After 75 miles

I am just going to start writing today with nothing random in mind. Maybe a idea will come to me before then end. Yeah that's the kind of day it is.. Very lethargic (thank God for Auto correct) as of today.. I have my two youngest Jax 3 and Kadin 5 this week the older two boys are at grandpa &; ma Reeds having some fun swimming every day. Little Red Riding Hood has been off to a Book conference (my wife) I really insanely love a old song called "little red riding hood" so that's become my wife nick name, that or "foxy" had to think of something tasteful yet fun to call her while they boys are around.. They thank it's funny and call mama "Foxy" as well.. Glad to be able to tame the emotions a little bit for my boys as they grow older.. Know they will probably call there wives "Foxy" as well.. Prayerfully that's with class and not desubjefication (yeah I just made up that word) ha ha...
I have not been able to ride since Foxy went out of town. I did map out my next 100 mile trek.. Yep I did 75 miles Friday before last. My great friend Sam is going to to the HTH (Hotter Then Hell Ride) in Whichitata Falls, TX. 100 mile ride with 1000 foot climb in elevation at least once.. Back to my route prospecting......Yeah the first 30 miles is smooth riding then makes a transition to what seams to be semi smooth for 20 miles so 30 smooth, 40 smi-smooth then back to last 30 smooth. I will be great full for that... I am kind of excited about doing it after know I have accomplished the 75... It will have only 800 foot climb total so kind of number about that, but maybe if I can do that ride 3 times before the competition maybe I could do it with him.. I have move my daily ride to 40 miles I can clear that in 2hr.55min that's my base right now except I have not even been able to do that more then 3 days in a role yet do to family/work situations...

and that's the way the cookie crumbles.

An that's just apart of life. You work around what you can do.. No whining about it, just do what you can, do it when you can, and do it! Unless this is your living "racing to earn money" If that's the case you shouldn't be reading this you should be out on the road right now! Your only excuse is that this is a recovery day! Ha ha ha I have a lot of those ha ha ha.
But if your trying to work out, and your using this as a way to destress.... Don't become stress out about not being able to destress??? Right??? Let it Go.. Get up in the morning, or get ready this afternoon, and hit the road.. Every mile you put in is a mile you didn't put in before while your were reading this half deranged blog... Ha ha. If your walk then by all means....Get out and walk, that's another foot you put out in front of you that you didn't do before..
Last but not least plan well, maybe even over plan you never want to get to the last 10-20 miles and be out of water, nutrition, or battery life on your phone.. Which 2 out of three happen to me.. Even stopping to buy and extra Liter of water was under.. I used 3 liters of water and 1 liter of Gatorade (1 extra scoop) should of had 2 liter of Gatorade and maybe 4 liters of water, of course that is a lot but this is South Texas.. I didn't eat every 30 min, I ate every hour. I had half a BP & honey sandwich.. BP takes longer to digest I hope so I think it's a longer draw on the Energy you have take In. Gels I am not for sure but seems to me would burn out quicker so you would need a higher concentration in that gel??? Something makes me thank I am going to have to acquire a taste for that!!! Ha ha!
So that's my next thing to test out, I will buy some nutrition Gels and let you know how it goes.. I have read of triathletes go all liquids for there big races, and they compete well and finish.. I am sure that is way better then trying to pack 6 sandwiches into you back pack.. And time efficiency... well I probably loose 1 min every hour for getting a half a sandwich out and when I average 4 mi. Miles, that puts me behind 1 mile in 4 hours to others that are more efficient in taking in substance than I am.. Gels sound better every Blog now.. Ha ha see how crazy this gets!! I don't race for a living but this is what goes through my head when I think about things.. Millions of details that overwhelem me to do something well, and if I can't do it right (millions of details that flash through my mind... Then I often just let it go) uuuuuggggg! Ha ha ha ok on to the next part...
India trip is now probably September 23-October-5/6 spending on flights.. Will be a ministry of the word trip...
That's right the old Battle Ox is not doing shovel work, swinging a hammer, well if I am asked to I will, but I am primarily just going to use the big mouth that God gave me to share His Word.. I will be in Hyderabad with Pastor David. So if you could take some time and join me in Praying that God would have me share things Out of His word that will help to impact those who don't know Him, His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy.. Please pray that God would speak through me and to be able to use me make a difference with his Word..

Ok my little warriors are about to pull the house apart and I know that my wife may want it not to be totally a mess when she comes back tonight and they keep vint for my time with a tunnel and small pop up indoor tent that's in our living room, one of them just told me he was "bandaid man". Everyone need to be healed.. While the other one is. Holding Lego guns that shoot into a cliff so you can climb, and the blanket box has become the treasure box.. Whoooo off, off, off, an awayyyyyyyy!

Hey remember. Get up, get out, and get going!Have a great weekend see you on the road some day. Scotty

