Love and Acceptance

I drove to Baton Rouge last weekend to compete in a Senior Olympic track meet and the 700 mile solo trip left me with plenty of time to think.  Just wanted to share my thoughts to help me sort things out, for me to refer back to , and maybe these words will resonate with someone.  So I spent time
counting my blessings  thanking God that at soon to be 60 I am healthy enough to drive for hours, jump out of the car and after working out the kinks go compete on the track.  Even though I will complete trip #60 around the sun in December, I sure don't have everything figured out yet.  I remember when I was younger thinking how wise some older folks were and seemed to have answers for every situation.  I am still waiting for that wisdom to come to me.  I have certainly learned a lot along the way, but I have enough wisdom to know that there is much I still don't know and some things I probably don't need to know.  I have certainly had my share of failures.  Still learning life lessons from them also, including some that were long ago. Trying not to beat myself up over them.
I have also learned there is only so much one person can do.  Like the church sign says, Let Go and Let God.  I am learning to do that more the older I get.  I guess I better get to the Love and Acceptance like the title says.  All the work, fun, play and busyness that our lives consists of is surely important, but I don't want to let those distract  me from my relationship with God, my family and friends.  I am so driven at times I lose sight of that.  Let Go and Let God.  What if we all accepted who we are and loved like God.  Why can I not get over myself and just say God made me and loves me(Every One) just as we are.  Why can I not love like God.  None of us are perfect yet God forgives us anyway.  Why do we not forgive ourselves.  Hard to forgive, love and accept others if you can't do the same for your self.  I hope my remaining time on earth that I will simply enjoy life, love my family, friends, and self the way Jesus loves us.  Peace and Love.

Just a couple of mural shots from a 3 day ride I took this week.

Chilling in the pool.

Chilling in the pool.

Took a little ride with my bride the other day.  Look at the way the sun cascades around her.  Must be heaven sent.  2nd pic is soon after I waxed the NH.  Pretty nice for an 18 year old machine with original paint.

Snow

We had about 6" of snow yesterday and had fun playing in it today. I ran for about 30:00 in the soft powder then spent an hour dodging snowballs from this vicious gang of chunkers.

USATF National Championships

There I am, 2nd from right in red shorts and white top. I am happy to finish 5th in the nation in the 50-54 group, but determined to run better next year. My crash injuries are well behind me but my 50 year old legs are ready for a break. My hamstring injuries have bothered me since '05. I'm taking acupunture and massage treatment now and hope to start training for the 2010 season soon. If I can run uninjured next year I fully expect to run a 54-55 in the 400. I plan to do more endurance training and maybe run the 800 also. We shall see.

Anyway, 5th at Nats in a season best 57.74 despite lots of injuries was OK. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

A new seasonal best

I finally got off 58-barely. 57.98 never felt so good. Ran with a full field of masters in Luke's Locker meet in Dallas. A younger guy(early 40's) blew by me in the first turn but I ignored him and ran my own race, but I wish I had gone out harder. Hit the 200 mark in 28.4 and felt EASY. In the last turn I was gaining on young guy and felt I would beat him. Hit the 300 mark and started blasting. I ran by young guy easily and won by 10 yards. I know there is a lot more in my legs because this one felt easy. No lactic burn at the end or after the race. Had a great cooldown and I know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Another 58

I'm stuck on running 58 400's. Last week at USATF SW meet I ran the slowest opening 200 I've ever run(29.9). Felt like a jog running against a strong wind and I knew I would have a alot left. I needed it because my bud Mike Shufelt ran a strong race in front of me and I had to chase him down. Ran my fastest 100 segment on the curve(13.7) to pull even with him and passed him with about 80 to go. Slowed a little the last 50 and ran a neg. split 28.4 2nd 200 and 58.35.

