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Xterra Training Log Week 2
Saturday marked two weeks until the triathlon. It is coming quickly and I still have a steep hill to climb to be as prepared as I would like to be. I have no doubt at this point that I will finish the race and that is my only goal, however, if I could finish it in a decent time that would be kinda nice too!:)
Overall it was a good week. I was able to swim almost everyday, biked three days, and ran four.I am most concerned about the swim as that is my weakest area. And the tide was low all week so it was a bit frustrating to try to swim. Besides that, I struggled all week getting into a groove and still couldn’t figure it out. Finally, Saturday I met with my swimming instructor at a pool and she was able to pinpoint my problem areas. After many laps of swimming with a block between my legs, I was finally able to get my stroke and breathing down. When I swim I use my legs more than anything which will not be so good in a triathlon when I have to use my legs for the rest of the race. We also figured out if I breathe every four or five strokes I go slower and don’t get out of breath as quickly which means I can swim for longer and farther. It was a good day and I still have two weeks to get my swim in a little better shape.Saturday I biked about 30 km up and down hills all over the island. I am trying to get my legs in better shape for climbing and I think it is working. I finished the bike and was still feeling pretty good. I am getting less and less worried about the bike. I rode some trails and will just have to be careful I don’t get overconfident. Thankfully, I am not one that has any problem getting off and walking my bike if I need to. I would rather walk some and finish in one piece!Running won’t be a problem. I have been doing that since I came to Saipan and by the time I get to the run I figure I will be so excited, I will finish it. Plus its only a 5k which I found out is almost all road so no worries there.As of today, I have 12 days left. Going to try to train hard this week so I can back off next-unfortunately, I have a crazy week at school so we will see how that goes. -
A Much Needed Evaluation
I found this blog post today entitled “Why I Stopped Serving the Poor,” and I must admit, I mostly clicked on it because I curious. Seeing as much of my life lately has been obsessed with this idea of loving and serving those at the margins, I figured I should see why someone would stop doing that. It was, in the end, one of the most powerful things I have read in a really long time.
The author, Claudio Oliver, lives in Brazil and has spent his life there serving the poor and needy. So why would he write this..because so many people need to hear it and need to ask “why.”
We are not all that different-the rich and the poor. At the core, Oliver points out the following:“Without exception, rich and poor have the same conviction that what they need is something that the market, money, the government or some other agency can offer them.”
We think that the key to success or happiness or even the solution to the problem is to raise the standard of living, to provide goods, to do something that man can do. To rescue the poor. But is this the right mentality? Oliver would argue not.Jesus doesn’t have any good news for those who serve the poor. Jesus didn’t come to bring good news of the Kingdom to those who serve the poor; he brought Good News to the poor. He has nothing to say to other saviors who compete with him for the position of Messiah, or Redeemer.Scary thought huh? Perhaps instead of seeking to serve the poor from our positions of wealth and importance, we should look at an alternative.
The only way to remain with the poor is if we discover that we are the miserable ones. We remain with the poor when we recognize ourselves, even if well disguised, in him/her who is right before our eyes. When we can see our own misery and poverty in them, when we realize our own needs and our desperate need to be saved and liberated, then and only then will we meet Jesus and live life according to His agenda.God is not manifest in our ability to heal, but in our need to be healed. Finding out this weakness of ours leaves us in a position of having nothing to offer, serve, donate, but reveals our need to be loved, healed and restored.When we see ourselves as poor and in need of a Savior, we can then see ourselves in the poor and relate to them on a very different level. We can grow in our trust and reliance on Christ and see the power in the cross and the relationship that stems from that.
Jesus calls us to become incarnate and to see ourselves in the other and to place ourselves under him or her as powerless dependents. He calls us to give up in trusting our own capacity to impart goodness and to change our direction in order to encounter and recognize our own wounds, weakness and pain. From there, we discover the power that lies in being less and not more.
