Lessons From Lance



I have no interest in judging others for 3 reasons:

1. Any time I waste on judging others could have been way better spent on improving me.

2. I don't want God to think I was trying to take over his job of deciding who are the villains and who
    are the heroes. I think we all are heroes and villains at some time in our life.

3. I am not self-righteous enough to believe that I might not have at some point in my life said,
    "Yeah, OK I'll try it I guess." From that point on the two worst things might happen. I win and I don't
    get caught. Then the snowball just rolls.

I think Lance might have just been an "Average Joe." Or even worse because of that an "Anonymous Joe." For someone as competitive and driven as him that might be the worst insult that he could be given. And that may be why he decided that he needed to go outside the rules to keep up with and surpass the other "Anonymous Joes."

But I believe one of the greatest organizations I have seen built has been built by "Anonymous Joes." I believe that LiveStrong was built by "Anonymous Joes." "Anonymous Joes" that have an incredible passion for life and compassion for others. Doctors, web designers, receptionists, nurses, social workers, business people, and financial backers who all care. They care not that they get famous. They care that they are giving their all to heal people.

This blog is in honor of Mac Crutchfield who died when he was twelve years old.  Twelve year-olds have heroes.  Twelve year-olds need heroes. Mac would have been so disappointed because he was what a twelve year-old should be.  A kid with an idealistic view of the world. More importantly a kid who lived an idealistic life. A kid who consistently walked what he talked. When he wasn't swimming his best he knew the answer was to work harder.

We don't need to teach twelve year-olds they don't need heroes. We need to teach twelve year-olds that they are surrounded by heroes. Heroes like teachers, lunch room ladies, custodians, Sunday School teachers, scout leaders, and Wal-Mart greeters. It is people who get up and do the everyday things that make the world a better place.

Great athletes are famous because they make their bodies perform in ways we like to watch. Hall of Fame basketball player (and currently the funniest man on television) Charles Barkley summed it up best when he said, "I ain't no role model." Famous people are not necessarily great people. We need to teach our kids that the crossing guard that pats your child on the head and puts a little hip swivel dance in her traffic direction is a great role model. The lunch room lady who smiles and says, "Hey baby, how ya' doin' today?" to your kid every single day is someone to be looked up to.

Most of all we need to look out ourselves and ask how, as parents and mentors, we can be a better hero to kids around us. Will a kid find a hero in a grumpy old, bitter, "GROAN-up" parent, teacher, or coach? Nope. So quit complaining about everything and everyone around you and put on your tights and cape and engage in the world with enthusiasm and vigor and become the hero you want the kids around you to have!

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!

The Perfect Triathlon Car

We have debated the cost effectiveness of driving to the Ironman U.S. Championship in New York City. The added benefit would be being able to carry all our nutrition, sports drinks and tri-gear. Here is what I think we would like with all our tri-junk driving through The Big Apple:

Yep this would be my look of incredible awe as I look at them big ol' buildin's. "Whee doggies!"

So that we are clear, I have the brains of Jethro and Sherrie has the looks and strength of Ellie May. Remember Ellie May would always win when Jethro and Ellie May would "tussle." (Please forget that Ellie May and Jethro were cousins, because that just makes this weird.) While both of our parents have the spunk and fiestiness of Granny and Uncle Jed I'm not going to say they look like them. So let's just say those two people are just two random people we picked up in Georgia to guard our fine ride.

This is us returning from our shopping trip with our pre-race meal. You will also notice that our wonderful 15 year-old swim star daughter, Lobo, is not represented here. Trust me, if we had this car she would be about 2,000 miles away.

...and 2:30 am race morning leaving the hotel with the movin' stairs headed to get our Ironman on!