TrySports Mayo Lake Triathlon Recap

On Saturday, The Second Wind was represented at the TrySports Mayo Lake Triathlon in Roxboro, NC by my good friend Jon Parks and I.  This is the most affordable triathlon in the area put on by FS Series with a $30 entry fee.  It was also a special race for Jon as he had family in the area and it was also the place where his parents were married.  In fact, the bike course would actually pass the church.

Our day started early with a 3:45 am wake up call.  After fixing  a couple of bagels with peanut butter it was time to head out to pick up Jon for 4:30 am to head up to Roxboro.  This was going to be our 4th triathlon of the season and our second open water swim event.  Once we loaded the bikes on the rack, it was time to start our journey.  We noticed as we were heading down the higway the full moon out in the clear sky.  The clear sky we were seeing at this point was definitely not a preview of what was to come.  More on that later.

Mayo Lake is approximately 10 miles north of Roxboro, not too far from the Virginia state line.  As we arrived just before 6 am, FS Series was getting the final touches in place for the event.  Once we parked and grabbed our gear, we headed over to the transition area to find our bike racks to begin the setup process.  I was #31 and Jon was #147.  Our racks were at opposite ends from each other.

As with all triathlons, it is still amazing to see the flurry of activity in the transition area.  Everyone has their routines they go through for setting up.  There were a lot of triathletes with tri specific bikes, road bikes and a few mountain bikes.  I told Jon that it would be amazing to get an idea of the amount of money just in bikes that were in transition.  If we had to guess, it has to be in the 6-figures!

Transition area setup.

Once we were done setting up, we headed to get numbers written all over us at body marking. It only takes about 3 days to get that permanent marker off your body.  Besides writing your competitor number on both arms and quads, they also write your racing age on your right calf.  It is really interesting and amazing to see the ages of the competitors.  We picked up our timing chips and ankle strap next.  The chip is placed on your left ankle and provides your official splits for the race (swim, T1, Bike, T2 and run).

As we headed back down to transition, we chatted with other competitors.  This is always a great aspect of these events.  You get to talk with people who have raced the event before or maybe it is their first triathlon.  Either way, great conversations.

Since neither Jon or I had been to this event before, we decided to check out the area.  We wanted to get an understanding of where the end of the swim would be since we could not see the lake at this point.  As we walked out of the transition, the first thing we noticed was the rocky soil and a rock path.  There was a green astroturf mat covering the rock path to make it easier on the bottom of your feet, but it still hurt to walk on it.  Past the astroturf mat we followed orange cones leading to the swim finish.  As we followed this path, it became apparent that the transition from swim to bike was going to be long.  Seemed to be at least 200 yards.

Once we got to the lake, it was as smooth as glass.  As we turned around, we were amazed at the hill leading back to transition.  That is just cruel after a 750 m lake swim.  As we were walking back up the hill, I looked at Jon and told him I was a little winded just walking.  The event organizations did add some mats on the ground to cover some of rocks which was going to help.  When we got back to the transition area, Jon's mom arrived and we spent some time talking with her.  As I got back to my bike rack, someone had placed their bike on the outer edge of the rack where I was setup.  They took the liberty to move my transition bag.  My bike was placed at the end of the rack where there was no room for another bike, but I was not going to let that bother me.  Since Jon's mom was there, I asked her if I could leave my bag with her.  She graciously said yes.

It was time to head to the start.  From transition, it was about a .2 mile walk to the start and it was nothing but rocks the majority of the way.  That caused for a slow, gingerly walk.  Several athletes were already warming up in the water.  Since it was close to our 8 am wave start, we did not have time to warm up.  We just stretched until it was time to enter the water.   This race only included four waves.  We were in the first wave for men 39 and under.  We were called to enter the warm water and the first thing you noticed was a slimy feeling on your feet.  You could hear everyone  around us making comments about it.  Let's just say it was not the greatest feeling in the world.  We were all ready to start so we could get away from touching the bottom.  The race director counted us down and we were off.  The first thing I noticed is you could actually see pretty well in the lake.  You could see about 10 feet in front of you, which was helpful to avoid getting kicked.  Everyone was jockeying for position in the first 200-300 m swim out to the turn buoy.  I was getting hit and kicked every once in a while which made it difficult to get into a rhythm.  Once I reached the turn buoy, it was a straight swim all the way to the finish.  For some reason I had no one within 15 feet on either side of me.  This let me get into a good rhythm all the way to the swim finish.  Hopping up to exit the water, I took my cap and goggles off and made the journey up that hill.  I took my time on the jog focusing on the ground to avoid any rocks.  I got to transition, put on my socks, cycling shoes, helmet and grabbed my bike and I was off.  