I believe it comes back to our hearts. God has surely called us to love and serve the poor, but are we serving from a savior mentality or from an equal mentality? Are we able to see Jesus in them? Are we able to see ourselves? The entire article is an excellent read so check it out if you are curious. And let us never forget that we are here as God’s hands and feet to do His will, not to accomplish our own.
Italic sections taken from here -
Why not?
I have spent much of my morning reading up on the blogs I follow and catching up on my Twitter list and through that hit a point of revelation. Kinda one of those duh moments..
Passion+hard work=ability to make dreams reality
I was reading about all these normal people that got fired up over ideas and made them a reality. They started a clothing business like this one. Or they created a play like this. They are teaching women to sew scarves here. The list could go on and go as I have spent two hours reading up on similar ideas. As I was reading their stories and getting excited over the ideas, it hit me. What did these people have? A passion for a cause and a willingness to work hard. I have spent the past year of my life coming up with every reason in the world why no one would want to hire me-I am not qualified, or educated, or experienced, or right, or blonde, or tall..etc. I have also spent the last year in a job that while good for me, was not the perfect fit nor something I could see myself doing long term. I have high expectations. I want a job I can love. I want a cause I believe in. But so did all of those people. They wanted jobs they loved. They wanted to change the world, raise awareness, simplify their life.So enough is enough. I have passion. I have an incredibly strong work ethic. I am stubborn and organized. And I won’t give up. No matter what obstacle-like overcoming my deathly, panic fear of water-I am learning the power of facing it head on and conquering it. Therefore, I have decided to go for my dreams. To create a reality out of all this passion. Perhaps it will look like applying to all these jobs I love, but don’t feel good enough for. Or perhaps it will look like starting my own thing. I mean, if they can do, why can’t I? I love the simplicity of my life here in Saipan, but even as I look around, I see so many areas I could simplify further. I could save more and give more and love more. The journey begins now. Where it leads will be all in God’s hands..but I can assure you it will be an adventure! -
This is Your Life
I admit, I took this from my friend Kati’s blog, but I loved it so much so I thought I would pass it along.
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Xterra Training Log Week 1
One week down..19 days to go!
I spent most of this week questioning my decision to enter, but nevertheless pushed forward with training. On Monday, I could swim for 3 minutes straight. Pathetic and so far from where I needed to be or need to be. But I swam and ran everyday but Wednesday. Wednesdays are my bike day because I don’t have much after school so I can get in a decent ride before dark. Thankfully it has been staying light till closer to 7 these days so I have an extra hour or so of time to train. Friday I hit a breakthrough. I swam for 15 minutes straight. I realize this is a small feat for most of you, but considering 6 months ago I wouldn’t have swam for 10 seconds in the ocean, I was very proud of myself. I finished up the week with a decent ride down part of the Xterra trail and a 20 minute swim. I still have a steep hill to climb, but I am going to keep trucking along and hope that beyond some measure I am able to finish on race day.
Mentally, I am nervous and anxious. I am still very cautious about this swim. I am just slow and unsure of myself in the water. I am getting better and over the weekend could definitely tell I am getting more comfortable in the water in general. Today on my bike I was able to walk myself through some of the more technical side of mountain biking and stay on course. It was a huge confidence booster and I am simply trying to cross the finish line. The run will be no problem. I am not worrying in the slightest about that-its a 5k and all road I found out! My dad is sending me a camelback and I am slowly piecing together a set of instructions/items needed for transitions. I wish my dad was here to see me and help me train, but alas this is my personal battle with the ocean and with my self-confidence. I am determined to stop doubting myself so much and this is the final battle.
Overall, week 1 was a success. Here’s to week two..gonna pick up the pace a little this week!
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Tinian Travels
Anna, Andrea, and I spent Saturday and Sunday in Tinian. It’s a small island located about 5 miles from us..you can see it from the beach we normally hang out at. We took a very small plane over-the entire flight was 10 minutes! There isn’t much on Tinian. In fact, one lady said she thought less than 5000 people lived there. Its mostly green trees when you fly over it. However, all of us needed a break and it was on my list of things I wanted to do before I move home.
