I was doing "stuff". Sometimes racing, sometimes not but it never felt interesting. So I saved everyone from boredom. You're welcome. It's just that I had no intentions of regaling everyone about my 4 milers on the treadmill nor bringing everyone down to my level with snippets of how I slept in till 7:30 a.m. and then read till 9:30 a.m. while slowly sipping Cuban coffee until the rest of the house arose from the dead.
So, why am I hear now you wonder?
Let me explain....
First off, I'm that person, who although is an adult, needs someone to help me adult at times. See what I'm saying here? I seek out the more responsible friend for guidance. I saw a meme once about this and knew I wasn't alone. I found a person who lived outside the fringes of my training dementia and just sent some practical questions across their grounded and wisdom-filled bow.
The questions I asked myself and them as well were many.
Why don't I want to sign up for races anymore? I mean, I do...but I don't. Why don't I yearn to spend my hard earned dollars on signing up and training for marathons anymore? Why don't I long for a bike upgrade? Why don't I fancy a new aerodynamic helmet? I've been wearing the same cycling shoes for 3 years and they smell like ass but I'm sentimental, so I keep slipping into that rancid cave of velcro weekly. Deep, deep questions right? Here I am riddled with first world, athletic neurosis and need some real guidance. Yes, I'm running some, biking some, swimming more than some but have an unhealthy lack of focus to put all three together. Oh, and I'm also partaking in those 30 minute death sessions knows as the 21 Day Fix. Where, what I shortly found out that needed fixing most was my ability to sit down to go pee without wincing in gluteous maximus pain as if they've been torn from my backside by a cheetah. That woman isn't playing around.
Point being. I needed to locate my inspiration, shuffle around my priorities and reflect.
At that end of the day, isn't it about what we WANT to do? What inspires us most?
I'm smiling because I'm not thinking about mile 21
Managed to find my dad about a half mile before the finish. NYC Marathon 2014
Probably the most gratifying thing I've ever done on two feet is raise money for World Vision. Back when I ran the NYC Marathon I was able to raise a couple thousand dollars and that was largely on small donations alone. I regret not taking that same opportunity when I finished Ironman Louisville. All those hours I was training I could have brought awareness to a cause. I ask myself often "what am I doing this for?" I have so many friends and family that follow along, they all know that my family and I sponsor children through World Vision. So, this is what I'm going to do...
This summer, from May thru September (still working on the logistics), I'm going to swim to raise money for World Vision. $50 is the cost to bring clean drinking water to one child, surely I can reach at least 10 children, that's the goal anyway!
This is me. not being eaten by "one o' dem muskie" (direct quote from the shore)
As many of you know, or don't, I'm a lake swimming junkie. I live in a water hole a large portion of the summer. So if you want, follow along and watch me freak out over weird stuff in the water, navigate these flies that bite really hard, try to stay calm during Shark Week, doggedly avoid my belongings onshore from getting stolen by the locals and mentally be ok with folks that tell me they'll dial 911 if they see me go under. I've never just had an ordinary swim where I was left alone.
Soon I'll have a donation link up.
