See you in 2011.

Race Report-Ironman Florida 2010

First, when it comes to Ironman, you're only as good as your support.
This was my first, but I cannot imagine making it through the
training, much less the race, without the priceless support of my
family, friends, coach, teammates, church, and coworkers. Eight men
travelled to Florida this week to get me through this race and I'm
incredibly grateful for that. From carrying bags to keeping me loose,
they came to make the week easier for me and to make sure I didn't
quit on race day. They were awesome and I couldn't have done it
without them.

Race day started early. I'd asked Ronnie to get me up at 4AM if he
hadn't seen me yet. I was up and dressed at 3:30. When I opened the
door he was there already, "let's get ready to roll, brother." After
getting breakfast down and a quick prayer with the guys, we headed to
transition. We didn't just head to transition though. We rolled up on
our rented Georgia Bulldogs 7-man golf cart! A classic entrance on an
epic day. And no, none of us went to UGA...regardless "Go Dawgs!"
became the boy's battle cry for the weekend. In Gator country, no
less.

After setting up, we headed to the swim start but staged inside the
hotel for a bit to stay warm. The morning temperature was about 40
degrees and I was cold! As start time approached, they escorted me
out. I felt like a prize fighter. The guys had me surrounded and I had
my iPod blasting as we parted the crowd. Once on the beach, we had a
few more moments together, another prayer, and I made my way into the
corral.

The atmosphere at this point is hard to put into words. Minutes away
from the goal you've been chasing for more than a year. My first tears
came here, on the beach with 2800 other crazy people, freezing cold,
feet numb, and at complete peace with what was about to happen. My
prayer request to everybody who would listen for the past few weeks
had been for peace and calm on race day. When peace came with 1:58
left on the countdown clock, I teared up. As always, God had shown up
right on time.

Just as I'd gotten my goggles cleared out (tears!), the cannon went
off. It seemed like slow motion, as we headed out. I took my time,
enjoyed the feel of the warm water, took one last deep breath, and
dove right into the pack . Auto pilot took over. Just like the
countless laps at the pool and the race rehearsals, this was water and
this was swimming. Sure there were a lot of others out there, but it
was just another swim. I managed to steer clear of bad traffic and
got comfortable after a few minutes. The water was a little choppy,
but manageable. The first loop flew by and as I exited to make the
turn, all I could think was, "Holy crap, you're doing an Ironman!" I
think it really sank in on the second loop though. At that point I
remember the first of many conversations with God. I began thanking
Him for the opportunity to be out there and for the ways in which He's
touched my life through this sport. At times it was stream of thought.
At times I was just repeating "Abba Father" in my head. I'd never done
that before, racing or otherwise, but out there in the Gulf of Mexico,
it just felt right. Like he was swimming right next to me. The second
loop was a bit more bumpy and the current had picked up some. At the
far turn the swells felt like they were 4-6 footers by the way I was
getting tossed around. But no panic at all, just kept on swimming.
Unbelievable because swimming is not my bag! The home stretch was
pretty surreal. It felt like I was the only one out there. I imagined
Papa Joe on one side, swimming in his silver cap, and Ronnie on the
other side, paddling the surf board. Just like the last race
rehearsal. They got me home.

T1 was a mad house. Space was limited in the changing tent and I had
to put on all of my cold weather gear. It felt like it took forever.
Got my first laugh when I tried to sit down. I knew something wasn't
quite right when I felt cold metal hit my bare back side. I looked
down to see somebody's prosthetic leg in my chair! That'll get your
attention.

The bike leg felt unusually routine. My speed, my cadence, my heart
rate, all did just what coach Boo said they would do. It was cold and
there was some wind, but I was comfortable throughout. My only scary
moment came at mile 6 or so. I dropped my chain going over a bridge.
Luckily, I got it back on without having to stop. The guy I was
passing looked down and said, "I think you're good man." Thank you
Jesus! The rest was smooth, with lots of time for reflection. The
guys caught up with me on the course, yelling from the side of the
road & pulling along side in the car, talking and shooting video. I
wasn't up for much chatting but it was comforting knowing they were
there.