I'm in great shaped but I think just a bit gunshy of a pulled hamstring if I push too hard. All the massage done to my hammy has convinced me that the reason my R ham feels strange is the scar tissue that has built up since I had a severe pull in July of '05. It hasn't felt right since but I think it's safe to push it in the 400. I just need to run a well paced race. Go out in 13.7-13.2(26.9)-13.5(40.4)-14.0(54.4). That looks doable. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1st race 0f '09

I ran my 1st 400 of the year on Saturday in the Lions/Waterloo meet in Austin. Considering where I was earlier this year I should be happy with a 58.21 AT(57.9ht-57.1selft). Upon reflection, I am very happy with the 1st 300 of the race. Ran smart 'til 300 then started struggling trying to catch a younger competitor and lost my form. I would have easily run a low 57 maybe a high 56 with a smoother finish. Back to training and another chance to improve next
Saturday, June 6. I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me.

EZ 59.8 400

I ran an easy feeling 400m on the track this morning in 59.8. My first hard 400 since my accident. It felt so good to run like that again. No booty lock at all, just smooth running through the line. I can't wait until May 23rd when I run my 1st meet of the year in Austin.

I'm well down the Road to Recovery

I've been so busy coaching track that I haven't had time to report on my training. I had been doing some very light running before my last Dr. visit on 3-18. Dr. Pappas gave me a release and said I could lift light weights and run all I want. I was ready to start hard training right away because the walking and slow motion running I did kept me in the running frame of mind.

I wasn't able to pick up right where I left off before the accident but I was in good condition. I've been running lots of uphills and form running on grass and am ready to start sprinting on the track again. This pic was taken by Olivia recently while I was doing form running.

The road to recovery has started

I visited my Doc this week and got good news. I can start using my arms and getting my range of motion back. He removed the staples and took my right shoulder and started moving it in slow circles. It hurt a bit but I was glad to know it can be moved, now I've got to retrain and strenghten my muscles to do it own their own. I walked for 30:00 in 70*weather and couldn't resist jogging a few steps. It felt so good. After viewing a pic of my out of balance body it probably won't be a good idea to start running again until my shoulders are in sync. Doc didn't say I could resume all normal activities yet so I will hold off running until he says that I can, but it sure felt good to work up a sweat. Patience, paience, patience. I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me.

Well, my NH 750 is gone. The same day I went in for surgery my insurance company hauled it away. The frame was slightly bent so they proclaimed it a total loss. Here is my wife Marni in the process of replacing the aftermarket shocks I put on last October with the stockers. When I returned from the hospital and the bike was gone it was a bit of a sad day for me. I know that the fun I've had riding on the road the last 5 years is over. But, when 1 door closes another 1 opens. I was spending way too much of my free time with my mc and mc friends. I now realize that I was neglecting my family. My girls are 14,11, and 8 and before I know it they will be grown and gone. I want them to have good memories of me. My own dad died at age 39 of a heart attack. I was 9 when he died. He was a great breadwinner and he would talk to me and throw the ball around with me when he was home, but that was rare. I really can barely remember my dad. I feel I'm a good breadwinner for my family but I need to spend more time with them. We are going to have several mini vacations this summer at Magic Springs/Crystal Falls in Hot Springs, AR. My youngest daughter Isabella is going to ride dirtbikes with me when I recoup from the crash. I still hope I can get all my girls to start a fitness program and maybe compete in track. I look forward to lots of good times ahead with my family. I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me.

Surgery

I had surgery on my collarbone a few days ago. 7 screws holding a steel plate to join my shattered clavicle together. It was a success, but the day of and after the surgery were 2 of the longest days of my life. I was operated on 8 hours after reporting to the hospital. I waited in pre-op for 6.5 hours. Marni finally was able to go home to rest at 1:30 am when they rolled me in from recovery. I went about 24 hours with no food or H2o so when they finally brought food I was like a bear coming out of hibernation. Still in pain as I write this but I'm on the road to recovery.I can do all through Christ who strengthens me.

