Recently while working out designs for a cycling kit shirt and tee shirts for this blog, I wrote down a list of things that mattered most while writing this column. The list flowed right out of me, and that’s usually a sign that the subconscious has been at work all along.
And it turned out there were seven principles, which is the sign of completeness in scripture and just about every other value system in the universe.
And here they are, with brief explanations for how they came about and why they matter.
BE ORIGINAL
The goal from the start with this blog has been to take an original approach to writing about running, riding and now swimming, which has been added along the way. This has given plenty of latitude to experiment and make links between these activities we do and the way they impact or symbolize other endeavors in life. Rather than producing a training journal or a coaching clinic, it has always been the goal to make people think through original takes on the three sports that also happen to coincide with triathlon. So it’s been an evolution or original thinking, and I believe in that.
SEEK JUSTICE
This second principle, to “seek justice” may not seem to have much connection to endurance sports. And yet, we participate in some of the most just sports of all. These teach lessons about equality and the human condition. It is no coincidence that endurance sports like running still represent the foundation of the Olympic Games, and that marathons and other large scale events celebrate the best aspects of the human condition. I see this principle at work every time we meet up for runs or rides. People discuss their most important values and their personal challenges. At the heart of all religions stands the core principle of justice. And there you have it.
SHOW RESPECT
This one is tricky, because I have often done satire of the things I find most annoying or stupid in this world. Satire does not respect the subject, but it does convey principles. It is respect for the principles behind the satire that are brought to the fore. That is how men like Jon Stewart show respect through comedy. But I am also more than willing to challenge people about their beliefs, because the ultimate sign of respect is to take their beliefs seriously enough to question their source. Then there is the respect I feel directly for people profiled and interviewed for this blog. Their stories are compelling examples of interest and perseverance, ingenuity and hope. In sum it is also important to respect as well your competitors, because that’s how you learn to respect yourself. That is a major challenge for everyone in life, and one the most important aspects of existence.
GIVE FULLY
This is essentially a not-for-profit blog. I write this because it is enjoyable, and it has produced writing jobs and opportunities as a result. Someday soon I may have a line of fun items for sale through WRAR, but it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme by any means. Much less a network marketing plan. Instead, my belief in life is that when you give fully in any way, something good will come back to you. It may be unexpected, or not what you might have hoped for. But it’s true. Something works in the universe when you are willing to give fully. That means giving yourself fully to your sport as well, as much as you can. And to give your time and support to others in real time. That is one of the most rewarding aspects of running, riding and swimming. The more you give it seems, the more you get back.
TRAIN HARD
It sounds simple but it never is. Training hard takes dedication, discipline and devotion to the task at hand. That is true in the long run and also in the precise moment you make decisions about when to push, and when to pull back. To “train hard” does not mean going all out, all the time. Instead, it means the three “D’s” above. Being focused on what you are trying to do. And when you’ve done your best, it is also important to keep your training in its place. When you’re training hard you are in the midst of achievement. Because not everyone can win races or win their age groups. But they can participate. And that’s the motivator that brings us all together.
COMPETE WELL
The fun of competition and the challenges it are good reasons why many of us choose to participate in organized events. From the neighborhood 5K to the New York Marathon, from sprinting to the County Line on your group ride to earning a spot at Kona, we all have different goals. But competing well is always the aim. That can mean many things. For some to compete well just means to finish. Certainly that’s 99% of the Ironman population. The great thing about competition is it teaches your mind and body to respond under duress. These aptitudes come in handy in the real world. All the world is a competition. There’s no avoiding it. Learning to positively engage is a good thing.
LOVE LIFE
This one seems cliche, as might all the others to some degree. But together they add up to a philosophy, a clarity that can help us learn to love life itself. I’ve been through some harrowing things and lost some people so close to me it feels like flesh being ripped away. So I treasure life as much as possible. Through it all, my running and riding have sustained my brain even on days when it was difficult just to pedal 30 miles in the wake of my buddies. Life can be harsh. But life can also be joyous and replete with peak experiences that draw us out of our social shells into a world of tolerance, openness and lack of fear. We can overcome many things if we love life. That includes grief, addiction, loss of faith, disillusionment, depression and dying itself. The time we have here is indeed precious. To love life is to value it. And I try to encourage people through this blog to do just that.
There you have them. Seven ideals upon which this blog is founded. I will be centering topics around these ideals going forward. As always, I love to hear from readers and what they think about the topics we cover here. You may not always agree, but my goal is always to make you think. Be original. Seek justice. Show respect. Give Fully. Train hard. Compete well. And love life.
Because these things help you run over the tarsnakes, those things in life that would otherwise trip you up. Some are things that tempt you. Others are things that get in your way, or slow you down. But if you remained focused, and abide by a set of principles that amount to a nuanced grip on the handlebars, you can roll right over them.
