Its Moments Like this...

that I REALLY love humanity!

I was just perusing some pictures from the Red River flood in Fargo, ND this morning.  A friend of mine sent me a video... complete with sappy music... which, of COURSE, made me bawl like a freakin baby!  Disasters oftentimes bring out the best in people.  There is something about a shared struggle.  A collective adversity.  A battle that is seemingly unwinnable which tends to bring people together.  They lean on each other.  They talk.  They smile and encourage and love each other... and that is just a beautiful thing.  Maybe that's why the vast majority of the people out on an Ironman course are so pleasant to one another.  Hm.  Yup.

When you're out on your long training days this weekend... take a moment and think about those people in Fargo.  If you pray... say a little one.  I'm sure they'd appreciate it.

Breathe...

I'd like to...

apologize for the whining.  But DAMN... I'm pretty freakin GOOD at it huh?  Yeah.  I'm dah MAN!

HEY!  Anyone out there like Daffodils?  They are a COOL lookin flower no?  Yes.  The answer is yes... just ask me.  PLUS... they are a sure sign of spring here in a Pacific Northwest... and I welcome them every year.  As a matter of fact... about this time last year I took a very similar picture... uh huh.  Yup.  Hm.  And no, I'm not pondering.

So where did that all the whining and doubt and self-hatred come from in the last post?  Ok... there was no self-hatred.  I like me.  I'm my own best friend.  I'm bright and shiny and I've got a funny face. What? Ok.  Sorry.  Back to the task at hand.  I'm not entirely sure where it came from.  What I do know is that due to some circumstances that are completely beyond my control... I've severely altered my goals in terms of my first Ironman distance race.  That, and the fact that I had my longest ride EVER last Sunday... and whatdoyaknow!  It wasn't a complete cake-walk!  Bah ha HA!  Look,  here's the thing... I thought it was about one thing... and now I think its about another and I'm completely o.k. with that!  I really am... and you know what?  It feels really good.

Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.  Enjoy some pics from Sunday's ride!

Breathe....

Allllll RIGHT!!!!!!

I admit it!  I made the mistake of assuming that this would be easy!  I bamBOOZLED myself!!!! I got lost in my own EGO and convinced myself that this would be a piece of angel-cake with homemade frosting.  I am a cocky, self-assured, self-absorbed IDIOT!  Not only that...

I'm a big whiner-baby that's currently self-absorbed and in the fetal position sucking his thumb.

Breathe...

What IS it...

that makes us fear the unknown?  Why is it so scary?  I mean really... if its unknown... what prevents us from looking at it with promise and hope?  Why isn't initial reaction to the unknown generally, "Holy CRAP! This could be REALLY good!"???  Just a thought.

2 hour run today.  Not unknown... not scared... very excited!

Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole.

Breathe...

Everyone Needs...

a quickie once in a while right?  RIGHT?  Uh huh.  Admit it... it's allllllllll good.

Ok!  Training is going REALLY well right now.  I'm finding out that Ironman training aint no joke. I can fake a half-iron... but apparently NOT a full Ironman.  Huh.  Go figure.  My challenge continues to be proper recovery... and I'm doing what I can but it's virtually impossible to eliminate additional stress right now.  I know it sounds terribly "hippy" and wanna-be "Zen"... but the best I can do at points is sit still and breathe. 

OH!  My swim is coming along nicely.  I'm VERY close to being where I was at the end of the season last year and I couldn't be more pleased with my progress!  2 miles in the lanes last night with ZERO problems.  YAY!

Hope you're all happy, healthy, and whole!  Spring break is coming up and for those of you in snow-covered states... I hope you get to hang someplace warm n sunny!  You can get REALLY tan in as little as 3 days!

Breathe...