Press On

This weekend was a beautiful weekend for riding and running and I was really looking forward to my "Pedal Thru the Pines" in Bastrop, TX on Saturday. I chose to do the 63 miler as I know I really need to get used to being in the saddle. The ride started out through Bastrop State Park with hills throughout. This gave us (Nathan, KB, and Robby) the challenge of weaving in and out of cyclists as a good amount got off their bikes to rest at the top of hills and such. Once out of the park, the cyclists doing shorter routes were out of the picture and we zipped along. The weather couldn't have been better, the scenery perfect, and company fabulous. All in all it was a great riding day. I felt strong and comfortable the whole way and felt like I had a good pace going, thanks to my riding buddies. I was a bit nervous at the 45 mile mark as that has been my standard as of late, but no worries on this ride.

Sunday, I knew I wanted to do the long run and my legs actually felt pretty good so I decided to take on the 10-mile Lady Bird Lake Loop. Robby joined me and again the weather was warm with a cool breeze and overcast, a perfect day for running. It was pretty fun to run the trail going from crowded festival goer sections to parts of the park less popular. I felt energized the whole run and great the rest of the day. Could I be getting stronger?! Oh the joy of training.

During my ride through the pines, I saw a lizard who was doing his regular run across the road when, he ran right into the bike tire of a cyclist in front of me, he shook his head as if to say "What a nuisance. What is that doing here?" and then forged back in the same direction. He was going to complete his mission. This is how I see my training for IM Switzerland, moving forward accomplishing goals and there may be little setbacks that I don't see or anticipate, but I need to shake them off and keep going. I always think of the quote my parents had in their bathroom when I was little (great place for quote placing by the way). It was a quote from Calvin Coolidge and I always think of it when I am struggling.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.