Me in my “full body life jacket,” in Cambridge, Maryland, a few years back. 🙂
Reflection
Most of you know that I decided to compete in a triathlon this year as a part of my recovery process from the heart issues that have challenged me the past couple of years.
Last week, I received an email from the Cincinnati Triathlon organizers stating that the lake was likely to be too warm for wetsuits. In nearly 25 years of racing, I’d never swum without one. Sure, wetsuits keep you warm, but for me, they’re more of a full-body life jacket—a crutch I’ve leaned on for years.
When I heard the news, my first thought was to quit. After all, the only athletic fields I ever wanted to die on were a basketball court or a golf course, not in open water. But after grumbling to my wife (with my iPhone nearby), my Facebook feed suddenly filled with ads for “buoyant swim trunks.” Creepy? Yes. Convenient? Absolutely. I ordered a pair, tested them, and decided to race.
The triathlon was yesterday and, yes, I finished and lived to tell the story.
Moral of this story…Life sometimes throws us curveballs. It is important not to give up immediately. Search for new ways. And when all else fails, go ahead and grumble about it—just be sure your cell phone is close enough to eavesdrop on your universe. 🙂
Here I am, post-race, celebrating my victory over my octogenarian friend. There is nothing competitive about me. 🙂
The story within the story…As I waited to enter the lake, I found myself standing next to a gentleman who looked about my age. A quick glance at his calf—where our ages are inked—stopped me in my tracks: 81. We exchanged a few words, wished each other well, and leapt into the 90-degree “hot tub” for the half-mile swim.
I had a solid swim, and early on the bike, I was feeling strong, flying past competitors ranging anywhere from teenagers to forty-somethings.
Confidence was building—until my new 81-year-old friend came blasting past me like I was standing still.
Game on.
I tucked in, determined not to let someone fifteen years my senior leave me in the dust. For three gritty miles, I kept him in sight, but fatigue set in, and I had to dial it back to save something for the run.
The run wasn’t pretty. My legs felt heavy, but I kept grinding, one step at a time. Then, at the halfway mark, I spotted him ahead. With a quiet grin, I passed him—shifting from feeling like a loser to a “sort of” winner in a single stride.
Moral of the story within the story…Later, over post-race hot dogs, my octogenarian friend and I swapped stories. He was a retired doctor who’d taken up triathlons at 66. His racing partner, also there, was 80. When I asked the secret to their longevity, they didn’t miss a beat: “Just keep moving. Don’t sit down. The older you get, the harder it is to get up and get going again.”
Soul Search:
Where in your life are you tempted to throw in the towel when things don’t go as planned?
What areas of your life need to keep moving forward?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
