randalevan's blog

"Trust Me" and the Pacific Grove Triathlon.

Given the fact I will enter into my fifth decade tomorrow, I decided I would get one more blog post in while I am still in my forties!

I wanted to write a quick post about an amazing experience I had two weeks ago today. As many of you know, I started doing triathlons in June, a small miracle in and of itself, given the fact I hadn't been able to run (*knee problems) for over ten years, not to mention the fact that I never swim. Anyway...

Immediately following my first "tri" in Morro Bay, I signed-up for my second in Pacific Grove...scheduled for September 10th. All my training was going as planned, and except for the occasional jitters and anxiety (*prayer works great...as does telling myself to relax!), I was good to go. Well, until early Friday morning...September the 9th.

Morro Bay Triathlon - June 5th, 2011

Well, I did it! I completed my first triathlon. What a journey it has been to reach June 5th...and I am SO glad I did it! Here are some photos that I would like to share with you, together with a little story line.

Swimming in the Ocean, facing my fear.

In mid-April (*April 16th, 2011 post) I wrote a post about dealing with fear. Specifically, the fear of swimming in the ocean and finding that I was not alone...
Well, my wetsuit arrived last Friday, and so Jacquie & I decided that Sunday - Mother's Day - would be the day to head to Aquatic Park in San Francisco.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day. Windy, but still almost-perfect. We immediately found a parking space right across the street from Aquatic Park...a small, but significant gift from God, as anyone who lives in a city knows.

We got out of the car, I liberally applied my "anti-shark" balm

(aka "Glide", to avoid my wetsuit rubbing my skin off!), and then donned my new wetsuit

Dealing with Fear

 

 Man, it´s been a long time since my last post! Life has been wonderfully busy...career change, triathlon training, fulfilling prerequisites for a bilingual teaching credential program, life coach training, continuing my seminary education, starting a new business...hmmm, did I leave anything out?!

Anyway, let me get to something I have been working on...before it does its work on me! That "something" is fear.

One of the things that will always be true of life - at least this side of heaven - is we have to choose how we are going to respond to the things that scare us. Will we fight, or will we run for the hills? While sometimes it is wise to run as fast as our fat little feet will carry us, there are other occassions when we need to recognize our fears...and then do what we really want to do anyway. While I could write about many areas of my life right now where I am having to face a multitude of fears, let me focus on triathlon training today.

"tri" means "three"

For those of you who read my blog, you know that at the beginning of 2011 - which was SO long ago! - I decided to do a triathlon.

Well, I had already been cycling, so that wasn't hard.

I started jogging again, sore knees and all, and that has been getting better.

But, I had not started swimming yet. THAT has all changed as of yesterday.

Earlier in the week, I became a member of 24-Hour Fitness, because I heard they had a lap pool.
Then, I went to purchase a swim cap and goggles in Los Gatos...and, since we were already in town, Jacquie, Gloria, & I went to lunch (Andalé on North Santa Cruz Blvd...yum!)

Because I was afraid I might grow weak and faint in the pool, we went for coffee and dessert after lunch.
We then went home, where I put both cap and goggles on
And in case you're wondering, my goggles fit very snuggly. I had NO  doubt that any water whatsoever would get into my eyes.

In case you have not donned a swim cap or goggles for awhile, let me assure you that they are both uncomfortable. My cap fits snuggly on my melon-sized head. I was certain when I pulled it off that all my hair would come off with it. But my primary concern was the amount of suction the goggles created. It felt as if any moment both my eyeballs would be sucked right out of their sockets!

Well, given the fact that I no longer had any excuses to keep me from starting my swim training, I then hopped in the car, drove to my new gym, and jumped in the pool.
Just in case you were concerned about my eyeballs, neither of them were pulled from their sockets. Well, one of them was slightly pulled-out and I was able to push it back in...  ; )

Ah, and one other important piece of information: I swam a total of 4 laps. (*25 meters/lap.) I felt fine Lap #1. Ditto Lap #2. Lap #3 I began to notice I needed to KEEP BREATHING while I swam. Lap #4, I was glad there was not going to be a Lap #5 today!

Oh, and one other very small, and yet significant detail: the triathlon's swim length is 1.5K...or, in "lap terms", 60 laps. I have some training to do! But hey, ya gotta start somewhere, right?

Morro Bay Triathlon Details

Well, I had two people say something like, "Wow, dude, you're gonna run a marathon?!" I think people asked me this because when they think triathlon, they think IRON MAN. (*I am really hoping that I joined the WIMPY MAN triathlon!)

So, here is the low-down: I will be doing a 1.5K swim, a 40K bike ride, and a 10K run...which in my case my be a crawl!

If you are interested in joining me, check-out the info at: http://www.morrobaytri.com/course.html

I think we're gonna have a blast! And, you can bet I will be hitting the gym bright and early tomorrow morning!

Triathlon Training Begins!

Well, I have been thinking lately. I have entered my 50th year. *I think it is important to note that I continue to be still much, much younger than Jacquie. But the truth is, I am about to exit my 4th decade and enter my 5th. I may need to consult with her to find out what it is like, given she has ample experience : )

Alright, getting back to my thinking of late. My daughter, Gloria, has been reading Runner's World and wanting to start running again. My nephew, Mark, is turning 30 this year and is planning to run a marathon. So, I thought: "Hmmm, what about me?" Well, I have decided to train for a marathon.

Today is January 1st, 2011 and I just went out for a jog. (*It is a long story, but I basically have not been able to run or jog without pain for about ten years. It all began with a very long flight to Santiago de Chile. My knees have clicked & poped every time I run ever since!) Well, I have lost weight, ride my bike to work - about 12 miles round-trip, go the gym, etc...So, I felt ready to give it try.

I hired a full-time coach, and for the next week will have a full-time mascot...

 

(*For those of you who don't know her, this Abbey Han in a doggie-suit.)

We drove over to the Cubberley Community Center

And when we got to the track, there was a soccer team getting ready to play...and they were all dressed in the Spanish National Team's soccer jersey and shorts! This is funny for two reasons: 1. I, too, was wearing the jersey (*notice the photo above), and, 2. Our connection with Spain. I felt like it was both a sign and a smile from God. (*He has a tremendous sense of humor that we often don't give Him credit for.)

I walked a lap then ran a lap. Then did it again...

One of the things I have learned in my old age is to not be in too much of a hurry and to give my body a chance to adapt. Then I did something that I like about as much as chewing on aluminum foil...

 

I stretched. You can tell I have a good trainer...a trainer that is committed to my well-being.

Well, a New Year has begun. I have started to train for a triathon. Nothing big. I ran/walked a mile. Pretty wimpy, actually. But I can do "wimpy"...at least for now. Maybe you'll be encouraged to start something in 2011. If so, I would love to hear about it.