Run the Race

On February 12th I participated in the Texas Motor Speedway Duathlon along with my friend Sandy.  The duathlon was a 2 mile run (2 laps on the practice track at the speedway) followed by a 16 mile bike ride (3 laps on the roads surrounding the speedway) and concluding with another 2 mile run on the practice track.  It was a great venue for a race and just being there made me want to go faster. 

My first run went well.  I was not as prepared as I would have liked to have been.  The ice storm and having family in town gave me excuses to skip a few workouts.  But I went out and gave it my all and finished the run in 22 minutes and in 4th place out of the 6 people in my age category.  I was happy with that.  Then I entered the transition stage and got on my bike.  I wanted to keep pushing it and was looking forward to picking up the pace even more on the bike portion. 

I started fast and was inspired as I got to ride through the tunnel exiting the speedway.  But then I ran into a strong head wind.  And my energy drained.  I struggled through the bike portion.  As I was plugging along one rider passed me and encouraged me to dig deep.  A phrase I continued to motivate myself with through the remainder of the race.  Fortunately for me we were riding in a circle around the speedway so, for half of the loop that fierce head wind was at my back.  But then I came around and it was in my face again.  On my second lap I began to wonder why I was doing this and if I really wanted to finish.  Which lead me to thinking about the goals I have set.  This race is the first in a line of physically strenuous activities I have set for myself to get into the best shape of my life when I turn 40.  I began to think about the need to focus.  I set the goal to do this duathlon, but then I was distracted by other things in life and lost focus on the finish.  I realized that if I want to achieve the goals I have set, it will take daily focus.  I need to fix my eyes on the goal and not let other things come in the way.  It reminded me of Hebrews 12: 1-3 and the fact that Jesus focussed on the end and was therefore able to endure the suffering because of the joy that He knew was to come.  In the same way, I need to have that undivided attention to Him and to the goals I have set.  I survived the bike portion of the duathlon, but had dropped to 6th place in my age group and division.  I was exhausted and still had to run 2 miles.  I put my bike up and headed back to the track. 

While we were running there were race cars driving around the race track (the actual race track; not the practice track we were on).  That was fun and distracted me from the pain and exhaustion for a couple minutes.  A fellow duathlete passed me saying "they should offer us a ride".  I smiled.  The run was difficult and I was slower than my previous 2 miles, but I did it!  I finished the race!

After the race, two different women came up to me and mentioned that I was their inspiration to keep going and to go faster.  The first woman told me that she was running behind me on the final run and just kept looking at my pink shirt and tried to keep up.  The other woman, also named Jen, was someone that I was near for most of the race.  Her family was there cheering for her and when we passed her family at the same time I benefitted from the "Go Jen"s her family shouted.  I couldn't believe it.  I was struggling through the race myself and had no idea that in that state I could be an encouragement to anyone.  But apparently I was.  This was all a good reminder to me that we do not have to be absoutely perfect to be inspiring to others.  In fact, we just need to be obedient and honest and do our best. 

I think one of my favorite things about triathlons and other athletic events is the camaraderie of the participants.  This race was no different.  I benefitted from the comments of other participants and was able to encourage a few others along as well.  Having completed this duathlon I am even more motivated to press on for the other goals I have set!

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

                                                      -Hebrews 12:1-3 from The Message

Virtual Exercise

 It’s been a very unusual week in Fort Worth.  Late Monday night we received sleet followed by snow.  We’ve had ice and snow in North Texas before.  Typically the temperature warms up later in the same day and it melts away without much of a disturbance.  This time, however, the temperatures remained below freezing for the majority of the week.  And although there were sand trucks working like crazy to prove that DFW was worthy of the Super Bowl, many roads remained covered with a sheet of ice.  As a result, schools and many businesses were closed for most of the week.

With ice covering the roads and temperatures below freezing, I couldn’t get out to run or ride my bike.  And the YMCA was closed.  So I had to resort to the Wii Zumba game my sister gave me for Christmas.  I did two twenty minute workouts and worked up a sweat and some extremely sore calves (note: I can still feel the soreness 5 days later).  The following day I decided to try Wii yoga.  It was so fun that I continued on with some other workouts and games that worked on my balance and core.  There are running and cycling games on the menu.  While they provide some sort of aerobic exercise, they are really nothing like running and cycling.  I even decided to go to the driving range and hit some golf balls.  At the completion of the bucket of balls I was given to hit the Wii pronounced me a “professional”.  I’ve never felt like much of a professional when I have hit balls at a “real” driving range.

  

Finally on Saturday the sun came out, the ice and snow began to melt, and the Y was open.  Although it was a gorgeous day and I would have loved to run outside, I decided to play it safe and go to the Y and avoid the possibility of hitting a random ice spot and breaking my tailbone. 

I had no idea what was in store for me at the Y.  The treadmill was different from ones I had been on previously.  It took me several minutes just to figure out how to start it and increase the speed.  Then I noticed there was a connector for my iPod.  So, I plugged in my iPod and began to run.  I watched others around me and found out that I could use the touch screen attached to my treadmill to pick a TV station and watch it on my individual treadmill.  ESPN was available.  I don’t have cable at home and have to invite myself to friends’ houses or go to sports bars when I want to watch Mizzou games that are on ESPN.  Now, I can go to the Y and workout during the games!  Then a woman stepped on to the treadmill next to me, pushed a few buttons, and suddenly her screen looked like she was running through downtown Chicago.  I tried to find the button she pushed.  She noticed and offered to tell me how to do it.  She explained that you had to choose the option before starting.  She continued to tell me that you can run through Chicago, LA, the Sierra Nevadas and Rocky Mountain National Park.  As if that wasn’t enough the screen would add trivia facts about the places you were running and included the sounds of rivers, birds, and background music if you had your headphones plugged in.  Upon completion of my workout I stayed to hike ten minutes through the Sierra Nevadas.  I was able to walk up and view two waterfalls along with many gorgeous views!  Working out at the gym has never been so fun!  I am certainly more motivated to go to the gym and run through each of these courses.  Then my new friend running next to me shared that the Elliptical machines had the same sort of system with a whole different set of places to go.  I can’t get back to the Y soon enough!

I’m a traditionalist.  I prefer to exercise outside in natural settings.  I remember reading an article in Runners World a couple years ago about all the machines that they have at the gym that simulate the outdoors.  I thought, why not just workout outdoors.  And while I still prefer to workout outdoors, I realize there is a place for the gym and I appreciate all the advances in digital technology that make it more fun to run and bike in a gym!