August 28th
Now August 31st.
Usually these posts come in rapid fire succession as approach a race. Not this year (obviously). The fact that I started this post one August 28th and all I got was the date typed is pretty indicative of how the year has gone. Hopefully I will be able to catch things up in the next couple of weeks.
I have been post about the events in our lives and I admit I was a little apprehensive about a long drive. It seems that most things this year have occurred in bunches this year. So on departing for Louisville my mood was a little guarded.
The trip did begin with an amusing incident. We left Dallas Wednesday after my wife finished work. We packed up the vehicle, I racked my bike and headed to the gas station to 'fill er up'. AS I started to pump the gas a car pulled up behind me. I noticed the Tri bikes in the rear of that SUV. I saw the driver and passenger commenting on looking at my bike. As the driver got out we exchange a quick glance and I ask him where they were going. They were going to Louisville for the same race. Small world!!
Thankfully the trip was uneventful. Dallas to Little Rock the first day and then Louisville Kentucky the next day. Also different was that my Mom was along for the ride. Most of the talk in the car was catching up on family news and talking about future plans for the families. Along with everything else our youngest daughter got engaged this month and so we discussed plans for that. Mostly how we will work the Wedding around my race schedule HA HA!
When we got to Little Rock the first night I realized that I had forgotten my charger for my laptop. Actually it is a Surface RT. It is not doing that well in the market but I really like it. So without the charger I had to be careful about my battery life. My wife had her laptop so if I really needed internet access I could use hers. (as I type this I realize that I left the charger at work). So I was hoping that the charger was the only thing I forgot this trip. If it was I was doing just fine.
Upon arriving in Louisville we spent most of the evening relaxing and getting settled in our room. The Galt House is a beautiful hotel. It is the kind of place that I would usually not stay in, but this trip is a special trip so we splurge and live like royalty. Louisville is also know for a horse race (ah Duh the Kentucky Derby).
The Galt House seems to be one of the premier places to stay in Louisville so I assume that many of the wealthy horse people stay there. Horse racing is called the sport of Kings. So I was wondering how the hotel staff view the different groups. We (the triathlon community) come in with our gear and our nutrition. I am not sure how the Derby crowd looks but I am pretty sure that they all do not bring bikes into the lobby. We walk around in shorts and compression socks and the Derby crowd dons fancy hats and jackets and ties. I am obviously speaking from a complete lack of knowledge about people that attend the Kentucky Derby. I am only going by what I see on the telecast.
On thing that we do have in common is financial blessings to stay in such a nice hotel. Being a triathlete is not an inexpensive past time. Bikes alone can cost up into the lower 5 figure ranges. When it comes to financial investment I fall into the middle usually. At a big WTC event like any Ironman event I am usually in the lower middle of financial investment in the sport. Some of those people have really nice bikes. At a local race here in Dallas I would put my self near the upper middle.
Our family has been through many trials this year. At times it has been difficult to move forward. There were times this year were I was so distracted by family events that I could not train. It was not that I was doing anything, it was that I was so upset and distracted that I felt unsafe riding my bike. I made the decision to start training in spite of the events. By training I felt that I made my contribution to my family and the difficult times. It was the simple fact that training was a representation of life and living. Training I felt infused life into a family that was running low on life. I trained by putting one foot in front of the other.
I count my blessings this way. One at a time. My life is full of blessings, family, safety, health, etc. It is hard to poll them unless you do it one at a time.
One thing I have learned this year is how to work at counting your blessings.
"The Run"
"The Run"
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Louisville, Kentucky (1)
It is easier to relax once you get to your race destination. Some for obvious reasons. The drive is over. No need to worry about flats or breakdowns in some backwoods area. Also during the trip everything is on hold. Everything is packed away.
Now that we are in the race city the action can begin. Really two main decisions at this point. What did I forget and how am I going to adjust. I come to accept that for all the racing there will be times when I forget something. In most cases anything forgotten can be purchased. Unless I forget my bike. Not sure what I would do if I for got that.
Once over the trauma of forgetting something it is on to the next steps. Usually orienting myself. Just the basics, Food, shelter. After the basics on to more race specific stuff. Athlete check in, race bags organize gear. Recheck everything, go over the race plan, make sure everything is coordinated.
Also, have to get the last minute work outs into.
Funny how driving can feel like standing still and being one place feel like moving.
Now that we are in the race city the action can begin. Really two main decisions at this point. What did I forget and how am I going to adjust. I come to accept that for all the racing there will be times when I forget something. In most cases anything forgotten can be purchased. Unless I forget my bike. Not sure what I would do if I for got that.
