"When I am weak, then I am strong." What is the deal with this phrase? I've been dealing a lot over the last month with the term "survival." Dealing with folks who are just "getting by." You know, some people will say that you should have some life goal - accomplish some great thing - in order to be thought of as successful at the end of life. This is not so.
For example, I just read that Sandra Day O'Connor is designing a video game to teach kids. And I thought, "what about people who spend their whole lives teaching kids, but who skip the 'i-was-a-supreme-court-justice phase' of life? Do they get any press for their everyday efforts?" The answer is "no." People want greatness.
Yet the best most ever do is to survive. The point is this: in God's eyes, mere survival is good enough. Work on your weaknesses. Build your strengths. Do your best. These are all great ideas. But whatever your "great" goal may be, find contentment in your weaknesses...in the end, they may demonstrate that you are a Survivor.
Survive well.
Wow. been a while.
so what have i been doing? biking, mostly.
laying tile, carpet, entertaining. living. surviving.
what i can remember since my last entry May 9:
week of May 12: biked 8 legs to/from work (8 mi each, or 64 mi total).
week of May 19: biked 5 legs - 40 mi.
week of May 26: ran 2 hours in Chicago.
week of June 2 so far: june 1 - ran 2 mi. june 2 - biked 24 mi. june 3 - biked 16 mi. june 4 - swam 3000 meters, biked 24 mi. today - nothing.
The owner of the running store in Bentonville, former U of A distance runner, asked a few of us to be on his race team! If this does not motivate me than I am a real loser
It's been a tough couple of weeks. Business trip to Orlando cut into my running (try eating a creme brule then going out in the noon sun for a run). Last weekend, a trip to Chicago (board of Christadelphian Meal-a-Day program) killed my long run. This afternoon through Monday, I'm taking Simon to Bonnaroo(!!!!), so that completely kills running. Next week is a family trip to NC for the weekend for Becky's sister's 50th birthday; I'll have to go out then. And it's been 95 degrees here...not used to it yet. Whine whine whine.
Casey, sounds busy but Bonnaroo should be worth it. Preston, its all of those track workouts that are making you look so studly, there, as you know, is little that can motivate more than a jersey signifying that you are a part of a team. Sorry for the absense, pregnant wife, ending school, finding part time job, etc have cut into my blog time. I miss you guys. My running has been inconsistant but at least existant. Started CC this week and that should help. Next week I will be riding to practice, this will give me 52 miles a day on the bike + whatever I run. All before 9:00am, awesome. Hope all is well. MUCH LOVE,
Geoff
Casey, how was Widespread Panic? My brothers and I are seeing them in Flagstaff next week, can't wait. Rode to practice yesterday, felt good, seat was too low and hip and knee pain followed, but up it goes and out with excuses. I was less sore than I thought I would be so there is that contentment in weakness that D was talking about. Anyway, all is going well, however slow.
MUCH LOVE,
Geoff
Thought I put up a race report . . . EagleMan in one word: HOT! Area schools were closed Friday and Monday due to record temperatures. Heat index was 110 degrees. That hurts when your run starts around noon. Swim was fine (a little "seasick" for the first quarter mile). Bike was AWESOME! Faster than expected and thanks to D for the endurolyte advice. Consumed 15 of them with about 500 oz. Gatorade Endurance. It kept me from being one of the 100+ ambulance riders. (We Hamlins are a sweating bunch.) First 5 miles of the run were abysmal. I walked almost all of it. Then they started serving ice--hooray! I packed my jersey with it (official name: boob ice) and was IMMEDIATELY revived. Ran the rest of the way to the finish. Took about 7 hours, slower than expected, but I'm alive! Got hosed by some firemen at the end. Not a sore muscle in my whole body--strange. Someone should market a jersey with a freezer gel sewn in.