I made it to T2 feeling good, shed my layers, and was out. It sounds
funny, but it felt good to finally be down to my Tri4Him gear. I
wanted everybody to know what I was out there for and just that little
sense of pride gave me a boost. The first 6 miles felt great. I mean
great! Like I was floating. The next 6 weren't quite as fast, but I
was still feeling good and our game plan was working. At this point I
remembered being told that you find out what Ironman is about in the
second 13.1 miles. Guess I got a head start, because as good as I was
feeling at mile 12, at mile 12.5, it was gone. The legs went heavy,
negative thoughts started creeping in, and my head started spinning.
Focusing was difficult so I don't remember exactly what I said, but me
and the man upstairs started a 2 1/2 hour conversation at that point.
I was asking for strength and courage. He was reminding me of all the
ways that he'd provided for me in the past 18 months. Out of nowhere,
"The Dawg" and the scooter pulled along side me. Eight guys, six of
which I had no connection with when this journey started. The other
two were dad and Chad, my brother. A sight to see, seven grown men
packed in a Georgia Bulldogs golf cart and one on a bright yellow
scooter (picture "Dumb & Dumber"). All going nuts, yelling, and lying
to me, telling me how great I looked. Their constant presence and a
steady intake of flat Coke and pretzels got me through the next 6
miles. Mile 18. Not just the traditional point at which you find out
what you're made of, but the farthest I'd ever run in training. It was
the edge for me and as it approached I remember thinking, "Ok, you're
about to find out, what you came to find out." Here's where I really
got emotional again (man-code for cried...a lot). I was close to the
beach, looked over and saw the most amazing sunset I've ever seen.
Beautiful reds and a pink you wouldn't believe. Setting over the same
beach I stood on at sun rise and the same ocean I battled with to
start my day. The God who dialed up that sunset, just when I needed
it, was the same God who lead me down this path. The same God who
steadied me when life got rough last year and the same God who'd
gotten me to this point. And I had no doubt that He was going to see
me through the rest of this race. The next 8.2 miles weren't run on my
own power. I had nothing left. I found out what I came for. What
happens when we get to the edge of what we can do on our own. In life
or in an Ironman. He's there waiting patiently. Hoping that we've got
the guts to depend fully on Him. To let Him bear the burden and finish
the race for us. He did just that for me on Saturday.

As I crossed the finish line and heard, "Tobey Stevens, you are an
Ironman," I was humbled. Such and incredible journey. Such an
incredible day. There were no tears or fist pumps, just a quiet
internal peace and sense of gratitude. Yes, I was an Ironman but
without His grace, none of it would've been possible. Many have told
me that Ironman Florida would be a fitting end to this chapter of my
life. My take, it's just the beginning and I can't wait to find out
what's next.

Thanks again to all of you who played a part. Your prayers and support
were palpable on race day.

Race Preview-Ironman Florida

Well, here we are. After 3,816 miles and 347 hours of preparation, and nearly $5000 raised for Wears Valley Ranch, It's time. My bike and gear are all checked in and we're just one more night's sleep away from the goal. It's hard to believe. Lots of thoughts are floating around in my head right now, but one has been dominating the brain waves. How blessed I have been throughout this whole process. Blessed in that I've been able to remain healthy. Blessed to have the strong support crew that God has provided. Blessed to race with Tri4Him, a team that lives out what it stands for. And blessed to be able to go out there an glorify Him on race day. Not just with effort or performance, but with all the little things too. Yesterday morning, while out on a swim, I took a moment to reflect. As I laid there, floating on my back, in the middle of The Gulf of Mexico, I was in awe of our God. The ways in which He's touched my life through this sport, it's people, and this unbelievable process of transformation have been countless. The past 18 months have been a little snap shot of what life is about and I'm hoping and praying that tomorrow will be a fitting and humble tribute to our Lord, who will never, ever, quit on us.

Here's how tomorrow will shake out.

Swim

At 7AM, the cannon will go off. Me and the 2000+ other competitors who are staged on the beach will take off. Pretty much a free-for-all getting to the water. It will be a 2-loop course (1.2 miles each), broken up by a short jog on the beach, before starting the second loop. Water temperature has been 72-75F, making it perfect for a wetsuit swim. My strategery won't change any for this one. Stay calm. Stay relaxed. Avoid as much traffic as possible and come out of the water in good shape for the bike.

Bike

The bike course here is flat and fast. There are a few rollers and one bridge to manage, but for the most part, flat and on excellent surface for the duration. The big variable for this one is weather. Morning lows will be in the 40's so the first 56 miles will be a bit more chilly that your typical Houston weather. It'll warm up into the 60's, but on a bike, going 19-20 M.P.H., it can get pretty cold. I'm planning on taking my time in transition and getting layered up. It may take a little longer and I may have to shed some clothing on the course, but it beats being uncomfortable from the get go. I'm planning on being fairly conservative on the bike leg. The energy you burn trying to be hero for that 112 miles is gone. You don't get it back for the marathon, which is when it really counts.

Run

Again flat and the cool temperatures should make for a good run. The course meanders through several neighborhoods, making for lots of folks out to support. I plan on maintaining a comfortable pace through the first 13 miles. If the legs are feeling good and I've got some mojo left, this is when I'll try to kick it up a notch. If not, it'll be gut check time. I'm told that the last half of the ironman marathon is where memories are made. I wanted to find out what was over the edge of self-imposed limitations. Tomorrow I will.


As always, thank you for following along and offering up prayers and support in so many ways. Tomorrow, between 7AM and 7PMish, I'll be out there grinding away. Pray for strength, courage, patience, peace, and that I might be a blessing to someone else out there on the course. I'm excited to be here, feeling good, and anxious to find out what's in store.

