am however, going to take the day off and recover.
Last week I swam 1.1 miles! Not all in a row but I did the distance, if I did my math correct in the pool I would have did the last 50 to make 1.2 miles but I know I can do it now I just have to get in the ocean and see how that goes with out walls on each end.
The event is 40 days out. A lot can happen in 40 days! 6 weeks seems like a long time but it will be here before I know it. I feel like I am on track for the most part. God is good and is keeping me healthy. Phil 4:13 I can do all things though God who strengthens me.
The endurance stage goes for one more week, then active recovery and then competitive stage followed by the taper and finally the CA Ironman.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Opposition
I have been facing a whole lot of opposition on my goal to finish the California Ironman, I felt this week like I should scrap the whole idea. I had a bad week of swimming last week and was sick over the weekend, still have something in the chest/lungs. This is one of the hardest physical things I have ever set out to do. What was I thinking anyway, crazy that's what. I could just chalk it up to a great weight loss plan--after all I have lost 23 pounds and all my clothes fit and people notice a change.
I have a problem though, I don't want to quit. I don't feel like God is telling me to quit, I want to finish to give God honor and glory. I want to do it for my kids, to show them that hard work and dedication can accomplish things. I want to do it for my wife, she is so awesome and her faith has proved to me that I can get through this. I want to do it for the people who said that I have inspired them to do something, to get moving, to set a goal. And I want to do it for the people who think I am a bit crazy for even trying. I want to do it for me, quitting is easy, justification to quit is easy, rationalization is easy. I feel God has a purpose for me in this.
So why all the struggle this week? I was really down and beaten. Fear took over and failure was an option. I have read that the enemy loves to oppose joy. Crush those dreams and goals make me feel less than, make me feel worthless.
Yesterday I told Emily how I was feeling, she is behind me either way and will love me whatever I choose to do. I emailed my friend Doug whom I have raced with and trained with for many events. He said many wonderful things and even through in this quote "You can't put a limit on anything. the more you dream,the farther you get." Michael Phelps. I ran yesterday 4.6 miles coughed up a 1/2 lung and felt OK. I probably could have taken another day off and let the lungs clear, but it was a good run--a not quitting run. One of the lines from a Train song that I heard on the run stuck out (I usually don't remember the songs I hear) "I wont give up if you don't give up" " I need a sign to let me know your here" "I wont give up if you don't give up"
After a great bible study this morning, where we talked about the boldness of Steven standing up against the Sanhedrin looking to God filled with the Holy Spirit and taking his faith to death. I asked the guys to pray for my swim, I feel like I am at the cross roads, do it or not. The thing about the swim is you have to swim, on the bike you can coast, on the run you can walk...on the swim you have to swim or sink.
I took the kids to school and decided to spin for a 1/2 hour in the garage to keep the legs moving. I had a good workout 13 miles and a lot of sweat and coughing. Then I am in the shower after some push ups, pull ups and crunches. A thought pops into my mind, the enemy oppresses joy, he does not want me to have the joy, he does not want me to give God glory as I raise my hands to God as I cross the finish line. I got out of the shower and I prayed, I prayed for God to fill those oppressing thoughts, I also told the devil to take a hike, he has no hold on me or my joy. As my friend said this morning "I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Phil 4:13.
I am at work feeling good about myself and my hope that this will be the week that "I get it" the swim that is, I get an email from the FCA (Fellowship of Christan Athletes) Endurance the group that does triathlons for God. The main story was of a woman that qualified for Kona the big daddy of Ironman and found out she had a broken bone in her foot 2 weeks before the race. She felt God wanted her to be there so she raced with one shoe and a walking cast. She was inspired to wear a shirt that said "I CAN" on the front and "Phil 4:13" on the back, she said that the light of love and hope that followed her on that day was amazing. She also was on the recap of that race that aired on NBC a few weeks back and I remember seeing her while Cameron and I watched the race.
In that same CAN DO attitude, I CAN, I WILL, with strength from my God.
I have a problem though, I don't want to quit. I don't feel like God is telling me to quit, I want to finish to give God honor and glory. I want to do it for my kids, to show them that hard work and dedication can accomplish things. I want to do it for my wife, she is so awesome and her faith has proved to me that I can get through this. I want to do it for the people who said that I have inspired them to do something, to get moving, to set a goal. And I want to do it for the people who think I am a bit crazy for even trying. I want to do it for me, quitting is easy, justification to quit is easy, rationalization is easy. I feel God has a purpose for me in this.
So why all the struggle this week? I was really down and beaten. Fear took over and failure was an option. I have read that the enemy loves to oppose joy. Crush those dreams and goals make me feel less than, make me feel worthless.
Yesterday I told Emily how I was feeling, she is behind me either way and will love me whatever I choose to do. I emailed my friend Doug whom I have raced with and trained with for many events. He said many wonderful things and even through in this quote "You can't put a limit on anything. the more you dream,the farther you get." Michael Phelps. I ran yesterday 4.6 miles coughed up a 1/2 lung and felt OK. I probably could have taken another day off and let the lungs clear, but it was a good run--a not quitting run. One of the lines from a Train song that I heard on the run stuck out (I usually don't remember the songs I hear) "I wont give up if you don't give up" " I need a sign to let me know your here" "I wont give up if you don't give up"
After a great bible study this morning, where we talked about the boldness of Steven standing up against the Sanhedrin looking to God filled with the Holy Spirit and taking his faith to death. I asked the guys to pray for my swim, I feel like I am at the cross roads, do it or not. The thing about the swim is you have to swim, on the bike you can coast, on the run you can walk...on the swim you have to swim or sink.
I took the kids to school and decided to spin for a 1/2 hour in the garage to keep the legs moving. I had a good workout 13 miles and a lot of sweat and coughing. Then I am in the shower after some push ups, pull ups and crunches. A thought pops into my mind, the enemy oppresses joy, he does not want me to have the joy, he does not want me to give God glory as I raise my hands to God as I cross the finish line. I got out of the shower and I prayed, I prayed for God to fill those oppressing thoughts, I also told the devil to take a hike, he has no hold on me or my joy. As my friend said this morning "I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Phil 4:13.
I am at work feeling good about myself and my hope that this will be the week that "I get it" the swim that is, I get an email from the FCA (Fellowship of Christan Athletes) Endurance the group that does triathlons for God. The main story was of a woman that qualified for Kona the big daddy of Ironman and found out she had a broken bone in her foot 2 weeks before the race. She felt God wanted her to be there so she raced with one shoe and a walking cast. She was inspired to wear a shirt that said "I CAN" on the front and "Phil 4:13" on the back, she said that the light of love and hope that followed her on that day was amazing. She also was on the recap of that race that aired on NBC a few weeks back and I remember seeing her while Cameron and I watched the race.
In that same CAN DO attitude, I CAN, I WILL, with strength from my God.
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