Six Life Lessons Learned from Triathlon Training

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Mark Hayward of MyTropicalEscape and Train for Humanity.

Do you like to exercise? Or, would you rather be doing just about anything else?

As creator and co-founder (along with Leo, Andrew Flusche, and Dan Clements) of the non-profit humanitarian organization Train for Humanity, this past Sunday, November 9th, I had the privilege of competing in the Miami Man International distance triathlon in order to help support the cause.

I have always enjoyed exercising, mostly as a recreational runner, but during the past couple of months I have taken on additional workouts as I prepare for my very first triathlon. Let me just state for the record; training for this triathlon has humbled and educated me.

Unlike the Iron Man triathlon where the distances are extreme (swim 2.5 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles) the International distance triathlon segments are a bit more manageable with a .6 mile swim, 24 mile bike, and a 10k run.

Nevertheless, having only competed and raced previously as a recreational runner, I needed to spend quite a bit of time working on my swimming and biking. Lucky for me, I am not at all concerned with winning the event, but I don’t want to place last either.

Training Regimen

Over the past couple of months my training has been fairly consistent and while not too taxing, still required a level of commitment both in terms of time and effort. My workout schedule during most of the weeks leading up to the event included the following:

Monday: swim 1/2 hour, run 4 miles

Tuesday: bike 15 miles

Wednesday: swim 1/2 hour, run – various speed work

Thursday: bike 10 miles

Friday: swim 40 minutes, run 6 miles

Saturday: off

Sunday: bike 25 miles, run easy 5 miles

While I did enjoy the training on most days, sometimes it was a little difficult to get motivated because I live on a very small island and did not have the luxury of a coach or any training partners. However, the reality is, if I wanted to be in shape for the triathlon then it was up to me to get up off the couch, get out there, and put in the time required.

Life Lessons

All of the extra training did afford me plenty of time to myself for reflection and contemplation. Many a day, whether swimming, biking, or running I would think about my life, how lucky I have been, and some of the of the major events (changing points) that I have been through. Additionally, while training I would ponder life lessons that are analogous to training or really hard work and dedication of any kind. Listed below, are lessons that are somewhat universal, and as such, you might already know them. But I have not trained this hard in a VERY long time and as such, feel like I was re-educated:

Get started – I have been fascinated with triathlons ever since the 1980’s when I witnessed the true meaning of human strength, determination, and courage when Julie Moss collapsed and then crawled across the finish line to place second at the Hawaii IronMan. That was over twenty years ago! If I had pursued my interest in triathlons then, who knows where I would be now. Likewise, if you are thinking about making a life change; a new job, a trip around the world, or launching a small business…don’t wait. Get started today!

You have to do the miles (yourself) – some days during my training when it was rainy, miserable out, or I just felt lazy I really wished there was someone that I could have paid to go out on the bike for me, or perhaps to swim my laps. However, as with any worthwhile goal, you have to get out there and put in the hard work in order to get to the desired end result. If you are studying at university or trying to run 3 miles for the first time it’s not always easy or pleasant, but being persistent and doing homework or running when you don’t feel like it WILL payoff in the long term

Some days it’s going to rain – actually, it might not only rain but you might get two flat tires at the same time, too. Pursuing personal goals is not always “flowery” and perfect. In fact, some days are going to downright suck.

Take a break – throughout my various training runs and bike rides I would often find myself winding up at the beach as a halfway point during a workout. Many days I would stop for five or ten minutes to think about what I have done, what I need to do, why I was doing it. If you’ve been working hard, don’t be afraid to take a break and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back or to reflect on your goals.

When you reach a hill put your head down and take it one step at a time – Most days of my training I was either running or biking and I would always come across hills of varying magnitudes. Though, there is one hill in particular on my route that begins as a slow grade and continues to get steeper and steeper over the course of a mile. Frequently, especially in the beginning of my training, I would arrive at the base of this hill and want nothing more than to give up and walk. But, invariably I would put my head down and keep telling myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and before I knew it, I would be at the top. Have you hit any rough patches in life lately? Even though it is not always the solution sometimes you just have to put your head down, take what comes, and plow ahead one-step at a time.

