Week 24: I Do. Again and Again.

   

    One week closer to Eagleman and Florida.  Long days. Short nights.  Early wake up times.  Is it worth it every day?  You bet!  Yet each day I have to recommit to the journey.  Each night I have to know what's important for the next day and make each workout or session a priority and in a way, say "I do".  Same goes for my family. This was Julie's and my anniversary week, and it looked different than in years' past.  But it reminded me that everyday I have to make a choice and say "I do".  Again and again and again With us, with God, and with Ironman training.  

    

Starting  it off with the weekly stats....

Weekly Stats:

• Swim (3x)
• 4.39 miles (7,725 yards)
• 2:39:02
• Bike (4x)
• 94.85 miles
• 6:15:49
• Run (4x)
• 19.09 miles
• 3:20:04
• Strength (1x)
• 17:01
• Yoga (3x)
• 1:12:01
• TOTALS:
• 15 workout sessions
• 118.31 miles
• 13:43:57 (*Longest so far in this training*)

Training Notes:

  After a long week in training time and distance last week, I was right back up to an even higher number this week.  As I'm seven weeks out from Eagleman, the time and distance will keep going up for the next 5 weeks, until my last two taper weeks. I wonder what the full Ironman training will entail. I did pick a lower level training plan since it's my first full distance, so it will be more time involved, mainly towards the end though.     

 Some days this week were hard as I really had to force myself into a few of the workouts.  I was tired, I had school events during the week, and I had technology issues that "made" me go back to bed one morning (well, maybe it was a choice, but it was good AND bad all in one day).  I missed one yoga and one strength training, but got the main swim, bike, and run sessions in, even with the time constraints. And as much as some of those mornings (and evenings) were hard, I immediately got into a better mood as I worked into the sessions.  And I'm glad I did them.  I could have skipped one of them, and it wouldn't have hurt me, but I made the commitment, and I want to do everything I can to fulfill that promise I made to myself when I registered for these big races that I would do everything I could--no matter how hard or tired I am--to give the best I can give.  And I did.  

   I did my normal swim days this week.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday I had a total of over 7,700 yards or almost 4.5 miles.  Why is a mile in the pool seem so much longer than a mile on the bike or on the road (or even the treadmill)?  I had good swim times, but Friday I was 100% certain that someone had put some sort of molasses or something in the pool.  The water felt so thick! I think it was just that my arms and shoulder were tight from the arm strength workout the night before, but man, it was hard on the warmup. I honestly was doubting that I would finish the swim workout I was so dragging. But as I got into my tempo swim sets, I settled in and I swam well.  When I'm swimming, I try and just let my mind wander and not try and count laps.  I let my watch do that for me, and think about what I might be battling on the races, how I'm going to get out of the water and onto the bike, or just let it go and see where my mind takes me.  

    My bike rides were the hardest of the sessions for me this week.  Not in the intensity sense, but for the time that I had to put in and when I had to do them.  But one bright part of the bike week was I was able to finally get Bandit outside.  New wheels and new helmet made their maiden voyage.  Really windy, but just to get outside for the first time this season since around October was glorious! Chad Koerner even met me on my ride to get some footage so I can continue on my influencer status on Instagram!  On Wednesday, I had a 75-minute ride to do. I got up first thing in the morning, and was ready to go by 4:30AM.  I couldn't get the computer to load the ROUVY app!  I tried a few times to reboot the computer, but it just wouldn't go.  So I made a choice in about 3 minutes.  I just took off the bike clothes, and went back to bed for another almost hour and a half.  I woke up refreshed, but then knew that I still had a swim right after work, then a quick yoga session.  And after dinner, I would have to do my hour+ time on the bike.  I didn't start it until 8:45.  I was tired before I even started and it didn't help that my "wind down" alarm already had gone off on my watch.  But I got it done.  Then on Saturday, I had a 3-hour ride on the schedule. With the Eggstravaganza going on at the church at 10AM, I was on the fence of getting up early for the full 3 hour ride or splitting it up into morning then afternoon.  I am happy to say that I did it all at one sitting before the community event.  The downside was that since the weather can't make up its mind on being warm, cold, or not windy or rainy, I was forced indoors for the longest trainer ride I've ever done.  I will say it wasn't that bad.  About 3 full episodes of the last season of Lost (almost to the end!) and then some good convo with Jon from Massachusetts finished off the 180 minutes. The workout was broken up into 4 sets of 30 minutes with 10 minute recovery times with a warmup and cooldown, so that also made it go faster.  I did break into the state of KS on my virtual ride across America and am currently almost in DeSoto, so I'm seeing all the familiar roads and landmarks on the map as I ride.  Just under 1,500 miles into the cross-country "ride". Then it was off to 2+ hours of kids mayhem at the church running security for the event.  Glad I did the full time all in one go as mowing the lawn and some outdoor work needed to be done before the rain came in. For the record, I did wear my helmet for a little while--just in case I fell asleep at the wheel again, or actually just to work on my neck muscles.  Should've gotten a picture of that....

