Stories of lifestyle transformation, news, tips, information and general chatter about fitness as a door to genuine wholeness. [Go to beginning of archives to trace this story from the beginning.]

Thursday, December 30, 2004

The First Triathlon season was over a while back. Actually took a first and a second in my age group (not much competition for "old guys" - but it felt great. I was blown away by the experience of cycling. Did a day of the RAGBRAI (Ride Across Iowa) and four other organized rides. Awesome - I love it! For a while I thought I might actually become a serious cyclist and give up triathlon. However... as the weeks went on, I found that the training was just not as complete for cycling as it is for triathlon. With swimming, running (for me jogging), cycling, and weight training for all three I am phyusically more fine tuned. I traded in my last triathlon of the season for a ride - the ride was great, but over the weeks picked up a few pounds. So, it was back to triathlon oriented training.

A Second Season beckons and there's this shift in my thinking. Last year it was all about the excitement of a first and then second triathlon - about the event. But what do you do after the event? Now it's about a lifestyle. After something of a lighter schedule, it is time to hunker down again. More work on swim and run and staying in shape for the cycling which is coming along great. I'm just barely past being a rookie.

My Big Passion now is to pass this on. I am staying at work (past normal retirement age) at theUniversity of Dubuque School of Theology. Lots of students and especially lots of grads and other clergy could really benefit from some lifestyle changes. The health care crisis is made worse by the level of fitnesss of many clergy. I am working on certification as a personal trainer along with a friend. We plan to work with denominational judicatories and individuals to address these concerns. I'm doing some mini courses on "The Physical Side of Being Spiritual."
Posted by: John / 12/30/2004 02:40:00 PM

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Where have I been? Well - way too darned busy. The good news is that I've managed to hang on to basic workout routines while going through lots of job stuff. Main thing is that I finished two triathlopns, fell in love with cycling and spent most of the end of the season doing organized bike rides. Another birthday has rolled around and life getts better... the last two years have been an amazing journey. Feeling great feels great. Now on to some new things.
Posted by: John / 12/22/2004 03:14:00 PM

Thursday, August 26, 2004

The Season is Alomost Over! Going to a century bike ride this weekend with Psycho Bike Club in Illinois. Then it's another sprint triathlon in Hudson, WI to finish this first year. What a blast it has been. Now it will be time to plan for next season.

A Great Find! I found a new web site that really hit home. If you are a Master's category athlete or wannabe - it's for 40+ athletes. (40+ is still a kid to me.) Check it out and for a limited time get a free subscription at GeezerJock.Com . If 40 is a geezerjock, I think I'll grab the term supergeezerjock. Hang in - hang tough.
Posted by: John / 8/26/2004 06:15:00 AM

Tuesday, July 20, 2004

beginnertriathlete.com - Triathlon training for beginners

This is where you go to discover a great community dedicated to helping the average Joe or Mary get into a great lifestyle. Check it out and get yourself an account - it's worth the trip!
Posted by: John / 7/20/2004 05:59:00 PM







My Super Motivator!

"Go Dad!" 


 



My Other Super
Motivator!

Yikes!

Chapter
Two


The first part of the journey to fitness is over and now chapter two begins.  I've completed two sprint triathlons and it has been absolutely wonderful to get to this point. Work - but wonderful. Working with Beginnertriathlete.Com has been great. There are sooo many people who have done their first triathlon this year and most of them getting hooked on the sport. Me?? "I love this stuff! (Most of the time:)

It is mid-season for 2004 and I've taken a bit of a break from training (a few swims, and leisurely bike rides) and the week off a regular, more intense program has been good. Got back to a 3.1 mile run this morning without walking breaks. Time to tune up again. The last two triathlons for the season will be the last weekend in August and first weekend in Sept. A buddy at the university and I will do at least one and maybe two days of the RAGBRAI the end of July. Then I will do an official's clinic and intern at the Wisconsin Ironman. Officiating seems like a good way to give something back to the sport and maybe help build up the Midwest Region of USAT.