Now let's go do this thing.

17 days to go!

Had an interesting experience this weekend. I travelled with some of the local Tri4Him crew up to Austin for the Ironman Texas 70.3. I wasn't racing, but many from our team were, several of them competing in and finishing their first half-ironman. Quite a change of perspective watching from the sidelines as close friends and teammates push themselves to their limits. The Austin race was my first long event and last year many new friends were there to support and encourage me in the same way. I can remember being so grateful and encouraged to have them there and wondered why in the world these people I'd just met would travel 3hrs to watch me compete and struggle through such an event. This year, there I was, doing the same thing. Trying my best to get them through the day. Things have come full circle.

The experience was a good reminder of what's most important. It drew my focus away from Ironman Florida, 11/6/2010, and redirected it to the real payoff. The journey and the transformation that has shaped life for the last year. The preparations and the volume of training put in over the past several weeks have made it difficult to think about much besides the big race. Travel plans, am I ready, do I have all the stuff I need, equipment checks, rest, nutrition, blah, blah, blah. There's lots there to think about, but when I'm able to take a step back and consider all that's transpired over the past year, I can't help but be amazed at what God's done in my life. Sure, this race is a big deal to me, I'm excited, and it will be the exclamation point. But the real payoff has been the journey.

This weekend I'll have my final race rehearsals. Friday afternoon I'm headed down to Galveston to do the swim and Saturday I'll have another long ride followed by a run. For the most part, the hard work has already been put in. I won't see any major gains in fitness over the next two weeks, just fine tuning and troubleshooting to avoid surprises on race day. After this weekend, I'll have a two week "taper" period leading up to the race. During this time the number of workouts won't change much, but their duration will be much less and the intensity will be dialed down a notch. I won't lie, I'm really looking forward to the extra rest!

As always, thanks for your encouraging words and for all of the support. We're almost there. I only ask for two things. That you'd keep me in your thoughts and prayers as the big day approaches and that you'd consider contributing to our fundraising efforts. Thus far, thanks to your generous giving, we've raised nearly $4000 for Wears Valley Ranch. Awesome. I would love nothing more than to see that number keep climbing right up until I cross that finish line. Just click the "firstgiving" link on your right and you'll be directed to a secure website where you can enter your information.

Dress Rehearsals

Just wanted to give a little update on what life's been looking like lately. Things are going well and I'm still in one piece, thankfully. The past few weeks have been big in terms of mileage and hours, but soon the training will shift to focus more on rest, recovery, and maintenance of the gains that have been made. This week I'll have my first of two "race rehearsals." Friday I'll swim 2.4 miles in the pool. Saturday I'll ride 117 miles and follow it up with a one hour run. The goal is to match everything as close to race-day conditions as possible. Down to what I'll be eating this week. The primary focus will be on pacing and my nutrition during the race so that when I get to Florida there won't be any surprises. I'm looking forward to these dress rehearsals, but honestly, a little nervous too.

Others warned me about the mental side of this. I was told to be ready for the battle that begins as ironman nears. Although I hoped that I'd be different...turns out I'm not! My biggest challenges, at this point, are not the physical demands but the demands centered above the neck. Doubt, mental fatigue, even fear at times. All natural, I think, when we take risks or overreach. But you can't let it paralyze you. So I'll walk the tight rope. Recognizing the risk and knowing where I'm vulnerable but also trusting. My training, my support, and most of all, my God, who got me here and continues to amaze me with His plan.

Thank you again, for all of the support, interest, and well-wishes. It means a great deal to me and often fuels me when I'm having "one of those days." And don't forget, there's still plenty of time to donate to this year's cause. Just click the "firstgiving" link on your right. We've already raised over $3000, but are a loooong way from the goal. Surprise me!

Have a great week.

Thoughts on Ironman

I hope that you've all had a great Labor Day weekend. Just a little update and some thoughts on the big day that is rapidly approaching. I'm nursing a few minor injuries but that's to be expected at this point. Thankfully, things have been going pretty well as of late though. In fact, this weekend we hit a few milestones. Saturday I had my first ride of more than 100 miles and this morning Joe and I ventured down to the beach for my first Gulf swim (Note to self: Check weather next time). I grew up 10 minutes from that water and it's only taken me 34 years to muster up enough courage to brave it. Mother nature made it a humbling and challenging workout (see pic) but certainly a valuable experience.

