PHILOSOPHY

It don't matter to Jesus.

Interests

Biking CoffeeingChattingScrabbling BogglingWhitewater KayakingStudying (though, that's what usually takes up most of my time--but i'm no less interested in it. Cooking (a recent realization, but man o man is it good)

• cooking
• triathlon
• marathon
• running
• reading
• billiards
• cycling
• swimming
• beaches

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Recently, I completed my first real Triathlon.  It's called the Savageman Triathlon.  And for good reason.  The event takes place in Garrett County, Maryland and numerous times crosses over the aptly named Savage Mountain.  The amazing thing about this event for me is that there were two instances I briefly thought I wanted to quit.  The first instance took place during the 1.2 mile swim.  Yeah--1.2 miles.  I'm not a swimmer, and I didn't really become one for the event.  In my wetsuit, I began the swim with the rest of the pack in a chilly Deep Creek Lake.  Like any excited newby, I got ahead of myself.  About a quarter of a mile into the swim, I started to have a panic attack and could hardly breathe.  Lake water filled my gasping mouth and I gagged a few times.  I was being passed by agile swimmers around me.  I thought to myself, "what am I really doing here," as I flopped over onto my back to catch my breath.  I said to myself--"buddy boy, if you quit, you're going to do the walk of shame right back up that beach.  If you do that, you'll never forgive yourself." It was only about six minutes and roughly 8 pool laps into the swim.  I rationalized to myself that this had to be the worst part of the event, and so I flopped myself over and contined my freestyle swim stroke through the lake.  About thirty minutes later, I dug my feet into the sandy bottom of the lake, stood up and ran ashore, finishing the swim.  I looked over the lake, saw that I was not the last swimmer out of the water, and triumphantly ran up to the shore.  I transitioned to the bike and completed the leg more or less without incident.  The second instance of the desire to quit was the pain I experienced during run portion of the event.  I never ran any distance in my life as slowly as I'd run this half-marathon.  The first mile and the last mile felt the same, as did the 11.1 miles in the middle: painful, slow torture.  My left leg, which I had wrapped in the transition area for the run, was throbbing.  But the event was one I had been wanting to undertake for years and was determined to meet my goal despite the difficulty.  Around six miles in I had to walk for a spell because the pain was unrelenting.  I imagined what it would be like to cross the finish line.  I imagined what it would be like for me to share my personal victory with others.  And with those thoughts in mind, I picked up my heavy feet, step by step and ran.  Slowly.  But, no less, I ran.  Finally the end in sight, I picked up my pace, completely ignored the searing pain in my muscles and joints and proudly completed the 70.3 mile odyssey.  This experience provided the most visceral feeling of wanting to quit and the power of determination.  I was amped for weeks after the event.  Not because of the grueling nature of the event, but because I accomplished a goal that at one time seemed completely unattainable.  I hope everyone can experience this kind of personal triumph.  Thanks for reading (listening)!

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Chile, Kuwait, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Iraq, Italy, United States

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