The bike course was a 16 mile loop of rolling hills with all right-hand turns.  Within the first mile I noticed some really dark clouds.  At that moment I did not think anything of it until it started to drizzle.  That quickly turned into a heavy downpour that would proceed to last the remainder of the race.  This made for an interesting bike course.  As we made the second right on the course, we hit the steepest downhill section.  I was in the aero position and looked down to see I was going 38 mph.  It was at this moment my bike started to violently shake.  I quickly moved my hands off the aero bars to the hoods to try and stabilize the bike.  I could not control the bike at all as the handle bars and frame were shaking left and right uncontrollably.   I thought something was wrong with my front tire, but as I looked down it appeared to be fine.  I began to apply the brakes to try and regain control and that was not working.  My assumption at that point was hydroplaning.  At that moment I was simply doing all I could to hang on.  I said a prayer asking God to get me through this without crashing because I felt for sure I was going down.  Fortunately the Lord provided and allowed me to slow as I reached the bottom of the hill.  Not sure what caused that to happen, but it definitely affected my ride for the remaining 12 miles.  I was hesitant to try and push it for fear it would happen again.  After gaining my composure, I continued on.  The rain continued to fall and was intense at times.  The worst stretch was crossing a bridge over Mayo Lake with about 4 miles to go.  The rain was coming down so hard it felt like needles were hitting you.  I turned and looked at the lake and there were white caps from the wind.  A sense of relief came over me when I could see the transition area and the bike dismount line.  

When I arrived at my bike rack.  I proceeded to take the cycling shoes and helmet off.  As I looked down at my running shoes I got a good laugh as there were puddles inside them from the rain.  When I picked them up it felt like they weighed 3 pounds each.  I did not even noticed how wet they were since I was already soaked.  After putting the shoes on, grabbed my race belt and visor and it was time for the run.

The run was a 3 mile trail run.  For this race, it was going to be a mud run.  The first few hundred yards were on pavement and then you transition onto the trail.  The trail was mostly a single lane trail.  With the amount of rain received, it was extremely muddy and slippery in some if not most sections.  You found yourself dodging mud, puddles and tree roots.  The rain continued to come down in buckets and the thunder picked up in intensity.  About halfway through the run there were some campsites and someone was cooking some bacon....boy that smelled good at the moment.  As I came out of the woods and made a right hand turn, it was on to the finish.  It was great to still see some people out there cheering us on in the conditions.  Crossed the line an overall time of 1:42:07.  

Jon Parks and Brett Ciancanelli at the 2011 Mayo Lake Triathlon.

After I finished I waited with Jon's mom for him to finish.  Once he finished, we both put on our shirts for The Second Wind.  This was the first event that we had the shirts for so we took the opportunity to get a few photos in front of the finish line.  

You can also read a recap from the race that Jon wrote on his website by clicking here.

So this triathlon wrapped up the tri season for both Jon and I.  We are amazed to see the progress we have made over the past 8 months.  We are already planning a schedule for 2012.  In the meantime we will be preparing with The Second Wind for the Run to Rolesville 5K on November 5.

Gary Kirby Triathlon

On Saturday was the 6th annual Gary Kirby Triathlon. What a perfect weather day God blessed us with for this event. Earlier in the week temps were in the mid 90's with high humidity. Saturday started out with a little coolness in the air an low humidity. Perfect conditions for the race.



Arrived to the race site early in order to get the transition area setup. Pretty cool to see all of the different bikes that every has. From one extreme to the other with all types of colors.

I setup my transition sporting an NC State University towel and my Running of the Ears (ROTE) visor. After getting transition setup it was time to get our timing chip and body marking. I was # 49 and the person who wrote the numbers apparently wanted to make sure everyone knew my number....they were huge. No one would have any problem seeing what number I was on the course.

Transition are setup.

At this point the excitement was building. A pre-race meeting was held poolside for last minute announcements. The meeting ended with a word of prayer and it was time to line up for the start. While standing in line you could see the nervousness, excitement and anxiousness of the athletes (including me). This was at an outdoor pool and the sun was shinning down on the pool in glorious fashion. At 8:00 am the first swimmer started. My start time was 8:12 am.



3...2...1...Go!



I was feeling a little sluggish in the swim after the first 100. Not sure why, but just battled through it to the finish. Overall swim time was 6:08. That included probably 20-25 seconds from exiting the pool until crossing the timing mat.

Great photo my wife took of me.

Heading to T1

In T1 I got my sunglasses, helmet, socks and shoes on and it was time to attack the bike course. The bike course was 4- laps consisting of 3 miles each lap. I was wondering as more and more athletes got on the course if it might get congested, but that was not a problem. The course was all throughout a subdivision with several traffic circles to navigate. I used the first lap to get a feel for the course since it was new to me and get an idea for shifting. There was a stretch in the last mile of the loop that was downhill and that was a blast to ride. Throughout the course there was great crowd support cheering every athlete on.

On the bike course.

As I came back to transition for T2 and dismounted the bike, I about dropped my bike running with it. I let go with one hand and the bike drifted out from me. One of the pedals cut the back of my right calf in that process. Overall time on the bike was 41:29 for the 12 miles. Average of 17.5 mph which is about 2 mph faster than my training rides. I was really pleased with the ride.

Cut on the back of my leg from pedal at T2

Read for the run!

Once back at the rack in T2, I just needed to grab my race number and visor and I was off for the run. Felt pretty good in the first part of the run. I was at a 8:30 pace, which was too quick for me. I slowed the pace some in order to make it to the finish. Part of the course was sharing the bike course. Plenty of room and actually pretty cool to see the other bikes while running.

On the run course

As I made my way towards the finish, with about 0.6 miles left in the run I got my second wind.  Great feeling when you get that second wind as this carried me to the finish and as the organizer of the event (FS Series), says in their name....I was able to Finish Strong. My run time was 29:58 for the 5K.

Finished

Overall time for the triathlon was 1:19:11. I was 75th overall for males and in the Clydesdale category I finished 6th out of 14. 

