Happy Easter

I've been delinquent on posts, but certainly wanted to wish all a Happy Easter.

Phew, yesterday was indeed a struggle. I'm certain there will be many more of those. I got in a good ride on Friday afternoon of over 50 miles with about 2,500 feet of elevation gain. I've never felt better on the climb up Lookout Mountain outside of Golden. Diabetes, to me, is a constant balancing act and I guess those good feelings from Friday had to equal out. My swims yesterday and today have been a struggle and the run yesterday afternoon was a real effort. Weather is garbage out here today, so I'm hoping to get a few hours of nice easy riding on the trainer and loosen up the legs a bit.

So often, I've seen athletes, teammates, friends, acquaintances beating themselves up over perceived failures to perform to their own or other's expectations. I, for one, know I've been guilty of that in the past. There is a quote I've found an important reminder when I've begun to "beat myself up" for not meeting my own expectations. I also saw this on a 2008 Triabetes YouTube video and it could not be a more relevant motto for me. Teddy Roosevelt once said the following, "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." Well said, Teddy. Training will continue to present challenges, but they will be overcome with a mental toughness that shapes all who compete in triathlons.

I was in to see my endo for my regular six month check a week ago and all signs were good. HbA1C was 6.5, blood pressure was 120/59 - 21 years into this disease. I don't think I've ever been more fit or healthier. Just a reminder that it can be done no matter the circumstances.

Happy Easter!