Week 27: Spectator to Participant
Week 13 is in the books. Minus one workout. But with some good showings on the others. I heard someone talk about being a participant versus a spectator this week. That really resonated with me as I thought about getting out there and doing the scheduled workout each day as I inch closer to my goals. Here are my weekly stats to start!
Weekly Stats:
- Swim (3x)
- 4.12 miles (7,250 yards)
- 2:19:57
- Bike (2x)
- 88.36 miles
- 5:00:01
- Run (4x)
- 26.91 miles
- 4:43:56
- Strength (1x)
- 20:03
- Yoga (4x)
- 1:36:16
- TOTALS:
- 14 workout sessions
- 119.39 miles
- 14:00:13
Training Notes:
So week 13 is in the books. I have 2 weeks left until I hit my taper for Eagleman. I did skip my very first main workout (swim, bike, or run) in all of the 13 weeks I've been on my official plan. There was some guilt at first, but then I knew fully that I needed to take the day off to get some rest just due to the schedule of life. But....Kansas City Triathlon is next week! I'm praying for good weather (looks like possible rain/storms at this point) so I can put all the pieces together as I finish up prep for Maryland. With my current swim, bike and run times and feeling strong, I think I can definitely put a new Olympic distance PR time on my medal/PR board! But I have to have the full distance run--no swim cancelled, no shortened bike course. Fingers crossed that it all works out.
Four yoga sessions and one strength workout tallied up on my weekly totals this week. I've run into several days that time just ran out for me and I've had to skip the yoga or strength. I've been OK with that as long as I can get my main workouts in.
I got my normal swims in this week for a total of 7,250 yards. On Friday morning I did a tempo swim with two 1000-yard sets. I swam strong for each of those (1:39 and 1:41 per 100 yards) and feel really good about that time. That day I swam next to the reigning Kansas 6A state champion in the 500-yard free. I just want to admit I slowed down to not embarrass him! He was fast--he's also the student leader of our triathlon club at Olathe West, so it was cool to watch him glide through the water with what looked like no effort at all. And here I was pushing a hard effort for a way slower time. But it's not a race against the best swimmers in the water. I have no chance against them. I'm all about being strong and confident in the water and having a good time while conserving energy as I get onto the bike. I'm there for now. Still work to do for the full distance but the half distance is in sight!
I only did two bike rides this week. I had to take my bike in as I was having a loud
squeak from one of my pulleys on the back of the drivetrain. Not related to the "water bottle cage incident" from the previous Saturday. This squeak started back in March or beginning of April. I took the bike in on Tuesday and the local shop was able to get it all worked out
by Thursday. It turned out to be a bent rear derailleur hanger from shifting while under load. And since I've been riding on my trainer mainly, it was probably due to the fact the trainer holds the bike solid and doesn't allow lateral movement as I ride hard. But as I was getting that fixed, I had to be flexible with my bike ride on Wednesday. I had a 2-hour scheduled ride and moved indoors to the Community Center on the stationary bike. Although I got it done, it definitely worked different muscles and the seat wasn't really comfortable but I did have a view of the pool. The other ride was on Saturday but I'll get to that in a minute.
After listening through several presentations (I will admit I might have dozed off a couple of times in the afternoon session after lunch), we wrapped up the MNU day and I headed home. I then jumped on the bike and rode another 3-hour ride following the same route I did last Sunday. This time, I clocked in almost a full mile per hour faster for the entire 3 hours, completing 57 miles. When I hit the 56-mile mark, I was at 19.2 MPH average. That is a faster face than I completed my first 70.3 in Arizona in 2016. And...this was double the elevation. I'm 9 years older, and 10 pounds heavier than that race, but I know I've worked hard this training block. Felt great seeing in the mid- to high-19's in my speed. With a super flat race in Maryland (only 8% of the elevation that I rode on Saturday), I think I can pull off a 20+ MPH speed average in 4 weeks. That's my goal. I got home, put on my running shoes and went out for a 1-hour run-off-the-bike. In the past, I've had issues keeping up a solid pace (even if it's slow) after a long bike ride. This day, though, I maintained a comfortable 9:50 pace with no stopping. That was only one half of what I will have to run in a month, but I felt I could have held that pace and finished strong. I came back stoked with my run.