Find sources of inspiration – As stated above, I like to exercise and workout but I did reach certain stages where I felt burnt out. During those times I would frequently read an interview that I did with Scott Rigsby, the first below the knee double amputee athlete to complete the Hawaii IronMan triathlon. Also, I would think about the orphans and refugees whom we are trying to raise money for with our Train for Humanity efforts. Most likely, whatever your goals, there are people out there who have overcome and triumphed in the face of adversity and have done what you would like to be doing. Seek them out when you are feeling overwhelmed.

In closing, there are probably countless other lessons to be taken away from extended periods of hard work, dedication and commitment. Ultimately, even though it is not scientifically proven, I truly feel that if you are determined, have a proper vision, and a positive mindset that you can accomplish almost anything that you set your mind to.

How about you? Have you been dedicated to a particularly difficult project or increased your exercise program lately? What “life” lessons have you learned or rediscovered?

Mark Hayward is the co-founder of the non-profit humanitarian organization, Train for Humanity. If you would like to sponsor him (or Leo) you still have time. He owns a B&B in the Caribbean and blogs at MyTropicalEscape.

Six Life Lessons Learned from Triathlon Training

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Mark Hayward of MyTropicalEscape and Train for Humanity.

Do you like to exercise? Or, would you rather be doing just about anything else?

As creator and co-founder (along with Leo, Andrew Flusche, and Dan Clements) of the non-profit humanitarian organization Train for Humanity, this past Sunday, November 9th, I had the privilege of competing in the Miami Man International distance triathlon in order to help support the cause.

I have always enjoyed exercising, mostly as a recreational runner, but during the past couple of months I have taken on additional workouts as I prepare for my very first triathlon. Let me just state for the record; training for this triathlon has humbled and educated me.

Unlike the Iron Man triathlon where the distances are extreme (swim 2.5 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles) the International distance triathlon segments are a bit more manageable with a .6 mile swim, 24 mile bike, and a 10k run.

Nevertheless, having only competed and raced previously as a recreational runner, I needed to spend quite a bit of time working on my swimming and biking. Lucky for me, I am not at all concerned with winning the event, but I don’t want to place last either.

Training Regimen

Over the past couple of months my training has been fairly consistent and while not too taxing, still required a level of commitment both in terms of time and effort. My workout schedule during most of the weeks leading up to the event included the following:

Monday: swim 1/2 hour, run 4 miles

Tuesday: bike 15 miles

Wednesday: swim 1/2 hour, run – various speed work

Thursday: bike 10 miles

Friday: swim 40 minutes, run 6 miles

Saturday: off

Sunday: bike 25 miles, run easy 5 miles

While I did enjoy the training on most days, sometimes it was a little difficult to get motivated because I live on a very small island and did not have the luxury of a coach or any training partners. However, the reality is, if I wanted to be in shape for the triathlon then it was up to me to get up off the couch, get out there, and put in the time required.

Life Lessons

All of the extra training did afford me plenty of time to myself for reflection and contemplation. Many a day, whether swimming, biking, or running I would think about my life, how lucky I have been, and some of the of the major events (changing points) that I have been through. Additionally, while training I would ponder life lessons that are analogous to training or really hard work and dedication of any kind. Listed below, are lessons that are somewhat universal, and as such, you might already know them. But I have not trained this hard in a VERY long time and as such, feel like I was re-educated:

Get started – I have been fascinated with triathlons ever since the 1980’s when I witnessed the true meaning of human strength, determination, and courage when Julie Moss collapsed and then crawled across the finish line to place second at the Hawaii IronMan. That was over twenty years ago! If I had pursued my interest in triathlons then, who knows where I would be now. Likewise, if you are thinking about making a life change; a new job, a trip around the world, or launching a small business…don’t wait. Get started today!

You have to do the miles (yourself) – some days during my training when it was rainy, miserable out, or I just felt lazy I really wished there was someone that I could have paid to go out on the bike for me, or perhaps to swim my laps. However, as with any worthwhile goal, you have to get out there and put in the hard work in order to get to the desired end result. If you are studying at university or trying to run 3 miles for the first time it’s not always easy or pleasant, but being persistent and doing homework or running when you don’t feel like it WILL payoff in the long term

Some days it’s going to rain – actually, it might not only rain but you might get two flat tires at the same time, too. Pursuing personal goals is not always “flowery” and perfect. In fact, some days are going to downright suck.