And please share this blog on social media when you might feel compelled. That is most appreciated.
Remember those numbers quoted at the start of this article? They may not reflect the half of it when it comes to real reporting about rape. That’s because women feel threatened to come forward and report a rape if they feel their circumstances will not be taken seriously, or worse yet, to be judged as the instigator rather than the victim. We all know how that goes. “Well, it’s how she dresses. She was asking for it.”
And truly, swim competitions (like most races in any sport) are a shock to the system of anyone that has not been racing. Whether it’s an FTP test on the bike or a time trial on the track, jacking your heart rate up to race status for the first time is always a bit unnerving.
That doesn’t stop Chris Colburn, the enthusiastic coach of the Bullet’s Masters Swim Team from cheering his protege’s on with urgent calls and gesticulations. He works the pool deck waving and counting time so that his swimmers will not grow complacent. Colburn simply loves success of any type, and his swimmers accept that they need some pushing at times.
early morning hours at Master’s Swim practices to be great prep for a day of being a parent to the curious, active minds all around her. Her children played and amused themselves making cheer signs for mom as the meet morning wore on. Good kids. Great mom.
Bullets swimmer Lida Bond Keuhn emerges from the competition with several age group blue ribbons. This past summer she completed her first Ironman. She got a tiny Ironman tattoo on her ankle in testimony to her achievement. Now her daughter Stephanie plans to follow in her mother’s shoes. Even father John Keuhn was a top-flight athlete in college, playing basketball at North Park in a program that won a national championship. Their son Scott just finished a career as a top receiver for the highly successful Illinois State football team. One of his former teammates now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Cleaning off the top of my dresser is always an exercise in personal topography. The year tends to pile up in patches if you don’t get around to shoveling change into the jar and sorting through the many things that are so easy to toss on the dresser.
But damn was I consistent on that cadence. I stared at that green bar with intensity the whole time. Coach came by and said, “I like that face.” Because I look like a haggard old hawk when I stare. Always have. Always will.
Yet there’s also an ugly bit of ageism going on against Susan Sarandon. Why is she
being busted when Helen Mirren has made a similar go of it with her aging body and been celebrated? This idea that women are not allowed to age is ridiculous. Certainly Helen Mirren was a young beauty. Yet she’s just as stunning in her elder years.
Victoria’s Secret is one of the better merchandisers on this planet. They use every marketing technique available to sell product. From direct mail to text marketing, email to producing that annual underwear fest they call a TV show. It’s all about moving product. 
Then jockstraps went out of fashion, replaced by running shorts with built-in briefs. These were, at first, an unsettling development. The flop-around factor was considerable, but one got used to that pretty quick. There was a liberating aspect to having your crank flop around inside silk shorts. 
You’ll note that some of the sports bras women can buy are worn without a shirt over them. If women choose to do that, it is a man’s job not to stare. Not all women are imitating Madonna, who started the whole trend of wearing regular bras over her clothes. 
ke the difference between having materials at hand when you need them and having to stop and potentially lose an important moment when the paint is wet and the ideas are happening.
Again, I have total empathy for those dealing with clutter as a time-pressure of reality rather than a choice. For the last 15 years of my life, I’ve been a direct or indirect caregiver to both my parents and my late wife. During those years it has often been difficult to keep up with the physical and emotional clutter of details and things, always things, that can clutter and preoccupy the mind.
the back of a closet. Opening the box, I found a gold purse that had been owned by my late grandmother-in-law. It shone with its own life inside that box. And I knew that my daughter would want that clutch purse.
Going into the new year with cycling, I’ll soon have a new bike. With a new fit. And a new set of plans to train and race. I want to be organized about all of that. Want to respect the new equipment with regular upkeep. Not let the goo collect at the base of the bike frame. Nor let the chain get black and gritty. All of that dirt and grime slows you down at some level. As does hunting around for bike gear on the morning of a ride. Same goes for running and swimming gear as well.
I have long reveled in the joy in being fully prepared for a race. After you’ve done the hard work and tested yourself in workouts that go well beyond the pain of racing, it feels good to lace on those shoes on a fresh morning and get warmed up. You’re organized. The clutter of doubt is vanquished from your mind. You are going to give it your best.
One of my favorite scenes in the movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” finds the characters played by John Candy and Steve Martin pulled over by a policemen who is more than a little fascinated by the condition of their car. Of course, their vehicle burned up in a hilarious incident the night before, and there is ice and snow covering the vehicle as they drive down the road in their horrific caps. Yet when stopped by the police, Candy points out that it’s the damndest thing. The dashboard melted but the radio still works.
Like this post? Share it using the Share buttons below.
