I have been in this position before...I did not race the Grizzly Triathlon in 2007 because of illotibial band tracking problems in my right knee. I used the feeling of missing out to fuel my subsequent rise from the depth of self pity and sorrow to race in my first men's elite heat in 2008, accomplishing half-decade long dream. Yesterday, I witnessed many of the extraordinarily, yet common to triathlon, moments. I saw people pushing up and through their own limits.
I saw hundreds of faces twisted under the stress and agony of self induced suffering. Shryock's face at the 3 mile mark of the run was indescribable with words, but I knew exactly what he was feeling. I again found myself left out of the race due to recent knee tracking problems (this time in the left knee). I can't accurately convey what I was feeling other than that I felt trapped between two worlds.
The first, a world that I choose to live in (triathlon world), a world that I can excel, relatively, in my own right as a person, and athlete. The second, a world that I am a temporary visitor to, a world that sees life (and racers) passing by. I stood around, in the second world, directing runners, wishing I was in the triathlon world. I came to the conclusion, that I have two choices, stand around (literally) and feel sorry for myself, or use this opportunity to its maximum.
Right now I have the opportunity to better my triathlon racing and fitness, without actually focusing on triathlon. I can explore alternative methods of training, correct my obvious issues and muscle imbalances, build gear bending time trial strength by being very diligent with my weight circuits, and take my nutrition to the next insane level. All of which I am, and have been doing.
In the day to day grind it easy to get caught up in the mindset, "am I the only doing these seemingly crazy things to be or progress as a triathlete?" When you are not surrounded by like minded people that is a come thought. However, at the race everything gets straightened out, priorities re-aligned, motivations restored, commitment renewed. When I as working on the run course I was also asking myself the above question...Hoffman ran by, he does more than me. Jensen, Shryock and Halpin pass, they do it. L'Hueruex runs by, what he does makes my training fall in the "normal range."
The racers that follow them, same M.O. in sports, all validating and reclassifying the once thought "craziness" to normal, systematic, healthy behaviors of a triathlete...of which I will soon returning to. Validated... period. No more questions.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Ssssshhh, Too Much Talking...
Kevin had a good post. There is a time and place for everything...this isn't the time nor the place to buy into anyone's hype, especially my own. Hope everyone enjoyed the temporary lapse in focus, if you were lucky enough to see it :), I am always good for a few bouts of randomness, keeps things interesting.
Numbers and results should always do the talking, they rarely ever lie, I temporary strayed from my normal path of what should be a quiet role model leading by example, to buy into the hype, mistake.
I don't want to write nor hear another word about what myself or anyone else can do in a race, if I ever pass the constant pain in my IT Band, my numbers will again speak for themselves. It's over, now get that s*** off my blog... (too late, already gone)
Numbers and results should always do the talking, they rarely ever lie, I temporary strayed from my normal path of what should be a quiet role model leading by example, to buy into the hype, mistake.
I don't want to write nor hear another word about what myself or anyone else can do in a race, if I ever pass the constant pain in my IT Band, my numbers will again speak for themselves. It's over, now get that s*** off my blog... (too late, already gone)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Business Is About To Pick Up!
That's right, BRO-daSIOUS is coming back! I am trading in these "business" clothes...
...and let me say, business is about to pick up!
...for "business" clothes a little more representative...
...and let me say, business is about to pick up!
It Is What It Is (redone)
I am a Triathlete...That's My Thing, It's What I Do. I am currently on a road I do not recognize, a road that leads me to different and unusual places. I am not training triathlon as has been my previous life, which leaves me a lot of time for other things. Things, that lead me to get myself in to trouble. ha ha Jk.Aside from having time to train in mixed martial arts, which is going phenomally by the way, I had a lot of time to think things over...and enter into a subsequent "quarter life crisis."
Without the focused path to maintain and the volume of training to drain my body's energy has forced me to find other ways to pass the time.When minds are idle trouble usually follows. I cook up fantastic "what if" scenarios when my mind is idle. One day I was sitting watching TV thinking WTF am I doing?!
I didn't have an answer, an answer that should be answered with training, however not with a hurt ITB. I'm not the type of person that lives "in between." If I am in training, I am in training, period. I am not in training so I decided for this short spurt that I wasn't going to live parts of my life as if I were. Which led me to the realization of my "quarter life crisis."
So now I sit typing asking myself "what's the point of this post, and what have I gotten out of my recent activities?"*** Without triathlon and the "pain of sacrifice" I am completely unfulfilled, more so than I ever have been. ***The late nights, TV, lounging, and lack of training are, for all intents and purposes, the "worthless time wasters" that I've maintained they are for years.
BUT...positives have come from this, I have spent time with my friends, Jess I love you to death and have enjoyed spending time with you, and for the record I may be in a "bromance" with a former enemy turned ally/wingman. I have met some very fun friends in which I hope to continue to see.
It has been great spending time with everyone and not planning a damn thing. I want to stay up late tonight...great do it! I feel like watching a movie with so so...do it, no early morning ride! So that has been nice.Most of all I see the beauty in the path, I am usually on, is what constitutes living. The path of being a triathlete and focused person has its fair share of "pain of sacrifice," but I love that pain because it leads to making me a better person.
The typical life described above of is great if that is your thing, do what you want to, I have no knock on it if you enjoy it, but, for me, it only leads to the "pain of regret." Regret of time, effort, and opportunity wasted on an unhealthy unsustainable way of living. Late nights take a toll on your body, thus not sustainable, you get it. Training makes your body better every minute you pursue it, it has definite measurements, and a definitive goal, races etc.... LEAD IN TO NEXT POST>>>
Without the focused path to maintain and the volume of training to drain my body's energy has forced me to find other ways to pass the time.When minds are idle trouble usually follows. I cook up fantastic "what if" scenarios when my mind is idle. One day I was sitting watching TV thinking WTF am I doing?!
I didn't have an answer, an answer that should be answered with training, however not with a hurt ITB. I'm not the type of person that lives "in between." If I am in training, I am in training, period. I am not in training so I decided for this short spurt that I wasn't going to live parts of my life as if I were. Which led me to the realization of my "quarter life crisis."
So now I sit typing asking myself "what's the point of this post, and what have I gotten out of my recent activities?"*** Without triathlon and the "pain of sacrifice" I am completely unfulfilled, more so than I ever have been. ***The late nights, TV, lounging, and lack of training are, for all intents and purposes, the "worthless time wasters" that I've maintained they are for years.
BUT...positives have come from this, I have spent time with my friends, Jess I love you to death and have enjoyed spending time with you, and for the record I may be in a "bromance" with a former enemy turned ally/wingman. I have met some very fun friends in which I hope to continue to see.
It has been great spending time with everyone and not planning a damn thing. I want to stay up late tonight...great do it! I feel like watching a movie with so so...do it, no early morning ride! So that has been nice.Most of all I see the beauty in the path, I am usually on, is what constitutes living. The path of being a triathlete and focused person has its fair share of "pain of sacrifice," but I love that pain because it leads to making me a better person.
The typical life described above of is great if that is your thing, do what you want to, I have no knock on it if you enjoy it, but, for me, it only leads to the "pain of regret." Regret of time, effort, and opportunity wasted on an unhealthy unsustainable way of living. Late nights take a toll on your body, thus not sustainable, you get it. Training makes your body better every minute you pursue it, it has definite measurements, and a definitive goal, races etc.... LEAD IN TO NEXT POST>>>
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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