"Confidence"

For most of my adult life I've been blessed (or burdened maybe) with a certain level of confidence. That confidence, or some may even say cockiness, has allowed me to bullshit my way through many of lifes challenges and opportunities. There's definitely something to be said for believing in yourself, the power of positive thinking and all that. In hindsight, even when I didn't know what the hell I was doing, I frequently got some kind of positive results just because I charged ahead in the belief that I did know.

Unfortunately bullshit will only take you so far. When faced with an undertaking that is so far beyond your previous experience you better have done a little preperation. An anology that occurs to me is that of spelling skills. In grade school I always won the spelling bees and can still spell a lot of words, but I can't possibly imagine taking on those kids you see on TV without a couple of years of intensive learning.

The same goes for Ironman. I am at times scared shitless and I know that I better keep on working hard, but to let you in on a little secret....a little voice keeps insisting that I can do this. "Try Not!"

Almost total rest today, a very quick bike ride just to check out my new tires, and then a modified weight workout. Tomorrow will be packing day, and maybe a short swim.

Did I tell you that we're taking the RV to Peterborough? We have a campground right at the race site. And of course an excursion like this wouldn't be complete without at least one grandchild, and so Colby has agreed to go with us.

I wish to dedicate day 288 to Doug Geldart who finished last in the mens 50-54 age category in the 2008 Peterborough Half Ironman. Close to 7 billion other human beings never even tried it!

"I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down."---Allen H. Neuharth

"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go."---Dr. Seuss

love
peter