Bike path safety

Did I mention the 70 year old woman who took me out on the bike path a month or so ago?

While training for this epic event I've sworn to not ride solo on the road and taken it back knowing that fitting this training in was simply not possible with a one or two hour commute to add to the training time each ride.

For two particularly long rides however, I did seek out a bike path in order to ensure safety, access to water, bathrooms, etc. On two of those two occasions- I crashed. Once in June all on my own on a wet road with a twig in an inopportune spot. No one to blame, just lots of bumps and bruises to see even still today.

Crash number two came as I was 35 miles into a hundred mile ride. A grey haired group traveling to breakfast perhaps in the next town was spread out on the path, not paying particular attention to oncoming traffic or "ride right" rules. As I said "hello" "hell-oo" she simply could not react and watched her bike collide with mine as I took to the shoulder- big rocks and all.

I yelled something I'm not sure which and then proceeded to get up and make sure she was alright. No helmet! More fragile bones than mine I'm sure! And not a clue that she was hogging the path?!
Though I'm sure she felt guilty for days- and I was only scraped and sore, I do hope she or her husband went immediately out to buy a helmet!!

I'm back to road riding. My percentages have been better there!

Team Hoyt

Last blog- I mentioned 17 Hours to Glory. Once chapter recounts Team Hoyt, Dick Hoyt and his son Rick's experience with Kona and their amazing story of love and living.

For Dick to push 100 pound Rick and his chair- if it weighed 58 pounds, the 26.2 miles of a marathon after having pulled him in a buoy in the swim, and rode with him on the bike... and to do it in a time that many solo age group athletes would dream about...makes you think it must be a possibility for any of us willing to commit to it. Dick and Rick's marathon times rivaled age group winners.

For the rest of us to be too scared to tri, or to participate? Makes me a little embarrassed to think about the self-limiting beliefs we each have. Over their career of participation they tried and failed more than once, but never ever gave up. They always returned to the site of any unfinished business. They got it done and then moved on.

To that spirit.

Doubts

The last blog eluded to the fact that I've had some tough last three weeks. Stress seems to be at an all time high. The fall busier than usual and the countdown to Ironman AZ just 60-some days away.
I've actually looked at the emails about reimbursements. Before Oct 1 I could still get $150 back. Then I came to my senses. I've spent too much time and energy and sacrificed time with family and friends and sleeping not to complete this. More than that though, this is too representative of something more.

I was wrong about this though. I often seek physical challenges when I am feeling I need to be more mentally and emotionally strong. I truly believe where the body goes the mind will follow....and often vice verse.

I always knew that it would be me- just me- getting me from the starting line to the finish line.

In an event like this however it can become apparent that you can't do all of this by yourself. Support is everything. Even in little ways. I've done way more in the last decade alone than I ever planned or wanted to do. Yet, this one is hard. This is one I'm struggling with. It's too big. Feels like too much weight.

Somewhere in the last couple weeks I think I actually hit bottom. You can't fill up completely from another cup if one is empty. We have to get it from different places in order for us to completely be full. At least that's true of me I'm finding the hard way.

I'm going to start the 2010 Arizona Ironman. I'm gong to finish the 2010 Arizona Ironman. And probably like 1999 other athletes I'm going to dig deeper than I really want to in order to do it. Somewhere between here and there I'm going to have to learn how to ask for help better and accept it when its offered.

Probably worth the price of the entry fee right there.

This is the last of the mention of doubts. The rest of my countdown to Ironman AZ will be about how I'm going to get from start to finish. I'm reading "17 Hours to Glory" and if you're a triathlete or a sports fan at all- its worth the price to read about all kinds of athletes who've completed the infamous Kona Ironman.

Chevy envy

I want to be more like my son when I grow up. Reality is that on his golf team this year his coach has dubbed him "the rock" or the "Chevy" because they can depend on his score counting. He can have a bad shot, a poor hole, or an average day but his score will still be fairly reliable because he can get past it and on to the next shot.

I realize how similar a golf match and an endurance triathlon can be at this point. In the last three weeks I've had more doubts and more in trepidation and anxiety than excitement about the race, that's for sure. I'm not of course by any means looking to win, or finish in the light even! But it's going to be about keeping my head in the game. My fitness level will only get me to the starting line. The rest is between the ears. Toughest six inches to change is what my step father, also a golfer, used to say. If you can get that shot to drop you're in. That one however is not a 'gimme.' It's tough work. Consistently squashing the little voices in your head that are getting in the way. Creating louder voices that repeatedly state:

I've done the work.
I've consistently completed the workouts week after week.
One stroke, one mile, one step at a time.
Slow and steady wins my race.
I'm lucky to be here participating and competing only with myself and those little voices.

I just need to be dependable. Listen to my own race and not pay attention to how someone else is doing theirs. My heart rate, my stomach tolerance, my vision of the finish line.

Steady forward progress.