Once over the trauma of forgetting something it is on to the next steps. Usually orienting myself. Just the basics, Food, shelter. After the basics on to more race specific stuff. Athlete check in, race bags organize gear. Recheck everything, go over the race plan, make sure everything is coordinated.
Also, have to get the last minute work outs into.
Funny how driving can feel like standing still and being one place feel like moving.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Getting Nearer
Getting ready is a little different this year.
Last year things were pretty quiet around the house. I could set aside an area and get my gear ready. I could get things packed and checked off the "list". This year toys and diapers are on the floor. I think that there are a couple of Fin McMissles and a least 4 different Lightening McQueens. A couple Tow Maders, a Woody and a Buzz Lightyear are around too (I hope I spelled all this right).
No, me and my wife of 30 years did not have twins. Our daughter and her kiddos are visiting. She and her husband are between duty stations and they have been with us on and off for the last month. Things are a little different with a newborn and a 3 year old running around.
I guess balance has been one of the key skills this year. In a previous blog I talked about the simplicity of my Ironman Louisville 2012 quest. Well actually I used the term easy first then changed it to simple. It was by no means easy. In training for IM Louisville I did the workouts my coach sent me and all was pretty simple. Few distractions, few adjustments, everything was very familiar.
This year; not so simple. Distractions, adjustments and unfamiliarity seemed to be the norm this year. I did bike workouts in at least 4 different cities this year (Oklahoma City, Houston, Corsicana as well as my DFW home). I did swims in these cities as well as 3 or 4 different ones. I lost count on the places I ran. I have fellow triathletes that would laugh at this because they travel and train in different cities every week. Me, being a bit of a home body I found it difficult. Dropping into a city and trying to find a good bike path is not easy. You want one that is smooth enough for the bike and relatively free of traffic. You can go to several web sites and find some routes but you can never be quite sure if the one you are selecting will meet your needs.
Also trying to find a pool that is at least 25 yards and will accept a non member can prove challenging as well. As good as a pool as you can find it is still not my familiar pool.
Like I said it has been more difficult this year.
Last year things were pretty quiet around the house. I could set aside an area and get my gear ready. I could get things packed and checked off the "list". This year toys and diapers are on the floor. I think that there are a couple of Fin McMissles and a least 4 different Lightening McQueens. A couple Tow Maders, a Woody and a Buzz Lightyear are around too (I hope I spelled all this right).
No, me and my wife of 30 years did not have twins. Our daughter and her kiddos are visiting. She and her husband are between duty stations and they have been with us on and off for the last month. Things are a little different with a newborn and a 3 year old running around.
How's this for a balancing act?
I guess balance has been one of the key skills this year. In a previous blog I talked about the simplicity of my Ironman Louisville 2012 quest. Well actually I used the term easy first then changed it to simple. It was by no means easy. In training for IM Louisville I did the workouts my coach sent me and all was pretty simple. Few distractions, few adjustments, everything was very familiar.
This year; not so simple. Distractions, adjustments and unfamiliarity seemed to be the norm this year. I did bike workouts in at least 4 different cities this year (Oklahoma City, Houston, Corsicana as well as my DFW home). I did swims in these cities as well as 3 or 4 different ones. I lost count on the places I ran. I have fellow triathletes that would laugh at this because they travel and train in different cities every week. Me, being a bit of a home body I found it difficult. Dropping into a city and trying to find a good bike path is not easy. You want one that is smooth enough for the bike and relatively free of traffic. You can go to several web sites and find some routes but you can never be quite sure if the one you are selecting will meet your needs.
Also trying to find a pool that is at least 25 yards and will accept a non member can prove challenging as well. As good as a pool as you can find it is still not my familiar pool.
Like I said it has been more difficult this year.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
One Month out!
One month until Ironman Louisville!
Needless to say it has been a long journey. More about the journey in a latter post. I want to talk about motivation. I have taken to reviewing videos, books, and websites for motivational quotes. I find a particularly pertinent one and I write it on a piece of paper. I then pin it to my bulletin board (old school; cork, really old school). I leave it there for the week. I read it and re read it. It is an intricate part of my life for the week. It is not only part of my Ironman training it is also part of my work as well. It sits there within my field of vision.
I teach on-line computer classes so I spend the better part of every day in a 6' X 10' studio so anything on my bulletin board is always with in eye shot. On Friday I take a picture of the card and post it on Facebook and Twitter (@tirtexmike). Here are the first 2
This post is not here to delve into the meaning of each of these quotes. They are what they are. They did start me thinking about "bulletin board" material.
