Setbacks

It was bound to happen.  I got injured!  And it happened while playing softball of all things; definitely not part of my training plan.  I laid off 4 days and wallowed in self-pity.  Then I went to my massage therapist and it felt better; until my run this morning.  I have been instructed to live on the foam roller and stretch; two things I hate. 

Then I received my next training phase from my coach and he’s ramping things up in preparation for an Olympic distance race in 9 weeks.  Both therapist and coach are on the same page, trying to encourage me that the goal is achievable.  I am doing 2 maybe 3 races before the ironman in Arizona (IMAZ) because my coach wants me to get the experience under my belt.  I could care less about the 3 races I’m doing before the big one in November, but they insist that all 4 races are doable.  I wonder…

And there it is…I am my own worst enemy and depression really hits hard when I face setbacks.  I am trying to get myself out of this funk by trusting the advice and forcing myself to do things I would love to avoid.  There’s a sermon in all this somewhere.  “Lord, help thou my unbelief.”

Life Modifications

 Got a new bike seat the other day but still experiencing painful pressure points.  Come to find out, seat adjustments happen in millimeters!  So, I made some modifications and today’s ride was much more comfortable.  Still some minor pressure but it was manageable, so I will keep tweaking.  Through my research, I’ve even discovered that I wasn’t sitting properly on the seat the whole time!  Come on, how can you mess that one up?

 I’m gonna assume that proper sitting posture leads to proper running posture because when I did my brick (a combination workout that includes biking and running back-to-back), my legs didn’t feel like bricks and I actually ran farther, at the same heart rate, than previously.  And maybe that was just a result of 10 weeks of training but that would also border on arrogance, so I’ll go with my first analysis.

 If I ever get to a point in my walk with Christ that I think I have it down pat, someone please slap me with a bike seat.  Then, when I regain consciousness, remind me of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (especially verse 12).  Just because I’ve done it a certain way before doesn’t make it right.

Stay Humble

In my training, every 4 weeks is a scheduled time trial (TT) week.  Just finished my third TT for this training phase.  The first one set the standard by which my training days would be based.  The second was disappointing because I didn't improve my times at all.  In fact, I regressed some.  My coach asked how meticulously I stuck to the plan.  He wanted to know exactly how many workout sessions I had missed.  After confessing, he showed me the direct link between those days and my times.

During this last month, I don't think I missed more than one key workout per discipline and when I completed my TT's this week, there was significant improvement.  I was ecstatic!  By the way, my coach keeps increasing the dosage, except for the swim, and the level of pain increases right along with it but I have verifiable proof that it's working, so I'm not complaining.  As for the swim, all I have been doing is form drills, which alone has increased my time more than 40 seconds.

Not gonna lie; pride has a sneaky way of creeping into my mindset.  I have to be careful not to get too full of myself, so I keep repeating a simple phrase each day, "Stay humble."  As well, I keep surrounding myself with others who are better than me, which does wonders at solidifying that phrase.  It's a delicate balance to be proud without being prideful.

New Level Of Pain

Today hurt!  The training plan called for something I've never done on the bike.  My coach wanted me to keep my heart rate at close to red-line for 5 minutes, followed by another 5 minutes at about 10-15 beats slower.  Then he graciously gave me 2 minutes of recovery before I had to do it again and then a third time.  I'm afraid to even ask what's in store for future workouts.  Up to now I just thought some of the workouts were hard.  Now I understand why clients sometimes yell at their coaches!

There was a lot of self-doubt during this workout, especially watching how slowly seconds actually tick away.  I did notice that the 5 minute follow-up was easier.  During earlier workouts, I had thought that heart rate was really difficult to maintain.  Now, and after almost passing out, I realize that once you push to a new level, the old levels are manageable.  I am hoping that was my coach's intent, instead of him getting some sort of sick pleasure at my suffering.

I feel good today.  Accomplished.  But I'm not ready to say "Thank you" to my coach just yet.

Do The Right Thing

See, I told you.  It's been "one of those weeks" around here; or as my grandmother would say, "Life is what happens when you make other plans."  I had planned on a full week of workouts but nooooo, life got in the way. Then my wife has to add her own commentary, "You did the right thing."

Training takes sacrifice but not all sacrifice is training.  Squeezing in would have caused me to push aside, so that's when I had to draw the line.  My wife then noticed my perfectionism agitation starting to rise, so she calmly stepped in with her words.  She was right; certain things take precedence over others and it's never worth it to sacrifice the best for the better.  Will my training suffer?  Maybe physically but then again, my physical is a means to an end - to train my spirit to be more and more like Christ.  Doing the right thing will always improve my spiritual side.

Trust

Finished my first week of training.  Only 47 more to go!  What has the first week taught me?  Stick to the plan.  Previously I just gutted out certain times or miles but this go-around I have been instructed by my coach to adhere to specific paces or heart rate zones in the plan.  Some are very fast and some are extremely slow.  Apparently there is a science to ironman training.  Thankfully I don't have to be the scientist.  All I have to do is follow my individualized plan given to me from the one who is in the know.  After only one week I haven't yet experienced the temptation to cheat and divert from the plan, even a little; but I'm sure it's coming.  If I can go faster or slower, why shouldn't I?  Or if I don't feel like getting out of bed, why not skip it?

Because I trust my coach.  He knows what's best for me.  I certainly have the freedom to do what I want, when I want but choosing my own path hasn't proven very beneficial in the past.  That's why I am so grateful to God for His plan.  His will directs my daily steps, with good reason.  Obviously I have been in my walk with Him long enough to cheat, divert, manipulate, skip, and otherwise think I know better.  It's when I start trusting in myself that things go south; but when I stick to His plan, even when I don't understand it, my entire destiny is transformed.

I am doing this ironman for two reasons.  First, to bring glory to God in this body He gave me and second, to learn the finer art of humility through trust.  I am sure the Lord has many lessons for me in the coming weeks.  Whatever His plan is, I'm sticking to it.

Committed

I've dabbled in sprint triathlons for years, unsure now of why I chose this particular form of self-torture.  Along the way I've met many people, encountered hundreds of philosophies, and accepted more than a few challenges.  In recent years I have been haphazardly plotting a course to complete a full ironman (IM) by the age of 50.  Then I get a phone call from my aunt who throws down the gauntlet, "Let's do the Arizona triathlon next year!"  I tried to weasel out by using rationalization but all she heard was excuses, "If you never commit, then you'll never do it."

Registration is complete and we're both committed for Arizona 2011.  Now the fun starts!  So far, I've prayed about this decision (and my sanity) many times, teamed up with Tri4Him members, hired coach Boo, and began my first week of training.  I can't back out now.  Besides, there's no refund.  Good thing too because it's a long 11 months and I'll need my Lord, my friends, and my family to hold me to my word.  Just one of the many parallels of triathlons and faith!