Take a break – throughout my various training runs and bike rides I would often find myself winding up at the beach as a halfway point during a workout. Many days I would stop for five or ten minutes to think about what I have done, what I need to do, why I was doing it. If you’ve been working hard, don’t be afraid to take a break and give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back or to reflect on your goals.

When you reach a hill put your head down and take it one step at a time – Most days of my training I was either running or biking and I would always come across hills of varying magnitudes. Though, there is one hill in particular on my route that begins as a slow grade and continues to get steeper and steeper over the course of a mile. Frequently, especially in the beginning of my training, I would arrive at the base of this hill and want nothing more than to give up and walk. But, invariably I would put my head down and keep telling myself to just keep putting one foot in front of the other and before I knew it, I would be at the top. Have you hit any rough patches in life lately? Even though it is not always the solution sometimes you just have to put your head down, take what comes, and plow ahead one-step at a time.

Find sources of inspiration – As stated above, I like to exercise and workout but I did reach certain stages where I felt burnt out. During those times I would frequently read an interview that I did with Scott Rigsby, the first below the knee double amputee athlete to complete the Hawaii IronMan triathlon. Also, I would think about the orphans and refugees whom we are trying to raise money for with our Train for Humanity efforts. Most likely, whatever your goals, there are people out there who have overcome and triumphed in the face of adversity and have done what you would like to be doing. Seek them out when you are feeling overwhelmed.

In closing, there are probably countless other lessons to be taken away from extended periods of hard work, dedication and commitment. Ultimately, even though it is not scientifically proven, I truly feel that if you are determined, have a proper vision, and a positive mindset that you can accomplish almost anything that you set your mind to.

How about you? Have you been dedicated to a particularly difficult project or increased your exercise program lately? What “life” lessons have you learned or rediscovered?

Mark Hayward is the co-founder of the non-profit humanitarian organization, Train for Humanity. If you would like to sponsor him (or Leo) you still have time. He owns a B&B in the Caribbean and blogs at MyTropicalEscape.

Posted on 14 November 2008 in Fitness, Health Tip Day |
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Comments (50)

Adrilia Says:

November 14th, 2008, 8:24 am

Your article reminds me of the quote about heroes: they are those who feel the fear, face the doubt and feel the pain … but they follow their heart and get it done anyway! Congratulations. Thanks for sharing your training system, for the clarity of your article and yes, thanks for the inspiration to get out there running. Will be checking out your tropical escape blog.

johnlazy Says:

November 14th, 2008, 8:25 am

Training in all aspects of life requires commitment. I’m proud of you guys!

Tabitha (From Single to Married) Says:

November 14th, 2008, 8:35 am

I have to be honest - I look at the title and think about training for a triathlon, and it makes me exhausted! :)

I will say that earlier this year I decided to do the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer which was 30 plus miles over two days. Being a little out-of-shape at the time, it was a daunting task. But I started training, I looked for inspiration by keeping a web journal, and I thought about why I was doing it. When the walk came, I was a bit under the weather so I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to walk far. I surprised myself by walking 20 miles before having to stop due to blisters. It was one of the best experiences.

All this to say that I agree - set a goal, try something new, even if you think you can’t do it, you can!

Mark Says:

November 14th, 2008, 8:39 am

Absolutely awesome Mark!

Ryan McLean Says:

November 14th, 2008, 8:56 am

These are some of the greatest life lessons and they all relate to me at my current time. I am looking to make a full time wage online and I cannot just expect it to come. I have to get started and do the miles myself if I want to achieve anything. I am doing some freelance writing at the moment which is helping bring in some income and my blog just hit over 300 subscribers!!
Doing the miles yourself sucks sometimes but it can be completely worth it. So far for me whenever I put in the miles (hard work online) I reap the rewards in my finances

Miz Liz Says:

November 14th, 2008, 8:59 am

Mark - regardless of the activity, I think that it comes down to commitment, passion, pure intention and love. Thanks for showing us the way.