We hear this term every time a pro athlete in a team sport shoots off his mouth a trash talks an opposing team. If an athlete says disparaging things regarding an upcoming opponent you will hear the hosts of the local sports radio station reference the quote as "bulletin board " material for the opposing team.
In spite of my advanced age I remember this from playing high school football. One example in particular the opposing team "decorated " the entrance way to our school with signs and banners claiming how they were going to beat us. Generally said with colorful language. No cursing or fowl language just how they were going to wipe the field with us and stomp us into the ground.
Our coaches took this art work and placed in our locker room on the day of the game. They're goal is somewhat obvious. Use our competitors lack of respect for us as motivation. I assume that they we were not expected to get all riled up and crazy but to get focused on the task of beating them. Winning the GAME! It was meant to focus our collective thoughts and efforts on our competition.
In looking at my bulletin board I recalled those days. Then I started to think about the material I currently have posted and compare it to the good old days. Then I started to think about the content of these messages.
I do not have copies of the High school banners but as I remember them and their purpose of focusing us outward. Focusing on our opponent. My new bulletin board is adorned with sayings that are more focused inward. Definitely very different messages. Reasons for the differences; some are obvious. Two entirely different events. A football game pitting 2 teams against each other and an Ironman Triathlon where you are generally racing against yourself.
I guess the biggest difference is the latter. You are racing against yourself. In a team sport you sense of self is usually sacrificed for the good of the team. This is admirable and honorable. We need to put the common good first in many cases.
What about delivering your best for the cause. How do you know if you have given enough to the team. We sometimes need to know how far we can go. We can only know that by pushing ourselves. By pushing ourselves we know were our limits our and where they are not. The only way to know is to take on a task and see where you get to. Something like say an Ironman Triathlon.
Now we are into something that does not really have an opponent. Or better said, the opponent is the task itself. That is why the quotes that seem to resonate with me at this time are ones that build the spirit, shore up the man within and most importantly address the fears that we all have. I do not fear my opponent in an Ironman triathlon. The task is fearful enough. I know it will hurt and I want the strength to carry me through.
That strength will only come from within me.
Needless to say it has been a long journey. More about the journey in a latter post. I want to talk about motivation. I have taken to reviewing videos, books, and websites for motivational quotes. I find a particularly pertinent one and I write it on a piece of paper. I then pin it to my bulletin board (old school; cork, really old school). I leave it there for the week. I read it and re read it. It is an intricate part of my life for the week. It is not only part of my Ironman training it is also part of my work as well. It sits there within my field of vision.
This post is not here to delve into the meaning of each of these quotes. They are what they are. They did start me thinking about "bulletin board" material.
We hear this term every time a pro athlete in a team sport shoots off his mouth a trash talks an opposing team. If an athlete says disparaging things regarding an upcoming opponent you will hear the hosts of the local sports radio station reference the quote as "bulletin board " material for the opposing team.
In spite of my advanced age I remember this from playing high school football. One example in particular the opposing team "decorated " the entrance way to our school with signs and banners claiming how they were going to beat us. Generally said with colorful language. No cursing or fowl language just how they were going to wipe the field with us and stomp us into the ground.
Our coaches took this art work and placed in our locker room on the day of the game. They're goal is somewhat obvious. Use our competitors lack of respect for us as motivation. I assume that they we were not expected to get all riled up and crazy but to get focused on the task of beating them. Winning the GAME! It was meant to focus our collective thoughts and efforts on our competition.
In looking at my bulletin board I recalled those days. Then I started to think about the material I currently have posted and compare it to the good old days. Then I started to think about the content of these messages.
I do not have copies of the High school banners but as I remember them and their purpose of focusing us outward. Focusing on our opponent. My new bulletin board is adorned with sayings that are more focused inward. Definitely very different messages. Reasons for the differences; some are obvious. Two entirely different events. A football game pitting 2 teams against each other and an Ironman Triathlon where you are generally racing against yourself.
I guess the biggest difference is the latter. You are racing against yourself. In a team sport you sense of self is usually sacrificed for the good of the team. This is admirable and honorable. We need to put the common good first in many cases.
What about delivering your best for the cause. How do you know if you have given enough to the team. We sometimes need to know how far we can go. We can only know that by pushing ourselves. By pushing ourselves we know were our limits our and where they are not. The only way to know is to take on a task and see where you get to. Something like say an Ironman Triathlon.
Now we are into something that does not really have an opponent. Or better said, the opponent is the task itself. That is why the quotes that seem to resonate with me at this time are ones that build the spirit, shore up the man within and most importantly address the fears that we all have. I do not fear my opponent in an Ironman triathlon. The task is fearful enough. I know it will hurt and I want the strength to carry me through.
That strength will only come from within me.
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