first 75 miles

 
View Cycling Routes in a larger map

                   Here is the route I will be taking today.  By the time you read this I will be way into my route, prayerfully past the half way point and head back home.  Going out will be fun because we live about 150 miles form the coast and the winds are strong, but of course coming back will be the huge fight to come home.
I know the last part of it will be  wooded on the way back so that might cut back on the wind.
          Next to tack will be calorie intake & fluids.  going to use 1 two liter pack & a 1 liter pack.  2 liter camel will be water, the 1liter pack will be Gator Aid.    My calorie in take is going to be peanut butter with Honey on wheat bread.  2 table spoons of BP is 190 calories and 1 ts of honey is 90 cal..   Coach said intakes needs to be 250-300 cal every 30 min. so half a sandwich every hour for me.  I eat about 840 cal before i start of just pb & honey before i start and a 16 oz of water in 30 min on my prep time before i get on my bike. so we will see if that is enough. learning experience for sure.
             An i am still doing this with old faithful Avalanche GT 3.0 Mountain bike with Road slicks.  it took me 3 hours to do 40 miles, so 75 should land me around the 6hr mark. i usually on the road by 5am but i might to try sleep in, and hit the road and make it on the road at 4am  but so depending on when i start i should be done between 10 & 11am.   don't think my phone battery will last that long but i hope so.. i will have it set to mark every 5 miles instead on one mile, hopefully that will help save some battery, plus kill the programs except @mapmyfitness . my user name is greatredgiant if you want to look me up, the same with Twitter @greatredgiant .
              last but not least is my spiritual journey on a personal level through all of this, i can't help but always go back to "if he would find his life, he will truly loose it, but he who loose his life & die for my sake, will find life"  in part that is why i have really stayed away from really trying to race.  to buy at cycling bike, do you know the beginners bike is 900-1600.00.   When i know i have my own college debt, and i have friends that are doing hard core missions and need support. i just can seem to splurge on that kind of money on a bike. not matter how bad i really want to.
           but also in the midst of that struggle, i often wonder, why God would continually have anything to do with me.  I am half hatred, i have very little self discipline, not organized, very little self push to achieve anything great, and lazy.  i am not sharing this to gain any kind of concern or support, i just letting you know that you who ever you may be are not the only one that feels the way we do.   i just continue to pray, to listen to God's word (bible on CD's/mp3's not much of a reader) to keep pressing forward.. prayerfully accomplishing the task at hand........ i know.. i know... just don't give up right...  i should have that tattooed on me somewhere... don't give in, don't give up, fight harder!... Race as if to win the prize.. that takes alot of training time..
      Father come along side of my friends who have taken time to read this today, i pray that you would speak to their hearts, help us to hear you voice, give us direction, may we find a great hope in you that is infectious... and during the times we can't hear you, sustain us with the fighting power to keep heading in the directions you sent us until we reach the goals you have created us for, and receive you support, your encouragement, and affirmation... Father please come and meet us where are and help us to get to where you want us to be.. if were are blind please father heal our eyesight, if we are def please unclog our ears, if we become lifeless, please breath your breath of life into us.. Please father forgive us of where we have fallen short, forgive us for our complacency, please forgive us for our lack of spunk and determination, please Father help us to come and draw close to you in such a way that we couldn't stand anything else.. please Father do these things in the name of your son Jesus... Amen...
              have a great morning everyone, have a great day...  Get up, Get out, & Get going... hey if you see me along the road, honk, cheer, shout yeeeeehaaaa, please just don't run me over.. ha ha..  i hope i am past my half way mark be the time you read this..

Fell way off the Wagon

    Yeah did not expect to fall of the wagon and have it break all around me.. ha ha. i guess it really is not that bad right? ha ha.. nothing broke, all my equipment still works, just for one reason or another... didn't kick in...
    thankfully i have really good friends and a son who likes to just cry in the early morning hours help me out.. God does work in mysterious ways for sure... thankfully...   i pray i have not let anyone down buy not doing anything... but hey.. it's a new day.. i broke in my day with 23 mile ride this morning... 1hr 40 min... that comes with a new record to on the old avalanche 3.0 GT mountain bike.. 14mph average time.. could not believe that happen after being off for a whole month... felt good... i forgot my energy at the house thought.. got to the turn around and realize I left my honey & Peanut-butter sitting in the staging room... man was i starving by the time i got home.. ha ha...  then i had this crazy idea while i was out peddling and praying through things.. and that thought at random lead me to this post i found this morning online http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2012/04/church-and-crossfit-and-what-they-have-in-common/
          Great post by someone else working out... i encourage you to take 10 min to read it.. really hit home for me.. Thanks God for helping me find that..
           next is Thanks David.. one of our church members spotted me on the road this morning (i was wear my blue tooth head seat it's a double ear phone device by Plantronics) and called me, "hey you that crazy cycling guy on the road this morning..." as i remember a truck with horn blaring going by ha ha...., "why yes that is me David"...., "be careful don't get run over and keep it up"...   it was great to hear.  it's amazing the things that transpire when you push yourself. God seams to help take it to a next step you never could have taken it to.
          hey hang in there... don't give up... and keep up the good work... even if you have been down for a month maybe even a year. getting up to do what you started to do.... it makes a difference, not only in your life but the lives of the people God allows you to impact around you... So let do it, lets get going again.. we can do this..  Get up, Get out, & Get going!!
See you on the road!
Scotty

insperation

Stories from the Heart

Windcrest Freshman Triathlon 2012 (First Triathlon)

  I wanted to take a moment  for those of you who like to read and share three stories with you..

Two are an excerpt from a book called “Raising Peanuts In A Gold Field” by Paul W. Powell

