Chapter 39: PR & Another Podium....Mediocrity or Greatness?

 

    My last official triathlon before Florida!  This was only a sprint distance, but it was worth it!  Another PR and another podium finish to wrap up the summer season.  Now it's just buckling down and working hard the next 12 weeks leading up to November.  I'm working to not be mediocre, but also knowing that doesn't mean I will always beat everyone else.  I'm shooting for the best I can do each day and race and to continue to improve.  It's working.

Weekly Stats:

• Swim (4x)
• 3.55 miles (5,750 yards)
• 2:06:05
• Bike (3x)
• 46.69 miles
• 2:40:24
• Run (4x)
• 22.51 miles
• 3:53:01
• Yoga (3x)
• 1:42:01
• Other (Triathlon Transitions)
• 3:17
• TOTALS:
• 17 Activities
• 72.86 miles
• 10:24:48

Training Notes (and Race Recap):

   

    Race Week!! Week 8 completed, and 12 more to go.  I had to readjust my workout schedule back to a normal school schedule week now that the outdoor pools are closed except for the weekends. That means early morning swims on Tuesday and Fridays, although I can still do the after work swim on Wednesday.  I had to go inside for my Friday run as it was over 100 degrees on the heat warning.  Due to a bike malfunction on race day, I had to take my bike in to the local bike shop to get a new rear derailleur hanger, so I didn't get my 2-hour ride in on Saturday after my race.  On Sunday, I was supposed to volunteer at the Johnson County Youth Triathlon, but it was cancelled due to impending severe weather.  I didn't get the email until I was 10 minutes out from the park (at 5:47AM), so I decided to get my 1:40 run in before church. I was hoping it would rain on me, but I only got some drops in the last half mile or so. Weird feeling that my training run was longer in time than my entire race from yesterday!  Changed yoga instructors for the last couple of sessions, back to James from Warrior Addict.  It's been good to mix those up to work the body differently.

   Kill Creek Triathlon 2024....last year at this race I got a 4 minute PR with a time of 1:20:28, with a 7th place out of 8 in my age group.  This year, I've moved up in the age group, and I've realized that is the key to placing higher!  Or working hard too, I guess.  And having the old guys not show up. Maybe a spattering of all three....

     Onto 2025.  I went into the race on Saturday with a goal of 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Looking at my times from last year, I knew I could knock minutes off each one.  Once I got to the venue on Saturday, the thunder rolled.  I haven't had a race yet this year where weather wasn't in play even if it turned out fine the the day of the race.  Julie got there in time to brave the absolute downpour and thunderstorm, but she was there.  I love having my

biggest supporter on site with me.  She really doesn't know what a boost it is when I hear her voice as I'm coming around the corner (or from across the lake--yes, I can hear her that far!)  Gun time was supposed to be 7:30 but we didn't get going until 8:30.  Not as bad as it could have been.  Swim went great, got right into a groove and found my spots between other swimmers.  The more confident I've gotten on the swim, the more I don't really care about splitting two swimmers or moving around them. Don't think anyone passed me in the swim, but I think I got pushed back in the line, which was fine by me. Finished the swim in 9:21.  

    

    Once through transition, I hit the bike course and started up the hills.  For only a 10.7 mile bike ride, it had some pretty good hills.  I was doing fine on those, again not getting passed by anyone.  But I was the one calling out "on your left" over and over.  Always makes you feel good.  With about 2 miles to go, I had popped a Maurten gel (one from my Eagleman race in June!) and was on the last big uphill when my chain dropped as I tried to shift into the small front ring.  It wedged between the frame and ring, and I had to stop for just a couple of minutes (seemed like forever) to get it all squared away.  At that point I was averaging around 19.5 MPH which has routinely been my race day average for anything will hills). With the time stopped on the side of the road, I dropped to 18.3 MPH average for the course.  Still more than last year, so I was alright with the time, but I noticed a click in the gears as I finished out the last 7 minutes or so of the bike ride.  Didn't affect my final bit though.  I came into transition again at 34:47, only one minute faster than last year.  Bummed about that, but I worked through my first bike issue on a race.  Glad it wasn't a bigger issue. One lady was walking her bike the last 3 miles with a flat front tire. Didn't notice it until it was too late to see if she needed a tube or something. I would have given up a tube and CO2 if that's all she needed.  

    My runs after the bike ride have been improving greatly over this year.  My goal today was to maintain a 9:00/mile and maybe squeak under that.  The first two-thirds or so of the run are either flat or slightly downhill.  Which means you have to come back uphill for the last 1.3 miles.  I was cruising at an 8:50 pace, but then I just couldn't hold that for the full time.  Ended up walking twice to catch my breath and get my HR down a bit.    I was battling another runner who had a "50" on his left calf which means he was in my age group.  My goal was to beat him. I hadn't seen any other 50-54 guys yet, so maybe we were the first 2.  No way to know, but he wasn't going to beat me.  As I hit the top of the final uphill, I looked behind me to see where he was and I couldn't see him.  So I knew I was in front of at least him.  I then hit the final stretch and turned the final bend to the finish line.  Came across the tape with a run time of 27:57, only 48 second off a 5K PR for me.  If only I hadn't walked.....