Fit Bottomed Girl Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:00 am

I trained for a 10K a couple of years ago, and it taught me a lot about myself…when you’re out running for an hour or more, you only have yourself to entertain you and I ended up really looking around and appreciating my surroundings, like you said. I even learned to enjoy running in the rain! (No one was out so it’s actually kind of peaceful — plus you feel like a bad ass!)

Brian Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:05 am

Great article and plenty of food for thought.

Staying focused is not always easy, but it’s important to truly believe in what you are trying to achieve and realize that not everything can be accomplished all at the same time.

Keep up the work Mark :o)

Brett Legree Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:07 am

Mark,

I like the way you tied in the lessons to your triathlon training. It really is like this with everything, isn’t it.

I really do believe we can accomplish pretty much anything with vision and determination.

Valeria | TimelessLessons Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:08 am

Your discipline and consistency paid off Mark. I want to run a marathon in August 2009. It’s definitely mental training as well as physical. Congratulations!

Kelly Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:17 am

Life is the journey not just the destination. Training for the race should be as fulfilling as the race itself. All things in life fall into that philosophy. Slow down and enjoy. Great article.

Lee Ann/Living Introverted Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:19 am

This is really inspirational! You created a perfect analogy between any life or business situation with your training experience. Thanks so much for this much needed push to remain focused, determined and constant.
Congratulations too, on your great physical accomplishments!

Vincent Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:20 am

The training seems gruesome and it is at the finishing line you will find that everything was worth it.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger

Maria | Never the Same River Twice Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:28 am

Doing anything that is physically difficult can be a great conduit for personal growth. Last spring I spent 30 days living on $1 of food per day to raise money for charity. Like you, I knew that it wouldn’t be easy and it certainly wouldn’t always be fun, but it was so inspiring to see the results of what I achieved at the end of the process!

Chris (from Lifestyle Project) Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:31 am

Nice post Mark. I have done several triathlons previously but currently I am working building up my muscle strength and size. I’ve been making excellent progress.

This has meant a new routine. The lesson here is that if you put your mind to it, enjoy what you are doing you can really focus on making a different.

Rob Chant Says:

November 14th, 2008, 9:38 am

I think putting the work in is the real lesson here. Too many people want a short cut in everything they do… and usually, there ain’t one to be had.

texafornia Says:

November 14th, 2008, 10:46 am

And you could listen to the Zen and the Art of Triathlon Podcast. I take you on 3 hour bike rides and 50 mile runs while talking about Zen, nutrition, and much more. Fun stuff!

mark_hayward Says:

November 14th, 2008, 11:06 am

Greetings everyone,

Thank you for your input so far!! I am actually working on a full wrap-up of the race, which I hope to post on http://trainforhumanity.org/blog/ later today. Unfortunately, my wife’s camera died right at the beginning during the swim so we lost most of the pictures.

I will say that the triathlon was GREAT fun and here is a brief synopsis of how it went:

.6swim - I was a bit nervous before we started because the buoys looked awfully far away, but it turned out to be the easiest segment for me.

24mile bike - the good…it was all flat and the bad, I didn’t do enough speed work prep and watched everybody blow passed me :(

6.6mile run - I felt great but I did not read the little informational packet before the race otherwise I would have know there were mile markers. As it was during the run I was not sure how far I had gone or needed to go to finish and didn’t run as hard as I could have.

Lesson learned - I was a little mad at myself for not being in better shape and pushing myself harder, but the goal was to finish and I did that. Rookie mistakes!!

Hope you all have a terrific weekend and please check out the full race report on TrainforHumanity.org. :)

Neil Says:

November 14th, 2008, 11:46 am

Very inspiring, I admire your determination. Your advice about ‘doing the miles’ is great. So many people want to acheive a goal, but aren’t willing to work towards it.

Chris | Healthy Gaming Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:04 pm

Good post Mark, keep up the good work!
And thanks for that Julie Moss clip, really inspiring.

Do you have any details on any special diets you were following?

Lauren Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:09 pm

Thanks for this great guest post, Mark! During workouts - especially when biking and running - I’ve often meditated on the parallels between making it through a long bike ride/run and making it through challenging times in my life. It’s so true what you said about taking it one hill at a time, one step at a time. Sometimes the hills come one after the next, with no chance to rest - but sometimes, on the really big hills, you can enjoy the ride down for a while before tackling your next challenge!