This was a great event and well run. FS Series put on a great race. I would like to thank the Kirby family for their hospitality.

The Will to Overcome

May 21, 2001 began as any normal day. Little did I know at that time things were going to change. After waking up, it was time to take a shower. As I was in the shower, I began to experience dizziness like I never have before. I could not keep my balance and was falling to the left. I crawled from the shower and laid down in the bed. My mother was in town and I told her I was not feeling well so I was going to lay in bed. As the dizziness continued to get worse, I asked mom to get me to the doctor.  After many many tests, an MRI revealed that I had a stroke. I ended up spending 8 days in the hospital back then.

Fast forward to today. Today is the 10th anniversary of that stroke. I wanted to do something today in honor of that day 10 years ago. With my endurance, the perfect fit would be a race of some sort. I wanted to try and find a race with a challenge. As I looked for events on May 21, I came across the Gladiator 5K. I thought this would be the perfect type of race that puts obstacles in your way, just as the obstacle of the stroke was to me.

As with health situations, there are obstacles to overcome. You have to fight through these obstacles and have the will to overcome. The same is true with any race and especially with the Gladiator 5K. Throughout the course there was going obstacles to conquer. There were tests for your balance, climbing abilities to scale 6' and 8' walls, getting low and crawling through tunnels and under cargo nets as well as going through a pool of water. Since today was a warm day, that water felt pretty good.

Being able to complete this challenge with friends and run it as a team made it even that more special. Thank you to my friends Jon, Mark and Brandon....or should I say fellow gladiators. We came, we conquered, we finished the challenge. Thanks guys for being there today. Words cannot express how much that meant to me to have you guys there. 

Here are a couple of photos.  The first is before the start and the second is after the race.

We have challenges in our everyday life. They may be at home, at work or even in a race. God gives us the strength and abilities to overcome all challenges. Thank you Lord forgiving me the opportunity to glorify you today. God provided the will, the determination and the strength to overcome the stroke 10 years ago and he provided for today and will provide forever.

Thank You

Thank you is the best description that can be given to each and every person that has helped and continues to help in the April 16, 2011 storm cleanup.  I am absolutely amazed at the outpouring of people's time and efforts to help those in need.  To many, the people in need of assistance were complete strangers, but that did not stop anyone. 

As you drive around the Raleigh, specifically the Wake Crossroads area, signs of devastation are everywhere you look.  You can see countless numbers of blue tarps over roofs as homeowners try to protect their damaged homes from the weather.  Piles of debris on the sides of streets can been seen for blocks as well as small pieces of debris still all over.  You seen hundreds if not thousands of pine trees that have been snapped 15 feet off of the ground by the tornadoes.

Even with all of this damage, many have lending helping hands.  Soon after the storm, a wonderful organization came to the area to setup a temporary 'home base" to provide disaster relief to those in need.  Samaritan's Purse setup at Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church (WCRBC).  Communications via phone, web, email and word of mouth were sent out to the WCRBC family asking for volunteers to come and help.  The response was simply overwhelming.  Many in the community brought hygiene kits for those who came to the church to take a hot shower.  Others simply arrived at the church each day to volunteer with Samaritan's Purse to go out into the community and help with the cleanup efforts.

What a great example of being the hands of feet of Jesus!  Amazing stories of God's grace have been shared. 

Personally there were three separate instances where I was able to help last week.  The first was the Sunday after the storms.  Due to large (and I mean large) trees being down at that church that knocked down power lines, there was no power at the church.  Sunday services were cancelled.  Instead of just staying home, my wife and I went to help a fellow member of our Sunday school class.  This home was right where the tornado went through.  Several trees were down all over the place.  Soon after we arrived, there were approximately 20 from the church who also arrived to helped.  There was not a single moment where anyone complained.  Each and every person was exactly where they wanted to be helping a family in need.  Just amazed!

Another instance was on a Wednesday evening.  The student ministry at WCRBC was going to the McKinley Mill subdivision to serve dinner to those affected.  The large grill was setup on Serendipity Dr. for anyone who needed a meal.  Several students were in attendance along with many adults.  Groups went around the neighborhood to simply spend time with those in need and to love, pray and care for them.  I probably helped serve about 40 plates that night and it was such a blessing to be there and see the joy on the face of those in need. 

Finally I had the opportunity to volunteer last Friday with Samaritan's Purse.  Every volunteer is given an orange shirt to wear to identify the organization they are working with.  You can see a picture of the shirt in this blog post.  This was also Good Friday, so more than the normal amount of volunteers were here this day.  A total of 175 people showed up that morning to volunteer....amen to that!  Everyone was divided into approximately 10 teams and then headed to a home to help.  The group I was with went to an area back off of a road that was heavily wooded.  Once we arrived, it was hard to describe how many pine trees were down in this yard.  There were 3 guys running chainsaws continuously while everyone else was hauling debris into piles or onto the back of a trailer to be hauled off into a field.  After about 3 hours we were done.  A special moment was when we finished.  Samaritan's Purse will present a leather bound bible to each person they assist.  Each volunteer will sign their name and favorite scripture verse on the inside cover.  It was then presented to the homeowner.  You could see the tears of joy in her eyes.  We then all held hands in a circle and said a prayer before we were on our way back to the church. 

