Sunny Day

It's nice to take a break from work and training to enjoy a sunny day with my handsome boys.

How This is Going to Happen.

If I am going to accomplish my set out goal of completing my race with some grace and dignity then I am going to need a plan. Lucky for me I am incapable of sticking to a training schedule or any schedule for that matter. I don't think I have ever done the same thing twice. I am what you would call a novelty athlete.

Here's my plan;

First

• I need to explain why I am doing this race, the reason for this is when I am on an 8 hour mountain bike ride and I want to die I can come home cry a little then re-read the purpose of the pain. Thus motivating me to ignore the pain and continue on the path of self destruction.
• Answer: I am doing this race for a lot of reasons. The main reason or purpose is to give myself a little treat before we add another player to the Gundy Team. It's a huge challenge that will inspire me to become a stronger athlete which I hope will flow into other parts of my life and will teach me discipline (or at least teach me the discipline I need to put my dirty clothes in the hamper). Another reason, I want to see how far I can push myself, and I want to find out what is waiting for me at my edge.
  

Secondly

• I need to lay out a training plan - how will I track my progress? What will be my rewards and punishments for accomplishing or not accomplishing my workouts?
• Answer: For the next two weeks I have a training plan already written out. I will print it out and place in on the fridge. I will track my progress by using a ancient techniques of the Star Chart. Yes, you heard me correctly I get a gold star every time I complete my workout. (This works for my friends 3 year old daughter, she does all sorts of chores for a gold star) After these 2 weeks then I will purchase a plan from a coaching service.
  
• Reward: For each week I complete my workout with 83% completeness I will reward myself with a fresh bottle of Ibuprofen and a new bottle of biofreeze.
  
• Punishment: If I fall below 83% then I must swim. I hate swimming almost as much as I hate hippies. However there may be cases when swimming won't be an option, when that is the case I will clean my closet. Both things I hate to do so I should be motivated to keep my numbers up.
  

Thirdly

• I need to come up with motivational quote that will keep me inspired to continue my journey. This quote must make me feel strong, yet give me a little out if ever I should need one...it could and should be used as my mantra and should not be filled with hurtful remarks...mainly about my weight. I will also have the right to change at any given time.
• Answer: I came up with this quote while Seth and I were out riding.

"It's not about you becoming your best, it's about you beating the best in others."

I'm all signed up.

I just signed up for the Hardcore 24 race in New York. It's a 24 hour mountain bike race, that I will attempt to do solo. I'm excited...really excited. I know it's a big race for people who are really tough, and I know I'm not that tough...but I figure if I stick to a plan and do the work then I can do the race. It is now written, and so it must be.

Just sitting here....

For the last day or so, I have had a registration page open for a race I want to do...when it was about for me to confirm my registration and pay up, I froze...the page is still there, waiting for confirmation...I know I want to do this race, I'm going to do it, but once I pay for it - that's it. It's like being written in the great book above. There's no going back, I will have to go forward and train, train, train, and then begin my training for it. Even now, I see the tab...and I hesitate...it's a race I know I am going to suffer in...I'm not afraid to suffer...I just don't know how to prepare myself to suffer this much. This race is for people who are so much tougher than I am. I feel like a little kid wanting to play with the adults. I wonder is this anxiety a survival technique I should be listening to? Or, could it be that my body enjoys the life of leisure, and is really super lazy?

On the flip side...I like the challenge. I'm not fast, I know that, but I like to get the job done. In a way suffering allows me to meet myself in a different setting...a quiet place, and at times a dark place. I want to try to accomplish something greater than my ability.

Well now that I have hyped it up like mad...I better just sign up for it, right?