A New Day

73* in January. Until 1-11-09 that would have meant I would be riding my motorcycle today, but with my Nighthawk in worse shape than me it was a no go. The pics below show some of my still painful but mending injuries. I feel like I weigh 200 but at 175 I guess I'm OK. I can see that I'm rapidly losing muscle mass, but I can begin to rebuild it in a couple of months. I walked for the 6th day in a row today and it felt so good to work up a sweat. I was able to jog a few slow steps but the jarring was too much for my broken bones. I still consider today a major step toward a full recovery and I am looking forward to great things ahead. I CAN do all things through CHRIST who strenghtens me.

bruise

bruise, originally uploaded by luckylindy1.

1-22-09

1-22-09, originally uploaded by luckylindy1.

You've got to walk before you run

I haven't talked about my track career(hobby) here so I thought I would write a bit about that. I've competed in track since junior high(1972) -2008. So, 36 years of track still hasn't satisfied my competitive itch. I just love the process of building a base of fitness then cutting the training down and racing(usually late spring and through the summer). Why does a 50 y.o. still want to race around a track? I don't know, but the desire to do so is still there. I have some great friends whom I competed with over the years. I think all adults should engage in some fitness activities so I think why not push on a bit more and compete. My times have gotten slower over the years but that is to be expected. I've beaten some people in Master's(over 40) track who were way better than me in our younger days simply because Masters is a battle of attrition. My main event the past several years has been the 400M dash. It's the perfect event for me because it requires good speed and endurance. I can train for endurance most of the year(good for an old fogey), then concentrate on speed when it's time to race. In 2005 I had my best year in many years as I consistently ran in the 54's. Since I turned 50 in Dec. '08 I have looked forward to being in a new age group and being competitive on the national level. Us old guys can compete in Sr. Olympics(which includes many sports in an Oly like festival) or USATF(which is track only.) I won the 100M and 400M dashes at the Texas Sr. Games in '08 which qualifies me for the National Sr. Games in California in August of '09, but I think I'll only be able to attend the USATF Masters Nationals in Wisconsin in July of '09. A win at USATF would be harder to attain than the Sr. Games. Anyway, here on 1-19-09, with many broken bones and getting fatter everyday that I'm not able to run I vow to run in the USATF 400M this summer. I would love to guarantee victory or run a 54, but I know there is too much uncertainty for that. I believe setting the goal to be there and to be competitive will motivate me to get my broken fat butt in gear as soon as I heal enough to run. Right now it's a struggle to walk an easy half mile. I know God will give me the strength to fully recover. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!! The pic is from last Fall where I won the 100 and 400 at TX. SR. Games.

Who has more injuries? My NH 750 or me?

I am getting a little better each day. The recovery will be a test of my patience( as well as my wonderful family's). My bike took a hard hit but I don't think it's totaled. How it skidded 180* to strike the truck with the rear is a mystery but that certainly minimized the $ damage. If the front end had struck the truck it would need new forks, wheel, brakes, etc. It looks like I'm going to replace the rear plastic, turn signals, & taillight. After impact it seems the bike hit the pavement and bent the handlebar, destroyed the throttle grip, mirror, and kill switch. I will be awhile before I begin to rebuild my bike, but I think I'll be able to bring her back to her former glory then sell her. I want to return to dirt riding, which I loved as a youngster. No crazy jumps or racing, just getting back in the woods and riding easy, hopefully with one or more of my daughters. Isabella has said she would like a dirt bike, so we shall see.

Here is a rundown of my injuries. Broken right collarbone, broken left scalpula(shoulder blade), 5 broken ribs(right), several broken protuberance from vertebrae, partially collapsed right lung. They cut off much of my clothing in the road and the rest in the ambulance. They strapped my to the board as a precaution for spinal injuries and in the ER they filled me with painkiller and tested me for internal and brain injuries. Thank God the broken bones were the only injuries I suffered. To be continued.