Change-over

Training for the Disney Tri was a great challenge. Having it done is somewhat of a relief. I did manage to drum up a stomach ulcer over the multitude of things going on. What's next?

I gave myself a week to rest after Disney. Took my time organizing things around the house, and mentally prepared to start training for the Century ride in November and the Marathon in Jan. The Sunday after the race, I got back on the bike with Sean Pease for the first time and we had a nice 15mile ride. Monday I went for a run to keep the legs moving and had a good 7 mile run.

In conversation with Kinghorn and Angel, from the disney tri team, we started to set goals for Tri's next year. We are planning on doing a half Ironman and probably two others. Most are planning on doing the Maui Tri with TNT but I think I'm going to give TNT a one year rest. I will do more races for them, but I think it may be best to take a summer off to focus more on home. I am very excited to attempt a half Iron next year. The following summer we should be able to attempt a full Ironman, I mentally can't even imagine that yet, 2 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run. My bike coach did it this year and his experience is very inspiring.

So now the training schedule is much lighter. Two bike's a week and two run's a week. That means I get three days off. That works great with Janet's new job that she just started.

After 6 years at Daytons-Marshall Fields-Macys, she decided to cut back hours and get into office work. She is an office administrator for a small non-profit health club association. She works with health clubs and health care providers managing customers who take advantage of health care providers paying part of the monthly club dues. It is a big bold new world for her and she is very excited and overwhelmed learning lots of new things. Her new schedule is fantastic, and after she gets the hang of things it will be flexible. No more working nights or weekends!

So lots of change around here. We do not fear change.

When I was younger, I thought that the key to success was just hard work. But the real foundation is faith. Faith--the idea that 'I can do it'--is the opposite of fear ('What if I fail?'). And faith creates motivation which in turn leads to commitment, hard work, preparation...and eventually success. – Howard Twilley

I take that statement one step further, with faith. Being a child of God gives me the gift of the Holy Spirit and my faith in that which is bigger than myself, empowers me, to do that much more.
I had some more sobering news yesterday. As many of you know Jayna and I graduated from the same school, Meadow Creek. My gym teacher was Mr. Budish. He also had a son, Nathan, who grew up with Jayna at Meadow Creek. Jayna and Nathan both went on to college at Crown to play soccer. Last night I learned that the phenomia that the doctors thought Mr. Budish had over the past year, was actually lung cancer. He is now in stage four with his cancer, and will start the process of fighting the strangest battle of his life. My heart goes out to him and his family. I pray that they hold hope and peace in the middle of this storm. God is consistent, and will meet them in their time of confusion. I pray for Jayna having to see the face of cancer again so close and so soon. One could never answer the question of why? Choose to be strong, no one has answers, but we have faith that goes beyond our selves. Learn together, grow together.

One more reason to Bike....One more reason to run....Mr. Budish will fight, I will fight with him...
He will be on my mind every time I train, my groups all ready know his name and why I am Biking and running....We can all make a difference....What can you do....What will you do?
It is never too late!