"You are the Cup!"

Think about that one for a second will ya, while I haul the the old 'why' question out again.
Why have I chosen to do this thing? I tried to answer it a week or so ago, and though everything you read there was the truth, it still nags at me that maybe my motives aren't altogether transparent. I do believe that I am doing this for myself, but what does that mean? Does that mean I'm doing it for the pure gartification, sense of accomplishment, and well being that should come with meeting and conquering a difficult challenge like this....or maybe... just maybe, part of it is so that I can strut around amongst my fellow human beings with a superior "look at me!". attitude. Tough question.
What supports the 'look at me' reasoning a little bit, is the very fact that I write this blog. If it's just to inspire myself or amuse myself, then I don't need to post it publicly do I? But I admit that I like to get feedback on it, and am gratified when people are reading it. However, once it had served the initial purpose of publicly stating my attentions so as to get myself on the hook, I could easily have let it drift away. But instead, and this is really putting my insides on the outsides, part of it's "raison d'etre", is that it has become a medium to express my ideas, and yes, even to demonstrate some wisdom that perhaps I have acquired through my personal challenges. To cut to the chase I really don't think there is anything altruistic about my public ravings, and I only hope that it is simply a byproduct of my Ironnam challenge as opposed to a reason for it. And furthermore I hope that even as I struggle with that little nagging rationale behind my commitment, that as I proceed through the training journey it will truly become something that's honest and completely about me. Wish me luck because at this point I have no plans to stop jabbering.

Now...."you are the cup"....I bet you're thinking he's gonna pull out the old cup half full malarky eh? No not that! I like this one much better. Did you know that it is possible to turn a styrofoam cup inside out? If you do then you're either more knowledgeable than me, or you have no life what so ever. As opposed to telling you how to do it I will let you go to the net to find out, because the 'how' is irrelevant to my anology, beyond the fact that it is a slow meticulous process. If you try to rush it you will meet with ongoing little failures, or eventually even catastrophic failure. The cup will rip! To do it effectively you need a plan, and you need patience.

Living life is like turning a styrofoam cup inside out, and "You are the Cup". You need a plan and you need patience. Trying to make significant lifestyle changes (quitting a habit, losing weight etc.) is like turning a cup inside out. Coping with and recovering from childhood trauma is like turning a cup inside out. Raising childern, or grandchildern is like turning a cup inside out, except here's the killer with this one....in this case your children are the cup!! Scary eh? Dont tear them!!

And...training for an Ironman when you dont have a solid base behind you is like turning a cup inside out. And there-in lies my challenge. As I get a better understanding of my fitness level, and come face to face with the realities of 226 kilometres, I know that my biggest challenge is clearly time. I know that willpower, positive attitude and just plain old "joie de vive" are supposed to get you there, but you still have to turn the cup inside out and just smashing it will not get you the results you need. I have a long, long way to go.
So clearly the whole deal calls for very close adherence to a fairly strict and well defined program. That's what I now need to define and put in place. So over the next few weeks I will try to establish particular regimens for working out, including all 3 disciplines and also weight training. With Claudettes help I will put together a diet plan which will meet my needs....this part will be very hard because of my salivary challenges and my nomadic lifestyle. But, where's a will there's a way. (Isn't there some goofy little french expression for that as well?)

Ok...enough reality. Dont let it slip away peter!
"You will still be here tomorrow but your dreams may not" Yusuf Islam(who?)
"Feed them(your childern) on your dreams" Graham Nash(we know him right?)
"That which you fear the most could meet you half way" (guess who?)

A little housekeeping.
1)I need music ideas for my workouts. Upbeat, high energy driving songs. Stuff like Golden Earrings Radar Love. And if you've never heard that one, you truly have not lived.
2)Laugh my butt off. Remember the people who had me so frustrated. They read the blog as I hoped. We still have to see the paperwork tomorrow, but apparently I dont get to lift my skirt at all.
3)The cup thing can clearly be done, but probably not by me. I had a few rips, including loosing the bottom altogether.
4)I swam 1500 meters continuosly today...slow though...oh so slow

I wish to dedicate day 21 to Maureen who's shoes I would not be in for the world.

And in respect of her situation I add.

"If this is a blessing it is certainly very well disguised"

Love
peter