As November 6th gets closer, so does the number of times I hear the question, "Are you ready?" Funny, that's what I keep asking myself. My answer..."I don't know." Can you be? I do know that I'll be prepared. I have incredible support, a coach that I trust, priceless mentors, and a solid game plan . If I do my part I will be prepared but "ready" is a whole different thing. At some point everyone reaches that moment where their body is ready to shut down. The point at which quitting sounds more appealing than continuing. In an Ironman, that's usually the last third or so of the marathon. Maybe it's a lot sooner than that for me, maybe a little later. Who knows? But whenever that moment arrives, late or early, the trick is to have your brain convince the rest of you that "we're ok!" Easier said than done, I'm sure. I've never had to do it but I'll have to in Florida. That's the part that I'm not quite convinced that you can be "ready" for. The good news is that I'm racing for more than just the finish line and that this process has been as much about spiritual endurance and growth as it has been about athletic benchmarks. So while I don't know if I can really be ready for what's to come, I know that the one who got me here is. The one who strengthens me will be racing right along side of me that day, just like every other day, and when my "moment" presents itself, I will lean fully on Him. I don't think I can go wrong with that game plan.

Sometimes we find ourselves in uncharted waters and sometimes God asks us to do things that aren't exactly comfortable for us. While you may not be ready for it, He is and He wouldn't have put you there if He wasn't planning on providing a way for you to get through it. So lets continue to prepare ourselves as best we can knowing that when we reach the edge of what we thought possible, He'll be there to blaze the trail ahead.

Have a great week.

The Final Push

It's hard to believe that we're less than twelve weeks away from Ironman Florida. Many hours of training, many miles logged, many dollars raised for a great cause. What a journey it's been. Life changing to say the least, but it's been so much more.

This sort of thing doesn't just happen without an incredible amount of support. I thank all of you who've played a role at some point along the way. Several times a day I'm asked, "how's the training coming along?" or "how many miles did you ride Saturday?" So many interested folks offering encouragement. Not to mention the donations that many have made to Wears Valley Ranch. I'm humbled by your generosity. With three months to go we've raised $3000!

I don't do much sitting around on weekends anymore, but I look forward to them more than ever. When the sun comes up on Saturday morning, I know there will be an army of Tri4Him teammates ready to saddle up and and spend the day riding, enjoying the fellowship, pushing one another, and encouraging one another. Many who aren't gearing up for an Ironman ride extra, just because they know I have to. Tri4Him and the Houston chapter, specifically, are doing such great things. I'm proud to be a part of it and very thankful for all of them.

My Wednesday long-runs have gone from "just another work out" to a valuable time of prayer and personal reflection. Hard to explain really, but two or three hours alone out enjoying God's creation is a great time to clear your head and focus on what's really important.

We've come a long way since early 2009. My life, my spirit, and my body were taken down to the foundation and have now been rebuilt. Stronger, better. It was difficult at the start, but I wouldn't give those days back. Were it not for them, I might have missed what was happening. These good times wouldn't mean nearly as much without the struggles early on.

So here we are. The final push. I'm more motivated than ever and honored to be able to go out and race for the one who made all of this possible. I hope you come along to see what happens. We're almost home. Don't quit on me now.

www.firstgiving.com/teamstevenstri

Race Report-Small Texan Triathlon

We found out this weekend that the "small" in Small Texan Triathlon does not refer to the hills encountered on the course! This was a challenging olympic distance race and a good test of will and problem solving skills as it turned out. The elevation changes were comparable to Lubbock but instead of a 56 mile bike ride, the hills were crammed into a 28 mile course. That left us with little time for recovery between climbs and jelly legs once we got to the run.

The swim was not my best, by far. I struggled to get out of the pack and seemed to be caught up in the churn of other competitors for most of the 1500 meters. That combined with difficulties seeing the directional buoys led to the slower time. One of those swims that you just have to get through. The bike portion was tough (see above!) all the way around. Pretty much max effort for the majority of the course. I was happy with my time in the end but I had to work for it, for sure. That made for a difficult 6.2 mile run which also featured some unpleasant changes in elevation. I was happy to keep it together, even though I had to slow my pace a bit to make it through. My heart rate hit some numbers that I've never seen before. Racing or training. In the end I finished at 3:15:32. Good enough for 11th in an age-group with 24 competitors. Not bad considering my swim was 21st (out of 24). OUCH!

Hope all of you had a good weekend. For now, back to the training grindstone. Clear Lake International is right around the corner. Another olympic race but this time flat and in our own back yard. Clear Lake will also be the first time that Tri4Him-Houston will compete as a team against several local tri groups. Hope some of you will be able to make it out to watch.

Race Week-Small Texan Triathlon

It's time to race again folks. This weekend we're off to Boerne, Texas for The Small Texan Triathlon. A challenging olympic distance race (1.5K/45K/10K) that will offer another nice change of scenery and, once again, hills. Really looking forward to this one. It'll only be my second race at this distance, giving me a chance to see where (or if) I've improved. Also, a step down in distance, which is nice mentally. This race and Clear Lake, next month, will serve mostly to keep me motivated and having fun heading into the final few months before Ironman Florida...yes, it's just a few months away! Scary thought, but good scary. Three other Houston Tri4Himers will also be making the trip to race. Always a plus to have team support, encouragement, and mutual motivation on race day. Don't know a whole lot going into this one, but I'm sure it'll be a fun day.