Once back at the church we had a Good Friday service held by the pastors at WCRBC.  That was truly amazing to be a part of as all of the volunteers and several church members attended.

I am just in awe of the love, kindness and support so many have poured out this past week and half.  Again, thank you is all I can say.  Thank you Samaritan's Purse, thank you WCRBC, thank you to everyone taking the time to read this.

My First Triathlon

I can officially call myself a triathlete!

Saturday, April 9 was the Granite Falls Triathlon. This was a sprint distance with a 300 yd pool swim, 10 mile bike and 3.1 mile run. Going in to the event my expectation was to simply finish. I had been looking forward to this day for a while now.

I did not get the best night of sleep. At 4am I simply could not go back to sleep. I laid in bed and just thought about the race and strategy. Got out of bed at 5am, got dressed and then had some breakfast. Put the bike on the car rack and headed to pick up a friend who was also racing.

Once I arrived on scene, headed over to transition to begin the setup. It was definitely cold to start the morning with the temperature at 50 with light winds. After racking the bike and getting the gear setup for the transitions, it was time to get the timing chip and body marking. I was number 61. Interesting how many places you get your number written on you in permanent marker. Then in case you did not know or fogot, they write your age on your calves.

Now it was time to get focused for the race. Headed into the pool area and they had the heat kicking! Instantly thought how much fun coming out into the cold was going to feel after being all wet. I knew I couldn't change that, so I put that out of my mind.

My start time was 8:18:30. You start in the pool and not a start where you dive in. The swim will snake up and back for 6 lanes.

3, 2, 1....time to go!

I started out with a good pace and felt pretty decent. Around 150, I passed a couple of people and then there was more traffic in the final 100. Overall the swim was good. Finished right at 5 minutes. Hopped out of the pool and then it was time to hit the cold. At first it hit you, but then I never noticed it again. Going to T1 we had to climb a bunch of stairs. I was more worried about stubbing a toe on the steps. Once I got to T1, proceeded to get my sunglasses, helmet, socks and shoes on and it was time to start the bike. This was a hilly course so it was a good challenge. I passed a few people and was passed by others, but it was a good ride. Finished the 10 miles in 38:43.

In T2 I knew I would be quick as all I had to do was rack my bike, take my helmet off, grab my visor and race belt. Spent just 33 seconds in T2.

The run course also had it's challenges of hills. Went through a subdivision and the about a mile on a trail. As I came to the finish line there was my wife and two daughters cheering me to the finish. Such a cool feeling to have that support. Crossed the finish line in 1:14:21. Found out later I set a PR for my 5K with a 28:53.

I was in the Clydesdale category and finished 4th out of 8.

What an awesome feeling it was crossing that finish line and then to know that I am know a triathlete!

Triathlon has arrived!

It is time to tri…triathlon that is!


The day is just about here when I compete in my first ever triathlon on Saturday. I have been looking forward to this day for a while now. The excitement has been building over the past 3 months with all of the training. It is amazing to look back at the training that has been logged leading up to this event. Since January I have swam a total of 25,150 yards, rode 147 miles on the bike and 38 miles on the run.

Another great aspect of preparing for this triathlon is to go through this experience with my good friend Jon. He will also be competing in his first triathlon Saturday. We have trained together several times and shared stories along the way. I know Jon is just as excited as I am that the event has arrived.

This evening is packet pickup at TrySports located at Crabtree Valley Mall. Final race instructions have been posted on the website and we now know our official race start time in the pool. I will be starting at exactly 8:18:30 AM on Saturday.

As I mentioned above, there has been a lot of physical preparation for the triathlon. In the same way there is also spiritual preparation that continues daily. I am reminded of what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27...

24 Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Run the race to win the ultimate prize!

Run to Win!

I went to Barnes & Noble this weekend looking for the book "Run to Overcome".  This is the story of long distance runner and 2009 NYC Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi.

On the inside of the book jacket is the phrase "running is like life".  In addition is 1 Corinthians 9:24 which says, "Don't you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize."

All of us are not world class athletes that have the chance to win every race we enter, but we all race to win. We may want to set a new PR for the distance or simply finish, but in any case, achieving the specific goal we set for the race....we will have won.

The same is true in our daily lives as we run with God. We should all race to win. By glorifying God by making disciples of all nations, we are that world class athlete leading the pack to the ultimate finish line in Jesus Christ.

Tobacco Road Half Marathon

This past Sunday was the 2nd annual Tobacco Road Marathon weekend. I was entered in the 2010 half marathon, but due to an injury I had to defer my entry until the 2011 race. I was looking forward to this race as it is flat for the most part, especially on the American Tobacco Trail.

The morning started early, with a 4:15 am wakeup. I was out the door by 4:30 am and on my way to the offsite parking about 10 minutes away from the start/finish area. They had coach buses to take all of the runners to the start/finish area. I was on the bus at 5:15 am and we were on our way. On the ride over I prayed that God would give me the strength to finish the race, the knowledge of His word and the wisdom to share His word.

It was a cold morning with temps in the lower 40's, but that was perfect for running. Race start was set for 7:00 am for the half with the full marathoners starting at 7:15 am. At 6:40 am they made the announcement for all half marathoners to make their way to the corrals. As I was standing in my corral, I began to speak to this guy next to me named JT. As soon as we started talking he asked me about the Team 413 shirt I was wearing. JT wears a silicon band that has Philippians 4:13 on it. We ended up talking for the remaining time until the start. What a great time of fellowship this was.

