Countdown to Triathlon – 219 Days, 31.28 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 39 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -

If we are to complete a challenge, we certainly cannot say, "Our get-up-and go, got-up-and- went!   Our get-up and go has to get-up and GO!"  Cold, rain, bad weather or not!!!

Quote from me - Barbie Jo

The Journey - Installment Thirty-Nine

GREEN FOR "GO, GO, GO!"

      2002

THE YEAR OF THE BIKE RIDE ARRIVES -

or now I really have to get serious about this!

         After the first of the year I noticed that my outdoor bike riding was not occurring as much as it should.  I did go to the gym more often to keep exercising and spoke with some cyclists who convinced me that I needed toe clips in order to get the most from my pedaling.  I purchased the clips and began riding with Don using great caution because I was scared to death that I would fall and not be able to get my toes out of the clips.  That was a very real fear so that whenever I came to a place where I even thought I might have to slow down, I would jerk my feet back and remove them from the clips.  There were several close calls, but I began to master the fine art of toe clips.

      

           By the end of January,  I was riding alone because Don had come down with a very bad cold. I rode 22 miles one winter afternoon and was so blessed by the beautiful scenery of rolling hills and a view of the snow covered Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background.  Clouds were threatening rain by the time I reached home and just as I dismounted from my bike it began to rain.  I thanked our Heavenly Father for once more watching over me and holding the rain back until I had reached home.  But even after such a beautiful day of riding and blessings, discouragement crept in again. My Bible study ladies and my church had all been praying for the Lord to find someone for me to ride and train with.  Don had not been able to ride because of health problems and I felt that I needed someone as a riding partner.   I had to continually remind myself and repeat the motto of my journey:  THE POWER BEHIND ME IS GREATER THAN THE TASK AHEAD OF ME.

January 13, 2011 - I need to reinstate the above motto in my training for the triathlon.  This is exactly the same time of year as the above installment and I'm facing the same challenges, except I have to add swimming and running/walking. 

And away we go.........................................

See you all on Monday.