More Old news…

It’s so fun to race (and train) in Hawaii!! The weather is so steady…HOT…but it sure makes it easy to pack for a race! In Wisconsin you had to consider all types of weather and be prepared for anything, but here, you’re good-to-go with one tri outfit, goggles, bike and run shoes...and sunscreen. Oh, and lots and lots of liquid, salt and electrolytes.

August 29 was the 2nd Annual Lavaman Keauhou Triathlon, and once again, it was a great race! The 1.5K swim was in Keauhou Bay, which was a nice change from our usual pier swim route, and the 40K bike started out with a nice (!), steep uphill climb to the top of “Kam III.” Then it was down, down, down, on the highway, all the way to the Natural Energy Lab, and back to Keauhou on Alii Drive. The 10K run was beautiful, including lava rock, grass and golf-cart-path running surfaces. While running on the Big Island Country Club Golf Course, you are literally right next to the ocean…during the race I made sure to look around and appreciate all the beauty!

I was very happy with my time, considering I had done a half-marathon race the weekend before, and was coming off some heavy Ironman training. I ended up beating my time from last year by 18 minutes…16 of that coming from an improved run. Well, more accurately put, the difference between actually running the run vs. walking the run! Niece Allison had a great race…she’s getting faster and faster!! The picture is of Allison and I with our age-group-winner awards and gifts.

The same day as Lavaman, our friend Monica was racing her first-ever Ironman, in Canada. We were tracking her progress, and she ended up having an amazingly fun and fast race even with the challenging weather conditions and tough course. Before Monica left for Canada, we wanted to encourage her by “writing” her name in coral on the lava…and Monica did totally rock that Ironman!

We try to remember to take the time to look around us, and enjoy and appreciate all the beauty here. I was up early enough one morning to get these awesome pictures of the sun coming up over Hualalai Mountain, and then see the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the words of this great song:

Indescribable by Chris Tomlin
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea; Creation's revealing Your majesty.
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring; Every creature unique in the song that it sings…
All exclaiming; Indescribable, uncontainable; You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name; You are amazing, God; You are amazing, God.

All powerful, untameable; Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim.
You are amazing, God; You are amazing, God.

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go; Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow.
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light; Yet, conceals it to bring us the coolness of night.
None can fathom; Indescribable, uncontainable; You placed the stars in the sky, And You know them by name. You are amazing, God; You are amazing, God.

Incomparable, unchangeable; You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same.
You are amazing, God; You are amazing, God.