Wisdom from a 79 yr old athlete

(My Papa before the 2011 Livestrong Marathon and my cousin, Missy)

My Papa was interviewed last weekend for an article in Triathlete magazine. Here are some golden nuggets from his interview:

The secret of my longevity is consistency, do something pretty much every day. Sometimes the hardest part is getting out the door. I don't follow a special diet but eat a variety of good basic food moderation.

I am motivated by my desire to keep active no matter what! Love the joy of competition, friendships made and the good health. Oh- and I turn 80 this year!

As I reach 80 years old, I am grateful that I still relish going out everyday and training and realize how important it is 'NOT TO GIVE UP' but to keep working at your passion no matter what the limitations are.

Morning Needs

(I love this little Puritan prayer book. I have been using it daily for a bit of "igniting" in my prayer life. Below is one of my morning prayers)

MORNING NEEDS

(page 218-219 from Valley of Vision)

O God, the Author of all Good,

I come to thee for the grace another day will require for its duties and events.

I step out into a wicked world, I carry about with me an evil heart,

I know that without thee I can do nothing, that everything with which I shall be concerned,

however harmless in itself,

may prove an occasion of sin or folly, unless I am kept by thy power.

Hold thou me up and I shall be safe.

Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error,

my affections from love of idols,

my character from stain of vice,

my profession from every form of evil.

May I engage in nothing in which I cannot impore thy blessing,

and in which I cannot invite thy inspection.

Prosper me in all lawful undertakings,

or prepare me for disappointments;

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with food convenient for me,

lest I be full and deny thee and say, Who is the Lord?

or be poor, and steal, and take thy name in vain.

May every creature be made good to me by prayer and thy will;

Teach me how to use the world, and not abuse it,

to improve my talents,

to redeem my time,

to walk in wisdom toward those without,

and in kindness to those within,

to do good to all men,

and especially to my fellow Christians.

And to thee be the glory.

Going Short

This past Saturday, I had enough- of my ponytail bouncing around while training, the weight and well just all of it. I have been growing out the hair for a few years now as awhile back I had gone really short. SHOULD OF STAYED SHORT!

Since Saturday was rainy, cold, dreary I swapped around my training sessions to include 2 runs and a lift. In the middle of the day, I treated myself to a "beauty" session- A HAIRCUT. I haven't been to a fancy salon since Z and I got married. I typicaelly go cheap and "in the budget". But with a Starbucks coffee in hand, I went to MILK + HONEY salon to get the royal treatment.

Susanna, my stylist was FABULOUS and turns out she is getting into running! An hour later, I had shorter hair.

Excuse the lack luster photo. Yes, that is wet laundry from run #1 on the bathroom closet door drying. This is the hair straight. I am actually ready to take a bit more off because I can still put it up in a mini ponytail or pigtails in the back.

This is what it NORMALLY looks like- CURLS all over the place chaos. Let's be realistic- when am I really going to blowdry my hair? Maybe 2-3 times a month? So this is my went to bed with wet hair look.

I believe it is good to make fun changes- spice things up a bit. And for heaven's sakes, I know to not grow out my hair again. Keep it short and easy.

Practice Joy

I have been enjoying a sermon series from Oak Hills Church online titled "You'll get through this". Last weeks sermon - "Practice Defiant Joy" really hit home.

Genesis 41:50-51
Now before the year of famine came, 2 sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. Joseph named the first born Manasseh, "For God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household". He named the second Ephraim, "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction".

Joseph to this point had been through so much- his brothers dropping him in a pit, being sold into slavery - his list is long as to why he could be mad at the Lord.

But he CHOSES to be THANKFUL. He shows his appreciation to the Lord by naming his children so that each time he says their name, he is thanking God.

Max Lucado said something near the end of the sermon that hit me - DID YOU KNOW ONLY YOU CAN TAKE YOUR JOY.

How many times have we allowed situations, circumstances and others take our joy? I am guilty of letting those around me swallow up the joy that I have and hearing this sermon, I was reminded that it is the joy God gave me, no one can take it away. I am to be like Joseph, letting those around me know how grateful I am.

I may not name my kids with titles I can't even pronounce, but on a day to day basis I can know that I can have RADICAL GRATITUDE. In being grateful today- God WILL give us COURAGE FOR TOMORROW.

The little ones

My nieces and nephew at the St Patty's Day parade.

This photo made my day. Little darlings. Makes me just want to squeeze them!

Confident Expectation

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Rest

It is a recovery week. I can tell you honestly that I know I am ready for one. Day one- MONDAY- I decided to take the complete day off. We are talking sleep till I wake up, thanks to an eye mask and ear plugs. Today I made it till 8:30am and I only woke up because I needed to eat. I did my morning "quiet time" and ate, then crawled back into bed for almost another 2 hours. I told you- REST is KING this week.

I believe the mistake so many of us make is cramming in EXTRA within the recovery weeks. We have free time, that isn't designated to anything and we tend to do more errands, clean, or stay busy. Recovery means TRUE REST. Unplugging from the internet, allowing ourselves to recharge our emotional battery gives us the opportunity to be ready when we have to go to battle again in the next challenging session.

So- if you need me this week, I will be sleeping, napping, using the recovery pump, ice bathing, refueling with vitamin rich foods, and come the weekend- CHEERING ON MY LUNA PRO TEAM at the MELLOW JOHNNY CLASSIC MT BIKE RACE. (yes, there will be a little bit of training each day!)