Interestingly, we've got a pretty good race going between my training mileage and our WVR donations progress. This week, the 2000 mile mark was eclipsed and the current fundraising is at $1900. Don't let me log more miles than that dollar amount! Kidding aside, your contributions to this point are awesome and much appreciated. By the way, I just looked at WVR's current "wish list," and they've got a minivan listed as a need. What they're needing will range from $8000-$10,000. How great would it be to raise enough to get them in one or real close to it? If you haven't checked them out, I'd encourage you to do so by clicking the Wears Valley Ranch link on this page. Lots of information there including some testimonials from kids whose lives they touched. Inspiring stuff. If you haven't yet and would like to help out, just click the "firstgiving" link over on the right-hand side of this page. There you can make your donation in any amount, big or small. You know you want that mini van!

Once again, thanks for all of the support and interest you've shown. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this weekend and I'll be sure to let you know what happens when I get back.

Race Report-Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake

Dad and I made it back into town today after a long road trip and a tough race. I'm moving a bit slower than usual but I'm happy to be home after a great weekend. As expected it was hot, windy, and the fabled hills of Lubbock did not disappoint. Buffalo Springs was an interesting set up. Essentially a 70.3 Ironman event set around a lake, a large campsite, and the plains outside of Lubbock.

We were up early Sunday morning and got to the race site around 4:30AM. After getting a lay of the land and setting up in transition, I donned the wetsuit and got in a brief warm up. The water temperature was comfortable and because the lake was basically down in a hole, it was protected from the wind. That offered nice, calm water. A welcomed change from Kemah and Galveston. Fortunately those conditions and a good game plan led to my best swim time yet, 39:06. Not fast, but much improved. I exited the water feeling good about my start and ready to face the elements on the bike course. As I mentioned, Buffalo Springs didn't disappoint. Immediately after leaving transition, on the bike, we had a tough climb to get out of that hole. And once we got back to level ground the winds came into play. The entire bike course was a series of flat, windy stretches along farm roads mixed with several challenging hills. As in, 6-8 M.P.H. going up and 30+ M.P.H. going down. That got my attention! Not something I deal with riding in Houston, for sure. I was amazed at how fast some of the competitors would descend past as I was climbing up. We're talking a pebble or a flat tire away from being road kill at those speeds. Needless to say, I wasn't quite as aggressive. I had my fun but I also need to replace my brake pads this week! It was a fun and challenging ride. I was happy to walk away from it in one piece with my 3:14:19 bike leg. I figured some of the same hills were waiting for me on the run and I was right. Once again, the run took us back out of the hole and onto the farm roads. There was nowhere to hide from the sun at that point. No trees. No buildings. Just long stretches of black top and hills. The hills were obviously no fun on the run but I felt well conditioned for the heat. Relative to the usual Houston humidity I'm accustomed to, the heat in Lubbock actually felt good at times. Especially when we got a little breeze. Never thought I'd be thankful for humidity, but on Sunday I certainly was. Despite the heat and the climbs, I was lucky enough to turn in a 2:05:33 half-marathon.

All in all, it was a great weekend. My official time was 6:04:51 which is a slight improvement over Galveston. A good boost of confidence heading into the summer months. From here on out, it'll be steady training sprinkled with a few shorter distance races, mostly for fun and a little distraction. IM Florida is just four months away.

Race Week-Ironman 70.3 Buffalo Springs Lake

After a two month hiatus, it's finally time to race again. When I first started doing these things, my mentors would tell me that the races are the fun part. The training is what'll kill you. That made no sense to me last year but I assure you it does now. The last several weeks have delivered a pretty steady diet of increasing distance and amount of time spent training. The mornings have gotten earlier, the weather has gotten hotter, and I'm now very familiar with the massage place around the corner. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying every bit of it, but I'm also looking forward to this week of recovery leading up to Lubbock. And I'm really looking forward to being back out there.

This race will be much different than Galveston. First, I've never done this one. Things will be unfamiliar and no other Houston Tri4Himers will be there to grind it out along side me. The crew this weekend is me and dad, who will serve as co-pilot, room mate, sports psychiatrist, race-day support, equipment manager, and most importantly dad. I'm glad to have him along for the experience. He's getting pretty seasoned at watching races and is in full on training for IM Florida spectating. Lubbock will also offer some new terrains, with a hilly landscape for both the bike and run portions of this race. A bit intimidating when you look at the map, but I'm looking forward to this new challenge. It's hard to train for elevation changes here in Houston. I'm counting on the past several months of work and grit to get me through it. Interestingly, the swim will be wetsuit legal (i.e. less than 78F) despite the hot climate. It takes place in Buffalo Springs Lake, which is a natural, spring fed lake, making it cool. Notably, the only cool portion of this race with predicted temperatures of around 100F by the end of the run. Good times!

