Living and Loving Life

"I once wanted to do great things for God and others. I have found I am much more effective when I allow God to do great things for others using me."

A simple reminder to myself to keep moving forward living and loving life! Do the things you enjoy... For me it is pushing myself with friends in endurance sports, connecting with friends and family, helping others meet their goals. When I am focused on enjoying the moment and not what the moment can do for me I am at that moment available to be used by God.

My next adventure is just one short week away! Buffalo Springs IM 70.3... I can't wait!!

Photo is of us at the Dallas Athletes Wounded Warrior Half Marathon June 2016. A great Friend Michael  LeClair on the far right organized a charity run of more than 26 hrs ending with many of us running in the Wounded Warrior Half Marathon to finish. We ran over 200 miles for Rebuilding Warriors. Raising funds to purchase services dogs for at risk veterans http://www.rebuildingwarriors.com/

Week 12 Update My Iron Man Challenge

We will face circumstances, actions, resolutions that we will never fully understand. We will have moments of weakness, reactions from anger, and days of discouragement. When we error make amends when possible and take the time to learn from the lesson. When others error towards us remember we too will stumble. My sincerest apologies, I wish you nothing but the best.

Week 12 finished and I am ready to move past the injuries and discouragement. After the injury I was out Monday and Tuesday of last week. Wednesday and Thursday I made it to the pool for minimal swimming drill sessions. Friday I managed an easy 45 minutes on bike and ran a slow 4 miles on Saturday. With most of the discomfort from the injury in check by Sunday I ran the 13 miles in Plano at a very slow jog finishing the half Marathon in 2 hr and 8 m. I am ready to start week 13 and direct my focus on all that is positive today and tomorrow and many more to come.    

Until next week! Be willing to swallow your pride and admit when you are wrong. We cannot change what is already done, we can acknowledge and learn from our faults for a better tomorrow.             

Week 11 Update My Iron Man Challenge

Our conviction for our dreams, goals, and commitments will be tested. Without conviction and true commitment dreams and goals are only objectives or future ambitions. We will experience the joy of accomplishing our ambitions only when we are willing to face the challenges.  

Week 11 finished and I feel as if I am on a life goal roller-coaster. The week started great with my body and spirit enjoying the training as it pushes me to increasing my limits in preparation for my upcoming events. Friday, excited about the more extreme section of my weekly workouts I started my weekly brick workout with a 25 mile bike ride in the rain to be followed by a 30 minute run (for those who are unfamiliar with a brick workout, it is when two different workouts are combined in combination one starting as soon as the other ends). Less than 5 minutes in feeling great and ready to push the workout, I started into the first turn on the wet roads and faced my bike instantly fly out from under my weight slamming me to the road with all of the force of the impact directed to my back and chest. I quickly jumped up and gathered my bike and equipment, instantly feeling pain in several ribs in my chest and back. X-rays show nothing broken just major bruising and pain enough to limit my training schedule yet again. I missed Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s workouts and hope to have the pain controlled enough to start back in the pool cautiously on Tuesday.      


Until next week! We can seldom control the test and challenges we will face as we live out our ambitions. It is within our control to push forward beyond the test or give up. I say always forward no matter how fast or slow! =)       

Week 10 Update My Iron Man Challenge

Some moments in life are designed for recovery. The emotional, physical, spiritual aspects of our lives each have need of periods of recovery. Many times during these periods of recovery we feel lose, uneasiness, worry for what we are losing as we recover. To have the strength to move beyond our current limits in each area we must accept recovering. Whatever we lose during this time, “if we are honest with ourselves”, we realize was moving out of our lives already.  

Week 10 is in the books and I am excited to be back on track in my training. This was a short workout week of 5 days with Monday being a holiday / event and Tuesday an off day. My stamina has fully returned allowing me a 50 mile bike ride on Saturday followed by a 12 mile run on Sunday. Total distances for the week; 96 miles on the bike, 17.5 miles running, and 1.67 miles swimming. Two weeks from now on  Sunday 9/21 I will be running in the Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon for my long run. I invite you to come out and enjoy the run and or festival and spend some time catching up and hearing your story. I will be wearing a blue Nike Cap and Blue Brooks Glycerin running shoes. You might find me at the RE/MAX both after the race as I am also a local RE/MAX agent.

Until next week! Accept your times of recovery as strengthening and preparing to overcome the future obstacles necessary as you realize your true dreams. We will lose what we lose and what stays or comes back to stay was destined to be.   

Week 4 Update My Iron Man Challenge

Someone I care about often said “circumstances in life can change in an instant for better or worse. Be grateful for what you have.” I agree with this with all my heart I am just not so sure that most of us understand how to truly show and experience gratitude. Perhaps true gratitude is more about giving than receiving.