Brennan Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:10 pm

Men’s health has a pretty cool race they put on each year called the urbanathlon. If you’re into races it’s worth checking out.

http://www.menshealthurbanathlon.com/

mark_hayward Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:24 pm

Hey Chris - regarding diet…I try to eat fairly healthy during the week, so I didn’t really do any moderation.

If I decide to do a 1/2IronMan then I will try to drop a few pounds to spare my knees a little bit. :)

Benjamin Teal Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:37 pm

Mark,

You know, this is absolutely true. Its amazing how sports often can be translated into life, and vice versa.

Get going and put in the work. Sometimes it will be hard but you have to persevere. Take a break occassionally.

It is so amazingly simple, but the triathalon spin on it makes it “sticky” and easy to understand and relate to.

Thank you for the article, I will use it as one of my “sources of inspiration.” :)

Michael | Go Success Now Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:52 pm

Mark, good advice on training regimen. Body need sports and trainings, to have great mind. Good job.

Stef Says:

November 14th, 2008, 12:58 pm

Wonderful post! There is something about triathlon training and racing that is so gratifying and humbling; the discipline, drive and passion that it takes to get it done can definitely be applied to other areas of life.

I just completed my first half iron distance triathlon (Silverman) on the same day that you did Miami Man. Congratulations on your achievement — you have proved to yourself and others that anything is possible if you set a goal and do the work. Very inspiring article.

Takumi86 Says:

November 14th, 2008, 13:16 pm

Doing things such as triathlon can absolutely train not only physically but mentally as well, good for you doing that exercise but i’m not really a sportsman

Herbal Remedies with Lauren Says:

November 14th, 2008, 13:33 pm

Great Post! That is a really well thought out training regimen. I like how you use various activities. I use to go to the gym every single day and it got to be such a drag because I became bored with the routine.

Michael Moniz Says:

November 14th, 2008, 13:48 pm

Great article!

Sometimes we look for the quick way to solve a problem or improve our life. We think it can come from a blog, book or a seminar. It doesn’t happen.

There is a point in time where you have to stop looking for it and just do it! It takes work.

You will be working your whole to be an overnight success. It all comes from work and commitment.

Cynthia Says:

November 14th, 2008, 14:03 pm

Great post, thanks for sharing!

I just started training for my first triathlon. I am training for an Olypmic distance. I’m a runner, not a fast one, but a consistent one, so I thought I’d like to mix it up a bit and add swimming and biking. I’m not a strong swimmer, but have enjoyed the swimming I have done thus far. With a son, work and life in general, I have had to change how I do things. I have to work out in the early morning hours in order to get my workouts in. It has been years since I was a morning person, and this training has somewhat forced me to be so, but I’m loving it. I can’t wait until I increase my mileage and increase my stamina in the water and on the bike and improve my running.

In just the short time I have been training, I’ve learned a lot about myself and I really enjoy my own reflection time. Looking forward to reading the recap of your race.

Silvia Says:

November 14th, 2008, 14:10 pm

This article is so true! I am training to do a 100 mile bike ride in February with Team in Training and so far there have been both moderate and hard days, but rarely any easy days. I’d say that I’m in moderate shape, but I’ve never been a cyclist, so I basically jumped into this head first. In addition to that, I have made it my personal goal to raise $2,500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and so the fundraising has been tough as well. I think overall you just have to remind yourself why you’re doing this and think about the big picture– mine is to challenge myself and also to help raise money for a good cause. Thanks for this post, it comes at a good time for me to remind me why I got into this in the first place. Unlike Mark, I chose to train with a team, which has been a tremendous help. For those of you that want to train in a group, Team in Training is a wonderful option. Check out my personal page for more information: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/tdps09/ssanchesd8.

Starfire Says:

November 14th, 2008, 14:36 pm

Heya Mark - I’m one of those people who actually loves to exercise, although I have a large enough build that you wouldn’t know it to look at me. I’m training at the moment for the New Zealand Oxfam Trailwalker - the idea being to walk 100km in 36 hours with three other friends next April.