      In 1976 a track and file event in Spokane, Washington, a group of nine contestants, all physically or mentally challenged assembled at the starting line to begin a race in their Special Olympics Program. The gun sounded and off they ran down the tract at their own pace. One of the contestants took a tumble and began to cry. The others slowed down and looked back. Then one after the other they all turned around and went back to help up the fallen friend. After they helped them up, they all linked arms and walked across the goal line together. The voluntarily tossed aside their own dreams for winning in favor of Helping a fallen friend. When they a walked across the goal line together the crowd didn’t know what to do. They had never seen anything like that before. Then, ever so slowly, someone began to clap until everyone in the stands was standing and cheering for them.
   Next John McCain’s Christmas message in 2007 was an account of his imprisonment as a P.O.W. in the Vietnam. His plane was shot down in Vietnam, and he was then held as a prisoner in Hanoi for five ½ years. When the Vietcong learned that his father was an Admiral in the US Navy, they decided to let him go free as a Public Relations ploy. But, he refused to be released fro prison unless all his fellow prisoners were released with him… So the Vietcong guards tied his head between his Ankles and his hands behind his back and left him in Solitary confinement. The torture was so severe that it busted his shoulders and to this day he cannot raise his arms above his head.
     One day after he had been treated brutally by his captors, A guard loosened the cords on his arms to give him some relief from pain, then the guard reached down with a stick and drew a cross in the dirt. “When you’re at your lowest there’s always someone who will lift you up.”  Is What McCain Quotes about the situation. There is a youtube clip about it but I didn’t want this to seem like a political add.
     Third Story As many of you know.. I have set this goal of someday running an ironman. Crazzy idea right. That’s what old college friends are good for.. ha ha..  With that being said this last weekend I rand my first Triathlon.  What happened that day is something I did not expect to happen.  As I rounded the 1 mile mark in the 2 mile run course I could see a guy walking back up the course in my direction and I knew he was some who had already finished the race. I just figure he was trying to stretch his muscles back out in cool down mode.. Well as I got closer to him, he started kind of cheering me on, “come on you can do this, don’t stop, don’t give up,, come on you can do this… hey did you know I was right where you were 5 years ago I was a big guy like you are.  Five years ago I was trying to do the exact same thing you were doing… come on you can do this..”  The guys name was Patrick, and even though he didn’t half to, he came back out, and help see me through the end of the race.. I didn’t know him, had never met him before.  He out of his over flow came back out to give more of what he had already been given.  God had help me finish what I started, he didn’t half to do that, but he sent someone anyway to run alongside me  to encourage me and help me every step of the way to the end.
    The Moral is I want to be like all those people I want to be like those mentally challenged people who go back and pick up a fallen friend and help them across the goal line rather than run off and leave them behind, I want to be  Like the guard who loosens the cords that bind people and lifts them up when the are down.(Raising Peanuts in a Field Of Gold) I want to be more like Patrick and help encourage people don’t give up, you can do this, the finish line is almost there.. Your family is there, right around the corner don’t give up you can do this….

It is through loving that we are most like God---not our doctrinal beliefs-----our orthodoxy.  You can be as straight as a gun barrel theologically and as cold as a gun Barrel spiritual. It is not our church attendance, our scripture memory, or our giving. The whole law is summed u pin these words, “we are to love God with all our hearts and love our neighbor as ourselves.”  Vincent Van Gough was quoted saying in his last days, “I wish not that my Legacy be written on a building, or in stone, I wish my legacy to be written on the heart of God.”

      So today I ask you, have you went back to help your friend up who has fallen down?

Have you loosen the cords on a captive to set them free?

Have you went back with you cup that overflows to share with someone, “don’t quit, you can do this, keep going your almost there”?

I pray that you have shown God the great love that you have for him, and shared that love with those who are around him.   Father be with those who have taken time to read this article, hear their hearts cry.. some of them need someone to come along side of them and cheer them on through the circumstance they are experiencing right now, So father please.. send people to do just that, help them to know through those people and through there word.. to keep going... not to quit... to endure the race they have begun... cheer them on Father and help them to know you are there with them.. Allow them to feel your presence and be inspired by you Father... 
          Father for some of them they need to go out out with the cup you have filled and allow it to spill on to the lives of others..Father help them to bless others, encourage them, strengthen them, and may the Love you have given them inspire others to continue on and not give up and bring honor to them and even great honor to you.. May that always know it you who has given them this great gift...  Father please come and speak to us, move us Father, help us to grab a hold of the life you have given us, and help us to thrive with a great zeal for what has been laid before of us, and help us father to be responsible with what you have given us and be able to bring honor to you with our lives.. Father please do all these things in the name of your son Jesus.. Amen..

  

(The italicized writing is quotes or lines of thought from the book, “Raising Peanuts In A Gold Field”)

Scotty Smith

The Race

It is a couple of hours before my first race.. I have been laid up sick for 2 weeks with one half of a practice in those two weeks.. This was suppose to be my crunch weeks that I really started pressing my speed., I can't help but wonder if God is saying "look Scotty this is not your cup of tea back off" or if I am under attack for trying to achieve some kind goal in my life that has been a positive impact on my spirtualy, emotionally, & physically. With that being said I am pushing forward in the morning to run my first of many, or to run my first of my last race.. Even if they have to pick me up off the road I will be running this race. Tommorrow I am 531 in the race and prayerfully I will run a good race and have more to refect upon tomorrow night.. Father thank you for allowing me to run this race, and allowing me to go on this journey with you.. Please continue to speak to my heart through this process and thank you for my friendships that have been encouraging me along the way. Please be with them and bless them for their kindness and encouragement & most of all father please except our ways in which we try to honor you through our efforts in various ways.. thank you for this gift and chance to race.. Father please give us a restful night and help us to rave our hearts out tommorrow.. Please father do these things in the name of your Son Jesus amen..... 6 hours.... Goodnight!

Week 17 & Aliens

          Had to start off with what happen in Roswell from week 16 ALIENS.... ha ha  ha haaa.  I was really excited about the thought of breaking 1000 miles there, doing at least a 50 mile ride for the first time an........  the main purpose of going to Roswell was to help family move.... Lets just say I pretty much stick to my purpose the best I can when I can.. Week 16 saw one 22 mile day, and a good 4 days of unloading a semi truck & uhaul trailier.. even though i didn't track my work during this.. (although i thought about it just to see how far i walked by the end of everyday) i move little over a ton of boxes. good upper body work out!.. 

