Non-Triathlon Me Or Triathlon Me?

                                            This is what I'd look like if I didn't do triathlons.

So, which do you like better, Triathlon Paul or Non-triathlon Paul?

I go for Triathlon Paul. People think Sherrie and I are crazy for taking our bikes when we go on a trip, or go for a three hour run when we are at our daughter's swim meet. But in the long run (yes, pun intended) it helps. What would we have done with that three hours anyway? Eaten? Laid around? Gossipped?

I love what rocker Alanis Morissette had to say about training her body and that a rocker said it and not an athlete or a trainer.

To me, the four components of one's self are spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual. I definitely believe spiritual is the most important because it is what can give us peace and joy. But the one that gets neglected an awful lot is the physical. Even if you are strongly spiritually based the only vehicle God has given you to carry your message, your task, or your gift is your body.

Get your body pumping with fresh blood and fresh oxygen, build strength, create endorphins and your gift giving to the world is greatly accelerated. So find an activity that interests you and makes you go hard...and then, GO HARD! You don't have to be an athlete, just treat your body like it is the "incredible awe-inspiring machine" that it is.

And then enjoy the energy and excitement that comes with having that gift delivering machine!!!!!

How Do You Go 120 Miles On Your Bike?

Last year when we were training for Ironman Florida we were often given the long bike ride of 110-120 miles. We always chose the 120. When people would ask us (always in all caps), "WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO GO ONE HUNDRED TWENTY MILES ON YOUR BIKE!!!!????"

The answer was always rather simple, "Well, we didn't really necessarily choose to go 120 miles. At 50 miles we felt great. At 55 miles we felt great. So why not go 60. Then you have to turn around. There is no wimp rope that will bring your house or your car any closer so you have to get back to where you started."

At mile 60 it sounded like a fine idea. At mile 70 it still seemed like a good idea. At mile 80 it was beginning to sound like just an OK idea. At mile 90 it probably did not seem like the brightest idea. At mile 100 it seemed like a bad idea and at mile 110 it sounded pretty stupid.

When we got back and completed the whole 120 miles were we glad we did it? No, not right away. Maybe not even the next day. By the time Ironman Florida rolled around we were very glad we had done it. We felt very well prepared for our 112 mile bike portion of the race.

This is much the same way I view life goals. As my friend and trainer extaordinaire Steve Pfister (http://www.stevepfiester.com/) likes to say, "Keep It Stupid Simple!"

1. Start.
1.A. Start Right Now!
1.B. Are You Kidding Me? START!!!
1.C. START RIGHT NOW!!!

2. Get After It Like A Dog Digging Out A Buried Alabama Barbecue Restaurant!

3. Get Halfway.

4. Your Halfway, You Might As Well Finish!