The start was delayed about 15 minutes as all of the buses carrying the runners had not arrived to the starting area. Once all of the buses had arrived, it was time to go. I wished JT all the best and it was time for the journey. I had a goal in mind leading up to this event of wanting to crack the 2:20 mark for a half. My PR in the half is 2:23 and I figured 2:20 was attainable due to the swim and cycling training I have been doing preparing for the sprint triathlon on April 9. As we started, we had a series of rolling hills for the first 3 miles. I was feeling really good during this stretch going between 9:30 - 10:00 min per mile pace. Just before the 3 mile mark, the lead marathoners were coming through. Those lead runners were really moving. Probably at a 5:00 min per mile pace. At the 3 mile mark we made a turn onto the American Tobacco Trail. I had heard a lot about this trail, but this was going to be my first time ever running on it. As we started on the trail, a guy came up on my right side who was as tall as me. I asked how he was doing so far and he said he was doing well. He followed that up and said it was tough for big guys like us. That is so true in what he said as when you look at someone who is 6'-4", we just don't look like runners. He was also running at a pace that was just perfect for me as I was able to get a great rhythm going. I stayed with him for the majority of the 7 miles on the trail.

All throughout the run, God was glorified. I heard more words of encouragement from wearing the Team 413 shirt than I have before at any other race. There was even a time right in the first 2 miles of the race where I heard a couple of ladies behind me talking about Romans and then Philippians when they saw the shirt. What a blessing! Then as I was in the final 2 miles of the race, I had 3 separate instances where people came along side me and thanked me for the encouragement the verse had given them. One lady said she was about to quit, then she saw the shirt and knew she could do it. I told her God is always with you no matter what and He will pull you through. The final encounter was with less than 0.5 miles to the finish and a guy thanked me for the encouragement and how it also pulled him through. Those are just a few encounters I had of how God was glorified all throughout this event.

As the miles were clicking down to the finish, I knew the goal of break 2:20 was in reach. I made the right-hand turn to the finish line 100 yards away and I could see the clock showing 2:17. I started to get a little emotional inside as I knew I was going to set a new PR. I crossed the line with an official time of 2:17:08 and a new PR by 6 minutes!

There was also another inspiration story that took place at this event. Amazing story of endurance, discipline and determination. Army Captain Ivan Castro was injured in Iraq. A result of his injuries is that he is blind. The marathon was his 15th he has completed. Just look at this quote from Army Captain Castro, "You know we all have a cross to carry. The Lord decided that this was my cross. He wouldn't give me this cross if he didn't think I could carry it,"

This is true for each and every one of us. The Lord would not give us all He has unless He didn't think we could handle it.

Discipline

Discipline….When you hear the word discipline, what comes to mind? Do your immediate thoughts go to the military, to school, to your parents? That is what comes to mind for me as well. Discipline is a way of life for many. As a runner, and soon to be triathlete, I found out right away that building endurance requires discipline. I think it is safe to say that most of us just cannot go out and run a marathon, ultra-marathon or an ironman triathlon with no training. Each one of those events is an endurance challenge that takes a tremendous amount of discipline.

As we see in the beginning Hebrews 12, we have the call to endurance in verses 1-2.

1 Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.

As athletes, we endure a lot of pain and suffering in our training and our races. None of it can compare to the pain and suffering Jesus endured for each and every one of us. Jesus paid the ultimate price for each of us that we may live and glorify God by making disciples of all nations.

This is why I endure the hard work to reach the finish line….to serve Him. Hebrews 12-11-13 says.

11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.

I don't know of any race where you will not find spectators. These are family members and friends who are not only cheering on loved ones, but also providing encouragement to other athletes. I can tell you, that means so much to have the support from people I will probably never see again. In return, running for Jesus with Team 413, I am yielding fruit before the spectators as they see God's word proclaimed, in the hopes that they will be trained by it as we read in Hebrews 12:11.

The kind of disciple it takes to train for endurance challenges is the same kind of discipline it takes in our spiritual challenges. Therefore, be disciplined . . . to lay aside the sin that weighs you down, and to run with endurance the race God sets before you . . . all for His glory!

Broken and Lifted Up

This evening my wife sent me a text message about a listener who called into K-Love who was broken.   Once I got home this evening, I turned on K-Love and also went to their Facebook Fan Page.  A man by the name of Eric called in the station this evening as was contenplating taking his life by jumping off of the Golden Gate bridge.

Many all over the world who were listening at the moment heard this man reaching out for help.  He was broken and God led him to reach out to someone.  That someone was Scott & Kelli at K-Love Radio.  At that moment, Scott prayed for Eric and many who were in cars returning home from work, church or simply listening at home also prayed for Eric.  The are several posts on the fan page about Eric and how everyone is praying for him.  Prayer is powerful! 

I know Eric will probably never read this post, but I pray that all of the prayers for him tonight are answered and that he will find strength and comfort in the Lord.  We all face times where we are broken and go through the storms of life, but it is at those times that we can become the strongest and find comfort in the Lord.  I am reminded of the chorus to Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Jesus loves you Eric!

