Why I Race

My purpose for racing: I’m a Christian I race as an analogy to my Christian walk.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the cyclist ride, but only one gets the prize? Ride in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a prize that will not last; but we do it to get a prize (crown) that will last forever. Therefore I do not ride like a man (or woman) riding “junk miles;” I do not ride like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my Slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
(Tuttle Paraphrased Version)

Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”

Following this principal in my Christian life I take statements like this from my pastor when I was talking about the endurance of Christ and the similarities of cycling, my pastor sent me this statement:

“Luke 10:42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

In any moment of uncertainty or anxiety when one is unclear as to the best use of time in any given moment, you can never do better than to endure sitting at his feet. I say endure because it will require the discipline of listing all the distracting do-lists that pop into our head and fighting off the impulse to do them now. Sitting at his feet is always better.”

How do you apply such a statement? It is easiest for me to visualize the putting distractions out of my mind by thinking upon a ITT when you force all the crap out of your mind that tells you your body hurts, and focus upon giving 100% over that time span. If I can do this for a Tuesday night personal best or a 40 km TT which is temporal, how much more do I need to take that discipline into my Christian Life.

I race for a prize but I live my life for Christ for the greatest prize.

Christmas Week

Well, this week began in my lawyers office, dealing with non paying customers... Tight money, Darn kitchen company which could not make expensive kitchens' check bounced. Then Monday night, at my daughters Dance Christmas recital and Pot luck (oh the food.... ALL of it I think NOT on the Cyclo-FUEL plan); one of the Dad's is building a fancy prairie style home this spring/summer and wants my craftsmanship in his house! And I have a kitchen in the works and a store fixture, so all's not bad and this then lifted my spirits. SO...

I got on to Cyclo-SPIN #3 re air on Tuesday and I felt great I threw in a couple of IN-5' cool down, and recovery, it was fantastic! Then to recover I did Cyclo-ZEN Power Yoga on Wednesday, and yesterday (Christmas Day) after all the un-wrapping, and before I started dinner I went down and did the Cyclo-SPIN #2 which is Reairig, and threw in IN-5' recovery and loose (I was going to do the Myofacial release but... I had not used the IN-5' yet). DON'T (LOL, wink, wink) buy these DVD's, because I have to wait till I get bank account back into shape and I don't want them to run out.

Those IN-5' moduals are becoming more useful as I go through them. When I was doing Cross the Power up and down the hill was fantastic, 'cause your off the bike and running and I noticed the difference. Now I'm using them after being in the basement on the trainer for 45 - 60 minutes and at least I'm getting myself loose.

Today at sometime I'm going to do Power Yoga, or one of the SPEED stretches.

This off-Season's not quite following Coach Al's plan, but after two or three years, I've got a good grasp what is intended and it certainly makes it more interesting to change things up a bit. I hope to throw in some Velodrome but if the weather is a crappy as it has been the rest of the winter who wants to drive an hour in questionable weather?

Tomorrow I'm going to climb some European mountain (even with my sore hip flexors, thanks a lot Graeme, I beat you up the climb, but may pay for it tomorrow!).

I am still planing to write a "why I ride" more for me than anyone who reads this.

Take care all and enjoy the holidays and the celebration of Christmas.

Lack of posting

This has been a real bad week. I've not gotten paid by a customer and the one check they did write just bounced yesterday, Merry Christmas from them. The construction industry is a tough one and this year is going to be tougher than others.
This does not effect my Christmas Spirit, and more on this on my next post which will be a long planed "Why I ride", don't miss it!
But in the mean time, this kind of stress takes a lot out of one and just has put a wrench in my training program, both with energy and motivation.
Got to get with my friend and just hit his basement trainer to get the motivation up and burn off some of the Christmas treats which have shown up at our house and have provided a few Serotonins (SP???) I've been craving (Read calories and junk food).

Getting on the bike!

Well, I did my calculations and I wanted to start the 12 week training in December, which will get me through winter just fine. Last winter I did not go out much; 2 to 3 times as it was icy and cold. Icy is just too dangerous on black top, dirt roads and the trails were just horrible. I did get burned out on the trainer though. This year I've got a plan. One Graeme's Cyclo-SPIN, Wow, I've been doing Cyclo-CORE since 2004 Christmas and tried some spinning class, and DVD's to supplement Coach Al's off-season and they were lacking, loud or boring. Graeme's first class was great, I got it, and it made for a good "Saturday" ride. Second in the plan is my friend has a Virtual trainer and he and I get together on it and ride on the weekend too, so I think I won't get the "basement-burnout" I got last winter.

I'm no salesman (nor getting paid to write this), but if you look at the cost of a spin class or the Spin DVD's (enough to keep them fresh), the Club would pay for itself with 12 spin classes! The off season training system is flexible and with Coach Al's plan it has changed my cycling to the point that I do ride stronger faster and more sustainable. Well, worth it (I only wish I was able to get my DVD's on the "cheep" by joining the club 4 years ago!).

On to my Clavicle, it is healing well, I've been doing most exercises with out any pain or problem (Kate's push up in Cyclo-ZEN-Recovery Yoga is dropped till I'm healed). I found out this morning that the one exercise which took me two years to "master" hurts and I can't do it yet, and that is the Crow Pose. I mention that for a few reason, one it's part of my healing process. Second, we live in an instant gratification society and cycling has the aspects of providing some of that, but it's not a sport which you can master in weeks, months or a year. At least for "every-day cyclist" there are some gifted people out there. It took my body and mind two years to get strong enough and "balanced" enough to do the crow pose. It took me 10 years of racing cross to have a great cross season ('cept the broken collar bone). Keep working at whatever level you are and improve each week, month and year!

Upper body work

Well, work has slowed and last night I got home had a cup of coffee, did dinner prep and went downstairs and did a trainer workout. It is amazing how much more relaxing it is when one does not get home at 9:30 p.m. I then got up this morning and was able to do push ups. Tomorrow is the Dr. appointment and I will find out if I'm allowed to do push-ups. LOL. Dad's a doctor so I'm pretty good at not always listening to doctors. So it looks like my off-season my have officially started.

The other advantage of getting home on time is I was able to make good "FUEL" meals, last night was Pad-Thai Tofu (one of my favorites) and I will have it for lunch, the other is the Southwestern Meatloaf w/ ground turkey (one of my daughters favorites). Much better than just apples or worse grabbing something like a peanut butter and jelly wrap or two "after hours."