  I had fun being with Family, and we Got to take a day to play some of my Favorite sport... Frisbeeeeeeeee Golfffffffff......
           Yep Roswell has 2 courses. I only Got to play at one.. back to the work out right!   Monday I got up early like normal and it was a crisp morning for sure...  I went up 285 North, then took 70 West then I hit 380 West...    if any one ever wants to Cycle in Roswell do it early in the morning and the route i just gave you is incredibly smooth road... it was nice.  I do wish the roads here in my south Texas area were that smooth.   I did not get to head west into the mountains on 380 like I wanted to... i barely got out of the city limits but hopefully the next time I go, I will be able to accomplish that bigger trek...
            So all though the 1000 mile mark still eludes me, that is OK i will get there.. the important thing was to take time help family & be an asset to my loved ones.. That  trumps any half crazed personal goals that I have for sure..    

              sooooo slow start to this week.. like so many of my friend here in Texas getting ready for races we had *******thankfuly****** bad thunderstorms blow through with some Tornado's and Hail... Hey if it rains here in Texas we need it.. so bring it on.. its another thing to sing praises about like being with family.. My agenda is so unimportant compared to the water our people need hear in Texas.. and Yes we do need rain that bad...
   also i tell you what the last thing i really want to do is be caught in a Hail storm here in Texas also..  Nor  do not have a stationary bike or want one... so today was my first day to get out again, yep i am a couple of days behind but oh well. it felt really good to get out.. i am going to try to start doing something new this next month and run during my lunch break. want to get used to running in the heat. since i bike early in the mornings and make an extra step to pushing my self a little bit more. i am getting ready for April 28 my first Race.. The Freshman Triathlon... whoooooo... i get nervously excited just thinking about it...   I love to compete and I really enjoy the idea of Racing for a change.. I know i will be a challenge for a whale of a man like me, but i look forward to making new friends and pushing myself to go faster in all three areas then i have before....
            and the only Aliens i saw in Roswell were on signs.. ha ha.. i meant to take a picture by one to post, but that didn't work out. you will just have to take my word at it.
            Last but for sure not least the spiritual aspect of things.  so many days i wake up and wonder, "what in the world am i doing not just in pushing my self to work out but also personally, emotional, & spiritually:"  Thankfully Morning times are a great place to focus and pray. I want to encourage you to have your priorities in line as well. Mine is God, family, me & then other family & friends.   i do the best i can to try to keep them that way but there are alot times when i get that order of things all messed up.  
       I wanted to take a moment and pray for those who are taking time to read through the blog.. with that being Said, have a great week, i will catch up with yall soon, now let me pray for you..
         Father I lift up the person who is taking time just to catch up on a friendship right now, or maybe the person i have not even met yet.. I ask that you would speak to their heart, that you would come along side of them and speak to the difficult circumstance that they are dealing with, walking through, or even in the midst of.  Give them wisdom and discernment in this area. Lead them to the right answer at the right time, and at the right place. Also Father i pray that as they take time to read you word that you speak life into them, give them a great hope in you, and fulfill that hope with your word, you life, and your great love that you have for them.. help them as they have tried to seek out your favor and hear your Voice Father. speak to them in such a way they can't help but know that it is you who is speaking to them... God help them as they press on towards their goals, their hopes, and their dreams. Father i pray that they are things that they have brought before you and you have placed them on their heart because you want to do something and reveal to them the great care & love that that you have for them.   Father please do these things in the name of your Son Jesus.. Amen....

ok guys don't give up, don't quit, maybe rest some.  Get back up, and keep pressing forward.  you set a goal that you have prayed about, and as long as God is still allowing you to press forward then do so... just because the going gets hard it doesn't mean you should quit!!!!
Get up, get out, & get Going...
          thanks for you friendship and support and most all you prayers.
   
Scotty
             

Ramping Up to 1000 miles

 Come some time this next week I will be breaking 1000 total miles between swimming, cycling, & jogging.  I still but can't help to think about it.. but now also I am drawing closer to entering my first race.  The Freshman Triathlon
Tri-Sition Area It is April 28th. The link is https://www.formstack.com/forms/RedemptionRP-windcrestTri2012

Windcrest Freshman Triathlon - Formstack

www.formstack.com

 

 200meter swim, 10 mile cycling, and 2 mile run...   it's crazy just to think of it....  I am waiting on some information back before I register but as i do i will explain my though process, me registering, and posting that i have finally actually registered for my first race.. my heart is kind of racing as i think about it now.. 

 

   But not as much as my heart races when i think about the things that God is doing in my life.. right now i have the things i do daily to help come along side of our people in prayer & support, our community of Law Enforcement officers God has opened the door for me to build a great friendships with, but also the possibly of Going to India in the Fall.  Possible will be preaching in villages, doing open street preaching & baptisms, and visiting orphanages. In talking with my Pastor friend David it is very exciting to hear the work that God is doing in India.  Even to the point he is calling men & women unto himself via dreams and vision without people having heard the word of God, heard and evangelist or even have been told by a Christian of who Jesus is.. God is calling them to come to follow him, and they are seeking out the church to follow Christ.  It is an amazing story of the work God is doing.. and like Pastor David had shared with me, if God is doing these things around us, how much more should we be willing to join God where he is working in the hearts of people.. Amen... 
         there was a young man who kept having a dream that a man would come and tap on the shoulder to wake him up and as he was waking up he would hear the man say, "Come & Follow me" the young man continued to have these dream for days. until he could stand it no longer. He went to his dad who was in the midst of his Hindu prayers. Afraid that his dad might shun him and disown him, he dared to bother him in the midst of his Prayer time because of this persistent awakening vision he was having.. He said, "dad.. dad... i have had this man coming to me in my dreams, and it is like he is real.. he taps me on the should to wake me up, but as he does, i wake up and find that he is gone, but i hear him saying, "come & follow me".. dad i do not know what to do.. i do not know who this man is.. can you help me dad, who is this man?"  He dad says, "son i know who this man is only because he has started to come to me, and ask me to follow him as well in my dreams to."  "ohhh dad please, you know who he is, tell me.... tell me... tell me who is this man that comes to us."  his dad answers, "son i think it is Jesus the Christ but i do not know him, we should go down to the open baptism down at the market close to the church and listen to what they have to say about him, maybe we can follow him from there."  Those to men came down to where David's church does the open presentation of the gospel and listen to who Jesus was, and immediately, they said, "we want to invite him into our lives, follow him, and be baptized..." wow... then they took the time to share this story with Pastor David what had happen...