As always, I am incredibly thankful that the Lord has sustained me through all of the mental and physical pounding required of this endeavor. I've been blessed to be injury free and in good health to keep up with the training. I'm also thankful for all of you. Your support mentally, spiritually, and emotionally has continued to fuel my fire and your financial contributions to Wears Valley Ranch have served to motivate me, even further, along the way. Thank you, again. If you've not jumped on board with that, this race would be a great excuse to do so. Likewise, if you've already "joined the race," why not use this event to play add on? I set our goal of $10,000 pretty high, but have no doubt that we can reach that and know that those funds will serve to help out a Godly organization with a worthy cause. Our total is $1700 as of today. Let's kick it up a notch! Just click the "firstgiving" logo over on the right. It's fast, easy, and feels really good!

I'll keep you posted on what takes place this weekend. If you've got a second to give us a thought or say a quick prayer Sunday morning, I'd appreciate it. I'll be out there working from 6:45 to 1ish. My fellow competitors and I could use all the help we can get. If you've got a little extra time...try praying for a cold front!

Thanks again.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to all of you. I hope you've had a chance to reflect on the service and sacrifices others have made so that we can enjoy our everyday comforts. Thanks to all of those who've served.

Just wanted to give you a little update on what's been going on lately. With summer arriving, the miles have been piling up pretty quickly. No race in May has meant a steady dose of training, increases in distance and time spent on the road and in the pool. It sometimes takes it's toll, but daily improvements along with the support and encouragement of those around me have continued to fuel the fire. My confidence is growing as well. To the point that the thought of spending a day traveling 140.6 miles on my own power seems doable...insane for sure, but doable. Reachable. That's a good feeling.

As of today, our fundraising total is up to $1600. Thank you. Although it seems to have tapered off a little after the Galveston race, I'm hopeful that with races in the coming three months it'll pick up again. I'm looking forward to doing a little traveling this summer. To Lubbock for the Buffalo Springs Lake half ironman next month and then off to the hill country with an olympic distance race in beautiful Boerne in July. Finally back to Clear Lake in August for the last competition before Florida. I hope that some of you will use these races as opportunities to contribute to the cause. Don't forget, our goal is to raise as much as we can for the kids at Wears Valley Ranch. I've been humbled by your support thus far, but I'd love to keep that number climbing right up until November 6th. Big or small, all donations are needed and greatly appreciated. Just click that "firstgiving" link over on the right hand side of this page and remember to spread the word.

Have a great week!

When will you start?

This past weekend we went over the 1000 mile mark in training miles. 1000 miles of swimming, biking, and running since January. I hadn't really been paying much attention, but when I saw that, it took a minute to sink in. That number of miles on a plane could've gotten me to Chicago, or Miami, or Cabo for that matter. That's crazy! Just about the time I started feeling pretty cool, I read a twitter link about the man pictured. His name is Lyle Langlois and he turns 80 this month. I don't know him but his story will certainly make you think. He decided he wanted to run a marathon the year he turned 50. He started from scratch, two miles a day of combined running and walking, slowly built up his distance and eventually achieved his goal. That's impressive. What's more impressive, he estimates his lifetime miles at 38,000 for running and 25,000 for biking to date. That includes a marathon in all 50 states and a 15 hour Ironman. All since age 50.

Who knows what clicked with Lyle that day he decided he was going to run a marathon, but I vividly remember the day I decided to "do something." It was about 6 years ago. I was in the ballpark of 240 lbs and about to start my second blood pressure medicine. Activity was non-existent in my life and my eating habits were a wreck. I woke up as usual that morning but when I looked in the mirror, for some reason, I really didn't like what I saw. The same guy I was the day before, but I couldn't do it anymore. I slowly began to change a few habits at a time and after several months got back to the gym. Then I started mixing in an occasional jog some weeks. After a couple of years, my first 5K, my first half-marathon was in 2008, and last year I discovered triathlon. This year, God willing, we'll add another first in Florida. If you'd have mention Ironman to that guy looking into the mirror 6 years ago he would have laughed.

I don't tell you this to toot my horn but to hopefully encourage you. I don't know what your "something" is. That thing you've been wanting to do but can't find the time or don't think it's possible or just feel that it's unrealistic to even try. I do know one thing for sure though. For me and Lyle and anybody else who ever reached an "impossible" goal, that "something" started with just one thing. A decision. A decision to make a change sprinkled with some good support and lots of perseverance. I think you'd be surprised to see what happens if you'll just take those first few steps.

http://www.coloradotriathlete.com/articles/10/2010_lyle_langlois_1.html

Race Report-Ironman 70.3 Texas

It was a great weekend. Tri4Him'ers represented well volunteering their time and racing all weekend. We manned an aid station on the run course both days. Many who were tired from racing on Saturday were there to help out Sunday and many who raced in the 70.3 on Sunday spent their "rest day" helping out fellow competitors in the sprint and olympic distances races on Saturday. I'm so proud to be a part of this group because we don't just show up to support and encourage one another. We look to encourage and "be the light" to everyone. Athletes, spectators, volunteers, and anyone else we might run across while out there. When you're out there busting it, a smiling face and an encouraging word goes a long way and the Tri4Him crew rocked.