The Secret of Being Content

This morning our Sunday school lesson was on the secrets of being content.  For the past 3 months we have been going through Philippians and today we ended our study on Philippians covering chapter 4, verses10-23.  As we come to the end of Paul's letter, it is good to take a step book and look at what Paul says in Philippians 4:9.  Paul says that we are do what we have learned, received, heard and seen in him.  So the question becomes what has Paul taught us in this letter?  There are several things we have learned and here are some of those things:

• Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4:4)
• Put the past behind and look forward (Phil 3:13)
• Stand firm in the Lord (Phil 4:1)
• Do everything without grumbling and arguing (Phil 2:14)
• Look out for the interests of others (Phil 2:4)
• Do nothing out of rivalry (Phil 2:3)
• Watch out for evil workers (Phil 3:2)
• Boast in Christ and do not put confidence in the flesh (Phil 3:3)

Paul learned to be content in whatever circumstance he was in.  As Paul says in 4:11-12 "I have learned to content in whatever circumstance I am.  I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content - whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need."  Do you find yourself being content when you have little or you have a lot?

Being content is nothing that just comes to you at the snap of the fingers.  This is learned over time.  Just as Paul learned, we too are learning and with learning comes wisdom, knowledge and understanding

Paul follows up his secret he has learned of being content with a verse that has a huge impact in my life.  Paul says in Philippians 4:13..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  He did not say some things....Paul says ALL things.  We all have hardships and trials we go through everyday.  Paul also had hardships and trials.  Even while in prison he learned to be content, rejoice in the Lord and know that it is the strength of Christ that is above all else and got him through these times.

The same is true in my life.  The ministry of Team 413 has changed me from the inside out.  It is a transformation that all goes back to one.  It is not about me, it is about glorifying God in all I do.  Christ is the vine and I am one of the branches using His word to help proclaim the Gospel.  In all of the running events I have been a part of since January 2009, I have worn a Team 413 shirt.  It is amazing to see how God breathed a single verse that is such an encouragement to many.  I hear comments of gratitude from fellow runners how that verse helped them finish the race set before them.  Just like there is a finish line at the end of a marathon, there is also a finish line in our spiritual life and that is Jesus Christ.

God blessed me with the opportunity to spend a few minutes in front of my Sunday school class today to talk about the impact Philippians 4:13 has had on my life and how I am running for Christ with Team 413.  I knew God would provide by giving me the words to say.  I told the class how the strength of Christ gave me the courage and ability to stand up in front of the class and speak.  It was such a blessing to see the response of everyone as I stood up there.  I know it was truly God at work.

Seeds have been planted and I pray that God will continue to use me to help in planting more seeds in order to see His fruit flourish.

Thousands compete in Krispy Kreme challenge

In my previous post about the Krispy Kreme Challenge, I mentioned that I was interviewed by ABC 11 and News Channel 14.

I made the news for ABC 11 and I wanted to share a link to the video.

Thousands compete in Krispy Kreme challenge

Enjoy the video!

Krispy Kreme Challenge

Today was the 7th annual Krispy Kremem Challenge in Raleigh, NC.  This event has grown each year and this year there were 7,500 runners brave or maybe more appropriate...crazy enough to take the challenge.  I was challenged by a friend to sign-up for the race.  I figured, why not.  I couldn't back down to a challenge.

Looking at the weather forecast, I knew it was going to be cold and wet as we have been getting soaked the past 2 days.  In watching previous years video on this event, I knew to expect all kinds of outfits.  So I figured with the rain, this would be the perfect the event to wear an umbrella hat.  Figured I would fit right in.

The rain at times was coming down pretty hard.  I am glad I had this umbrella hat.  As I was standing with a friend under a tree, a cameraman from the local ABC TV station came up to me.  He introduced himself and said my hat was the best one he has seen today and asked if he could interview me.  I said absolutely. I ended up being interviewed by two TV stations at the same time  (ABC 11 and News Channel 14).  It was a lot of fun as they asked if this was my first time running the event, what my strategy was for eating the donuts and of course where I got this umbrella hat.   My friend Mark was taking pictures of the interview.

Now it was time to head to the starting line.  It felt like you were in Times Square on New Year's Eve with the wacky outfits and especially when with 10 seconds until the start, everyone did the countdown.  It was time to run for donuts.  The race started at the NC State Bell Tower and worked its way to the Krispy Kreme 2.25 miles away.  I ran a faster pace than normal in order to run with my friend Mark.  As we approached the Krispy Kreme, he pulled ahead of me by about 20-30 seconds.  I picked up my box of donuts and found Mark.  When I got to him he had already eaten 6 donuts!  I was not surprised as he can eat 20 pancakes at IHOP when they have all you can eat pancakes.  He proceeded to finish and head on the way back.  I in-turn had a ways still to go.

My strategy for donuts was to smash the donuts together.  I started with 1 donut and then I smashed 2 together and for the remaining donuts I smashed 3 at a time.  I had a cup of water to help.  It probably took me about 15 minutes to get through the dozen.  So, the first challenge was accomplished.  Now it was time for the second challenge.  Could I make the 2.25 miles back without depositing the donuts on the route???  I figured I would take my normal pace for the run back.  I felt really good and I was able to make it back with no problems.  I could see some people struggling, but for the most part everyone was able to make it back.

