Ok, not very flattering, but frankly, after that humbling and arduous race, I don't feel a need to save-face. Thought you'd like to see my look after already going for about 2 hrs. This photo is of me running through the transition after just getting off the bike.The Olympic tri is a 1500m (almost a mile) swim, 40k (or 25m) bike, then finishing with a 10k (or 6.2m) run. Don't have much else to say except, "I finished... and I invite you to join me at the next race I'll enter in May '08. This time, I'll train a littler harder and actually be competitive. We'll see... aiming for 2:45, instead of my pitiful 3:17. But hey, I finished.
The race did make me think a lot about these passages:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 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." (NIV)
Hebrews 12:1-4: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (The Message)
2 Timothy 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day -not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again."
6 comments:
That race is insane. I have never understood why people do those types of races.....tailgating for a football game is much more appealing...but alas, you will look better then me in the long Run. (no pun intended)
that, or I'll die trying...
Congratulations on setting a goal and accomplishing it. This reminds me that we must continually be setting goals, keeping them in front of us, and desperately chasing after them. It also reminds me of a quote...we love quotes, don't we?
"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before."
-- Jacob August Riis
Congratulations... One step closer to the IRON MAN! You're a better man than I.
(From Steph)
Congrads for completing your race. It must take so much physical and mental discipline!
I love those chapters in Hebrews where Paul speaks about faith. I watched this video series called "In the Dust of the Rabbi" and one segent of it focused on those last chapters and the intensity of faith and devotion that God's followers had shown. There's a pariculr part of chapter eleven that I find really thought provoking/ inspiring. It's when Paul is discussing the long list of followers who gave thier all to God's calling. He talks about all of the wonderful things that God accomplished through them and then goes on to say, "others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, aflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:)" (Hebrews 11:36-38).
That last line always cuts to my heart the most. SO many times I catch myself complaining about all of the trivial things that arise in my life. Then I read these passages and all of the pain that I feel I've suffered suddenly seems so small and I see syself for the lofty and vain person that growing up in such luxary and privelege has reduced me to, and I realize that I do not know what it is to truly suffer. And so I think that, no, the world was not and is not worthy of such devotion and sacrifice. But God loves us that much and those people of faith loved Him that much and what a privelege it is to serve such an awesome, merciful God, and what a responsibility I have to get off of my butt and do my part!!
Steph,
What incredible thoughts... especially, "and the world was not worthy of them."
Yea, the parallels are many regarding this race and the journey of following Jesus! I'll post on that soon.
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