I made it

I accomplished the three goals I set for myself with this triathlon---finish, don't die, don't finish last.  I can honestly say I did all those things, and did better in parts of the race than I thought I might.  Here's the recap:
Swimming---I wasn't sure how well I would do with this.  A lot of triathletes are not strong swimmers.  I'm not either but I have swam with a masters group before so I know how to do it well.  And, I was doing well until my swim cap came off and took the goggles with it.  In the middle of the lake no less.  grrr.  I got both back on and then caught up to the people who had passed me.  So, even though it was frustrating to have to stop, I was happy with the fact that I was able to catch up again.  Imagine how I would do if I didn't stop! 
Biking---riding a bike is easy.  I've been doing it since I was 6 years old.  Biking on those hills is not easy.  I didn't do as well at this as I thought I might.  :/   I did set a goal while riding that I was not going to get off the bike and walk up the worst of the hills.  So, kudos for that but I gotta work on that for the next race!
Running----I figured this would be my worst event.  Ironic since I used to be a pretty good runner.  I decided to run as long as I could, then walk if needed.  I also walked up hills.  After a mile or so I caught my second wind.  I actually felt good and that I could keep on running!  I ran a lot more of this than I thought I would and I feel pretty good about that. 

So, I crossed a big barrier, just being able to finish.  I looked at the race results and the people in front of me aren't going any faster than I am capable of.  I will be back and will be stronger the next time! 

10 days and then onward!

This triathlon is happening in 10 days.  I have continued to train but not like I had wanted to.  There is a part of me that thinks, "am I going to be able to finish this?"  I haven't swam in open water in 12?, 13?...many years.  I have ridden my bike around the park and was really glad I did.  There are a LOT of hills!  I still can't ran 3 miles non-stop but that's ok, walking is allowed.  So, I'm telling myself I'm just gonna go for it. 

A few weeks ago I was out walking/jogging with my dog, very early in the morning before work.  I was thinking about life and trying to get into shape for this race and the Bible verse below came into my head:
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Now, I'm pretty sure the writer of Hebrews did not write this with the intent of saying of "hey you in 2013, get those workouts in!"  But perhaps he understood the bigger picture of the human condition, where we lose sight of ourselves and what God wants for our lives.  We get lost in the details and frustrations now just like they did then. 
This triathlon is more than just "hey, I want to do a triathlon" but more about trying to take better care of myself and my aging body.  And, about getting focused on what is important in my life and laying aside the "weights" that keep me from those things.  The next 10 days will come and go, as will the race.  I will still need to keep moving forward, with patience, toward the bigger goal.