Q - What Could POSSIBLY Be Bigger Than An IM Race???

For those of us who focus on the longer-distance stuff...who love bonking, testing our limits, 4k swim sets and long rides that start (or end) in the dark...there might not be an answer to this question. For those of you who fall in the above categories - and I know some of you do - the journey far outweighs the end result. We all know that crossing the finish line at an IM race isn't about finishing the IM race, it is about the culmination of months of preparations, about the highs and lows we encountered, that ride in the rain/hail, the run where you got chased by a dog, the time(s) you fell asleep in the movie theater/restaurant/class/meeting/etc.

But then, every now and then, something comes along to keep everything in check. You realize that there is more to life than a 56-mile loop with 2k of elevation gain that you can do twice. Or that having an outdoor pool to swim in isn't the greatest thing in the world. It might be the evening news, where you see the bloodshed in _______ (fill in the blank), a disaster in __________ (again, your call here), or the tragic story of another person killed in a __________ (who knew there were so many ways to die???). Whatever it is that snaps you out of your self-absorbed training, be sure to examine it closely. As people who live passionately in pursuit of our goals, we have the power to affect change in other areas of the world - if we so choose.

While I am regularly affected by the news, the lastest thing on my radar isn't public (at least yet! :-) My answer? My wedding. Hard to believe the day is here after all this planning...but in a little more than three days, I will be a married man! While I have been absorbed in training, work, etc., over the last few months, having the wedding front and center has really helped me keep everything in perspective. I have a much clearer understanding of what REALLY MATTERS TO ME, and that has made all the difference. So this Sunday, at 2pm, make a note of the air, the temperature, the position of the sun, how you feel and how lucky you are to be alive.

I know I will be.

Back on 10/25,

Patrick