Why I Tri

In 2008, after a series of life changing events, I had a breakdown moment. I said, enough is enough, Ryan. I will no longer make excuses for not living a meaningful life. I had become a waste of space and a complaining, whining, "the whole world is out to get me" person. I had become the person I said I never wanted to be and it took me losing some important things and people in my life to see this. Like my previous post, I took inventory of everything in my life. I made the decision to get rid of the clutter and cut the fat. I also wrote down what I am really passionate about and the God given talents that i've been blessed with. Physically writing these things down on paper was the best thing I could have done for myself. I wanted to use everything I had been given and incorporate everything I love into something meaningful so that I would no longer be a wasteful human being. I realize that a great sacrifice was made for me and to let some of my gifts go to waste is completely unacceptable. My list clearly showed that I had a love for the outdoors, extreme sports, and pushing my limits. What better way to incorporate all these things than to start training for Ironman's. It's not that I love swimming, biking, and running. I actually hate running, i'd rather be on a surfboard than swimming and why bike when you can just drive! The fact that I promised myself to not be wasteful with the life i've been given is what drives me to train for these ironman races. It's the ultimate testament to what i've been blessed with. I have the natural ability to excel at endurance sports and I love being outdoors. I think triathlons are the perfect combination of these two things. The training has also completely changed my lifestyle. I am more conscience about my health. It's not just watching what I eat but how I live my life. I've cut back on a lot of excess things I was doing to myself. 1cor. 9:24-27 talks about training for a race. Everyone else is running a race for material items, but i'm training for a prize much greater that any worldly possession could ever offer. In a nut shell, that's why I tri. Triathlons have been a great tool for me to use myself in a way that is pleasing in God's eyes. And that's what I strive for everyday.



"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say 'I used everything You gave me'" -Erma Bombeck