Sunday, January 24, 2010

Are you training or just trying?

I've always said that race day exposes the posers. You can "talk" your way through a training period, but come race day, when that gun goes off, everyone knows if you've put in the time or not. Especially you. It's one thing to say that your going to "try" to run a marathon or "try" to do and Ironman - it's yet another thing to commit to the training that it takes to prepare for the event. When people ask me if it's hard to do an Ironman, I tell them that it's not the distance (140.6 miles) that's so daunting, it's the preparation. Come race day, there are literally THOUSANDS of miles put in over many months which prepare you for the big day. The difference between training and trying is pretty clear. You can TRY to eat better, TRY to get your workouts in, TRY to live a disciplined life - and fail. It's a daily choice - every morning you wake up, you have to ask yourself if you are willing to do more than try.....because trying won't get you there. It's no different than if I decide that I want to be a better father, husband, or Christian, I must TRAIN myself daily - I must consciously decide to spend time with my kids - I must be there for them. It's not enough to TRY to make their events. Your kids know the difference. You must ensure that you still have your best available for your wife when you come through the door at the end of the day - you can't be running on empty. Your wife can tell if you've got only fumes left for her. And finally, you must spend time in the Word, training your mind every day to ensure that you are growing spiritually. TRYING to become more Christ-like won't cut it. Training the mind, body, and spirit is not easy. But it's incredibly rewarding. Coming down the finisher's alley of an Ironman as they announce your name.....words alone can't describe the emotions. Watching your kids graduate from high school and knowing that you were there for them every step of the way, no regrets - it simply doesn't get any better than that. It's been said that you either live a life of discipline or a life of regrets. If you go through life merely trying, you're bound to look back with regrets. If you live a life of daily discipline through training, chances are you will have led a life of significance and left a legacy for others. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness ..." (2 Thes 4:7, 8). BELIEVE.

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