ortoftexas

Recommitment DAY 1

2009-07-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

I have officially started running again. Today was day one. 2.8 miles on the Midlo route. Slightly hilly, plenty hot. The goal is to run a sub-20 minute 5k in October. That does not sound like much of a goal but in reality, I am just trying to ease into this. In a month or two, I may start some cross training. This is big because I have officially been off the bike for 12 months. I feel pretty much healed except for the things that age brings. So I think it is time to get back on the bike in moderation and then possibly do a couple of 200k's in 2010.

-dt

Commuterdude!!! The R12

2009-01-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Congrats to my buddy, Commuterdude, aka Keith Gates for completing his R12. In my opinion it is much tougher than the actual series. Why? Because of the time involved. 12 consecutive months of a 200k or more may not sound hard. But when you are a "working stiff" with kids and a wife and a life....it is very challenging. The weather, time and life are against you. Not to mention the normal stuff which happens on a Brevet Course. Flats, broken chains, cut tires, bad food days, etc. etc. etc.

It is an accomplishment!!! And well earned.

Way to go kG.

-dt

12/25/08 Run

2008-12-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.08 miles
Time: 44 Minutes
Weather: 70 degrees

I started out really slow due to the fact that the left knee/upper inside calf was bothering me. I was only running 12 min miles plus for the first 2 miles. Once I warmed up, I felt good so I picked it up. My last mile was probably my fastest. Somewhere around 9:30.

I will put a little more into it tomorrow and see how it goes!!!

12/24/08 Run

2008-12-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

Time: 00:33:14
Distance: 3.01 (Yeah, I know, not breaking any speed records!!!)

First run back since being off 14 days with the flu. I have a lot of ground to make up to get ready for the New Years Day 5k in Fort Worth.

Felt ok, all the little bumps and bruises are healed. Still having issues with the knee that will probably only be fixed with surgery. But I do not think I can do any more damage to it, so we will keep at it.

-dt

Change of direction...

2008-12-06T10:57:00.000-08:00

This is now going to become my "Fitness" blog. I have had to give up cycling (temporary basis) due to injury and time constraints. I will do it for commuting purposes and I have set up the bike a buddy gave me for that purpose. BUT the Lemond is going on Craigslist soon.

So! I am going to go hit the road and run 4 miles today.

I will post results of the run later....

-dt

Pic of the day......

2008-08-07T23:57:00.000-07:00

My favorite picture I have taken of the Jefferson Memorial.........I like the reflection. Taken 7/22/08. Question: Where is the John Adams Memorial?

-DT

Ugh!

2008-06-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

I have been off organized everything to long. Just got done reading the Full Moon ride report from C'dude. Nice! I miss that stuff here. My club, the lone star rando's, aren't really in for the short stuff. And I am all out of time for Rando riding this year except August and Sept. Until then the riding will come in 20 to 40 mile increments. But mostly solo.

My running experiment is off to a walking start. I have not ran in two months! Ugh! I need a new cycling goal. Finishing the Nebraska 600K ain't it. That seems like it should be easy enough. So where to begin?

I hate it when I get introspective. I mostly get depressed and nostalgic when I get introspective. I am much happier when pursuing a goal. I am weird that way. I am also weird in that I hate to let people know my full goals. I figure they are for me and my motivation. I am perfectly happy to coach you and encourage you, but for me, I need to know I can cut it on my own, mentally at least, without the sappy stuff.

That does not sound very Christian of me, but it is how I am wired. I am my own worst critic and my own motivator. I am goal oriented to a fault. I like achieving goals so much, the awards and recognition and such does not mean nearly as much as the planning and execution. I find it hard to get out of bed with out a goal and plan for the day.

SO back to introspection. Since I am taking the summer off from seminary, I have had a lot of time to read. (If I have time to read, why do I not have more time to ride?) I have so far plowed through 3 CS Lewis Books, A two volume work of Teddy Roosevelt and a commentary on Galatians. All this reading is getting me thinking. Unfortunately, when I look at what Ted Roosevelt accomplished by my age, it is pretty depressing. ....

At this point, what is important is to focus on how I live today, am I living in the Joy of the Lord and am I being obedient? Focus on this and no day is a waste as a Christian. I just finished reading a book a friend of mine recommended and that was something that stuck out in the book, even the most mundane moments will be used by God to glorify Himself. Therefore we should always be ready to serve & praise Him.. We seek mountain top moments but sometime we sacrifice the 90% of our lives spent on the up slopes & down slopes and valleys. God inhabits it all. We should inhabit it all with Him. Enough of the "Ugh" moment.