  

    My runs during the week were kind of just "meh". Nothing really to note of the weekday runs as those were all around 30 minutes and low HR. However, I was able to do them all outside! On Sunday's 1 hour, 45 minute run though, I had to hit the treadmill before Easter service.  More "Lost" episodes (almost done with the final season), and just grinding it out not going anywhere.  Not much of a choice with 40's and rain on Easter morning.  Wanted to get that run in before church since we were doing a family lunch after the services in the afternoon.  I was really hoping that by mid-April, the treadmill would be put into hibernation until later in the fall/winter.  But, NOPE!! Glad I worked out my relationship with Judge Tread back in the early weeks.  It wasn't horrible for this run, but it wasn't fun either.  Again, though, I got it done.  I'm learning I just have to grind it out sometimes.  The workouts may turn out OK and nothing special, but it there are days it just takes some extra motivation to get to it.  

Life Applications:

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

Luke 9:23 (NLT)

    Friday was Good Friday.  And it was Julie's and my anniversary.  After I got home from work (and changing banks!), I did a quick run, then we headed over to the church for the Good Friday service.  The room was set up with 12 art pieces, each one a part of the Easter story, from Jesus's betrayal to death to resurrection.  It was self-guided with some mini-devotionals for each piece.  It really was one of my favorite Good Friday experiences we've had.  I started thinking about saying "I do" as I was also contemplating our 27 years together as husband and wife.  As I sat there reading through the story, which I know already, each of the 12 sections really personalized it.  One thing that stood out (and I honestly don't know if it was written or it just popped into my thoughts) was that Jesus WILLINGLY went to the cross.  He said "I do" to one of the most excruciating forms of execution.  Even when He knew it would be the hardest thing He ever would have to do.  **One thing I did learn was the the word "excruciating" comes from the word "crux" or "cross".  Death on a cross was so bad that a word meaning tormented came from that specific form of pain and death....wow.**  Jesus very easily could have just said "no" and not had to go to the cross.  He was, after all, fully God while being fully human.  Don't ask me to explain that, I'll have to refer you to someone with more scriptural insight than me!  But He did anyway--because He knew it was the ONLY way for me and you to be able to have a relationship with the Father.  Our sin broke that relationship and Jesus's death was the answer. 

    But that was just the beginning of the story. Today, Jesus rose!  The death on the cross was necessary, but without Him coming back from the dead, the cross would have just been the end of the story.  One of my favorite gospel singers is David Phelps.  Here is my favorite song he sings,  "The End of the Beginning"  --perfect for this Easter day.  Jesus said "I do" to the cross and death so many years ago, and I have to say "I do" to Him everyday.  I need to take up my cross daily and follow Him.  What that means is a giving a daily commitment to self-denial and following Jesus's teachings, even if it means enduring hardship. I'm not good at that often, but I do my best and I believe He honors that effort.  Saying "I do" is a long-term commitment to God that I made when I was 12, and it's still a daily challenge.               And of course, my thoughts came me back to my Ironman training (everything leads back to Ironman these days!) as I sat in the chairs in Uphaus Hall.  What does it mean to say "I do" to my training? When I don't want to get up early or feel sluggish  or just don't feel like it working for the day, I need to recommit right then and there to keep going. It doesn't mean it will be easy, but I'm not going to quit. Knowing the end is going to be completely worth it as I cross that finish line.  Can't wait.  For the finish line.  For the next 27 years (and more!) with Julie.  And for eternity with Jesus.  All because I said "I do" and committed to great things.

    I also thought about how that relates to me and Julie and to my Ironman training.  Everyday I need to recommit to Julie and prioritize our relationship.  There have been rough days (and some years, to be honest), but we have never given up on each other.  I need to continue to say "I do" to her day after day and year after year.  I have to commit again and again and again.  Usually this is just in my head, but it's like a switch that has to be reset. Just as I need to do the same for Jesus.  After all, marriage is a reflection of God's love for us.  Again, not perfect on either side, but I try.  I love you, Julie.  And thanks for allowing me to do this crazy thing and supporting me and this journey! I'm lucky to have an ex-girlfriend like you in my corner!!

Final Thoughts:

    This coming week is a recovery week.  About 1/3 less time throughout the entire week, but I will be doing a stand-alone half marathon at the Olathe Marathon on Saturday.  This is the first running only race I've run since April 14th, 2012.  Can't believe it's been 13 years!  Every half marathon since then has either been a training run or at the end of one of my three half Ironman races. And that last one was my PR at 1:54:10.  I wanted to do a stand-alone running race to see where I am in my running fitness and see where my race pace may be at this point.  I'm shooting for a sub 2-hour race for the 13.1 miles, but we'll see.  Could it be possible to get close to my PR?  In my head, it is.  I feel confident in my training, but am I there yet?  Saturday I'll know!  All I have to do is:

Keep Fit, Stay THE Course, and Keep Moving Forward!

    Thanks again for following along.  Even if you come just for the pictures and funny memes....

CPC

Olathe, KS

1,115 hours, 25 minutes, 52 seconds until 70.3 Eagleman

4,665 hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds until Ironman Florida