A couple days ago, my long time friend, asked me what I did differently in my approach to this race from all the previous ones.
It’s such a simple answer – “Trust in the plan.”
As athletes, we sometimes want success to happen yesterday. We want to fast forward, leaving behind the journey – which in the end means the most – and feel the satisfaction of accomplishing our end goal.
In my short career as a triathlete, a husband and friend, and as a man of God, I’ve come to understand the full meaning of what “trust” means.
I remember being a naïve, young man, searching my way through this sport, I signed up for as many short distance races as I could my first summer. I was moving 100 mph in my goal of one day competing in an Ironman race. The triathlon Ironman M-dot symbol was that of a mystical and elite status that I watched on NBC’s World Championship coverage in Kona but always seemed so distant in real life. As I progressed through my first summer of racing, I kept in the back of my mind that goal – the finish line of Ironman.
When I first met my now current coach, Marc Voit, on a bike ride from North Park back in 2003, I remember taking off from the gun like a time trial race with strong pedal strokes and the mind set of dropping everyone with me. My effort was short lived as Marc knew other wise and soon enough reeled me back into the group and started my education on the basics of triathlon training and preparing not only your body but your mind for what’s to come.
I read a Bible verse from the book of Timothy, other day – “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
This says so much for how we need to approach the “trust” we’ve learned about with life, love and athletics.
Aug. 29 in Louisville was a time for discovery for myself, as I was able to “Trust the plan.” No matter the heat and humidity of that day, no matter how bad my body was screaming to stop my race, I knew if I stuck to my plan, things would be ok.
Marc has been instrumental in passing on the vital information of proper training, well balanced diet and challenging me in my spiritual approach. My Kona experience will be in large part due to the support I’ve received from family and friends, and by all means the guidance Marc has given me.
I hope you can find the right guidance to eventually “Trust the plan.”
Cheers!
Couldn’t be better said.
Matt,
The following is an excerpt from one of the best selling books of all time, Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich.” The excerpt may be found on pages 116 and 117 of his book and reads:
“If the first plan which you adopt does not work successfully, replace it with a new plan; if this new plan fails to work, replace it in turn with still another, and so on, until yo find a plan which does work. Right her eis the point at whcih the majority of men meet with failure becuase of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail
Your achievement can be no greater than your plans are sound.
No man is ever whipped, until he quits – in his own mind.”
Cheers.
J
Very true words Matt. I think I was pushing things a little too hard to be on “my” terms this year, and not the terms they were supposed to be.. when we can finally let that go.. and just believe their is a plan.. then we can finally see what God really has in store..
Another favorite..
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
This Saturday – Don’t hold anything back!