Let the season begin

The 2017 triathlon season is in full swing. Up first was the Troika Triathlon. I did the sprint: 500 yard swim, 11 mile bike and 5K run. I finished 11th overall and 2nd in my age group. Not too bad. Broke in the new bike for sure. It poured rain the whole time. My feet were so cold I could not feel them until the first mile on the run. It was a nice way to begin the season. May 28 was the CDA half marathon - a training run for me. I wanted to complete it under 2 hours and hit 1:54 and 10th in my age group. It is hard to believe we are only 7 weeks away from the inaugural Alaskaman Extreme triathlon. Training is amping up for the peak phase: 3 weeks of fun. It culminates with the Ironman Coeur d'Alene 70.3 on June 25. Part training, part redemption (from last year when my knee decided to quit working at mile 2 on the run). So, as we continue marching forward, my support team is also getting ready move along with things as they prep for the road ahead. I am looking forward to this continued quest from Alaskaman to Ultraman.

Perspective

We are now in single digits to the event - 9 weeks left. Here, the last 1/2 mile to the top of Mt Aleyeska looks like a daunting one. Well, I am certain it is super steep and it comes at mile 26.5 in the 27-mile run portion of the event. We have all been up since 2am and racing in some capacity. Of course the race directors save the best for last... the hardest part. But, really it is about perspective. Perspective allows us to see things in different ways, while still keeping focus on what's ahead. Yes, while this is a super steep climb (15% or greater), the finish line is right there at the building. Philippians 3:14 says "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." It is only fitting that I am climbing upward toward the finish line to reach the end of the race and see my support team and celebrate in God's glory of this beautiful area. I cannot wait.

Moving forward

A view from the run course and probably the "flattest" part of the course. Ironman-distance events, and other endurance events for that matter, are about moving forward. It is how we get from point A to point B. Life is the same way. We have to put one foot in front of the other in order to get where we need to go. It has to be baby steps. If you are training for a marathon for the first time, you don't go out and run 10 miles on the first day. If we want to achieve a goal, we need a plan that allows us to move forward. Moving forward requires endurance. In Hebrews, we are told to "run with endurance the race that is set before us." God's plan for us is to keep us moving forward, running with endurance the race He set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.