I really enjoyed and appreciated all the comments and encouragement from my Race Day Reflections.

This is one I thought was especially creative…

Look! It’s a deer! It’s a train!
No, it’s Triath-A-Man!
No swim, no iPod, that’s OK
Triath-A-Man is here to stay!
With my scrapes and sprain I will not quit; I will not fail;
Triath-A-Man will not bail!
I will run, I will bike, I will run some more,
WATCH OUT old guy I’m coming for more!
As I huff and I puff and cross that finish line,
Thank you God for helping me shine!

Thanks Trust Family!

CREMEANS COUCH; Lisa Young – Part 3 from Cremeans Couch on Vimeo.

43 times around the sun and today was one of the BEST days of my life!

I am now officially a triathlete! Got to tell you…I really like the sound of that.

RACE DAY REFLECTIONS

• Got up at 4:00 am and journaled to God.
• Trying to communicate gratitude to God was emotional. How do you express thanks to someone like God? Basically, I told Him this…Thank you for helping and encouraging and kicking my butt thru this whole journey. I love you.
• Ate the breakfast of champions…oatmeal.
• I also ate bananas…they are a racer’s friend.
• Loaded up with the fam…headed off to the course.
• Registered and set up transitions stations
• My worst nightmare…they replaced the swim with a run
• Canceled the swim because of the surf (Hurricane Kyle and rip currents)
• I like swimming…I hate running.
• Second worst nightmare. No iPods. I can’t run without my worship jams
• Not cool…1.5 mile run, 15 mile bike, 5 k…No iPod.
• My goals? Don’t quit or stop and FINISH THE RACE.
• Made the first 1.5 mile…had to pick up my pace…old guy was beating me.
• Coolest thing ever to hear my family cheering for me!
• They all ran aside me with their posters and kept cheering!
• I definitely had the BEST cheering out of 700 traithletes
• Did I tell you I like the sound of that?
• Got on my Pee Wee Herman modified bike
• 15 miles here I come!
• Suffering from Railroad Tracks Phobia since my spill.
• Had to ride over 2 railroad tracks…made it…almost crashed on the bridge
• Saw about 4 bikers crash. Yikes!
• Half way on bike…feeling OK
• 3/4 of the way on bike…hamstrings hurting…stinking Pee Wee Herman bike!
• Old guy just passed me…he has a better bike!
• Finishing up with my bike. Debbie and the kids are screaming like crazy!
• I’m blessed.
• I like swimming. I hate running.
• Here I go…if I quit…this will be the leg
• I miss my iPod
• Kept going thru Scripture in my head (Heb. 12:11) (1Cor. 9:24) (Heb. 12:1-3)
• Same old guy keeps passing me…he has an iPod! Not Cool!
• Half way…haven’t stopped…water table…needed that!
• Can’t believe I’m almost done…insane that 6 weeks ago I was 40 lbs heavier
• I can’t see the crowd yet, but I hear them…getting very emotional
• Picking up the pace as fast as I can now. I see the finish line ¼ mile away
• I can now hear Debbie and the kids…running as hard as I can!!!!!
• I’m a basket case!
• Thinking about tripping the old guy…just kidding…I did pass him!
• I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Footage to come…from Devin…enjoy the pics

I asked my bride and kids to refer to me now as Triath-a-MAN. I think I’ll copyright that since I just made that up.

Can’t believe it. Today is here. Got A LOT going on inside my heart and mind this morning. I wasn’t going to write anything on my blog this morning, but I’m so glad I did. When I saw all the comments this morning…it put me over the top!

Let’s do this!

I’m so grateful to God for this day.

Grateful for all of you as well.

I’m blessed.

Run To Win,

Buddy

The Spill.

You won’t believe this.  I took a spin on my bike with new skinny tires for the first time Saturday morning. The spin turned into a major spill! The problem? I tried to ride over rail road tracks.  The skinny tires stayed on the tracks, and the large man went flying!

One day before my race and I find myself sitting in the ER.

Thank God I didn’t get really hurt. After I figured I was in one piece…I had one thing on my mind…can I still race? I got my wrist x-rayed and thank God again! It’s just a sprain. Here is an official copy of what my wrist looks like…pretty cool huh?

Got in Delaware around 3:00 and went to the first timer’s orientation. I felt like singing the Sesame Street song…One of these things doesn’t belong here…one of these things just doesn’t go!

No question I’m the largest dude here. Rephrase. Largest dude with scrapes all over his body.

The surf of the ocean looks frightening frankly. I’m going to try to sleep tonight. Up at 5:00 am to get my game face on. Good Night!

Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me on this journey! Thanks for the prayers

[flv:http://northwaymedia.com/BlogClips/Buddy%20at%20the%20YMCA.flv 432 240]

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C3 is on the road and on its way to Northway Church on October 13th!

Sign up today, space is limited.

WHAT YOU GET:

• An intimate setting for your team (pastors, staff members and volunteers) to realize new possibilities for your church
• Hear Ed speak about tough topics no one else wants to tackle
• Gain motivation, application and innovation to take ministry to the next level
• A Q&A session with Ed Young
• Special Group Rate if you bring 5 or more!
• A special luncheon with Ed Young for senior pastors and their wives

REGISTRATION:
$79/person

-OR-

$325/team (5 or more people)

You don’t want to miss this conference!

Oct 13th will be unprecedented as hundreds of Difference Makers across the Northeast gather together for one power-packed day!

Imagine what God will do. I believe all who attend will emerge energized and encouraged to dream together to reach the Northeast for Jesus Christ as never before!

Think about it. God had all this planned a long time ago. God knew we would be together in the Northeast at this pinnacle point in history for a reason…so He could take back the Northeast. So God’s lost children could come home. The desire of Heaven’s heart is to use us together as never before to help those far from God, find God.

God’s Spirit is moving in a fresh way, and there is a new hunger in the Northeast. A hunger to not let our lives pass us by without God doing something mighty in the Northeast!

Register early as space is limited.

Unbelievable what’s going on!

Feel like I’m watching a movie.

Surreal.

What’s your take on the bail out?

Do you think we should or should not bail out Wall Street?

10. Just got my wet suit for the race! I look like Spider-man…OK maybe more like Mr. Incredible.

9. Can’t get Hebrews 12:11 out of my head!

8. Owning my own behavior is rocking my world in every aspect of my life!

7. I feel like I have been awakened from a deep sleep!

6. Extremely, exceedingly, exceptionally excited and nervous about the triathlon.

5. Will a shark think I’m a seal instead of Spider-man?

4. When I finish the race, I’m thinking of having everyone call me a triathlete.

3. Excited about hearing from runners that are winners this weekend at Northway.

2. Excited about OCT 13th Conference…praying God encourages leaders like crazy!

1. We are living in unprecedented times.  BE STRONG AND ENDURE!