          that just gives me chills every time i have the chance to share that with someone.. to Hear our God at work.  I continually pray along side of you, that our God will allow us to be continually apart of his work no matter where we are, no matter where he calls us to go, no matter what lot in life he gives us to have.  prayerfully we will be like those men, "Lord we seek you out to answer your call to follow you, where do we go."  
      have a great night see you at the 1000 mile post... whooooooo!

       triathlon

Week 15: 1000 Miles is coming!!!

Week 15: I Broke 900 miles today! 

Today I broke over 900 miles combined work out between cycling, jogging, & swimming. I never thought of even setting that as a goal, much less accomplish something like that. It's pretty novice to those who are in sports, but for a newbie just breaking in...  I am kind of excited about the thought of breaking 1000 some time this month.. looking forward to all that will come with it... still really have not lost anyway.. have toned up some... but just the energy i have times is refreshing.. but other times i am exhausted as well too.  

    Because this time has been such an energized time of prayer that I have been getting and and really just a lot trying to focus in on God, the New Heaven, & the New Jerusalem that is yet to come, which leads me to try to think about him even more.. The battle with my own sinful desires have increased even more so then ever.. just trying to fight in those thoughts, that way of life, takes a mental toll in itself..  keep up the reading & meditation of God's word... because if not, even in the midst of trying to do something Good. Evil can sneak up on you, and trust me it will, and it will lay a traps for you... The last thing that Satan and the fallen angels that are around us want to happen, is for us to succeed in what ever we try to put our hand to.

          Sometimes you meet goals in life you didn't know you had, and When God bring those blessing along, cherish the gifts he has set out before you. because it's in reflection of the work he has done, that empowers you to accomplish the work you are doing. 

Scotty

     the stats aren't much but there fun to look at.

I have been using www.mapmyfitnees.com to keep up with my workouts.. it's a cool tool to especially when it throws all these things together for you and you don't have to.  

 

Lifetime Totals

901.35

Total Miles

106.62

Total Hours

108

Workouts

83,961

Total Calories

Type	#	Maps	Distance	Duration	Calories
Bike Ride	56	50	794.68 mi	73.87 h	63,447 kCal
Indoor Swim	6	0	6.57 mi	5.64 h	3,722 kCal
Run / Jog	13	13	40.53 mi	8.83 h	6,492 kCal
Sport / Other Activity	1	0	0.0 mi	2.9 h	1,521 kCal
Swim	4	0	2.92 mi	4.39 h	2,789 kCal
Walk	28	22	56.65 mi	10.99 h	5,990 kCal
Totals	108	85	901.35 mi	106.62 h	83,961 kCal Burned

Week 14: if you look like a whale.....

  the great thing about me being a whale... is that i am starting to swim like one... whoooo
i finally was able to swim up to 2 miles.. 60 laps in the pool in 1hr & 35 min.... ahhh man... that is so exciting.. now i can keep up my swim once a week, i really need to focus back in on my running & cycling.  i have not pushed my self past the 35 mile mark on the bike.. you saw last time i changed out the tires (i went to slicks) for a mountain bike that makes a huge difference.. a 30 min difference in time.. i shaved it off from 3 hours on 35 miles to 2 hours & 30 min for 35 miles...  i really have 50 in the back of my head, i really want to ride that and get it in..  that will be a goal for this next month i think.. to get in a day when i hit 50.. if i can get my speed up more i might can get to where i am doing... ever since i have had the blow out on the pedals i have not gotten in to a consistency again.. and swim days breaks that up too which is kind of crazy...  i am going to try with a friend this week to ride 11-15 miles then run 3-4... and the run will be from a point A to a point B.  so i think that will be fun to do.... i am excited about not running in a circle.. ha ha.. the simple things in life right...
                         Working out is so spiritual... i will not be able to say this enough.  i can not being to tell you how i really enjoy the alone time and prayer time when i ride or swim or run... but i can't begin to tell you how terrible of a mental attack that it is as well.  i forever am getting slammed with just random thoughts of Sin through out my work outs, and i have to some times just focus on one thing about God..  right now i always come back to the four Cherubim who surround the throne.  and they praise God saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty who was, and is, and is to come."     some times i have to refocus, or what Paul says, "capture our thoughts" or what i say...." tie them up, and pray they sink to the bottom of the pool".. ha ha...
               hey it's not easy but keep trying...  Don't give up, keep moving forward..  please know that i have not gotten to where i am... i stared with just riding my bike 3 loops a day where i lived.. that was only 2.4 miles then i would walk 2 loops.. but i did that 6 days a week..  yeah i had a sick day, or my pedals were blown out, or i was insane for getting out in the weather that i got out in, or no way am i getting out in that kind of weather.. ha ha..  just..... don't.... quit.....  i may not reach iron man this year.. but maybe next year.. but i will reach it... right????    right!!!!!  catch up with you more soon.. thank you for the comments, the post, the repost, the tweets, and the likes on Facebook. yall are some great friends to have, and prayerfully you know that you are not the only one where you are.. we are in this to-gather.

