"Out of the Darkness"
Okay, I know I'm a little late. But here is my last weekend's recap of events.
On Saturday, my scheduled 6-7 hour ride became a 4.5 (70 mile ride) instead because I had so much trouble rolling out of bed. I started soo way late and started at 7:00 am instead of 5:00 am. But the ride was uneventful and solo of course. I actually did a route I had done previously during the Sudden Century organized ride.
So how much things have changed.
The 1st time it would be my longest bike ride ever and I felt like I was going collapse at the pace the group was going. The hills seemed bigger back then. Now I know they were just bumps in the road.
After my uneventful ride, with the cars driving past me to keep me company. I did a 38 minute brick run which I totally "bonked" on. All my fault. I had the great idea of not bringing any type of nutrition on the run with me. Lessoned learned.
So on Sunday was the Lasalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic 1/2 marathon. I had the idea of doing a easy hour run before the race and then run the 13.1 mile race. I figured if I can get around a 18-20 LSD mile run in that would be great. I figured where else can you get aid stations on a LSD run and get a nice shiny medal to boot. So after running a little over 5 miles before the race, then gun went off and I was off on my race, wanted to stay in IM marathon pace with keeping my heart rate around 150 bpm. Actually felt really good during the entire race and reached my goal of running under a 9:00 minute half marathon, (actually time 8:55 minute pace), so felt really good of completing that, since I did not meet my goal from the day before.
But the most memorable thing that stayed with me that day was when I went on my pre-run before the race, I noticed a bunch of walkers, and little bags with lights showing the way.
Their T-shirts said "take a stand, one step at a time". Then I started to read the lighted bags. There were all in honor of people that have been lost thru Suicide. It was the "Out of the Darkness Walk". That totally stopped me in my tracks and made me appreciate this morning and being alive and able to watch the sunrise over Lake Michigan.
What a sight.
When people ask me " WHY I DO THIS STUFF", my simple answer is that "I CAN", but what I guess I really mean is that thru all this swimming, cycling, and biking I found a greater "PASSION" for life and the time we are here. A "PASSION" for the world around me, even thou it seems so F@#@#ked up lately.
If you get a chance listen to "Phedippidations 51: A Life of Passion" podcast.
"Passion is defined as an intense enthusiasm for something. In this episode I talk about the importance of passion and how runners are fortunate to enjoy this feeling every day. We need to encourage those who face life with sadness and emptiness to fill their lives with a passion for something, anything, and everything. One way to help them might be to inspire them to run."
As my daughter turns 4 this weekend, I hope she finds her own "PASSION" in life and that the world is a more passionate world when she grows up.
So another long training weekend ahead. A little over than 3 weeks to "GO TIME"
Okay, I know I'm a little late. But here is my last weekend's recap of events.On Saturday, my scheduled 6-7 hour ride became a 4.5 (70 mile ride) instead because I had so much trouble rolling out of bed. I started soo way late and started at 7:00 am instead of 5:00 am. But the ride was uneventful and solo of course. I actually did a route I had done previously during the Sudden Century organized ride.
So how much things have changed.
The 1st time it would be my longest bike ride ever and I felt like I was going collapse at the pace the group was going. The hills seemed bigger back then. Now I know they were just bumps in the road.
After my uneventful ride, with the cars driving past me to keep me company. I did a 38 minute brick run which I totally "bonked" on. All my fault. I had the great idea of not bringing any type of nutrition on the run with me. Lessoned learned.
So on Sunday was the Lasalle Bank Chicago Distance Classic 1/2 marathon. I had the idea of doing a easy hour run before the race and then run the 13.1 mile race. I figured if I can get around a 18-20 LSD mile run in that would be great. I figured where else can you get aid stations on a LSD run and get a nice shiny medal to boot. So after running a little over 5 miles before the race, then gun went off and I was off on my race, wanted to stay in IM marathon pace with keeping my heart rate around 150 bpm. Actually felt really good during the entire race and reached my goal of running under a 9:00 minute half marathon, (actually time 8:55 minute pace), so felt really good of completing that, since I did not meet my goal from the day before.
But the most memorable thing that stayed with me that day was when I went on my pre-run before the race, I noticed a bunch of walkers, and little bags with lights showing the way.
Their T-shirts said "take a stand, one step at a time". Then I started to read the lighted bags. There were all in honor of people that have been lost thru Suicide. It was the "Out of the Darkness Walk". That totally stopped me in my tracks and made me appreciate this morning and being alive and able to watch the sunrise over Lake Michigan.What a sight.
When people ask me " WHY I DO THIS STUFF", my simple answer is that "I CAN", but what I guess I really mean is that thru all this swimming, cycling, and biking I found a greater "PASSION" for life and the time we are here. A "PASSION" for the world around me, even thou it seems so F@#@#ked up lately.
If you get a chance listen to "Phedippidations 51: A Life of Passion" podcast.
"Passion is defined as an intense enthusiasm for something. In this episode I talk about the importance of passion and how runners are fortunate to enjoy this feeling every day. We need to encourage those who face life with sadness and emptiness to fill their lives with a passion for something, anything, and everything. One way to help them might be to inspire them to run."
As my daughter turns 4 this weekend, I hope she finds her own "PASSION" in life and that the world is a more passionate world when she grows up.
So another long training weekend ahead. A little over than 3 weeks to "GO TIME"
posted by RunBubbaRun at 8:25 PM
6 Comments:
What a great post! I was just reading Triboomers blog and he talked about how triathlon has a venue for imparting important values to his daughters. I responded how it has brought my family together as a tighter unit because we all race together.
There really is far more to what we do than just excercise and compete, it filles our lives with meaning and as Vicktor Frankel says, a person who can find deep meaning in life can survive even the darkest hours.
great post Bubba, you made me cry!
Awesome. Great post. I can imagine the lit pathway would've stopped me in my tracks, too.
And I agree...the people, though that ask "WHY do you do this?" I'm not sure those people will ever get it. Those are the ones that just shake their heads, roll their eyes and have no idea what we're talking about.
Almost cult-ish....
Nice post. It's the passion of the people who I race and train with that keeps me in this sport.
See you in a few weeks.
Lesson learned on the bonk. I had this same experience this summer. I was feeling great on my run in a half iron. I got sick of gue, skipped the last one with 5 miles to go. I'm feeling great, only five to go right. WRONG, 1 mile later the wheels fell off. When the tank is empty your body is counting on that next shot of calories. Good Luck at I-MOOO
Wow! What a great experience and perspective. Happy birthday to the Little Miss Bubba! :)
See you SOON! Bib numbers come Thursday....
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