With that under my belt, I decided to skip my Sunday 90-minute bike ride. Since I didn't finish my brick (bike then run) until 8:30PM, and having put in almost 5 hours of workout
time plus the college day, I knew that I needed to rest my body. On Sunday when I would normally do my bike ride, I had the privilege of presenting the Colors with the Olathe FD Honor Guard at the Kansas City Royals afternoon game. So I made the decision early and went to bed OK with it. And I'm glad I did. As long as I don't make it a habit, I came to terms that my training is working (and working well!) and missing one 90-minute low intensity workout won't derail all the hard work I've been putting in.
time plus the college day, I knew that I needed to rest my body. On Sunday when I would normally do my bike ride, I had the privilege of presenting the Colors with the Olathe FD Honor Guard at the Kansas City Royals afternoon game. So I made the decision early and went to bed OK with it. And I'm glad I did. As long as I don't make it a habit, I came to terms that my training is working (and working well!) and missing one 90-minute low intensity workout won't derail all the hard work I've been putting in.
Whew! That was a long week physically and mentally as it was hard to get some of the long workouts in after work or after an already long day of personal schedules! But it's also important for me to do my family stuff and make the workouts move around those as much as possible.
Life Applications:
As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Acts 8:36, 38
On Saturday at the MNU Pioneer Day, the campus chaplain, Brady Bratz, gave a devotional to the parents in the meeting. He talked about how he participated in a theater production and how different it is to be a spectator and a participant and how hard it might actually be when you jump into something. You might need help, you might get overwhelmed, you might realize it's not as easy as it looked from the outside. As I jumped onto my bike later that afternoon and got into my thoughts, I kept coming back to what Brady was saying. Jump in and be a participant. Don't just spectate. He was talking about the incoming students and getting involved (and us as parents encouraging them in that way). But I realized how that applies to triathlon and to life in general.
For so long, I would watch the Ironman World Championships from Kona, Hawaii on TV. And I thought how cool that would be but didn't put any thought or effort into actually doing it. Then after making the decision in 2012 to work my way into a half Ironman, I changed from a spectator watching other do triathlons to a participant and actually entering, competing in, and finishing races. But I had to make that jump. There are so many spectators on the sidelines of a triathlon (with many great and funny signs!). Some are there to support their spouses, siblings, children, or friends as they compete. Some are volunteering at the aid stations, in transitions, or helping peal wetsuits off as swimmers get out of the water. In some ways, each is a participant in this great sport. But I wonder how many of them are deciding if they should take the leap.
Somewhere around mile 26 on the bike (with 30+ to go), I began thinking how this applied to my life, my faith, and my involvement in my church. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and either think I wouldn't be good at something or that I'm just not ready to jump in yet. But until I do, I really don't know what I'm capable of--or not. It's comfortable on the sidelines. I can enjoy watching others do things and that's not necessarily a bad thing. But until I take a step forward and take an active role, I'm just riding the bench. I want to be active. I want to make a change and lead others as they work in their lives, in their faith, and in their church. I look at my role at Olathe West, teaching these kids about firefighting. Some will make the decision to not go into the fire service, but I do want to lead them in becoming confident young adults who will also make difference. And as I lead our safety team at church, I love it. Not for the "I'm in charge" part (sometimes it's so much easier to let others lead and just follow), but because I like being with the others on the team and seeing them thrive in their own ways and also help others on Sunday mornings and other events.
I came across this passage from Acts. A Pharaoh's official was reading scripture in his carriage when Philip came walking by. Philip began talking to the official, and explaining what the official was reading. As they came by some water, the official made a decision to be a participant in what he was reading and learning, and left the spectator role behind. He jumped in with both feet and got baptized. It doesn't say what happened with the official except he went away rejoicing. And that right there is what the difference is. Participating is an active sport, while spectating is a passive sport.
This doesn't mean that I have to (or anyone does) jump into everything I watch or on on the sidelines for. I don't expect Julie to do an Ironman. I don't expect one of my friends to do something they have no passion for or something they are not created for. But everyone of us can find an area in life where we can serve others and serve God. Or jump into triathlon. I did. Your choice!! Be spectator or be a participant!
As always, thanks for following this journey. I really don't expect any of you to jump right into an Ironman. But if you ever want to try it out, do it. It is a great ride. Tiring, but good. You don't have to do something huge right off the bat, but dip your toes in first, then see what it's like. Or....come out and see what my fuss is all about. I'd love to have you on the sidelines!!
Next week is race week! Beginning of the triathlon season! Can't wait.....a couple long workout sessions and hopefully an open water swim practice before next Sunday.
Keep fit, Stay THE Course, and Keep Moving Forward
CPC
5/11/25
Olathe, KS
28 sleeps until 70.3 Eagleman
174 sleeps until Ironman Florida
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