It’s a huge challenge, and five weeks into my training programme, there are lessons I’m learning already about organisation, teamwork, and once the fundraising aspect of the project kicks in, about asking for things without feeling uncomfortable.

Great article!

starfire

Thinkmaya Says:

November 14th, 2008, 15:39 pm

Great article Mark.
I am training for a marathon now. I am physically pretty fit - I am doing the training more for all the “other” benefits I will get out of it.
It makes the rest of my life so much more enjoyable, gives me a sense of fulfillment too. Some days are really hard but I just have to do it … I am slowly but surely building up the mental strength!

Laurie | Express Yourself to Success Says:

November 14th, 2008, 17:55 pm

Thanks for sharing your lessons, Mark. I find sometimes that getting started is the hardest part because it’s not just trying something new but also getting over varying fears like failure, making a fool, or worried about what someone else may think. But at the end of the day, if it’s worth having it’s worth working for and sometimes, as you put so well, when you reach a hill put your head down and take it one step at a time. Thanks Mark.

Eric Hamm Says:

November 14th, 2008, 19:54 pm

Hey Mark, excellent insight! This is an essential tip for anyone pushing through hard times in their pursuits:

“When you reach a hill put your head down and take it one step at a time”

This is the kind of stuff that gets us through the valleys when we feel there’s nothing left in the tank.

Great stuff and good luck with the training! Eric.

Lance Says:

November 15th, 2008, 8:15 am

That’s one of the great things about the sport of triathlon - the lessons we learn along the way! And you’ve found some great ones - like when you reach a hill,put your head down - reminds me of perseverance - an ever important life lesson. I wrote a similar post on the life lessons we learn from triathlon also. One other that I included was the importance of practice, and that if you don’t continue to practice some skill you have, you’ll lose that skill. I found this with swimming - I had gotten so I was “ok” at it - and then didn’t train much the next year. Well, I quickly found out that I had began to lose some of that skill. And that definitely applies to life, as well! Great article Mark!

mark_hayward Says:

November 15th, 2008, 18:17 pm

Greetings all! Just thought I would let you know that my race report for the triathlon is now live on the Train for Humanity website:

http://trainforhumanity.org/2008/11/mark-hayward-completes-miami-man-triathlon/

Amelia Burton (Health and Fitness Coach) Says:

November 15th, 2008, 20:39 pm

Hi Mark,

Great effort and I enjoyed your race report. It’s good to see you have learned some lessons from the event. But my question to you is this: Do you feel satisfied? Now that you’ve ticked the box of completion, is that enough?

My guess is the answer is ‘no’ and you are hungry for more. I think this is one of the greatest lessons fitness teaches us. What was a seemingly unattainable goal six months ago, is now the starting point for a new goal. And the process is never ending.

Like you say, if we can apply that to other areas of our life, the possibilities are limitless.
Amelia

Amelia Burton (Health and Fitness Coach) Says:

November 15th, 2008, 20:48 pm

Oh and I forgot to mention not to beat yourself up about the rookie mistakes. The pros make much worse mistakes, trust me!

Hot Alpha Female Says:

November 16th, 2008, 4:02 am

Whoa these are some great tips and hints!

One thing that came to mind, it no matter whether it be a triathlon … the principles to getting that success are all the same.

So taking what you just said to me .. I can apply that to ALL areas of my life.

So thankyou.

I was also reminded of one thing aswell.

When there is a ridiculous hill to overcome, when you feel like wanting to stop .. that is when you have to RUN! haha

Its a very liberating feeling!

Cheers

Hot Alpha Female

http://www.MakeHimHappe.com

Godssecret Says:

November 16th, 2008, 5:51 am

Doing Body work, Physical training, exercise is needed as the soul must rest well in its vessel, the body to function well. But what about after were are done with these “bodies”
What then ?

During sleep and upon death of a righteous individual, the soul travels a certain course as it ascends to the Upper Worlds.

Sleep is 1/60 of death

If the soul is righteous, it is welcomed to the Upper Worlds by the Patriarchs, specifically Jacob. When an individual strives to understand his purpose in life and seeks the truth of the Creator, his soul will seek to reunite with the Light of the Creator upon leaving this world.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of mankind journeys through this physical world without any inkling of his true purpose, or understanding as to the meaning of his existence. Consequently, a man who directs no effort towards spiritual enlightenment and blindly pursues the material world, will automatically seek the path of negativity when it departs its physical existence. The paths of the spiritual world mirror the pathways we forge in the physical world.