This was also a first time event for Team 413.  I had a few people speak to me that were encouraged by the verse "I can do all through Christ who strengthens me".  One gentleman spoke with me while we were eating the donuts.  He had Philippians 4:13 on a dogtag he wears.  Another gentleman on the run back to the finish came up along side me and said he was praying for me.  Great to see God at work even during such a challenge as this.

Overall it was a fun event.  I've had a lot of people today ask me how it went, but the number 1 question everyone waht to know was if I threw up.  I can say that I did not throw up.  I was able to eat the dozen and keep them down.  So I consider that a success.

As I said to my friend Mark as we were walking back to the car when talking about doing it again.  I said that I think I will pass....been there, done that and got the t-shirt!

Here are some pictures from the race today.

NHL All-Star 5K

Today was a great event out at the RBC Center as the NHL All-Star 5K was held.  It was a cold start to the day, but a good turnout of 2,000 runners.  As expected, the Hurricanes were well represented with several people wearing jerseys for the Caniac Nation.  Besides the Canes, I spotted jerseys from Boston, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Vancouver, New Jersey, Ottawa, Team USA and Hartford.

The course took us on a tour around the RBC Center then past Carter-Finley Stadium before heading out onto the roads before making the turn back to the RBC Center.  The finish line was right in front of the lawn outside the arena.

It was great to see Hurricanes play-by-play announcer John Forslund service as host and leader for cheering every runner to the finish.  He made sure to recognize everyone he could.  He gave my wife a nice shout-out as she approached the finish line.  I was cheering her on from one side and she had friends on the other side cheering for her too.  Forslund proceeded to say to her, "Number 187 is the crowd favorite".  That was great to hear.

I ran the race with my good friend Jon.  We booth ran wearing Team 413 shirts.  Started out on a good pace and took advantage of an early downhill stretch to pick the pac up.  As we made our way past mile 1, we started up Trinity Road which is nothing but a steady incline all the way to mile 2.  After making the turn onto Westchase Road heading back to the finish line, I looked at my watch and knew breaking 30 minutes was reachable if I picked up the pace a little.  I proceeded to put in a little extra and was able to cross the line in 29:30.  My buddy Jon was also able to break 30 minutes.

Overall this was a great event and I have to say thank you the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes and NC Races for putting this on.  It would be awesome to see this turn into an annual event.  Even though the All-Star game will not be here, we could still have this event.

Below are a couple of pictures from today's event and the medal given to the first 500 people that registered for the race..  

The Sutter Soar!

Forty-one years ago during the Stanley Cup Finals in 1970, Bobby Orr scored the cup clinching goal in dramatic fashion.  It was an OT goal in game 4 to complete the sweep of the St. Louis Blues.  The celebration of that goal is probably the most well-known photo in all of hockey.  What a moment captured in time to see Orr completely horizontal to the ice...like superman flying through the air.

This past Monday night during the Hurricanes vs. Maples Leafs game, Brandon Sutter scored on a great hustle play.  After racing to the puck on the half wall, he passed it back to the point.  He then headed straight to the net.  After the shot from the point, the rebound came right out the hustling Sutter who produced a great goal.  The following photo (by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) shows amazing similarity to Orr's famous one forty-one years ago.

Granted, Sutter's goal was not a Stanley Cup clinching goal, but amazing to see the similarity of him flying through the air just like Bobby Orr in 1970.  This is a perfect example of Sutter's grit and determination as there is so much Sutter brings to the game that does not show on the scoresheet.  His is outstanding on defense in killing penalities, applying the forecheck and in the faceoff circle.  One day Sutter should win a Selke award as the best defensive forward in the league.

Maybe one day we will see the "Sutter Soar" again as he lifts the Stanley Cup horizontal to the ice!

 

It's beginning to look a lot like....

You probably figured the last word of the title for this post would be Christmas. Well, normally you would be correct. In this particular case, the rest of the title is "the All-Star Game".

As I went to have lunch with friends today, I drove threw downtown Raleigh. You see more and more signs of the All-Star festivities that begin on Friday and continue through the 58th NHL All-Star game on Sunday.

As I passed a hotel, there was a coach bus with the NHL 2K video game plastered all over it. Then you get a look at the RBC Tower with the All-Star window treatments. Then, as I headed south out of Raleigh, the logos for the Fan Fair at the convention center could be clearly seen.

This is going to be an exciting weekend for the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes, the city of Raleigh and all of the Caniacs out there. I know I am excited to see Raleigh shine.

Looking forward to seeing who Staal and Lidstrom draft on their teams Friday night. This a great twist to the format this year. You can check out the fantasy draft on Versus at 8pm EST Friday.

Then on Saturday there are a couple of great events. First of all is the All-Star 5K. I am looking forward to running in this event with my wife and good friend Jon. Should be a blast with all of the Caniacs and other NHL fans who will join us in the 3.1 mile run. Look for a post on my blog soon after the event highlighting all that happened.

Then later Saturday we have the SuperSkills Challenge. Should be special to see all of the skills on display. I am amazed at what these guys can do.

On Sunday it all comes to an end with the game. Some of the big names will be unable to play due to injury (Crosby and Malkin), but this will still be a great event.

Enjoy this awesome celebration everyone. For everyone who is not here in Raleigh, I hope you will tune in to Versus to watch.

First Swim

Today was my first day in the pool in a very long time. I believe the last time I put in an actual workout in the pool was when I was in 8th grade. That was when I was on a swim team. Come to think of it, I still have my towel from the Stingrays with my name embroidered on it. Doing the math, that was 23 years ago....yikes!