After a little bad weather Saturday morning, Galveston cleared up for some great race-day conditions on Sunday. The longest stretch of the swim course was a little challenging due to winds and a slight current, but it felt good. My objectives for the swim-leg are 1) don't drown and 2) come out of the water feeling warmed up and ready to ride. The conditions slowed my time by about 5 minutes, but I felt strong and entered the first transition in great shape. The bike course in Galveston is flat as you might expect, but the crosswinds are no joke when you get out on the coast. We left Moody Gardens and headed south along the seawall. The turnaround point was 6 miles past the San Luis Pass, then we headed back in. The scenery was great and the road was familiar which was a much needed comfort on a 3 hour bike ride! There was a little help from the wind coming back but most of the ride was spent fighting a crosswind. It's hard to eat on a bike with a 15 M.P.H. crosswind. Luckily I was able to hold the pace I wanted and made it into the second transition in just over 4 hours. Now my dream time for this race was under 6 hours. I knew when I left T2 that I was going to be close, but that would mean a sub-2 hour half-marathon. I can manage that on my weekend workouts and in run only events, but to do it after the swim and bike was going to be tough. Boy did I try though. I felt better than expected at that point and was able to hold my run splits where they needed to be for about 10.5 miles. Too bad it's a 13.1 mile run! The day caught up with me and I started to fade at that point. Wound up with a 2:03, but I was pleased that I got that close.

The official time was 6:08:05. For those keeping score, my goal was 6:15 so I was very pleased with the race. Thanks to all of you for your support, words of encouragement, and the contributions you've made to this point to help out Wears Valley Ranch. 2010 is off to a good start. As always, if you are able, please click the "firstgiving" link on the right and consider contributing to what we're doing here. Every bit counts. Also, I would appreciate you passing this along to others who might be interested. You never know who or what we might inspire.

Training this week will be pretty light but I'll keep you posted as we get back into the swing of things.

Next up Buffalo Springs Lake.

Race Week-Ironman 70.3 Texas

Finally! After 850 miles of training since January, triathlon season is finally here. Next weekend will be special for a number of reasons. It's the first race of the year, it's close to home, and it's the site of my first ever race. That was just over a year ago. When I dipped into Galveston Bay that morning I had no idea how much life was about to change. Both within this sport and in my "real life" everything seemed to turn upside down soon thereafter. Ups, downs, downs, ups, you name it. What a ride it's been. There were some difficult days in the beginning, but I wouldn't trade any of them for my experiences over the past year and I'm thankful and incredibly blessed to be where I am today. Proverbs 16:9-"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Good thing I'm not in charge!

Amazingly, we've managed to raise just over $1000 for Wears Valley Ranch thus far. Thank you! I'm hopeful that as the season goes on your generous contributions will continue. If you're looking for an excuse to give, pick a race and pledge. Big or small, it all helps. If you'd rather me work for it, how about a little challenge? My time for my first half ironman (Longhorn 70.3) last October was 7:01. Slow. I'm shooting for 6:15 in Galveston on Sunday. Post a comment or send me an email with your challenge in whatever dollar amount you'd like. If I'm 6:15 or better you pay. If I'm not you don't.

Thanks again for your support and words of encouragement. I'm excited to be back at it and looking forward to racing again. For those of you in the area, come on out next Sunday. These races are fun to witness. And if you're not able to make it, I hope you'll keep me and my fellow competitors in your thoughts and prayers.

Have a great week.

Success at Gateway

What a great weekend! The first area triathlon festival was down in Kemah this past weekend. "Gateway to the Bay" took place Saturday and Sunday. I did the swim-leg on a relay team Sunday, but the real stories happened Saturday. First was Chad (my older brother) finishing his first race and looking strong. Some of you know his story already. After watching me race and following along last year, he decided to make some big life changes. He began training last August, and in the process, found something he enjoys doing and lost over 40 pounds...FOUR-ZERO. That's him pictured on the left after crossing the finish line. It's not easy to make that sort of decision, even harder to follow through. He's looking better, feeling better, and has really embraced a new lifestyle. Awesome. I'm proud of what he's accomplished and have enjoyed mentoring him along the way.

You may recognize the face on the right from previous posts. That's our old friend Joe. He's been feeling better after our road trip and after a brief layoff he got back to training. He also finished the sprint triathlon on Saturday, officially back from months out of the sport due to his injuries.

Two great stories to start 2010. Motivating for sure. My next race is down in Galveston, 4/25/2010. That's two weeks away. For those of you who've generously contributed to my cause for this year, thank you. And for those who haven't yet...now's you chance. I hope you'll consider chipping in. Just click the first giving link to your right.

Tri4Him

So you're telling me a bunch of amateur triathletes can use this sport to change lives and make a difference?

