Well 2008 was a hell of a year for a lot of good and bad reasons I'll start with the bad first because I figure ending with good news will lead to a more postive up beat attitude.
The bad:
I lost my digital camera in September.
Fell behind on the bills
Dad Lost his job...Fell even more behind on the bills.
Got flooded out of my parent's place when our sump pump malfunctioned, Causing me to move into my Grandfather's house mid summer.
Sold my road bike to race.
Didn't qualify for Kona
Didn't qualify for Clearwater
First DNF due to a bad deraileur cable.
My heart just wasn't into school work this semester.
Fell for a girl I don't think I can have.
Really thought about giving up sports for the first time in my life.
Realized how above my means I was really living.
Entered a race against the advice of friends and now feel like it might be a mistake.
The good:
PRed Twice in the Half Ironman Distance,including a hilly Providence70.3 course.
Averaged above 20mph on the bike for over 50 miles for the first time in my career.
Missed a Kona slot by 70 seconds. at Eagleman.
Met Bob and Mary Ann Blais ( Jon Blais's parents check out War on ALS.) twice this season... Their son's courage helped me get through some of the tougher times this racing season and helped get me out the door to train on days when all I wanted to do was feel sorry for myself.
Raced as an elite for the first time and as a bonus was the fastest out of the Water at the Patriot Triathlon this July.
3 races ( a 72.3 ,a sprint, and a 70.3) in 8 days and I managed PR's at all 3.
I left the country for the first time in 21 years.
I finished my first Ironman.
I finished my first Ironman in a Foreign country.
I realized how many people actually give a damn about me.
I realized DNFing isn't the end of the world..granted it still sucks.
Foundout I was physically and mentally tougher than I thought.
PRed in the Marathon twice.
Lost all the money I brought with me to a casino and didn't have a panic attack, granted I was a little intoxicated at the time.
Foundout I've got friends so crazy they make me look sane.
Realized that I am the only person that can truly control my life.
That I'm ALMOST ready ( still need to get that degree and some cash) to live on my own and this time unlike last time I won't screw up as bad because I have a little more faith in myself.
Not everything wrong in my life is anyone else's fault, granted it's not all my fault either.
I cannot be anyone else's parent..well you know unless they're my offspring, and tell them how to run their life, at the same time I can't help support anyone else unless I can support myself.
That somehow some way I will get myself out of the rut it I just stay patient and work at it.
R.D.
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3 comments:
Great Post!! and i'm glad you started with the "ups" because at first I was thinking should I continue reading this because I'm getting depressed....but I'm glad I read all the way through, b/c you had an amazing year and also gave me some realizations to think about too!
LG,
Well when I wrote this I decided to purge the negative thoughts out of my system first and end the post on a positive note..figure it was better that way.
I'd say that was one hell of a season! And I think you learned what most people don't learn in a lifetime. Awesome!
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