          Scotty (great red giant)... ha ha 
             

Week 12: Rebellion

My body and mind have struck out against me this past two weeks.. Although greatfully I have made some great strides in my swiming (46 laps in an hour) Everything else has been falling apart.. One of my pedals has blown out, with limited income, I just have to wait to replace it.. Running is free right... My body and mind says sleep is too.. Ha ha...
I want to ride that's help work towards the runni g, but who knows adding the swim element might have actually help my running??? Ha ha wishful thinking..
Weather, and mental capabilities or lack there of over the past week have hampered me.. Prayerfully I can pull out of this anguish..
Crazy flip side!!!!
Spiritually alot of things have come togather.. Have started to pray about traveling to India and had great conversation with a new friend who is the brother of a old friend from college that is a pastor in India.. I had the blessing of talking to Jim via phone today for the first time.. Was awsome.. Had an encouraging word from a friend from church that playfully told me, "keep up the ironman" Thank you for that seriously I quirkily felt good.. No looking for more adds boys just the jest was recived well for sure..
So physical and mental slumps happen and is verry discouraging....
Thank you Father for the spiritual encouragement father.. The hope in continued service for you and along side of your people, forgive me for my stumbles as a man who is weak, is sinful, who is so easly dissuaded.. I am weak father... You ultimately are my drive and my focus of you has been insanely difficult as I battle my flesh Father.. Please Father allow the Holy spirit to continually over take me, wash over me, speak to me, guide me, push me.. Please father help me to be a better sin to you.. One who embraces the hard road ahead, instead of one who hesitates and turns away from it.. Please Father as lame as it sounds I can't even respound to your live verry if you don't help me respond to it.. Please Father help in the name of your son Jesus..... Amen

As always just letting you see I am human, I strugle emensly, and verry often proably get it more wrong then right.. But even with that said.. I can not give up, I can not let go, some how I have to move forward.. Some how.. Some how..
Sorry for grammar it's me, sorry for spelling.... That's me, and for weird words that don't... Ha ha ha that's me writing this from a cell phone...
Don't give up, keep moving forward... We gave to with the help of our God move through these circumstances and try to over come... Yesssss overcome
Sorry it's been so long, and it's so late.. See y'all soon
Scotty

Week 9 & 10 unplanned rest.... it helps sometimes :0)

  Warm up: wow, it has been incredible feeling to get to a point where I can ride a bike 20 miles in 1hr & 45 min.  i know, i know it still slow right,  but i remember when it almost took me 3 hours to ride 20 miles.   I pushed for 40 miles last week but because of my work scheduled i could only hit 34.97... i know i know .03 short of 35.. ha ha. that's what happens when you Mile tracker is in you pants and not mounted on your bike.. so for your newbies out there... the soon you can get it mounted on to you bike, the less time you will have recorder like i have of being short of a goal you were trying to reach.. my mistakes may become your wisdom :)
         Advertise something:... Ha ha Check out Map my Fitness it is a great place to log you work outs, it can sync with you heart rater monitors, smart phones, and you can edit from a Real web site when you get back home to you computer. I really like the app end of it..
      
               Experience: The Past two weeks i have experienced two days of late nights for Good reason, (Having a Foxy wife) spending quality time with the family, but in the process it left me with 2 consecutive weeks of no activity, bummer? actually not really... yes i didn't get any work out it, but when i picked up the Day after those 2 extra days of rest.. i felt incredible and picked up major momentum in my Times in what i did.  but i really had to push my self on that third day, and with the help of my wife sometimes, "as i hit the floor" to get out of Bed and really keep after it. It was easy to think, "what am i doing, should i get up?"  the answer is Yes...  yes get you lazy bum out of that bed an push your self to get dressed, quit draggin you bottom and hurry get some protein in you body and some water and start on time...
      
My Tips: one of the biggest things helping me right now is getting ready the night before.... laying out the clothes, checking my bike my, my shoes, my coat, my heart strap.. checking the weather for the next morning...Getting food & Drink ready.... Ect....  I also encourage you to start taking some time of looking out what morning foods are best for you before you start your work out.. for me peanut-butter & honey... just as is.. i use do at least a table spoon of each mixed to gather really good, and eat it just like that.. mmmmm
      
  Spiritual:  last but not least.. prayer time has been great...  i pray about what i should pray about.. i know it sounds weird right, but how else are you suppose to pray when you want to pray about the things you want God for you to pray about???? you ask him.. so that is what i do...  one of the things for me lately that i have really enjoyed focusing on is God himself.. the 4 angels around the throne.... "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty who was, and is, and is to come"  there is something about saying that phrase out loud.....
         i am  not going to lie to you... i don't start glowing, and i don't sprout wings when i say that.. matter of fact my mind usually can not stay focused for long and i start fighting my sinful thoughts about things that same to race into my head even more so then my ability to take time and just Focus on God... it gets down right  sad some times... how in one minute i be really wanting to worship my Creator of the heavens and earth, and in the next flash be so consumed with thoughts of selfishness, sinfulness, failures...  The War within ourselves continues to rage on right... just know as i continue to battle to through these things in my own life, that your not alone..  we all have things we have to fight against, things we have to try to work through and prayerfully some day overcome.. i know, i know, it seams like we never will be able to but we will, and if for some reason we always struggle with it.. when God calls us home we can rest in peace knowing for sure, God will not allow to pursue us any more.. it will be finished.. and prayerfully our not giving up in the small battles even though we get whipped some times... we will not loose the war..  we know this.. God has show us the end.. he over comes and makes a place for us.. so don't give up, don't give in, and continue to push for another day to fight, to love, to give joy, to give assistance too, to empower, and to change the lives of those who are around us through the mercy & grace that has been so compassionately bestowed upon us the sinners. 
   come on get up, lets not quit, one more Lamp post we can make it, one more mile you can do it, one more mail box before we got to walking, one more lap in the pool, one more person that receives that can find the gift of mercy & forgiveness in you.... in us.. with God's help we can do this.. don't....... give...... up...... come on............................................