If one seeks the light and acts for it in this world they are taken by it, and to it when they transcend this world.

The return of the soul to its original source is vital. It is through this process that the Creator absorbs the souls, which allows them to be born anew each morning.
One is in a certain sense is a new creation when they wake up each morning. Their soul is renewed by the God when they sleep.
This otherworldly journey occurs each night, whether or not we are cognizant of it. An individual’s degree of awareness, however, and their personal level of spirituality [righteousness] determines the particular course the soul travels and the heights it can attain. The higher the soul ascends is directly proportionate to the measure of Light it receives.

This portion awakens a deeper awareness of the Light our soul can achieve if it is righteous, as well as the ability to ascend to greater heights and receive greater revelations of spiritual energy during sleep.

Lots more light at

http://godssecret.wordpress.com/

Check it out and Fly

Andreea Says:

November 16th, 2008, 7:33 am

Hey Mark,

Your post is very inspiring. I find it really useful and positive as well as your report.

Best wishes,
Andreea
http://www.colouredfeelingsuniverse.com

Robert Stanley Says:

November 16th, 2008, 10:51 am

I am training for a Half-Marathon, my first ever, and I have faced similar challenges. Although my training regimen isn’t nearly as grueling, I have experiences lots of motivational challenges and pain. In your article you forgot the knee pain, back pain, ankle pain and other ailments that wear on your mind and contribute to the need for a break.

Of course, you mention that you are a recreational runner so you might have worked past all those issues.

Success Professor - Danny Gamache Says:

November 16th, 2008, 12:00 pm

These are some great life tips. I especially love the “some days it’s going to rain” tip. Too often we think that our goals will be smooth and at the first sign of rain we quit or take some time off. We need to push through the rain days.

peter doonis Says:

November 16th, 2008, 18:31 pm

hm mm definitely good advice to use as general rules for effective training…to achieve a goal, for fun!! or survival (if you choose to). I do not think that it is good to use your success in this area however, to fuel your competitive nature in general. Whatever we do should be done for fun. If the RESULTS of our actions become important then the actions themselves become a dread. Something done out of fear of loss, or inadequacy. Attachment then disappointment then sadness then anger then delusion then loss of judgment then finally ignorance and destruction.
http://www.peterdoonis.com

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome Says:

November 17th, 2008, 1:58 am

I’ve just started a running program and I’ve also decided to push myself with my writing, making writing my primary focus (which means writing for most of my day).

Both are things I love doing but they are both big scary ideas. My running goal is to run a 7K race on Dec 31 and my writing goals? Write. Lots. Every. Day.

The second is much scarier!

Coop Says:

November 17th, 2008, 20:24 pm

Hi Mark,
My son and I were ready to bike the Pasadena Marathon, but it was canceled due to the smoke from the fires we’ve been having.
Best,
Coop

Jarkko Laine Says:

November 21st, 2008, 1:38 am

Hey Mark,

Congrats for your first Triathlon! That’s quite a training program you were following - and great lessons learned!

Thanks for sharing!

ImJustCreative Says:

November 23rd, 2008, 12:43 pm

I feel ‘dirty’ to say this is the first time I have visited this site. It was brought to my attention By Joshua in his latest post, so I see I have a lot to catch up on.

I also love the feeling of keeping fit, how it makes the mind feel. I have only done several mini-triathlons, 2 marathons and one 30mile cross country, seems a lot for me, but I know in grand scheme of things it’s not.

So hoping to find further inspiration here.

Awesome stuff
Graham

Les Says:

December 31st, 2008, 9:08 am

Great post, have added it to my list of motivational resources.

Well done on doing the triathlon. I did my first in June of this year at Blenheim, England. Went off too fast on the swim, the bike wasn’t serviced properly so my gears jammed and I crawled the run in what should have been my best discipline. Afterwards I thought it was the hardest thing I have ever done. But 24hours later I was planning my next one.

Thanks for the article great motivation in all areas of life not just sport.