It is difficult to imagine life without the people I love and without this sport that keeps me engaged and feeling better than I have since I was about 21. Chapter One was all about getting to a place I never dreamed I would be. I think that's a big part of what energizes the people who are the community we call Beginnertriathlete. It's all about the dreams we have of getting and staying fit. The stories at BT are a huge repository of inspiration. Chapter two is the next step in my commitment to maintain this lifestyle and find new adventures that bring real joy to the quality of life. It isn't just about being fit - it's about really, really enjoying creation. There's a big spiritual angle to all this.

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about the journey. It is now just under a year and a half since I went to my doctor with chest pains, shortness of breath, and finding myself totally winded after walking from the parking lot to my office. Time for some observations and reflections.


A lot of people who have known me for a while say things like, "You are really disciplined, I wish I could be like that." The fact is, I am not so disciplined. The last week slacking off the training, and eating out of bounds for my nutrition program is a scary thing for me. I know I could go back to the old ways easily. But...


I am looking at this bookmark my daughter gave to me. It says, "Thanks Dad for always being my guiding light." I am an older dad - and an older husband. I turned 65 last December and want to keep on playing this "guiding light" role. I also want to stay here for my lovely, younger wife. That would not be possible if I let the "old" John take over again. So I'm not all that disciplined - just afraid not to be fit. (To say nothing of over hearing my daughter comment to a friend that I was way stronger and faster than her friend's dads - most of them thirty and forty somethings who by and large are seriously out of shape.)


I want to share this good news... fitness is not just for the few - it is the way we were designed to live. I know it is hard to get going. The old thing about a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest. I was at rest for a long time and I hear lots of folks quite a bit younger than me say they are "too old" to change now. Not true! Take a step - then another and another. The time it takes to train and get fit is time we gain back in quality of life and dare I say - length of life.


Chapter Two is about planning for another season, for keeping the routines of life that have made a new life possible and about balancing family, work, and sport.


I guess I would say it is true that triathletes are a bit nuts - but hey - back to that old remark. "It's a wonderful crazy!"  Sometime, volunteer to work a triathlon. You will discover a great community of people who are dedicated to good living!

Posted by: John / 7/20/2004 05:31:00 PM

Saturday, May 29, 2004

My first tri is one week away! Yeah! Yikes! The psych part of the preparation is as big as the physical. It is a rainy, nasty, windy day today and Janell asked if they cancel these for bad weather. "Rain or shine we go!" I told her.

So it seemed good to get on the bike and go for a ride - haven't done a "nasty day" ride 'til now. The rain stopped, but the road was wet and the wind was pretty strong. Did I ever tell you that cornering in a half inch of slick mud is not good? Yup - my first corner through mud today. I don't know who the patron saint of bicyclists is - but thanks! I managed to pull out and skip the road rash this time. Sure don't want to break anything a week before the tri. Of to the trail for a run in a bit.
Posted by: John / 5/29/2004 09:54:00 AM

Wednesday, May 26, 2004

The gremlins and psych demons are trying to sabotage my program:) My swim, bike, and run are being dogged by my knee, back, and heel. BUT - we press on. Less than two weeks to go and the BIG GOAL is to finish a triathlon! Really. My type A guy is fussing about that - trying to suck me into worrying about times and all that. I'm just happy that last night's 3.3 mile run went well without any aggravation of the injuries and this morning the 12 mile bike was good - not fast and there was a lot of traffic, but 15.5 mph was okay. Again - no injury problems. Now... off to the pool in a bit. I've known this all along, even write about it, but the psychological dimension of training and sport is truly amazing.
Posted by: John / 5/26/2004 10:02:00 AM

Monday, May 17, 2004

Just Under Three Weeks To Go!
Yikes - the swim isn't quite there and I'm dealing with old back issues. But - we stay at it! Met with Carrie and family at the Pigman Tri site for a workout. It was a great day and I am really beginning to look forward to, dread, and anticipate this first triathlon! Somewhere inside I hear a voice saying, "Act your age." that is get a rocking chair, retire and wait it out. NOT! Whatever else happens, we are committed to this thing - the couch is no longer an option.
Posted by: John / 5/17/2004 06:53:00 PM

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