Week four has been an extremely busy work week, social week and training week. I am down 2 more pounds to 173 and I am officially fatigued and ready for my Monday off day. Well at least off from Triathlon training… On Tuesday I was excited to break up the normal routine and ran in the monthly local 555 series 500 meter swim / 5k run race. My times are improving as I average a 2:10 per 100 yard swim pace with an 8:30 minute mile run pace. The worst part of this last week is that it is summer time in Texas and the temperatures are rising with the humidity well over 70% all week. I shouldn't complain, the heat will prepare me for the Olympic distance Triathlon that I am running in Austin on Sept 1st. Overall training distances for the past week: Biking 79 miles, Running 17.6 miles, swimming 2.5 miles. My longest distance on any one day for the week Biking 42 Miles, Running 8.6 miles, and swimming 1000 meters

Until next week! Perhaps our gratitude should be recognized by others through our expressions of giving of our time, knowledge, love, and resources. When we are truly grateful perhaps we will recognize we can share and not keep the blessing for ourselves.  

Week 2 Update My Iron Man Challenge

My why for life and deciding to complete an Iron Man. I feel alive when I know I am improving as a person physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I relish moving towards lofty ambitions, a destiny not yet fulfilled. With each challenge realized I gain more conviction in encouraging others to reach higher than they ever believed possible.    

Week 2 is complete and I found this past week a little more challenging than the week before. The night before my hardest workout of the week I decided to run in a 5k race with a friend. Well the 5 k race was fun however my next morning’s workout did not go so well. Lesson learned… This is why I have a Tri Coach who plans my workouts based on my scheduled races. I am looking forward to the sprint distance scheduled races coming up next Sunday and the following Tuesday. Overall training distances for the past week: Biking 80 miles, Running 16 miles, swimming 3.17 miles. My longest distance on any one day for the week Biking 42 Miles, Running 8 miles, and swimming 800 meters

Until next week! By discovering your why, life will make a little more sense. I have found that even the disappointments in my life are guiding me back to my why. =) 

Week 1 update Iron Man Challenge

Take the time to look for, enjoy and experience the good moments in life. There are always enough discouraging moments to monopolize your time if you allow it.  This past week has been a great week! The workouts have felt great, I purchased a new Tri Bike, felling healthy, and over all looking forward to the challenges ahead. My next minor events to prepare for the upcoming Olympic distance Tri Rock in Austin on 9/1 and two smaller events on 7/20 and 7/22. I have an amazing Tri Coach planning my workouts and for now the most difficult challenge has been resting on my scheduled recovery days. =) I do expect as the distance continue to increase I could find myself looking forward to the few rest days I experience. Overall training distances for the past week: Biking 68 miles, Running 14 miles, swimming 3300 yards.

I almost forgot, another positive side effect is I have lost 5 pounds and down to 175. Once I hit 170 I expect I will need to significantly increase my calorie intake to keep from becoming a skeleton.

Until Next time! We truly can be and do all we dream. We can’t predict or control the actions of others so perhaps our focus should be to be the best us we can be and hope we someday find someone a lot like us. =) 

Opportunities or Devoted

I have found it difficult to discern the open doors in my life that should remain closed and the closed doors in my life that I should continue to knock. We must learn to wait and listen for the guidance of the one who knows all, expecting the answer to be made know in the perfect time.    

Not a victim of Our Circumstance

I have found it difficult at times to accept life and circumstances as they are when they are not as I hoped them to be. Whatever the outcome knowing my creator has a plan and purpose for my life gives me strength, faith and excitement about what is to come.    

Life is Now

I have found it more difficult to sustain peace and happiness when I have placed a greater priority on creating my future as opposed to experiencing today. 

Your Time Will Come

To truly be at peace we must learn to accept moments in our lives just as they are regardless if it is as we wish it to be. Maintain your focus in the other areas of your life knowing whatever the outcome the blessing unseen will reveal itself at the perfect time. 

Grace is real

I have discovered grace to be difficult to offer when I start from a condition of fear or judgment equally. Grace- To accept another just as they are in the moments their ideas, thoughts, expressions or passions are not the same as yours. 

Change is inevitable

Everything we know is continually changing around us at all times. Nothing on earth stays as it is today. Don’t exhaust your happiness by attempting to control this change. Instead spend your time focusing on this moment, being grateful for the blessings in our lives now, confident that the worthy decisions of today will influence the inevitable change of tomorrow. 

How do we Change?

I have found more positive lasting change in my life when my focus altered from trying to change myself to understanding and following my purpose and listening for my creator’s voice and guidance. 

Motives the Key to a Life of Happiness

Our motive in every situation will ultimately determine how we view every decision, action and circumstance in our lives. Choose worthy motives such as love, joy, kindness and another’s happiness.  Change your motives and change your world. 

Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday?

I have found it difficult to enjoy the moment when I am engaged in conquering the feelings from the past. I have found it difficult to enjoy the moment when I am engaged in predicting the results of tomorrow. 

Get by Giving

We must freely give our trust before we start to trust. We must freely give our Love before we truly love. We must freely choose to believe before we obtain faith. Anything we give in truth and sincerity will be returned to us in greater measure. 

Discouragement or Peace

I often find discouragement by requiring a specific desired result at a time set by me through process I understand. I often find peace when the result is not as important as the journey, knowing the journey to the result will help me grow regardless of the method or outcome.  

Working hard and Success?

I have found greater results in my life when working hardest in my strengths and purpose as opposed to attempting to impersonate another’s success.    

Faith Hard to Come by?

Isn’t it humorous? When we need faith the most it is often the hardest to obtain. Through this process your faith is growing allowing tomorrow’s dreams to be grander than before.