Through Christ
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Through Christ
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Fitness 2011 It’s a new year and my hunger for fitness has increased. It starts out with my traditional swim across the sea of Cortez to lands end. At the end of February I signed up for The Triathlon at Alcatraz that happens in August. It's similar to The Escape from Alcatraz I have done over the last 2 years but different. Different is good. The Triathlon at Alcatraz has a longer distance in the cycling part as well as a different course for the run. I’m looking forward to this endurance race and welcome the change of the course. My goals this year is try to get through it injury free. Last year I suffered from an over worked knee that kept me from running for 5 weeks as well as had to have several Sebaceous cysts removed over a course of 6 months that kept me out of the water for my training in the pool. Clearly it was a sign from my Lord that I was working my body too hard and if I didn’t slow down, he would make sure I did. He did and it reminded me who is in control here. Thank you Lord, I need that. Los Cabos 2011 At the start of every year, God willing, I head to Cabo San Lucas Mexico to start my training for the year. I enjoy very much the warmth after a cold fall and winter and the open water swims I do are essential to keeping my feet wet when it comes to the swimming part of the triathlons I enjoy doing. This year I did my traditional swim across the sea of Cortez to lands end in a record time of 34:34 this was my 4th time doing such a swim and may be my last. It’s a dangerous swim, and this years swim turned out to be more of shocker then I would have imagined. It wasn’t till a few days later after the swim when I was going through the photos of my endurance swim that I noticed two photos of something in the water with me. I’m not sure what it was, some say it was a shark and others a stingray. I’m convinced that it was a guardian of the deep that was sent to me from my lord to watch over me. It had to be because I am still here. As you can see, this object that’s next to me in the water is within striking distance of me. But, it did not strike. This isn’t the first time my Lord has sent a guardian to watch over me in this swim, the first year I did this swim, he sent three humpback whales to escort me. Still, the thought that keeps entering my head is, you have done this swim four times and its not necessary to attempt it a 5th time. Use this experience and share it with others so that they too can see how much I love you and that having the Lord with you in every step of your way can protect you from all things. Me, I trust in you Lord.
Training in Cabo 2011
Swim Across The Sea Of Cortez 2011 with Escorts
Something in the water that came up on my during my swim
Something in the water with me in striking distance
2011 Endurance swim across the Sea of Cortez to lands end completed in 34:34 A Short Video Below Of My Endurance Swim
Library Run 2011 One week after my swim, I jumped in a 5K race and even though I placed 3rd in my age group and 4th over all. It still was my slowest time on the course in the history of me racing it. It's not doubt in my mind that I was clearly tired after a long week of training in Cabo and my endurance swim that had taken place exactly one week form this run. I am devoted to my faith, my relationship and my training. I have realized that I still need help in learning to taper down before a race and to give my body a rest in between Events. This is something I very much need to learn or, as like last year, if I don’t listen to my body and to the will of God, he will make me listen.
In prayer prior to the race
Cupid & his 3rd place metal Almond Blossom 8K Race 2011 Braking through the wall. After the Library Run, I experience a large build up of lactic acid in my calves and the week after that race, I slowed down. I had to, I was just to painful to run fast. I nursed my calves and mixed up my training to help my calves recover. It paid off. The week before the race, I was feeling strong and was setting records in my training. I was latterly shaving off minutes from my runs, swims and other cardio workouts. Hitting it hard all week long, I wasn’t going to race in this race, but that morning of The Almond Blossom Race, a little voice encouraged me to go for it. I did & did fairly well in this race beating my time by nearly a minute from last years Almond Blossom race 8K and did it in 32.21 even though I didn’t place, I did feel the confidence of being able to fly once again when I run. Me, I placed 9th over all and beat some of the fellows that always come in before me. That was pretty cool.
Warm-up prior to the race
Ready Set GO! the top 10 runners of the race in this shot
I Always Try To Finish With A Sprint an 8K in 32:21 Henry’s March 2011 Even though my knee may never be what it was before my injury in 2010, On March 6th at Henry’s March I was reminded by my Lord what one I do through my faith in Jesus Christ. It was back in 09 when I ran my fastest 5K ever in 19:43 But, since my injury; I hadn’t come close to this close again. That morning, I ran Henry’s March in 19:45 and it gave me an overwhelming inner strength in my faith that not only will I beat my best time in a 5K one day but, I will surpass it and eventually get into the seventeen’s before its all said and done. Me, I am still learning to fly here and with every race I get smarter and smarter. Perhaps though, when that one day comes and I do get into the seventeen’s, I may never come back down from flight and will just keep flying strait up to the heavens to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Heading to the finish line with no other runners in sight
Final Results Placing 2nd over all 1st in age groups 40 & Up
Little Henry Awarding me my 1st place metal for the 3rd time in 3 years Run for Health 2011
It had been 40 days since I
had did any kind of social networking, I stepped away from Face Book and all
social networking for lent and during that time I focused more so on God, prayer,
family and
my
But to smash my tine by an amazing 19 seconds is phenomenal and I’m here to
remind us all that, “I can do all things through Christ! Through Christ!
