Week 36
September 14, 2016
Day 239
Exercise: Bike/Run
Time: 1 hour/1 hour
Distance: 18 miles/5 miles
People are beginning to ask me if I think I'm ready for the race, and I have yet to find the right answer. I want to say yes, but I honestly don't know. Truthfully, I don't think I'll know if I'm ready until after I cross the finish line. I've put in the hours and I've pushed myself, but I won't know if it was enough until I get out there and that makes me nervous.
On the other hand, it's a great place to be because I've come to the end of my rope as far as my ability to rely on myself. If I'm solely dependent on my effort and my body on race day, I don't think it will go well. But if I'm relying on God and the power of the Holy Spirit inside me, then I think I'm going to crush it. Maybe I'm over-spiritualizing a simple situation, but I believe I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me and FEW things through me who strengthens me. Not the best sentence structure, but that's what I believe.
Day 240
Exercise: Swim
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 1 mile
I swam in our outdoor pool today because the weather was perfect. I usually don't swim in the pool because it's not very long, but I decided to just swim extra lengths today. Normally, not a problem...EXCEPT FOR THE SNAKE IN THE POOL. No lie, I was swimming and in the middle of a stroke I felt something wiggling on my hand. Turns out, it was a small snake that had somehow wound itself among my fingers.
At first, I tried to speak parseltongue to the snake, but it didn't respond, so I did what any sane person would have done in my situation and threw the snake about 6 miles over the fence in our backyard. Needless to say, adrenaline was at an all-time high for the remainder of the swim and every time I touched a leaf I jumped...Probably going to stick to indoor pools from now on.
Day 241
Exercise: Bike
Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
Distance: 100 miles
Today was huge for morale. I've been starting to burn out, but breaking the century mark on the bike got me pumped again. It's also good to know going into the race that 112 miles is attainable. I'm tired after today, but not completely dead. Could I have run a marathon after I finished today's ride? Umm...maybe, but I sure am glad I didn't have to.
Anyway, today was as good a workout for me mentally as it was physically. I needed something to encourage me as I get more anxious about the race.
Day 242
Exercise: Run
Time: 30 minutes
Distance: 3 miles
Today was pretty low-key because I was still feeling yesterday's ride. I can't wait until after this is all over and I'm doing workouts like today. Training has been fun and all, but I'm getting to the point where I really wish I was spending less time exercising. I know it will be worth it in the end, but I can't help but look forward to settling down and going for thirty minute runs a couple of times a week after this is all over. That's going to be heaven.
Day 243
Strength Day
Still not jacked. I'm going to fill out every inch of my triathlon jersey.
Day 244-245
OFF