It's chilly riding down the curving descent to the beautiful lake front where 2000 athletes are preparing for the race.  It'll be hot soon.  It's been a wonderful 4 days camping amongst the trees with Robin and Anna.  Nice friends have visited.  We watched the park fill up, creating the well-known, un-matchable, Woodstock of Triathlon known as Wildflower. has come to be known.

Sunday morning worship service is already underway in the main expo area.  Robin and Anna arrive.  The band is great and their song, "He is the Reason", brings my focus to the Lord who is the reason I am doing triathlons.  I would quit if not a part of God's good plan.  Especially these last few years; coping with my foot problem has worn on me, tempting retirement.

Preparing my gear for the 2-1/2hr race, I sit in a crowded sea of bicycles staring at a small bag of Advil tablets.  My foot hurts all the time, causing me to suddenly stop sometimes when I'm just walking.  The last few days I couldn't jog a 50yd incline from the bathroom to our campsite.  This 6mi course is full of hills.  Without Advil I'll be walking most of it.  However, 2 days ago Robin felt from the Lord that He would bring healing this weekend.  It was the hardest thing to believe, looking at the scar tissue already visible on my heel, unresponsive to 7 years of treatments.  I do believe everything is possible in Christ.  But I'll just take the Advils in case it doesn't happen.  But that's not believing.  But isn't it stupid to go unprepared and hobble in pain around the course for an hour?  Even walking around camp hurts!  .. finally.. I'm going to believe.  I discard the Advil and head for the race start.

I meet Robin and pray.  Then weave through the athletes to my wave at the water's edge.  Amongst the spectators I see Anna on Robin's shoulders!  Waving furiously, she finally sees me, but looks a little confused...  among all these wetsuits I must look like a hyper penguin with a yellow beanie.  But she saw me... and now it's time to race.. it's been 11 months since I've done this...

Go! The water is great.  I'm getting good drafts.  I'm happy with how I feel despite not getting much swim training.  Sighting is good.  I find a good pair of feet to stay on for the trip back.  Really work it to the finish.  Wetsuit almost comes off perfectly.

  I feel the pain in my foot while jogging to the bike.  How is it going to get better AFTER I ride 25 miles?  I'm planning to push the bike very hard which makes the foot worse.  I remember the Lord is in charge and has amazed me before.

On the bike.  Robin and Anna cheering.  Up the steep hill and out along the countryside.  Everything is green with tiny wildflowers everywhere.  Sometimes I find a rhythm and the bike feels good, effortless.  Then I get a rush of fatigue.  Let up and find the rhythm again.  Lot's of passing of the 6 waves ahead of me.  A few guys pass me.  One is long gone, like the way John Dougery used to pass me.  The others I stay with and re-pass on the descents.  One guy keeps passing me on the climbs.  On the last one I encourage him, "you've got the power.. last climb.. make it count."  He picks it up.  I also pick it up.  I'm able to beat him to the top.  I tell him, "you motivated me".  Flying down Lynch to the transition, I stretch my calves and ready for dismount.  Robin and Anna see me again.  Sadly, they had just seen a girl crash before me.

I smile as I start the run.  Helpless to do anything about it. Excited that the Lord is going to heal me.  I look up, "I'm all yours, Lord" and switch off the competitiveness.  Leaving transition, I realize it's not hurting!  At the stairs I've just run the farthest without pain all week!  I encourage everyone that passes me and the few I pass (mainly girls in the earlier wave).  I'm running 8min pace (that's fast for me now).  It's such a great feeling to be running!  I've taken no anti-inflammatories.  It's so joyful...and yet part of me still thinks, "I bet I can go faster and catch these guys".  Greedy, considering my dismal run training has amounted to a mile of walk/jog here and there.  I could barely catch crawling Anna the day before, now I'm thinking of catching real athletes?  But I try.. quickly feeling some discomfort and realizing my error.  I spend the rest of the run focusing on God instead.  Looking slightly upward.  Remembering, "healing is better than results".  Forcing away the part of me that thinks, "get what you can now, you may not get another chance", replacing it with, "all that matters is to focus on God, towards a future of pain-free running".  4 miles. 5 miles without pain.. and without walking! I can't believe it.  The last downhill mile (my specialty)...I could sacrifice pain and catch the guy ahead of me.  No!  Forget about him, just focus up and continue pain-free.  I ignore the runner.  It's a freeing, happy feeling.  Then I realize I'm catching him anyway!  I'm running fast down the finish line without any pain at all.  There's Robin and Anna.  I finish and thank the Lord.  I can't explain it without Him.  That race just blew me away.  Previously I felt it was a mistake even attempting it.  Now I'm so excited and my faith is increased.  It's one of my slowest runs but I feel like I've won the Silver.  Of course the Gold goes to God.

Hoping the best for you, too.  Partner with Christ in the race of life.  Finish strong.

God Bless,

Troy