How to know when you're recovered from an Ironman

How about when you feel like standing in front of the stove for an afternoon preparing food, just for the joy?

For the first week or so after a big build, big race, or anything alike, all that seems to cross the mind is a resounding "Eat!"  Too tired to figure out how.  Too cranky to figure out what.  Too spent to be creative.

Eventually, as recovery occurs creativity returns.  Once again there is interest in the what and the how, and today, I feel like cooking.

***

The guitar sits on a stand across from the couch.  Couch, remote control, six feet, then guitar.  When the miles climb and the intensity explodes, so does the distance from couch to guitar.  It just seems so far away.  The remote is right there, and who knows what to play.

Sure enough, a few days roll by and the mind wonders, "How does that song go again?"  8, 7, 6, 5, 4 feet & I can reach the guitar.  Today I can play.

Rest well.

Seek Up

Live at Luther College is by far one of my favourite DMB albums.  My buddy Joel & I took the bus down to A & B sound during the summer of grade nine and picked it off the shelf.  We brought it back to the house, put it in the the player, & listened to it in the back yard playing hacky sac.

It has now become the go too album for the drive to and from any race.

Seek Up on the Drive Down

****

The feeling that came when I looked back & Matt said, "You're doing great buddy, we're all in."

The feeling that came when I heard my name, looked around the corner, and saw Muddy.

The feeling that came when I gave my homestay parents, Ken & Marie a hug goodbye.

These are the feelings I remember, the highlight reel that will continue to play.

****

Seek Up on the Drive Home

Thank you for the highlight reel.

Rest well.

7 to go . . .

. . . and finding the flow.

Today was a good day, and in the wise words of Muddy "We'll wake up and do it all over again tomorrow."

Sometimes I think, "Really? Again tomorrow?"

Wake up, Kicking Horse, eat, roll over to the ever adventurous Crystal P and hop in.

"Weird, I think I actually feel alright."

Back home, eat, sleep, eat some more, and onto the hog.

Somehow when things turn bright in Victoria, it turns on a light in the legs.  Early in the season you may catch an occasional flicker.  "Was that it?  Did you see that?  I think the lights came on."

As that giant fireball becomes an evermore present presence, it has a way of flicking the switch, and eventually, the switch stays ON.

25.6, 26.2, 26.6, 26.7, 26.8, 27.1.  Now we're cooking with firepower!

Loops of the Waddling Dog are a classic here in Victoria.  Harness the power of the engines who have ridden here before!

Hog stays home and the 'flats are out for fun.

6:13, 6:08, "There must be a headwind," 5:47, 5:27. "Yeah, there was definitely a headwind.  Easy now tiger, settle in." 5:54. . .

Rest well.

wise words

He had been up sine 5:30, testing wax combinations, powders, and base preps.  He had pre skied the course frontward and back. He knew where he wanted race support giving splits.  He knew the start lists, our positions in line, and who we were each racing.

I'm pretty sure he had a good idea of where the cards would fall, but he had also taught us well. We were the players, and we would fight given any hand.

As he passed me my skis, there was an undeniable lack of urgent emergency, a stark contrast to what I felt.

"Don't you understand?" I would question silently in my own mind. "This, right now, this, this defines me.  This is not a time for smiles. It's not a time for fun."

His cheeks were bright red, flushed from being out in the cold.  He passed me my skis and said:

"Have fun Steve."

"Are you kidding me? Fun? You must have no idea, no idea at all."

I heard those same three words before every race we did as a team.  I heard them every time. I listened every time.  I heard, I listened, but I didn't understand. I didn't even really try to understand.

***

Eight years later I think I might.

Thank you Gord.

Rest well.

The Mountain

After days of snow.

I wake up, open the curtains, and see the sky; light blue, barely different from the snow shade on the mountainside.

The east face starts to wake as gold and brilliant white patches emerge on the summit. Gradually they descend, ledge by ledge, golden light and golden white.

I'm excited.

Now, closer to me a new face emerges. The mountain is alive.  I watch as the light descends and dances between the trees.

I must climb the mountain.

Rest well

Mouse Meat

Catching a mouse could be a great feat,

Especially if there has been no food to eat.

Isn't it nice of the mouse to give us their meat?



But the Tiger isn't satisfied with mouse meat.  He will starve.

The Tiger's eyes are set on Big Game, A Moose, 2 - 3 the size of the Tiger.



The Tiger has witnessed a kill.  He must keep practicing his own skill.

Eyes set on the Big Game.


Rest Well.

Tiger

Solitary Tiger, Superlative Hunter. 

Practiced skill, Perfected Patience. 

Tigers are Professional. 

Even with all that skill and patience, the Tiger still must learn how to hunt. Even then, he doesn't eat dinner every night.

The temperature has begun to fall. The sun follows, slowly lowering itself to the horizon.

Hungry Tiger.

Rest well.