The bridge

There is a bridge over the Roanoke River that I ride over often while riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I dread crossing this bridge every time. It is high up, all that is separating me from crashing to my rocky and watery doom is a metal railing. Now I know how to successfully cross the bridge, I just keep looking straight ahead to the end of the bridge. If I can just keep my eyes on the end I am fine and actually enjoy zooming across one of the only flat sections of the parkway. Here is the rub, I always seem to take my eyes off the end and look down. That's when the panic sets in.

As I was crossing the bridge yesterday I was thinking of how much my IM training & taper is like that bridge. If I can just keep focused on the race and positive thoughts I am fine. I know that at the end of this journey there is success waiting for me. I know it. BUT, it seems that I keep looking over that edge and letting the doubt and negative stuff take over. I haven't done enough, what if I am slower than last year, I haven't raised as much money as I wanted to, and on and on. That's when the panic sets in.

So, for my next 2.5 weeks I am going to try really hard to keep my eyes on my success. I know how to get to the other side, how to stay positive, how to keep that panic at bay. Just don't look over the edge.

Something to do today

CLICK HERE

TAPER!

Well, taper begins today. I am glad, but as always feeling like I should have done more . . .Oh well, at this point it is what it is. The big bummer is that with taper I have to cut back on calories : (!! I love my eating!!
I was talking about taper w/ one of my clients and he reminded me that my taper is still a lot of exercise for most. I will probably be at around 10 hours this week, down to 6 or 7 next and almost nothing the week of the race. I guess it's all about perspective!

Doing Great Things

I was on the bike the other day (it seems all my great revelations are on the bike huh?) and was all grumbly & beating myself up about the race. I actually said to myself - man, I thought I was going to do great things this year at Louisville. (thinking I was going to train for a 12 hour race) I used my "this is not helping" techinique and low and behold - I realized that I HAVE done great things already this year.
On a hike the other day I asked my 8 year old daughter if my IM training has been easier on her this year. She said it has been much easier this year. I told her that one of my goals for my training this year was to be a better mom & be a better Ironman at the same time. She told me that I HAVE been a better mom this year. (I ofcourse cried)
I asked Renee (Garrett's mom) to write me some little inspiring messages to read during the run part of the IM. I was good and did not read them yet, but her note on the outside said (I made Paul hide it & the others so I wouldn't peek, so I have to paraphrase) you are Garrett's legs, he tried and tried but they failed him every time.
No matter what the finisher clock says, I've done things a lot greater than a 12 hour finish over the last few months.
I am $700 short of $3000, which is the absolute minimum I want to raise (I want to raise $15,000 but time just hasn't been on my side) through the Janus Charity Challenge Donate $10 or $100 now, whatever you can. Help me continue to do great things.