We got there Saturday around lunchtime, checked in to our awesome room, and went exploring. We found this amazing little cove with the clearest water and we were the only people there which was so nice. Andrea and I found some rocks we could jump off of so this kept us entertained while Anna sunbathed. Then we rented scooters to go exploring around the island. Since there was three of us, Andrea drove one and I drove the other. I am pretty sure those poor rental people thought they were signing my death wish. They made me practice a little which was pathetic at first, but after a few minutes, I got the hang of it and by the time we took them back I was getting pretty good and kinda want one:)
Tinian was the island on which they assembled the bomb that they dropped on Hiroshima and it was pretty instrumental in WWII so there are some pretty neat sights to see. It was amazing to me that so much was still there. There is even a whole section of the island still blocked off due to the amount of unexploded ordinance in it. We were also there during their annual Hot Pepper Festival-the one thing Tinian is known for. I didn’t actually eat any hot peppers, I have heard horror stories of how hot they are, but we did get to see some really neat cultural dancing.
Anna, Andrea, and I in our aviators:) The hotel also had an awesome pool we relaxed by Sunday morning before heading back to Saipan. It was a quick trip, but much needed for all of us. It was fun to get off my island for a bit and spend some time playing tourist again. 🙂
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Good Quote
If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it, you have won your race. Your goal can be to come in first, to improve your performance, or just finish the race. It’s up to you. Dave Scott, U.S. Triathlete
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Xterra Saipan
After my successful finish in the bike race this morning, I have decided I am going to enter into the Xterra Saipan Sport Triathlon. I have been talking about it and sorta training for it and dreaming about it, I just finally decided I needed to do it. I know if I don’t, I will regret it. So the plan for the next 30 days looks roughly like this:
Eat, work, coach/tutor, swim, run, and bike, eat, sleep. Repeat.Don’t worry, I won’t swim, run, and bike all in the same day. Except for March 12th which is when the actual event takes place. And the course is short, but tough. Its broken down like this:750 m swim. 20k bike. 5k run.Sounds easy right? Except that perhaps this is a better explanation:750 m swim through the salty ocean. 20K bike up and down steep hills and through very technical mountain bike trails. 5k run through the jungle.But I can do it. I know it. And even if I am the last person to cross the finish line, I just want to be able to say I did it. It will be the pinnacle of all the fears I have fought since moving to this tiny island and a perfect way to go out with a bang. Although, hopefully not a literally bang. 🙂 So here is to hard core training and facing fears.BRING IT ON! -
Life as of Late
While you, my readers, may enjoy my deeper thoughts, I figured I would update you all a little on life in Saipan. I can hardly believe how fast time is flying by. In 102 days, I will be back home in Indiana, far from my beach, my friends and family here, and my simple life I have grown to love. But no need for sadness yet-I still have 102 days to live it up!
Teaching is going well. This semester is definitely better than last. I am able to plan better and more accurately assess my student’s needs and weaknesses. I am still not in love with teaching, but I am very thankful that I have had this experience and can attest that it has stretched me in ways I never thought possible.
Anna and I have been spending a lot more time with some of the other teachers which has been a huge blessing! I am really enjoying getting to know them and it is just nice to have people to hang out with! Last night we grabbed dinner and watched The Bachelor. Opinions aside, sometimes you just need mindless TV to let your brain unwind. We have also found a new show we love-Off the Map. Friday nights have turned into Off the Map night with our good friend Andrea. It is fun to have a few things each week to look forward too! Other than that, we have been spending as much time as we can at the beach and filling our weeknights with running, working out, and school work. I am going to miss her so very much!!
