Processing Today’s Triathlon

I did the Cedars of Lebanon triathlon today. And, I must say, it wasn’t one of my best moments! I actually was doing quite well when at mile 6 on the bike course my bike decided to explode. Actually, it was just my tire. But, it was bad. Although I’ll be the first to mention that I’m no super bike mechanic, this was much worse than any usual tire blowout that I might have been able to fix. As a matter of fact, both the interior tube and and exterior rubber actually ripped off the frame. Not good.

Here’s how it actually gets worse—the on-road assistance van had just passed by me less than a minute before it popped So, in order for me to get a new tire, I was thus relegated to waiting the literal longest possible time for the van to circle back around the 16.5 mile course and help me. In addition to all of that waiting (close to 40 minutes), I got to watch hundreds of other racers zip past me. Enjoyable, huh? Once they finally arrived, I went as fast as possible on the remaining leg of the ride and then just tried to hold on for the run at the end.

Despite my times in the swim and run being fine, the bike fiasco had destroyed my results. The pace that I rode was good (when actually riding), but I knew my overall time with the “bonus stop” included was going to be shameful. Although I had passed a lot of people on the remaining part of the bike course and did the same on the run, there is one major factor to be noted. They all started much later than me (staggered start) Yes, I had passed many of them after my blowout. Yes, I was much faster than them. And, yes, there were certainly lots of people that crossed the line much later than me. BUT, it didn’t matter. The clock doesn’t account for my 40 minute hiatus alongside the road. What it calculates is the time that you start and the time that you finish—no exceptions.

Well, after finishing, I was just glad to be done and didn’t even go to check my final results. The entire time I was was waiting on the course, I just kept telling myself, “Jason, you are going to finish even if you are dead last.” After the race, I was pleased to reunite with my family and friends. We all had a chuckle over my disaster but considered it a good day overall. But, I must admit—I WISH THE STORY ENDED THERE.

But, oh no, I let my curiosity get the best of me and decided to check the final results on-line this afternoon—THAT WAS A MISTAKE! There it was. I was stunned. I hadn’t come in last like I had told myself I’d be OK with, but I had come really close—2ND TO LAST! (out of 400+ finishers) And you know something, I’m having a bit of a hard time being “OK with it.” Maybe it’s because I’m so tired right now and maybe it’s because I’m so stinkin’ competitive. But, either way, that ‘s where I’m at. But, don’t misunderstand me, I still think it was a great day. And I’m still really glad that I did it. Any, yes, I will definitely be doing another triathlon in the near future. And, I guarantee I’ll do better!

And maybe, just maybe, that’s the lesson that needs to be taken out of all of this. Life is full of challenges and struggles. And I personally think it’s normal and healthy to have feelings of disappointment at times. But, here’s what I don’t think is acceptable—allowing those feelings to defeat you. As for this small thing—my race, I wish it would have gone differently. But what about the “big things” in our life? I would imagine we’ve all felt similarly about some of that stuff, too. But, either way, let’s push forward! Let’s learn from each experience as needed and also move on as instructed.

Philippians 3:13-14 tells us, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

And, for you today - that statement could speak to you in a number of ways. But, for me today, it’s saying, “Go get back on your bike.”