Through Christ!!!!!!!!!
Cowboys and Chocolate! May 21 2011 Been running the fastest I have ever ran since I started running in 2005. Pulled a 2nd place with a time of 19:28 it been very exciting to be running so fast. I’m so grateful to be where I’m at in fitness through my hard work, discipline and more important through my faith.
Park Fete July 16 2011 12:03 at The Park Fete its Escalon fastest 2 mile foot race in fact, it’s the only foot race in the city of Escalon. Just the same, its always a huge race and through the grace of God, I have been able to maintain my speed with the fastest 2 mile race time I have ever ran with a 12:03 and a 3rd place
Wharf to Wharf 2011 July 23 2011 Make no mistake, The Wharf to Wharf race brings out the fastest runners in the world. I came with in reaching distance of coming in the top 100 out of 18,000 runners. This will be my new goal to make it in the top 100 next year God willing. I started running this race in 06 finishing with a time of 46:48 then my best time was in 09 with a 40:14 last year I was injured so I ran it for fun & the best way I could run it & did it in 52:02 My goal was to break 40 in this race. Goal Reached that day with a time of 38:27 So, I will keep reaching for the heavens here & until I do, I will enjoy my moment here soaring through the clouds.
Triathlon at Alcatraz 2011
Unfortunately not everyone
made it out of the bay that morning, many had to be plucked out of the sea &
tragically the coastguard recovered the body of a Tri Athlete much later after
the event. The bay was like a washing machine that morning with currents going
out as strong as they where coming in. Visibility was horrible because the sun
never shined that day and with the low-lying fog covering the shores of San
Francisco, we where all clueless which way was up. During the swim, many of us
had to rely on the safety kayaks to guide us including myself. At one point
after about 20 minutes into my swim, I looked up and the sea had flipped me
around and I was heading back to Alcatraz. Upset, you bet! But my only thought
was to get the heck out of that water as soon as possible. At about 100 yards to
shore, my right foot cramped up and I was only able to use 3 of my limbs for the
swim. In pain, cold & arms tacked out, I cried out to my personal trainer
Jesus Christ to help me. He calmed the sea for the rest of my swim and the cramp
in my right foot went away and never came back for the remaining of the
Triathlon. No doubt about it, everyone underestimated the sea that day including
the promoters of the event. The swim took me and everyone else including the
pros an extra 10-15 minutes to reach the shore. My fastest time for this
1.5-mile swim is 37 minutes, did that time in 2010 in the Escape From Alcatraz
Olympic Distance. This time it took me 54 minutes. Not knowing where I was in
place after the swim among the other Tri -Athlete, I remember a great Athlete
named Jeff Qualle telling me, you can’t win it in the water but you sure can
loose it. I thought for sure I was done in this competition. After getting out
of the water, we all had to run ½ mile to the transition area to start the next
leg of The Triathlon. Disoriented and fired up, I actually put my helmet on
backwards & didn’t notice it till the middle of the 25-mile bike ride. The
ride was cold, wet & slippery not to mention punishing on those steep uphill
San Francisco street. Many crashed others flatted out because of either tire
pressure or altitude. Regardless, I knew I had to make up as much time as
possible because of the long swim. I hammered it continuously for the remainder
of the Triathlon as if it was a Sprint Triathlon and not an international
distance one. It stared to take its toll on me, after the ride, I dismounting
the bike I slipped on my running shoes for the 7-mile run and the cramps started
to come on strong in my stomach. I was determined to get it done. Thankfully the
pains eased up after the run along the beach as I approached the dreaded sand
ladder and picked up the pace. As we all ran up and down many hills, I was able
to pass all who I came up on during this treacherous run. But, it still wasn’t
my fastest run.