    Final race time was 1:15:18 for a 5:10 PR.  Hit my goal time almost exactly where I was aiming. So of course the first thing I did (after 3 chocolate milks, 4 orange quarters, and a gatorade) was look at the results online.  As far as I could tell, I had placed 3rd out of 8.  Someone said the 1st place guy may have broken into the overall top 3, so that would have moved me to 2nd in my age group.  But nope.  I was officially 3rd, the second time in two races that I've ended up on the podium.  I never thought I would actually end up with true podium slots, but it's now knowing that I'm strong in this sport.  I've gotten faster and stronger, and showed up consistently during my training, so for me it's a testament to the work I've put in. I truly say that with humility because I still don't feel like I belong on that stand. It was great having Julie with me on the beach during the awards and getting to stand up there with her watching. She's put up with a lot of me being in a time crunch to get training in, and yet she still lets me follow my dream.  There are a lot of miles and hours ahead of me getting closer to November, and I can't wait for her to be the first person I lock eyes (and lips?) with at the finish line in Panama City Beach!  

     For my score sheet for the year, I've had 6 straight triathlons since last July where I either had a PR time and/or a podium finish.  It's been a good year for me.  I've been blessed with health, good training, and solid results. I'm still not done.  Anything under a 17-hour finish in Florida will be a PR since it's my first.  Here we go!!

• July 2024, Shawnee Mission Long-Distance:  2nd place Age Group (M45-49)
• Aug 2024, Kill Creek Sprint: PR
• May 2025, Kansas City Olympic: PR
• June 2025, Ironman 70.3 Eagleman:  PR
• July 2025, Shawnee Mission Olympic:  1st place Age Group (M50-54)
• Aug 2025, Kill Creek Sprint:  PR & 3rd place Age Group (M50-54)

Daily Life:

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)

    My first 3 Half-Ironman races I just did very basic plans and didn't really push myself in terms of being WAY out of my comfort zone to get better.  Naturally, I became stronger and could do the distances, and part of this was the fact that I didn't know anything about the true way to train to be the best I could be.  And I was good with that. 

    This week started Professional Development at school and one thing our principal talked about on Thursday was striving for greatness rather than being comfortable being mediocre.  I've often used a line with students, my kids, and myself--"Don't strive for mediocrity".  I was thinking about this in the training and how to get better and my job in the classroom, teaching the students the skills and knowledge of firefighting. And of course it morphed back into my triathlon world (of course it would!)  With the plan of action I decided to take, the compromises I was willing to endure (early EARLY mornings, long training days, and doing things when I don't want to), and how dedicated I was planning on being, I wasn't going to be satisfied with being mediocre this year.  I was never expecting podium finishes, but was shooting for my best.  What I've learned is that striving for my best and for my own personal greatness (this is different for everyone) is what it's all about.  If I do that and not settle for "that's good enough", I'll be satisfied with my results.  No podium, I'm OK with that. No PR for a race, I'm OK with that.  Maybe a cruddy race, I'll be disappointed, but I'm OK with that.  I just have to keep showing up and be consistent.  

    Personally, outside of triathlon, I also have to give my best effort.  Not strive for mediocrity in life.  Not settle for "that's good enough".  Everything I do I should do for the glory of God.  And when I do that, I believe He sees it and is pleased with my effort. I fail lots of times in this area. There are times that I'm just tired, I'm not sure where to go with a conversation, a relationship, or a situation.  So I'll tell myself, "it's good enough, it's not worth the extra effort". Sometimes that's an OK thing too.  When I've already given all I had and it wasn't enough for someone else, or it's all I could do in a situation, then it might be time to move on.  But the effort still needs to be there until it's all I can do.  And that effort should be for greatness in whatever I'm doing.  It's a round and round thing in my head, and I'm not smart enough to really describe what I'm truly trying to say.  But id my ultimate goal is to stand on the podium with God giving me the final award, then it will all be worth the striving for "greatness".  

Final Thoughts:

   

    This past Friday, the latest episode of the Everyday Ironman Podcast dropped with my recap of 70.3 Eagleman from June 8th.  I had a blast a few weeks ago recording it, and Mike Bosch sure does a great job editing the episode to make it sound like I know what I'm talking about!  If you didn't see my Facebook post about the episode, catch it HERE! Fair warning, it's a long one.  But I think you'll enjoy it.  If you're not already sick of me talking about it.  Just pretend it's not me.  As always, thanks for following along.  On to week 9.  Students are back in school this week, and I'm excited about that (really!), and also the routine that I'll get back into in regards to my training plan.  November will be here in a blink.  Can't wait, but I can.  I still have lots of work to do! Until next week, consistent reader.

Show Up.  Keep Fit.  Stay THE Course.

and Keep Moving Forward.  

CPC

08/11/25

Olathe, KS

11 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 26 minutes until Ironman Florida