It was a warm, windy day in July of 2007. I don’t remember the exact date.
I was participating in my first, and in my mind, last triathlon. I say my last for reasons other than what you might think.
I’ve mentioned in my blog before that my father passed away suddenly when I was fourteen years old. One of the beliefs I developed about my life as a result of his passing young was that I would die young as well. I never knew my grandfather on my dad’s side because he died young also. Message received.
I thought this would be my last triathlon because I literally thought I would die during the event. This was not a passing thought or something that came up that day. It was a fear that built from the time I signed up until the race was over.
Just before the experience began I found out that someone did die during the previous year’s triathlon. I remember thinking to myself, “Wow. This is going to happen two years in a row. No one is ever going to sign up for this again!”
I survived. I know that I had the slowest time of any person in the swimming portion. As I got out of the water I couldn’t believe I still had 13 miles to bike and three miles to run.
As I got through the first couple of miles of biking I recognized that I was being passed by lots of people and I wasn’t passing anyone at all. Being competitive I needed to pass someone, anyone.
After about two thirds of the way through the biking portion I saw a couple of people quite a ways ahead of me and I was sure I was gaining on them. I set my sights on catching and passing them but also realized that exerting myself more might be the trigger to end it all. Let’s get it over with.
Slowly, I gained on them. I got more excited as I closed in and the adrenaline pushed me harder. As I was about half a block away I was hit with a revelation about those I was pursuing. They were an elderly couple simply out for a ride on the same streets as the triathlon.
I passed them at breakneck, well, maybe not quite, speed, said good morning and laughed out loud at myself.
At that point, I also began to think to myself that maybe I would make it through without tipping over as I once heard someone put it so eloquently.
It’s hard to admit I have lived most of my life with that mindset. As I think about it though many people live their lives waiting for something to happen before they really live.
For some it’s waiting to get their license, then graduate from high school or college, then get married, then have kids, then for the next promotion, etc. etc. etc.
Fill in the blanks: Someday I’m going to_____________________ as soon as I _________________________.
What would it take for you to live courageously today? What messages did you receive that have locked you into a way of thinking that is keeping you from your dreams?
Do you have the courage to even think about this and admit what is holding you back?
2 Timothy 1:7
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS day!
What a great story Dave! I chuckled out loud when I read, “They were an elderly couple simply out for a ride on the same streets as the triathlon.” Thanks for sharing this part of your life. Courage is a marvelous gift from God!
Anthony, I still chuckle when I think of my quest to pass those two people in my sights! Thanks for your encouraging words!
What you say to your children can stick. I recall my mother telling me, “Don’t be too good because if you are some people won’t like you.” I was 12-years-old when getting people to like me was everything. Do you suppose that message, still ringing in my ears even though I know it is not true, has contributed to more than one intentional failure? BTW, I’m 70-years-old and Mother’s voice is as clear to me today as it was nearly 60 years ago.
Ron, yes, I believe your mothers message still rings in your ears today. The difference is that you now have a much greater awareness of it, not all the time, and take action to dismiss that message and grab on to a different message! The mind and our messages are powerful things! Thanks for reading and commenting, Ron!