I am just coming back from a stargazing session. The Geminids were expected to peak right about now. My little digital camera can't handle astronomy photography, but I did shoot the moon rising in the east. It was a decent show tonight. We were out for about an hour and saw about 30 shooting stars. It was pretty awesome. I would recommend watching a meteor shower at least once in your life.
Does stargazing have anything to do with triathlons or training? Well I guess if I really dug deep I could make some connection.
Trifrog posted this a little while ago. I haven't done many triathlon type workouts since, ohh, September. Mentally I'm not quite the same as I was in the summertime when I was hopped up on endorphins and my brain was focused 24/7 on Ironman. Sitting out in the middle of a field in December at 3 am with a few dozen whitetail deer and hundreds of points of light is far from the world of triathlon. It made me realize that I really don't want a life that consists of eating, sleeping, breathing triathlon year round. I pretty much went twelve straight months of preparing for Ironman. That's the longest span of training that I've gone without a break. And I think my brain lost interest in triathlons, at least a little bit. Heresy? Maybe. But I've never went by the book anyways. I posted a list of a few things I wanted to do after I finished Ironman. Well I've done a few of those things and I have a few that I still want to cross off that list.
So as some of you are waking up to hit the pool or go out for a quick jog, I'm about to head off to bed. I won't be dreaming of swimming, biking, or running. My brain wants to wander off into the starry night sky and I'm totally all right with that...
14 comments:
Heresy, I say, speaking those words. But there are other things more than TRiathlons. Adventure racing, Xterra, rock climbing.
Hope your ankle is getting better. I know you can't stay away to long.
Heresy, nevah. Being well balanced is what triathlon and life is all about. Life is too short to not enjoy as much as you can.
how is your stump?
I agree with Trieric....if you do not have balance, it will be miserable. This is supposed to be fun!
PS. I can get you a 20-30% discount off of the web price of IBM thinkpads through the employee purchase program. Let me know and I will send you the login info so you can poke around.
PPS. if it is the hardrive, I have an extra here (t 40 series) you can have.
Right on! I think I'll be there after IMLP. I think it is a healthy attitude. Good for you.
What time did you have to be out to see the meteors? I think I saw another shooting star this A.M out of the corner of my eye!
I'm jealous!!! I headed out last night to watch the Geminid shower and it started pouring rain :( It continued for a while so I didn't see a thing.
For me, triathlons, and the IM are on my to-do list, amoung many others. I seem to have the opposite problem of everyone else, I have to work hard to stay in that mentality 24/7 or my mind will go elsewhere. Part of my having this on my wishlist is not just to accomplish an IM, but to actually work at something long-term and stick to it!
Enjoy your time star-gazing. Dan and I used to do that frequently in Tasmania--and I'll be doing that this time next year!
Al,
I don't think anyone of us can do tri 24/7/365. Gordo once said that he needs a break after 3-4 years(?) of training. I do think the mind need to focus something else.
I plan on taking a lot of time off after Lake Placid 2007. I will still ride my bike and run or swim. But no heavy training.
I love looking at the stars. Not everything has to be about triathlon! It's good when training makes us appreciate life more, however.
Ahh... stargazing, one of the things living in my rural outpost is really good for. And I'm with you on the needing a break from tri too. I agree with those above - balance is a good thing.
I love the Life is Good slogan:
"Do what you like. Love what you do."
Or somethin' like that. :)
I'm with ya on this. Probably the best thing I could have done last April was just what I did--left the bike and pool, and flew out to AZ and hiked to the bottom of the Canyon. My favorite memory of that entire trip was laying on the ground and staring at the sky. I've NEVER seen ANYTHING like it.
Keep on stargazing, my friend!
My idea of stargazing would be to sit in my den with all the lights out and a fav CD playing just loud enough to hear every nuance of the music. To each his own, but we do need to do these relaxing things often to really gain the benefits of doing so.
I'm guessing tearing apart your laptop was not on that post-IM ToDo list?
Do you name every inanimate object in your possesion? ;)
Good post. I am certainly one that CANNOT live Triathlon 24/7. You set a tough goal for yourself, and you ought to be proud of yourself. Now's exactly the time to unwind and reflect on "life after ironman". :)
Hey, how's the ankle? I have been praying in faith that it is all healed up, so PLEASE confirm that it is indeed all well. ;)
OOPS, forgot to add that I am taking up your offer to do the Ironman 70.3 Singapore together in a couple of years. :) Of course, we will be in different age categories, but that would give me an excuse for being so much slower...
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