August 22 - Getting ready for the race
This past spring I competed in my first triathlon. It consisted of three areas:
1. 1/2 mile swim
2. 12 mile bike
3. 3.3 mile run
I completed the three in 1 hour forty minutes. I was relatively pleased with my efforts and accomplishment.
Many have asked why someone that was 44 and weighed over 300 pounds would do a triathlon. That is a great question and one I need to answer because I've begun training for my second triathlon. I'll be competing in Pickens on September 15th.
On January 1 of 2007 I weighed 320 plus pounds. I do carry my weight well being so tall, but I was obviously over weight. I began working out hard, very hard. I love to eat so I didn't starve myself but watched what I ate. Tried to eat smart. My goal was to become a person that ate to live, not lived to eat. I just love eating. Hunger plays no part. It is called self gratification. I was what I like to call a pleasure eater.
As a pastor I encourage and challenge people regularly to discipline themselves in the spiritual areas of their life. What a great example I am. Encourage you to discipline yourself yet I'll do however I please. Not quite the example Christ would be pleased with.
So, I began training for two reasons:
1. To be the example I've been called to be for our church.
As I encourage you to discipline yourself I want you to see I'm doing the same. I weighed 295 today. That is 25 pounds of fat gone. But I'm not stopping there. I want to weigh 280 by the Pickens triathlon. I swam and lifted weights yesterday morning at 6:30 and rode over 13 miles on my bike yesterday evening. Went to a spinning class (stationary bike) this morning and Thursday & Friday will be swimming and lifting. Saturday morning I'll be swimming, riding and running the course in Pickens. Actually enjoy exercise again.
1. 1/2 mile swim
2. 12 mile bike
3. 3.3 mile run
I completed the three in 1 hour forty minutes. I was relatively pleased with my efforts and accomplishment.
Many have asked why someone that was 44 and weighed over 300 pounds would do a triathlon. That is a great question and one I need to answer because I've begun training for my second triathlon. I'll be competing in Pickens on September 15th.
On January 1 of 2007 I weighed 320 plus pounds. I do carry my weight well being so tall, but I was obviously over weight. I began working out hard, very hard. I love to eat so I didn't starve myself but watched what I ate. Tried to eat smart. My goal was to become a person that ate to live, not lived to eat. I just love eating. Hunger plays no part. It is called self gratification. I was what I like to call a pleasure eater.
As a pastor I encourage and challenge people regularly to discipline themselves in the spiritual areas of their life. What a great example I am. Encourage you to discipline yourself yet I'll do however I please. Not quite the example Christ would be pleased with.
So, I began training for two reasons:
1. To be the example I've been called to be for our church.
As I encourage you to discipline yourself I want you to see I'm doing the same. I weighed 295 today. That is 25 pounds of fat gone. But I'm not stopping there. I want to weigh 280 by the Pickens triathlon. I swam and lifted weights yesterday morning at 6:30 and rode over 13 miles on my bike yesterday evening. Went to a spinning class (stationary bike) this morning and Thursday & Friday will be swimming and lifting. Saturday morning I'll be swimming, riding and running the course in Pickens. Actually enjoy exercise again.
2. It is a biblical mandate from God
We all know that our bodies are the temple of God. But since we can be forgiven we violate out temples with no remorse. Please know I'm not looking down on anyone. I've been abusing my body for decades with excessive eating. Just like so many of you, I've justified that I don't drink or do drugs and I've always been active so it can't be that bad. I've come to understand that I can't base my evaluation through the eyes of man, but through the eyes of Christ and he clearly set the example.
I want to be my best for my family and this church for many years to come. The only way for this to happen is to take care of myself and follow Christ with my entire being. It will take discipline, but I'm trying to step up to the challenge.
Allow me to encourage you again. What is that area that you've pulled away from God and tried to justify? Whatever it is, begin to allow God to quietly speak to you and how you can begin to start training. Were all involved in a race, it's called life. And we all need to be the best we can be!
I want to be my best for my family and this church for many years to come. The only way for this to happen is to take care of myself and follow Christ with my entire being. It will take discipline, but I'm trying to step up to the challenge.
Allow me to encourage you again. What is that area that you've pulled away from God and tried to justify? Whatever it is, begin to allow God to quietly speak to you and how you can begin to start training. Were all involved in a race, it's called life. And we all need to be the best we can be!
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