Faith to Finish in 2013


If you have ever been doubtful, Norman Vincent Peale would tell you to repeatedly say, “I don’t believe in defeat!” There is so much power behind simply believing in yourself.  The repeated lesson I have learned is that when I have the slightest doubt in myself negative words creep from my mouth…chances are I will test the slippery slope and end up at the bottom.  For instance, I’m really good at frustration. BUT, frustration will not defeat me and I have learned to better control this viral thing!

I am at the top of week 7 and in pre-season training and so far, I’ve had 1 low week (at week 5). I don’t always have that constant high-jolting energy.  You may have already noticed that no one has been able to perform at their best during EVERY race, game, speech or presentation, and so on.  I remember watching the Olympics this past summer thinking that Lola Jones was going to do well in her hurdles. Why not? She almost won the gold during the 2008 Olympics in the hurdles and she’s back to fight! She just barely brushed her foot on one of the last few hurdles in 2008, which cost her not only gold, but the silver and bronze as well! This past summer, she didn’t make it past the first round. Even in the gymnastics 2012 Olympic trials, I thought for sure Nastia Liukin would return for more medals after her all around gold in 2008. She completely missed and slipped on the bars sending her body faced down on the mat (or what I called a belly flopper) not once but twice! Despite the flaw on national television, she continued to demonstrate good sportsmanship and a positive outlook.  When you look at team sports, there are always surprises, like when the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2011 and returned for post-season playoffs in 2012.  Let’s face it…we are humans.  We make mistakes and we have days of our below average performance physically, academically, and psychologically.

As I look ahead to this race season, I know there will be burnout periods, frustration, boo-boos, and feelings of mental breakdowns and physical exhaustions.  My schedule consists of a half-marathon in San Diego coming up in March followed by an Olympic Triathlon in June, a half-ironman in July, and the BIG one in August.  At times, I think, “oh my gosh, how exactly am I going to get through 140.6 miles?!”  Louisville is considered the HOTTEST of all the Ironman courses! Even though it’s not really that cold in the Midwest, I’m already psyching myself to believe it’s freezing to prepare for the summer heat. 

So, why am I doing this Ironman Louisville:
There are many reasons why Ironman participants choose their race destinations. Could be the course, weather, travel expenses or location. It’s a hard decision especially if it’s a first. I thought long and hard about it and the following pros far outweigh the cons:

1.     It’s my home state with a little thing called, ‘southern charm’ beauty.
2.     The location is so close to all my family and friends. They are the main reason why I chose Louisville! They will be my motivation. No one in my family except my best friend has seen me finish a triathlon!
3.     My cousin inspired me.
4.     Can’t take too much time off due to finishing a clinical rotation. I would be lucky to get a day or 2 off.
5.     Just a little 4-hour drive so not a lot of traveling costs involved.
6.     The timing is just right! After I graduate and officially finish school in December, I’m sure my husband and I will take one last trip and settle our lives for…I don’t know…a house, a family maybe (the first time I actually said that!).

So, YES, I will fight every mile to finish in 2013!  There may be times I will have little faith, but I do not believe in defeat and I have faith to finish each race! Nothing is impossible with God!
As I celebrate 32, I look forward to an amazing year of adventures as a stronger woman of faith!
Quote of the day: It is better to believe than disbelieve; in doing so you bring everything to the realm of possibility.  ~ Albert Einstein

Bible verse of the day: “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  ~ Matthew 17:20 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ironman Louisville Part II: Be Strong and Courageous

Image
The one thing I anticipated before race day, was the last half of the marathon to be both mentally and physically tough.   Therefore, I had over 30 family and friends send me verses (some sent the same verse) and quotes for each mile of the run to keep me going strong one mile at a time.   Regardless of what could happen.   The day turned into night making it the most difficult challenge I have ever faced… The Run (26.2 miles)…the land of Zombies : My plan for transition 2 was to simply remove my bike shoes, put on fresh socks, running shoes and stock my pockets, reapply sunscreen, and use the restroom.   As I was on my way out, I realized I forgot my verses and quotes!!! I HAD to have them to get me through each mile of the run.   Needless to say, I spent a little over 20 minutes just trying to find my bag in the pile of hundreds of run gear bags.   I finally gave up and left to start my run.   The volunteers were relentless, and found my bag...
Read more

From the Ears of an Active Deaf Girl

Image
Hearing loss is something that feels “normal” to me since I can’t remember a time that I could hear.   Learning of my hearing loss devastated my parents, but as a child, I was innocent and didn’t know any different.   It’s a challenge I live with daily and few truly know the walk I take in life.    To some, my life seems “happy.”   To my family it may seem frustrating.   To children it creates curiosity.   To the public eye it may seem like a disability.   To me…it’s a battle of highs and lows.   Quality of life is not tangible, is not on green paper, and is not a possession.   Nothing else matters when it comes to your quality of life.   For the first time, I’ve decided to share what the world sounds like from an active deaf girl… Having approximately 50% hearing loss in one ear and 70% loss in the other labels me as “severe to profoundly” deaf.    Without my hearing aids, I basically hear muffles and with my hearing...
Read more

The Man Who Inspired Me

Image
This past week, I felt something I’ve been eager to feel for a long while.  There was a moment spoken by God.  It was a confirmation to follow through with my passion and to go forth with my cause for the Ironman event…raising funds to provide adults with hearing aids.  There was an older gentleman who was evidently kind-hearted with a sweet spirit.  He drove miles away to see my audiologist.  The following is a story I shared with my mom about the man who inspired me while sitting in the lobby of the clinic. As I was waiting for my audiologist, I overheard her conversing with an older gentleman.  I pretended to continue reading my Positive Thinking book, but was actually tuned into the conversation.  I heard the audiologist say, "Mr. ???, we don't have batteries for these (showing him his hearing aids) anymore.  These are from 1999 and they quit making batteries for these hearing aids."  Then she proceeded to say th...
Read more