"Iron Kids"

I went running today without a shirt in order to work on my tan. I have a naturally dark complexion and have never had any problem with exposure to the sun. I remember as a kid on the farm some of my brothers and I actually starting to turn a purple hue from day after day with no shirt. They say that's not good for you but what the hell. Am I gonna get cancer or something?

I was just a wee bit self conscious however and so I asked Claudette if I looked silly, and because she loves me she of course said no, and why should you be? And furthermore she said, and I quote, "you've gone running with no shirt when you were 3 times as fat!" Three times as fat?? Apparently that's called "hyperbole"...obvious and intentional exaggeration. Anyway, for some reason I was self conscious of the saggy wrinkles that I now carry around my middle where all this fat used to be. But I said what the hell and went ahead anyway. Im pretty sure that those wrinkles don't make me run any slower and I'm also pretty sure they don't make anyone love me any less. So, I'm old and wrinkled...thats me.

But today wasn't about me anyway. It was about this guy who doesn't have any wrinkles and doesn't even see mine. My "Iron Kid"











In this last photo he is showing off his medal and his time which is written on his hand. It was a proud day watching my grandson complete his very first triathlon. When asked if he would like to do it again he said, "Yes I want to do it forever, until I'm too old to do it!" I can assure him then that he's good for at least another 50 years. What a gratifying, gratifying day! Dear God, I love this little boy beyond any words I have to express it.

Briefly on my own training. I had a nice swim after Colbys triathlon, a pretty effortless 2000 metres, a decent 10 km run this aft, and then weights tonite. All's good I think. I still live in constant doubt but I think that's normal. I'll just keep on doing the training as best I can and we'll see what happens. I suppose that to be constantly driven by a state of fear is better than to relax out of a state of over-confidence.

I wish to dedicate day 249 to Pat Beers who taught my kids how to swim and now supports my grandchildern in things like todays triathlon.

“The heart has no wrinkles."---Marie de Sevigne

“Even with all my wrinkles! I am beautiful!"---Edward Everett Hale

“Years wrinkle the skin, but quitting wrinkles the soul."---Douglas MacArthur

love
peter