I picked up a tutoring job 3 days a week so I either coach or tutor or both everyday after school. This makes for a busy life, but I love it! The boy I tutor is the most adorable first grader and genuinely wants to learn which makes my job so much easier! He is super smart too.. I find myself running out of things to do because he finishes everything so fast. Coaching is going great too! Our girls are improving SOO much! Yesterday the score was 11 to 18. They are not winning, but that will come. I am just proud of them for trying so hard. And one of my players made a last second shot right as the buzzer sounded! You should have seen how proud of herself she was! And we are slowly becoming better coaches too which is exciting.
Saturday I am going to go to a mountain biking clinic. I am super excited! They are going to teach us a lot of the technical skills you need and some basic bike maintenance like how to change a flat tire. I think it will give the boost of confidence I need to keep working on it and I am gearing up for some serious mountain biking and rock climbing and running excursions when I get home! I have also been swimming and taking lessons. It is going well and I am actually looking into getting my lifeguard certification.
The weather here has cooled off some and most evenings there is a breeze that, dare I say, actually makes it slightly chilly. We are definitely enjoying it though because it means we don’t have to run the AC which is VERY expensive.
In other news, life at home is ever changing. My little brother joined the Air Force-passed his tests with flying colors. So I will get home, he will get married and head off to basic. I am very proud of him and can’t wait to get home so I can hopefully spend a few weeks with him before he heads off! And his basic is in Texas so my parents and I are already planning a trip! And my dad is going to tackle teaching me to drive a stick shift this summer in his new Miata.
I think that about sums it up. All in all, I cannot complain. I am so glad I came to Saipan and am enjoying my time here. I will be glad when I get home and I miss my friends and family dearly, but most days all it takes is a run along the beach to remind me to savor these moments. 🙂
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Faithful?
Exodus 16 brings us a story that has taken on new meaning to me as of late. As I have been studying and reading, I have come to see more of God’s heart and more of my own lack of trust in it. Exodus 16 is all about food. I have to admit, I love food. But in Exodus 16 we find our newly freed Israelites complaining over a lack of food. They even go so far as to remark they would rather be back in Egypt! Apparently, lack of food can cloud your senses and cause you to wish for slavery once again. (So many other metaphors in that) But most of you can probably fill in the rest. God comes and brings them manna each morning with strict instructions. Gather only what you need for today. Do not save or store for tomorrow. And the few that do figure out real quick that listening to God is much better than waking up to stinky, worm-infested food. It follows that Christ commanded us in Matthew 6:19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy.”
God was asking them to trust His faithfulness. To trust that today they would be filled and tomorrow God would again provide for their needs. They didn’t have to stockpile or save..just simply trust in God’s faithfulness.
He is still asking us to trust His faithfulness.As I look at my life, I see how insulated it is from trusting in God’s faithfulness. I am not suggesting we all stop saving and live recklessly, but I am suggesting that perhaps our lives are a little too safe. We work so hard to insulate, prepare, and protect ourselves that I think some of us could honestly say we don’t really need God. Ok, we would probably never actually say that, but perhaps our lives appear that way. Perhaps we question God’s faithfulness. We aren’t sure He will really come through. Maybe life experiences have proven that sometimes He hasn’t come through in the way we excepted. Perhaps we are too comfortable and unwilling to stand with Paul when he says, “I know what it is to have plenty and I know what it is to be in want.” Or maybe, we just enjoy the fruits of our labor. And we should..we work hard for them. But we must also remember that those are gifts from God and our not solely for our use. If we use them to insulate our lives to the point of excess and therefore do not really need to rely on God for anything, perhaps we need to step back and question things. Is there someone whom we could bless with our excess? I am convinced that the more we give and rely on God’s faithfulness, the richer our lives will become and the less worried we will be. Our focus will shift from things to people, from temporary to eternal. I know some people that operate as though God is faithful. And I want to be one of those people.
So I ask you and ask myself…
Do you believe God is faithful? Are you living like it?You May Also Like
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