Actually, yes. A big difference. In addition to being a community of believers who share in their love of this sport and encourage one another in their training, racing, and lives, the folks from Tri4Him (www.tri4Him.com) are doing something more. When I joined the Houston chapter last year, there were 6 of us. And now with nearly 30 active members, things are starting to take shape.

Of course we'll be present at most of the area races, volunteering and offering support and prayer for competitors and their families. We're also collecting used shoe's to contribute to a Dallas-based non-profit, The Shoe Bank (www.theshoebank.com), which delivers them to folks in need both in the U.S. and abroad. To date, over 200 pairs have been donated many of which were shipped to our friends in Haiti after the recent earthquake. Most recently, through some generous contributions by members, we've invested in a few triathlon bikes (shown above) to use as loaners. We've come across several people who are interested and flirting with the idea of trying the sport, but may not have the means to invest in a bike to get them started. No longer a problem. We loan them a bike.

Pretty awesome to witness this sort of progress in just a year. I hope you'll check us out.

Ouch!

That's my foot. A few weeks ago, while out on an evening run, I hurt it stepping on a tree root. No, I didn't go see a doctor...not a big fan of going to the doctor. In fact, I made it worse trying to do my usual weekend run a few days later. So I decided to give in and rest it for a week or so and compensated with some extra swimming. You guessed it, then my shoulder started acting up. The next couple of weeks were spent mostly moping around, whining, and generally feeling sorry for myself since I couldn't get my usual training in. Whaaa.

Amidst my little mini-crisis, I got a clear message from The Big Ironman in the Sky. Simply put, "Tobey, it's not about you." Ouch. I realized that it had become just that in the weeks leading up to the tree root incident. It had become about performance, getting faster, stronger, me, me, me. An easy trap to fall into in this individual, sometimes self-serving sport and that's not what got me to where I am today. That's not why I come home from a long work day and head right out the door for a long run and that's not why I'm up with the AARP polar bear club the next morning for a 5AM swim. Not at all. My hope is to glorify God, serve, and hopefully inspire a few others with my racing and with my "real life." That's what this is about. That's what started this little adventure we're on.

So this week, I was blessed with a renewed focus. We had good weather, all of my parts were working again, and all of my workouts were great. Not because I set personal records or logged huge mileage, but because it was for Him again. It's scary how quickly we can get back into that, "what's in it for me?" rut. Even scarier, sometimes, how long it can take and what might be required for us to realize it.

They say the truth hurts and apparently so do renegade tree roots. But I'm sure thankful to have stumbled on it that night. It was just the friendly reminder I needed to get me back on track.

A bit of advice, do what you love, do it well, and find a way to use it to make a difference for someone else.

Joe's Comeback

After overcoming a broken back and suffering through months of leg pain, it looks like Joe is back on track. Joe and I took a little road trip up to Temple this week to see an old friend. Early indications are that Mike was able to fix Joe's leg and he should be up and running again in a couple of weeks.

What a story. We're all looking forward to his return in 2010. If you happen to be in the Kemah area on April 10th, I hope you'll come out and root for Joe in his return. You won't see the scars, just the smile on his face, and after our pilgrimage, a Tri4Him jersey on his back.

Road Trip

Cindy, Kelly, Ronnie, and I headed to Austin this weekend for the 1/2 marathon. It was a great trip and a nice change of pace from our usual training work. After a chili start to the morning, the weather turned out perfect and all of us were happy with how we finished, self included. Ronnie pushed me to a new personal best, beating my previous 13.1 mile time by nearly 20 minutes. Thanks Ronnie!

A motivating race that was much needed with just 2 months left until our first tri of the season.

Have a great week.

And we're back...

After six weeks of riding in the garage, we finally made it back out onto the road today. Looking forward to rising temperatures and mileage in the coming weeks and months. Next weekend some of the Tri4Him crew will be road-tripping to Austin for the half-marathon. The transition from maintenance to training has been a long time coming.

On the fund-raising front, we're off to a good start as well. I've matched our to-date total, which brings us up to a $500 grand total. Thanks to those who've given generously thus far. Your contributions and words of encouragement inspire me more than you know. Not to mention the good that we will be doing for our friends at WVR.

Once again, I would appreciate your help in spreading the word. Facebook, email, Twitter, whatever. The more people we reach the better.

Have a great weekend.

Pit Stop

More than 30,000 folks participated in this year's Houston marathon including several Tri4Him members who represented well, as always. Must admit, I'm a little jealous that I wasn't out there with them. Congrats to all involved.

I'll get mine in this afternoon. It's just too nice of a day to pass on...forgot what it's like to run in shorts.

Here, Cindy takes a quick break to repair a flat.

Maybe next week

The Cowboys have "Jerry World." Tri4Him-Houston has...Joe's garage. This is how we roll when the outside temps dip below tolerable. Hopefully back on the road next weekend.

Have a great week.