she's got the joy, joy, joy....

So there's this wonderful, old lady who I cross paths with in the locker room every so often.  She is just one of those people where you hear her voice and you just can't help but smile and hope that she comes your way to greet you because it will automatically make your day.  Guaranteed.  I ran into her today and she got me thinking.  I had just completed a great, hard core, workout and received some really good first-timer tri advice so I was feeling pretty good about myself as I came down for a shower before work.  I was humming out loud and everything.  I can't remember what was on my mind as I was finishing up getting ready, and as this sweet lady was walking by, but when she greeted me with joy literally overflowing, I realized that my mood had gone a bit sour for whatever reason.  I don't know if this woman is a Christian but her joy is Christ-like and today it actually caused me think of what I would be without Christ.  I would, undoubtedly, be someone who would act out whatever mood I wanted to at the moment.  I would have no self control, no reason for self control.  If I felt like being crabby, I'd be crabby.  When I felt wronged, I'd seek revenge. But instead, I know someone has a better plan for my life.  How do I know I can trust His plan?  Because after living a life on earth where He never actually wronged anyone, He still allowed Himself to be murdered and powerfully rose to life again just so that I could be a part of His better plan.  And that's why I wish I was always at joyful as that woman, and I definitely hope to get there one day.

swimmin'

I have so much respect for tri-athletes now.  I don't know what i was thinking when I thought it 'wouldn't be that hard.'  Swimming is the hardest I think.  I keep going back and forth between getting encouraged, then discouraged.  I just don't know where I stand.  It's so hard to remember to do EVERYTHING correctly every time.  Keep your head down, relax your neck, push chest down, check your kick, reach as far as you can, slice the water at the right time, keep your fingers together, allow your body to roll side to side, don't bring your head out of the water too far to breath, don't hold your breath, exhale all the way when you're under water, stay alive.... there's so much to remember.  I've gotten a few tips along the way which have helped, but I don't know if they've helped a ton.  I still can't seem to breath unless I put my head all the way out of the water.  The lady said to keep one eye and half of my mouth in the water and just breath with part of my mouth.  I can't do that!  Water floods into my nose and mouth with every breath if I do that.  Maybe I need a nose clip.  She told me to get a swim cap because that keeps water from flowing off your hair and onto your face when you're taking a breath.  I went out and bought one ($10 is more than I expected it would cost) but didn't wear it this morning.  I look so ridiculous.  haha, I just need to wear it.  I do have an indoor triathlon this Sunday which I expect will give me a better idea of where I stand.  It's a little different in that you have a certain amount of time to do each leg and you are judged by how much you accomplish in that time.  It will be just for 'fun.'  It will really help me get used to what a transition is like as well as how to pace myself, how dead I'll feel when I start each sport.  From that point I'll only have a month to improve or change things up before the big race day, but it will help.  As long as my legs don't wobble out from underneath my when I step onto the treadmill.

annoying people

so something I've really been struggling with here lately is my attitude toward people. why it's been so awful, I couldn't tell you other than to say that I'm not perfect and I do evil things sometimes just because I want to. because at that moment, I think that how I feel like treating someone is how they deserve to be treated. how wrong is that? anyways, it's been like constant this week. every other person I come across seems to have some annoying feature. it's just been so common this week in my surroundings and I've given in to how I feel, too many times. how is that a testimony to the One I represent? so this is my goal that I really am praying for help to stick with... it's something as simple as thinking of one nice thing about that person. one kind thing. I hope that in consciously doing that, I'll also teach myself to love those people. I can't change their annoying habits, but I can change how they see (or don't see) Christ in me and ultimately, that's way more important than me rolling my eyes at someone behind their back.

life

how is it that you can have so much on your mind for weeks yet have nothing to blog about?  i don't understand it.  i've been training like crazy lately.  5-6 days a week.  sometimes doing 2-3 workouts per day.  it's a bit ridiculous. the funny thing is that i'm not hating it like i thought i would.  i'm working toward something, it's really starting to hit home with the triathlon less than 6 weeks away.  now is the time where i'm starting to wish i'd worked out this hard from the beginning (but i think that's a normal thought, not ever feeling like you've trained enough).  i'm really nervous for the triathlon, but also excited.  today i am signing up for an indoor triathlon that's a week from this sunday.  i'm nervous about it, but i think that it will help calm a few of my 'unknown' fears for the actual, big, race day. it's formatted a little differently because it's all indoors, but it will still get me accustomed to the transitions and what clothing works and what doesn't.  also giving me an idea of how wobbly my legs are going to be, going from one sport to the other! in other, yet still related, news... i biked to work this morning. i was so nervous about it but i prayed before i left and God really showed me how all my fears were unnecessary.  i live within 3 miles of work so it's not that far.  i took back roads for the first half and then the road for the second half and it ended up taking me just a few minutes longer than when i drive to work, not bad!  i'd like to say that i'd do it every morning now but it kind of is a pain to pack my outfit and lunch in my backpack and change when i get to work.  plus trying to figure out what to do with my helmet hair every day.  plus it means me not going to the gym before work.  so maybe just a couple days a week.  at least i'm past that fear (that never should have been a fear in the first place).

1 timothy 4:7-8
     exercise thyself unto godliness. for bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that is now, and of that which is to come.

that's a verse i have written on my desk.  it's a good reminder to me of how much importance i put on both exercise of the body as well as spiritual exercise. i like the comparison between the two. i got an e-mail this week from the 'head' teacher for the two year old class at church that i help with.  she made a point in there that really had an impact on me this week.  she wrote prayer requests and one of them was to pray for these two little boys who have been having a difficult time leaving their parents and coming into class. she requested that we pray that they will feel comfortable coming in and playing with the other kids. how often do i not bring things before God because i think they are too small a request? i had been annoyed at the parents for not just dropping their child off and 'showing them who's boss' when i could have been praying. just another reminder of how little i give my cares and burdens to the Lord.

dennis' mom is home from the hospital after her surgery. thank you to all those who earnestly prayed for her. she is home and finishing up her recovery, enjoying that much better than being in the hospital!

i'm really trying not to stress out over my summer plans.  how is it that i have sooo many options and so little time?  weddings, visiting MI, going to the outer banks with d's fam, hawaii, amsterdam, jen in the keys, everywhere else in the world... when does my list end? i have so many things i'd love to be doing rather than working.  obviously some of those trips won't happen, but i sure would love to take every single one of them!

alright, i better get back to work now, just wanted to write a little bit this morning while i've waited at my desk for a few phone calls. definitely ready for a 78 degree day in lynchburg tomorrow!

training update

45 minute spin class 2 days a week, difficult, good difficult.
run a 5k after each spin class, legs doing pretty good, stomach OK, physically worn out afterwards.
building my running mileage weekly.
swimming (needs improvement)
next weekend, start biking outdoors with a training group once a week.
a circuit training 'boot camp' once a week, seeing improvement in all areas.

i still get discouraged... but all in all, i feel my training is coming along nicely.  if only i can get this swimming thing down.  i don't think i'll ever be in this good of shape again in my life... so i am going to enjoy it for now :)

race = 8 weeks