No Widespread Panic. They play every year so we saw them last time, Simon didn't care about them, and they were the closing act and we were ready to get out of there. We were right up front for Robert Plant & Allison Krause. Also saw Pearl Jam, My Morning Jacket, The Raconteurs (I thought Jack White was wierd looking until I saw the basist), BB King, Cat Power (I think she waved and winked at me a couple times), Stephen Marley, Robert Randolph's Revival, The Fiery Furnaces, Lez Zeppelin, Chris Rock (less funny when Simon's there, too), What Made Milwaukee Famous and Back Door Slam (excellent!!). Also caught a little of Death Cab for Cutie, Willie Nelson, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and Metallica. Missed Kanye West's 2:45 a.m. performance that really only started at 4:30; you can imagine my disappointment.
You can see proof I was there at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_vqcy_gMlI. Simon posted a bunch; I have no clue about his username.
Now we're going to Becky's sister's surprise 50th birthday party. I'll have to force myself out the door for a couple of hours on Saturday. Then I can get back to normal routine.
June 6 - rode 8, to give me 88 mi for the week.
June 12 - played 18
June 13 - played 18, drove 1,200
June 14 - hiked 7 back-country to 11,000 feet, crampons through snow/ice
June 15 - hiked 10 back-country to 13,100 (continental divide), more crampons
June 16 - hiked 7 out to a mere 8,500
June 17 - drove 1,200
June 19 - ran 5 through the waco, tx ghetto (scary)
you all are looking good!
Hey all, rode my bike into work (Cross Country practice is work HA!) 3 times last week for a total of about 150 miles of bike for the week. I was pumped cause I was flying in both directions. I climb in elevation on the way in by 1,500ft and made the 24.5 mile trip an average of an hour and 27 minutes and the desent in an hour and 9 minutes felt awesome to go that fast even though the way back was downhill. Also put in 28 miles of running this week all of which were fairly slow, the job of the assistant coach ya know, but felt great. In addition I swam everyday. Okay, most of it was totally informal with a 4.5 year old, but in the water nevertheless. This week is a bit crazy, Monday meeting prevented me from riding, got in 5 miles running. Today a Dr. appointment for Cherish and baby in the making prevented ride, got in 4 miles running and 1.5 hours in the H2O, and more importantly found out that I will be the father of a girl YES, YES, YES, and OOOOHHHH what am I going to do... Tomorrow, Widespread Panic, no ride, running 6, and consuming a significant portion of my alotted calories in liquid form :) Hey, a guy's gotta celebrate. Anyway, hope all is well with you and yours!
MUCH LOVE,
Geoff
Sunday--5--with striders
Monday 11 quarter repeats at 6 min mile pace--6 total miles
tuesday--fartleke--five miles
Wednesday 6 miles--46 minutes--hilly.
Lost ten pounds in the last 8 weeks! Feeling a bit good about that
I would like to share my heroes in cycling with you all, for inspiration.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7JtZkNXfes4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyl40tZAQdA
Keyword is "conquests."
That was funny Shannon! Been pretty active. Rode 4 days to practice, 50 miles round trip, and a total of 28 miles running, and some pool time again. Feeling pretty good, haven't lost much weight yet (looking for a loss of 15 over a the next month) but haven't started my new core workout yet. Combined several movements from different programs and also some body resistance movements to gain upper body strength, I am so weak. I am also looking for something that will give more strenght to my hips, on trail runs and longer rides they get tired fast. If ya know of anything that can help I am open to suggestions. Next week I will be running twice a day in elevation (7,000ft) in Flagstaff for CC Camp. Also starting core work and new "Diet Regulation," my new motto is better not less. The following week I will be in New Mexico for some training for school. I'll be in touch, hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend.
MUCH LOVE,
Geoff
The best thing for my hips has been Pilates. So many of the exercises designed to strengthen core also really engage the hip flexors. Lying on your back doing a few controlled sets of 20 scissor kicks is a good start. I also use the abductor and adductor machines at the gym--less weight and a lot of sets for endurance building. I had a gadolinium hip analysis to figure out was wrong with mine last year--before I knew that involved driving two six-six inch needles straight down into the crease where my leg and pelvis meet (avoid this at all costs!). This year I've used pilates as a preventative and was injury free for about the first time ever for a marathon and a 1/2 Iron.