Trust & Commitment.......

2008-05-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

From the hiking trip......

In my Sunday School class, we are continuing a look at growing Biblical relationships this week with a look at a picture of "trust". We are in 1 Samuel chapters 17 - 20, the story of Jonathon & David. There is not a better picture of trust between two friends in the Old Testament (with the possible exception of Naomi & Ruth, but that is a different faith lesson).

Really, the entire scope of what we are going to discuss Sunday is in 1 Samuel 18:1 "When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathon committed himself to David, and loved him as much as he loved himself."

When we think of the culture, what position everyone held, and the type of commitment made, this is a true picture of self sacrificial love that is incredible. A royal prince loving a shepherd boy so much that he loved him as part of the family....we see that clearer in verse 4.

Have you ever committed to some one in that kind of friendship? If yes, what does that commitment look like right now? What does that type of commitment say about Jonathon? What would it say about us?

-DT

Value Added Activity.......

2008-05-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

This week my wife taught the kids in our Children In Action group at Oak Crest Baptist Church a lesson about " working as unto the Lord". For the most part the kids seemed distracted - "Summer is here! It is nice out side! Let go play! James quit making that annoying noise! Shane, stop making fun of Daniel!" Quotes from the night.

The Lesson got me thinking the next day though. It stuck in my head, here is the verse in context: Colossians 3:17-25 ESV

Col 3:17	And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Col 3:18	Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Col 3:19	Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Col 3:20	Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Col 3:21	Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Col 3:22	Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Col 3:23	Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Col 3:24	knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25	For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

At my two "civilian" jobs I have had, one in transportation and one in the steel industry, we talk a lot about "value added" activity. I have studied the Toyota Production System, learned how to identify "muda". I have also been trained in lean technique, TOC, Re-engineering, etc.. etc. etc. and in some way shape or form, we have always talked about value added activity and its' corresponding activity the dreaded NON-VALUE ADDED ACTIVITY!!!

As I looked at Colossians 3:17, 23 & 24 and as I meditated on it last night and today, the thought kept coming into my head that in essence, this verse is telling me that to the Lord, for the Christian, EVERYTHING is a value added activity. "Whatever you do...." Another version states "in everything...." same concept. As a Christian, there is no such thing a non-value added activity! This is encouraging and frightening!

Why frighting? Because you can have a non-value added "attitude". Verses 22 tell me I can do things as "eye-service", so for appearances would be another way to put it. We spend so much time as Christians worrying about how things look and sound and our preference. From what I understand from this passage, God cares very much about the condition of our heart while we are doing ANYTHING than the "what" we are actually doing. So I can praise God and worship Him, while mowing my grass but if I spend 40 hours a week in a soup kitchen for "appearance" sake, it is worse than worthless. Because I can only serve the Lord with a right heart and if I am not serving him in what I do then I have to be serving something else, myself, the world, the prince of this world, it does not matter what, it is all idolatry. Worthless and damaging even.

So you have work in the name of the Lord, giving thanks.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

So what is the application? Today at work, it made me work harder, it made me thankful, because it did not matter how whatever I did appeared to human eyes, I was giving thanks. I was thankful for my job, the people I work with, and thankful to the Lord to be a picture of Jesus while putting together spreadsheets and doing safety analysis.

So remember "do everything in the name of the Lord" you may be the only picture of Jesus your classmates or workmates or family may see today. Let them see HIM, though YOU!

Thank you Charmaine, your lesson stuck with one kid!!!!

Selle Anatomica Titanico Feedback......

2008-03-31T23:34:00.000-07:00

I purchased this saddle on the advice of a few clubmates. What you see above is the saddle with 140 miles on it. I was very happy. Worked as advertised. I have a limited budget for cycling items and I thought I had a quality buy. This photo is right before the Italy 400K for LSR.

Below are the "after" photos.

Note how you can see the tension screw. It is not even touching the front of the saddle bracket in front. I lifted it up so you can see it.

Now it is pressed down.

Lesson learned? Make sure you carry the correct size hex key so you don't have to ride a 400K standing up. Make sure you tension this saddle correctly and allow probably 500 miles to dial it in.