Just too hot to be brave. By the time I was finished it was 33 degrees and very, very humid. You almost can't drink enough water to keep up. Combined with the mental tedium that is now firmly entrenched in my psyche, it was a bit tough again today. As I come into the final stretch I just want everything to go faster. I'm ready to race, even though I know I'm not ready.
That's why, regardless of the heat it was not a time to be brave. I had planned a 10 km run after my bike but I cut it down to 7.5 and I did a lot of walking. The absolutely worst thing I could do right now is have a breakdown day. The mantra has to be, repair and recover. Getting ready to race means doing just that.
So it is also not a good time to start having doubts, just because I had a tough day. I have had lots of tough days, but I've also had lots of great days. Time to remember my 160 km ride at 33 kms/hr. Time to remember my 5:08 Half Ironman. Time to remember my effortless marathon way back in April.
And any and all anguish of the day was washed away by my youngest son in one magically sublime moment this evening. I complimented him on a certain behaviour he demonstrated. I thought he wasn't even going to acknowledge the compliment but as he walked away he turned back for a moment and made a singular comment. He just smiled at me and uttered the one word "Genetics". For any and all pain he may have caused me in the last 22 years, I forgive him today. He is my son!
(ride 150 kms, run/walk 7.5kms)
"Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory."---Douglass MacArthur
That's why, regardless of the heat it was not a time to be brave. I had planned a 10 km run after my bike but I cut it down to 7.5 and I did a lot of walking. The absolutely worst thing I could do right now is have a breakdown day. The mantra has to be, repair and recover. Getting ready to race means doing just that.
So it is also not a good time to start having doubts, just because I had a tough day. I have had lots of tough days, but I've also had lots of great days. Time to remember my 160 km ride at 33 kms/hr. Time to remember my 5:08 Half Ironman. Time to remember my effortless marathon way back in April.
And any and all anguish of the day was washed away by my youngest son in one magically sublime moment this evening. I complimented him on a certain behaviour he demonstrated. I thought he wasn't even going to acknowledge the compliment but as he walked away he turned back for a moment and made a singular comment. He just smiled at me and uttered the one word "Genetics". For any and all pain he may have caused me in the last 22 years, I forgive him today. He is my son!
(ride 150 kms, run/walk 7.5kms)
"Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid, one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory."---Douglass MacArthur
Love
Peter
love it!! Please tell Adrian that Aubrey reminds me of him every time I see him...
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