I knew it would be a little difficult so I took it easy on actually following a workout. I wanted to get in the pool and swim freestyle for some laps to get familiar again with that stroke and my breathing. I could not believe how poor my stamina level was. I know with time it will improve and I am glad I have 12 weeks until the triathlon. The plan I am following calls for 2 swims a week. I also swam a few laps of breaststroke and backstroke just to change it up a bit. Felt like I was actually equal in my breaststroke speed compared to the freestyle...:-)

It was also nice to be at the pool this morning and have it entirely to myself. The Granite Falls pool is a great facility and I found myself trying to visualize how the swim portion of the triathlon will be setup and the exit to the first transition area to head out on the bike. At this time they do not have the course maps finalized.

Overall I swam for 30 minutes with some breaks. I had a hard time counting my laps, but it was approximately 14 laps (350 yards). I am looking forward to my next swim and utilizing a swim plan my friend Jon provided to me. Jon is getting ready for this triathlon as well and I passed him on my way to the pool today as he was out running. Keep it up Jon!

NHL All-Star Game

The NHL All-Star Game is quickly approaching and yesterday the NHL announced the players that will participate in the event.

For Canes fans, we have come to associate the appearance of Eric Staal at the All-Star game an annual occurrence and that is the case again this year as Staal will make his 4th appearance.  This year will definitely be different as the Hurricanes are the hosts.  In talking to the media yesterday Staal said, "You want to be recognized among the elite in the league and for me to be a part of that this year is an incredible honor, especially being in our home building in front of our fans."

Making his first All-Star game will be goalie Cam Ward.  In my opinion, probably the most under-rated goalie in the league.  This is a well deserved selection as Cam has played outstanding this season.  He is the Canes all-time wins leader.  As Ward noted, "It'll be my first All-Star appearance and that's one thing, and then to have it at your home building is going to be a special experience and I'm really looking forward to it."

Rookie Jeff Skinner was selected as one of the 12 first-year players for the SuperSkills Competition.  This is going to be special to see Skinner showing off his skills that we have seen throughout the season so far.  Skinner is leading all rookies in scoring at this point in the season.  Think back to when you were 18, can you imagine being in the position he is?  Absolutely amazing!

Caniacs, this is going to be an exciting time at the end of this month.  With the draft January 28 live on Versus and TSN, I wonder if Staal and Ward will be on the same team????

Registered for my first Triathlon

As a new year begins, it seems everyone makes new year's resolutions.  Well, I am no different than anyone else.  For many months now, I have been watching the Ironman triathlons online.  You can watch them on Ironmanlive.com and they will show the entire race from start to finish.  I remember watching the World Champions from Kona last fall and was just amazed at what these athletes can do.  I told myself, that one day I want to compete in a triathlon.  I know I am not ready for a full Ironman, but I know I could start small with a sprint distance.  So, competing and finishing a triathlon became one of my resolutions.

On January 3, I officially entered my first triathlon that will occur in April.  This is a sprint distance and a great way to get into the triathlon world.  I had been talking about this with my good friend Jon Parks and he also wanted to compete in a triathlon.  So, we both signed up for the Granite Falls Triathlon on April 9.  This triathlon has a 300 yard pool swim, 12 mile bike and 3.1 mile run.   We are both really excited for the challenge!

BeginnerTriathlete.com has been a great resource for information related to all aspects of triathlons.  From the forums, to the articles, to the race calendar, this has been extremely helpful in answering any questions.  I have also found great training plans that are available for any distance.  I will be following a 13-week sprint distance plan that will begin next week and lead me right up to the event on April 9.   I am really looking forward to preparing for this event.  The one comment I have heard about triathlons is that once you get involved, you will love it and the triathlon community is so supportive.

Here is a picture of my Fuji Roubaix 3.0 road bike. 



Good luck to other first time triathletes out there as you have marked 2011 as the year to "resolve" to compete in a triathlon.

WDW Marathon Weekend

As the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend arrives, I can't help but think about how much fun this event is. I am excited for the 60,000 + runners who are competing in the half, full or are just plain Goofy!

If this is the first time running any of these races, you are in for a treat. This is a first class event from the expo, the volunteers, the crowd support and the race directors. It has to be if it is at the happiest place on earth, right?

Personally, I am not running this year. I wish all of my Running of the Ears (ROTE) friends all the best and have a great time. I will be thinking of you guys this weekend.

For Chris and Kiki Gillespie of Team 413. I pray that God is glorified by each and every person who comes in contact with Team 413, whether this is by coming to the booth at the Expo or seeing a shirt this weekend during the races.

It seems that the weather forecast is much better than it was for the 2010 race. Temps are projected to be in the 60-70's for daytime highs with lows in the 40-50's. I will never forget last year when heading to the starting corrals for the half marathon and looking up into the lights and seeing snow fall. Definitely a rare occurrence for Orlando. Then on marathon Sunday it was even colder and I never shed any extra clothing I was wearing that day. I had 3 layers on with a pack of hot hands inside of the 2 pairs of gloves I was wearing.

I wanted to share a few if the memories from the 2010 race weekend. Once again good luck to everyone this coming weekend.

Remember, you will finish with more "character" than you started with.