SKUNK!!!!!!!

Ha ha ha ha yep it's almost spring in Texas and you can always see great wildlife out and about in South Texas.... Wether you like it or not... Ha ha ha
Quick up date week 9..... For anyone new.. Consitancy is my goal, not to quit, not to give, even if it takes longer then I plan.. With that Said I pushed for 35 miles this past Sunday In 3 hours... improment over last week.. It took me 2 hours 54 min to do 30 miles.. I love my push days because it helps me dream about what I can try to do the next week.. Thankfully I have been able to acomplish 20 miles in About 2 hours, a little less.. I can begian to explain how Good it is to experacne progress.. Again it's not leaps and bounds, but it is forward progress.
So I want encourage you, have you started yet.. Then start, you already have not done it.. So start and do it.. Who cares how small it is, just start to make a change.. Yes people will dog you, people make make fun of how small your goals are, or they will make fun of you for how litttle you are acomplishing at a time... but when you get 9 weeks from today and you slowly have built, you will be where I am today.. Motivated, tired, excited, pushing forward, dreading, & moved.. All theses feeling wrapped into who you will become 9 weeks from now..
I have been able to pick up my runs on my short days.. It's nothing over the top, but it's getting there..
Don't give up, just start, & it's ok that is small start.... Because... You have started!!!! Father come along who ever is taking time to read this, speak to their heart and help them where they are... Father like you have done for me, please touch their heart not only physically, but especially Spritaully, help them to know you are there beside them every step of they way, no matter how easy or how difficult it may be.. Help them not to give up, help them to move forward in hope Father and please bless them in the name if your son Jesus.... Amen
So a skunk did come across my pathat.. Thought I was going to nail him.. "thank You God for letting him run a little faster and Him not wanting to spray no matter what comes pass him.. So be careful where your riding.. Thankfully I was not running when I net him, I would not have able to get into my house with my family, muchless go to work had I been sprayed... Ha ha ha so be carefully out there.. And watch for skunks..
See you on the road!
Scotty
I just completed a 35.52 mi mountain bike ride in 3:08:29 using @MapMyFitness. Check out my route! http://www.mapmyfitness.com/view_route?r=120132724253324493 #bike #cycling #mtb

push at 25

     hey so it was Tuesday and i really wanted to push my self.. i wanted to see how far i could make it in an hour,  my goal was to try to do 25 miles in 2 hours..  when i realized that ironman biking is a 20-30mph sport and i am only doing 10mph... that rang a bell  a really loud bell you could say i really, really, really, really, have alot of work to do... so i tried pushing harder this time.. and thankfully i had made it to the McCoy cut off and was on my way back before the 1 hour marker went off.. whoooooooooo i can not begin to tell you how excited i was... at one point when i check my speed i was keeping up a 12mph pace.. when i finished the route i had finished with a 11.6mph pace.. i little disappointing, but really stoked at the same time because i made it back to the house before the second hour maker had went off on my alarm... man... that is totally cool...  it was amazing feeling to reach that kind of goal.. i think if i can hit those goals Thursday and Friday as well then next week i might actually try to hit 30 miles in 2 hours if i can..
               I have been taking time to pour over Isaiah 46 lately.. God is the God of all. He declares that over his people and the earth. i can help but think through that and pray through that on my rides... i pray and pray and pray God would come speak to me like he did the prophets of old, not that i am a prophet by any means, but i seek out his voice in the early mornings none the same.. i have really focused lately on Jesus Blood covering my sin, and that in My God's sight i am blameless because of that, and because of that i have been asking him, even saying to him in prayer, "lord my sins are covered, i am a Son, Jesus died so that i could be called that, please father as a Son come and speak to me, allow me to hear your voice give me Directions God as a son of your please Father speak to me."  i share this so you to know that i desires the things that you do. God still speaks through scripture to us, but i have a longing for him to give oral direction to my life, to help me be even more deeply in love with him then i could ever imagine, in turn praying that that too would help me to refrain from the sin that traipse through out my life that i too fight against as well. 
         keep going, don't quit, we can do this, through God's grace, His power, and our tenacity... push keep going, and reach the goal you have set, and set another goal.  don't give up and be consistent.

