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.