Saturday

Motivation: something that motivates; inducement; incentive.


   I feel as though there is a greater evil spreading among people today, including myself. It is a lack of motivation. Or perhaps laziness. I feel as though it is slipping almost more and more everyday. This last week has been a great week for working out for me. However I have been lazy and have chosen more entertaining things to do instead of blog, or work on my webpage. It seems as though it is hard to be satisfied with what you have. For example: I keep looking at used bike on craigslist, just because I think I can get better with a newer bike to practice on. My triathlon bike is great, no questions asked there. The bike I practice on though is a 90s chromoly, that is closer to 30lbs. I think I should get a lighter more responsive bike so when I go on rides with people I can keep up more easily, or I can even lead for a little while. That is true. However which will force me to ride harder, develop more muscle, and feel really good when I am racing on my tri bike, the answer is simple: the old bike. So, I am going to stick with the old bike, and be happy with what I have. I was thinking of writing an article about how to go about starting triathlons. There are many books out there that do a great job of explaining how to train, and choose your first race. There is not a list however of important things to buy, and in what order. This list I think would be great, and could be followed along with times. The problem is that like any triathlete we are not all the same. A lot of people can just go out and a buy a 10,000 dollar bike just to make themselves faster, meanwhile they are still going to get passed by me or one of my friends who has been putting in the work. I guess living in boulder has made me doubt myself a little bit. Everybody has matching running tops and shorts with some big name on them, or even worse the riders with their beloved team top with the matching bib shorts. I know deep inside that stuff does not matter at all. A lot of times I use to take pride in knowing that I am good because of me, and the stuff does not matter as much at all. 


From  the edge movie: "What one man can do, another can do." This is very important to me in looking at previous big ironman contenders. In 1989 Mark Allen went 8:09, that time would have won every ironman since 1997. I am not saying that Mark Allen is not amazing, he is. What I am saying is that with the advantages I have simply by living 20 years later I too should more easily be able to meet a mark of 8:09 if not I should at least be close to it. Did he have a brand new Felt, Cervelo or Blue bike? No. 


So I should take pride once again in myself, and my work. When it comes time to race I will know my race came from inside me, from the work I have done. not from a check book. I am living to fulfill my dreams, if only everybody was as lucky as I am. 


Today a swim, and maybe a ride. I went mountain biking on Thursday and I felt like a kid again, how fun.