Coyotes = Motivation: Week 8

        Whoooo  I did 30 miles on Sunday.. 2.54 hours... yeah that is on a Mountain Bike..  lots of drag and lots of noise..  that brings me to the wild pack..
          I was heading down to the Campbellton cut off which is 15 miles from my house along the access road. i hit the McCoy cut off and was really excited about the next leg until about a mile into on a down hill... have you ever heard a baby rabbit get caught by a dog before.. they kind have a squeaky scream to them... and that was exactly what my bike started to sound like.  Really that's no big deal to me, my bike often sound like that as i get later in to routes.. but on this day that was the worst thing it could sound like.. ha ha.. I grew up in the country, i have been around alot things, even been out when some coyotes have been out, but this bunch of coyotes i heard that were not to far from the road, sounded like a pack of 20+..  needless to say sounding like a baby rabbit being caught in the middle of no where armed with just a pocket knife that I carry, didn't seem like the place to pick a stand against a bunch of Coyotes... ha ha i know some other routes that are in town the could help me accomplish the same thing..
             so with that in mind.. i turned the bike around, and boogied up a really big hill.  it was great motivation for me to peddle faster that was for sure. it was about a mile before i didn't hear them any more..
so the next time you are out cycling in the early morning hours or evening hours and you don't feel like you have enough motivation, just don't oil you bike down, or carry a small sound device that plays the sounds of a rabbit being caught by a dog, and you can have some Coyotes give you some motivation to move a little bit faster..
          it has been a great Sunday, and feel really good about accomplishing the goal of 30 miles and keeping a 10 mph pace.. that is until we figured out that to do 115 miles in an iron man you have to keep closer to a 20-30mph pace.. so yeah i have some work to do to really push my self.
          this continues to be a great time of prayer for me, and just speaking to God and asking him to come and speak to me give me direction, insight, and to fall more deeply in love with him through out my day.  I try to focus on that the most before my my drifts off to other prayer request and or to some foreign land of thought that is random in my head as i push up and the down the hills.
                 again i want to encourage all of you.. i have not gotten where i am today so far by make huge adjustments in my life... my goal still is consistency, it's not to loose weight but go the  distance, then after distance it's a better/quality time within that distance.  the other half of the goal of consistency is not to give up, not to quit, to keep going.. I don't know what your goals are for the new year, but keep going, do not give up, be Consistent, and most importantly pray through the goals you have set before yourself to make sure they are the Goals that God wants you to try to accomplish.. don't give up, you can do this.. aaaaaarrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ! even if it takes a little Coyote motivation... ha ha.

Honk, big eyes, just don't.......

Hey welcome to week 6.... I am sorry I didn't post on week 5 I was out of town in the country, and my mom is still on dial up.. "there should be a law against that right" ha ha ha

Honk: so I was back at my parents week and I flirted with 20 miles a day... Wolfffff man was I glad I was on vacation.. The first day I came up short, but I was at the bottom of what though was a huge hill.. Ha ha not as big as the one I had to climb getting back home.. Ha ha... One of the coolest things that happen was a trucker Honked at me.. It wasn't , "hey get of my way honk", it was a, " hey man keep going, don't give up" kind of a Honk.. Man that pushed me into my 21 mile a day.. Is was stellar../ it's crazy how a little bit of encouragement goes such a long ways.. Too bad we as Christians aren't trying to tell people, "you can" in stead of, "your never gonna make it" so for all those who honk a atta boy honk!! Especially that trucker an another little black car! You guys rock thanks so much for being a encouragement in that way..

Big eyes: That starts week 6. Sooooo I had gotten up to 20 miles in week 5... Dude at this point the last thing I want to do is get out of Bed and start my ride in the mornings.... Seriously, some mornings are cold, windy, cold and windy (ha ha ha), and sometimes a late start.. Soooooo heading to McCoy exit and back is 23 miles.. My eyes were big... Like at the table too big.. (you know you eat to much) when the down hill part to that kicked off  i knew i was going to have to come back up. i kept thinking, "maybe i should come turn around now.. no, no, no, i have to keep going" finally here it came McCoy exit one mile.  "I made it!!!!!!"
    it felt great getting the 23 miles in for two days.. made the 13 miles today easy..  i had gotten some running shoes during our 14 year anniversary spree yesterday so i had to try them out right...
       so i ran/jog/walked 1.6 miles after the 13 mile ride.... not a great start to running, but hey it's a start..
Just Don't........ quit:  That speaks for it's self..
         the spritual aspect that really spoke to me today as i was praying was this: a young man that had come to our church for some community service hours took his life here recently and his family as asked me to do his funeral. When I had heard by what had happen was was sadden in my sprit over this. From the time i had spent working along side of him some, i come to admire his work ethic, and his personality.  Seem like a great young man still just trying to seek out direction.   This also made me think of the word Akita which is from the boy scout days of Order of the Arrow (long story)..   Akita means leader that comes along side of & helps serve. As i thought about this young man i thought, "could i have been a better Akita to him during the time he was here, could i have worked along side him  more, and could that have made a better difference in his life, could there have been one more sentence i could have spoken that would have given him more hope then he had to stay instead of go?"   I know i feel like many that find themselves in this place. I do know he had a choice, and yes i know i could never make the choice for him.  Even Jesus is grieve in spirit over things, when he saw the city, when he came upon the widow and her Son was in the casket, Lazurs, & so forth, i can't help but be sadden as well. Wanting more for a young man who felt that he had nothing else to live for and just wanted it to end. This is not my first funeral of someone who has committed Suicide nor will it be my last i suppose, but Now prayerfully this young man knew Christ and can find the peace he so desperately was searching for even though it was before God was willing to call him home.     

As you finish this off today, i don't know where you are, but please don't quit, don't give up, keep calling out for help, but just don't give up prayerfully one of us around you will finally understand, or finally be able to share the words you were looking for, or be able to pray or share a piece of scripture you feel that you just can't find, But most of all, Prayerfully, it will be God's voice, His words, his love, and His presence that will help you the most in the midst of where you are.  "Just don't quit"
            Scotty

(this article is meant to help people through a process of Grieving, Please do not use this as a place to post about where you think people are or are not.  Even truth used in the wrong way Bring harm we see that when Satan tried to use the Truth of God's word against Jesus during the time of the desert. i am not saying that there is no accountability for actions, but i am saying there is a chance of hope in God's word, and prayerfully this will help bring a great light & hope in Christ to others who have not found it yet. please be considerate of that, thank you.)