Running is my
strongest leg in a Triathlon but after cashing all my chips in for the swim, I
started to remember again that great Tri-Athlete in my mind Jeff Qualle who I
wrote about in The Modesto View Magazine. His story inspired me as I kept going
knowing that if the pain came back and got to bad, their would be no shame in
quitting because of health issues. Thankfully it never got that bad during the
run and I was able to finish the competition 18th along with a memory that will
always be in my head of the struggles we all went though to the finish line as
well as those who we all boarded the boat that morning but never crossed that
finish line. In conclusion, I owe it all to Jesus for getting me through the
hardest Triathlon I have ever been in and as he’s always been there for me and
comforted me and reminded me that I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me. Phil 4:13
2011 Cancer Run & Ride
1st Place Winners
Wasn’t to sure what kind of race I was going to have that morning, up at 4AM out the door by 5AM with my only thought was to get my DJ gear up and ready for the fitness event. As I approached the start line that morning, I was not in race mode but more so in entertainment mode. Being the DJ I had a responsibly of entertaining the folks first verse winning a race or even finishing it with a personal best time. That said, I continued with my overly enthused self and burned off race energy prior to the race. On your mark, get set, GO! We all took off fast since it was just a 2-mile race. I surprisingly took the lead after a quarter mile into it and kept it. After about a mile into the race, I dug into it even more and started to sprint way ahead. My mistake, I should have held some back for the finish line. It was at the home stretch where I though it was all my race when I heard another runner come up on me and before I knew it, I was chasing her shadow seconds from the finish line. Not holding some back for the finish was my mistake, but her winning the race wasn’t. I ended placing second to a lady who was a faster runner then I as well as a smarter one. When I went to go congratulate her, I found out that she use to race for UC Santa Barbara and holds the 5th fastest time at her University for the 800 WOW! Didn’t feel to bad in the end because I lost to a pro and I ended up placing 1st over all the men as well as taking home The Masters Division with a time of 11.33 for a 2-mile race. My best time ever for a 2-mile race
1st place over all men & took home the masters division
11:33 2 mile race Central Valley Triathlon 2011
Its been all about my faith and training that has led me to coming in 1st in my age group at this Triathlon as 3rd over all. The morning started out with clouds and little sprinkles on the dashboard as well as deciding to participate in this Triathlon the night before. Ultimately like all things I just gave it to God and asked for not a win but for a safe and fun Triathlon finish with heart felt memories of those who didn’t make it out of the bay at my last Triathlon. He ended giving more then that my Christian friends. After my swim, I had a feeling it was going fairly well for me because when I got to the bike area there was more bikes still on the racks meaning that there was still some swimmers out in the water. Sure I wasn’t the fastest swimmer that day but I made up most of my time that I had spent in the water on my ride and my run passing all but 2 Tri-Athletes to the finish line. It was a great race and ecstatic I was that I had done so well shaving off over 7 minutes from the year before on a new hilly running course adopted at this years, Central Valley Triathlon. This win was unexpected and I quickly dedicated it to my personal trainer Jesus Christ.
Time 1:25:00 The Wine & Cheese Run 2011
Several of us in prayer prior to the race
7 days prior to this race I had been diagnosed with Diverticulitis, it’s a painful infection in the digestive track that halted training for 2 days and when I stared back up, it was more of an easy workout verses training. Just the same, I knew if I ran this race, it would be a challenge to win it or even place in it just because of my illness and this race always brings out the fastest runners from all over California and the turn out has always been huge. At the start line, I really didn’t know how it was going to go. I knew I had to take it easy because of my illness and the medications I was on and it did have some negative effects in my body. Just the same, I started this race like always do in prayer asking for a safe and fun finish without pain. At the sound of go, we all took off easy and after about the 1st mile there was 5 of us clustered together in the lead, it wasn’t ill after the 2nd mile that it came down to just 3 of us racing for the finish line. Honestly, I didn’t give any thought how well I was doing till abut the 2 ½ mile mark when my concentration turned to a side pain that started up and I quickly listened to my body and slowed down to ease the pain. Keeping a steady pace 3rd place, I had no choice to let another runner pass me knowing I still had some distance to go. As I approached the finish line I decided not to push it. Any place would have been OK as long as the pain wouldn’t come back. At this point, I was in 4th place and just seconds to the finish line. Holding steady, I still didn’t push it with a sprint as I always try to do and before I knew it I was passed by a fellow runner named Mike who I have much respect for. This was his favorite course and race and in the end, he took 4th place and pushed me back to 5th over all and in my age group. Disappointed, not in any way. When I looked at my time, I was shocked because I had just ran the fastest 5K race in my life with a time of 18:55 on this hilly course. Incredible, I had just shaved off nearly 30 seconds in my sick condition from my fastest time of 19:22 from a race I won back in April. As happy as I was, I was also disappointed not for myself, but for my friend Mike who passed me. I just knew that this was his favorite race on his home turf and out of all the years I have raced against him, I had never seen him or myself for that matter to finish with a time under 19 minutes for a 5K I just knew he had been training for this race and when I looked at him after the finish line he was hunched over in pain. He had gave it his all, raced the fastest 5K in his life and hit still didn’t place. I guess I’m just about the weirdest runner out there because I wasn’t disappointed that he beat me but disappointed because he didn’t win or even place. 5K race my best time 18:55
Turkey Trot 2011 Finished
out the year with a personal best record for a 5K it was in September of 05 when
I raced my 1st 5K in a time of 24:07 placing 3rd in my age
group. It’s been 6 years since that first 5K as well as 6 years in my fitness
quest in Christ. That day I was weighting in at about 140lbs from my record low
racing weight of 136lbs. But, my faith in Christ has grown stronger in him since
then. On Thanksgiving, I raced in this yearly run known in my hometown as the
Turkey Trot. It’s always been a tough race to run & placing in my age
group wouldn’t be something easy. More then 1400 people race in this run and
the competition is always tough. This year I placed 1st in my age
group with the fastest race I have ever ran with a time of 18:37 Thanks be to
God, I’m end my fitness year in racing with a personal best that I could have
only dreamed about back in February of 2004 Phil 4:13 I can do all things
through Christ 1st place in age group with a time of 18:73 |
