To begin a new training schedule...

Well since finishing an Olympic Distance triathlon in Pinehurst, NC (http://www.set-upinc.com/2001racepages/pinehurst/pinehurst.shtml). I really have had nothing to train for. I am now in the process of trying to decide if I want to try a marathon in Myrtle Beach.

The only thing about a marathon is the impact it has on your body. A lot of people think just do it so you can finish. I am not one of those people. I tried that with a friend at the above Olympic distance triathlon and I could have knocked off about 10 mins from my overall time. Bummer but we are really tight friends so I was happy to do what I had told him I would do, which was finish together. Back to my point, I really just want to finish in the top 3 of anything I do. That is what drives my engine. I love to compete.

At my age of 27, I haven't really completed a full training program to compete. I always fall short of what is asked but I always place well. I know as I get older and maintain the same weight, something has to give. Either I train my butt off and watch what I eat or I don't compete well.

I believe this is what separates Lance Armstrong or Michael Jordan from the rest of the world. That internal voice telling them to train and knowing that if they train and meet their schedule they will perform above anybody else. I would love to be able to say I could feel that but I know I can't. I know I could go out and beat over 60% of the guys out there that I am competing against but to say I am the best. I don't know. I think it has a lot to do with genetics and up bringing.

Anyway, training for something so demanding of the body takes a lot of mental preparation for me. It is a switch that once I say "Ok I am going to run the Myrtle Beach marathon." then I am going to run that race whether or not I have trained properly. This is something I have to fix deep within.

See, I believe that I am lazy. You may say but you have competed and ran these events. I know and my work ethic is something that has been passed down to from my father. I will NEVER quit something I have started. If it hurts me in the end, I believe it can only make me stronger deep inside. It is just that I have this other half of me that would love to eat 10 pounds of wings and sit at home and watch sports and movies all day long and not feel a regret about gaining weight or not being able to run to the end of the road.

This is what holds me back from being an amazing athlete and an amazing husband. I believe this is what holds a lot of people back from being what they want to be. Anyway this is what I am sharing today and I am going to start Tuesday morning doing my thing to get prepared because I want to be good not amazing. Maybe one day...