Eight Years of Blogging . . . Branson Triathlon
This Thursday will be the eight year anniversary of this blog. In blogging years, that means this blog is an octogenarian! (Seriously, how many blogs do you know that have gone on, more or less regularly, for eight years?)
Here’s the first post from 8/4/03:
We just returned from Pensacola Beach–our 15th straight year in the same condo (since 1989). It is now like holy ground. We can look out at the sand on the gulf on one side and the sand on the Santa Rosa Sound on the other side and picture our children. We remember taking a little boy and his younger sister. We remember taking the brand new baby in 1992. We can still see Megan there during her very ill days. We recall clearly the first summer of grief following her death. And now this year, we got to return with our boys and a girl (who next year will be our daughter-in-law).
It has been a sanctuary, an oasis, a respite, an emergency care center through this decade and a half. We have swam, played tennis, bought fresh fish at Joe Patti’s, eaten the best grouper sandwich in the world from Peg Leg Pete’s, jumped in the waves, collected shells, biked, thrown baseballs, played Uno and Hearts, read, listened to Jimmy Buffett and Michael W. Smith (not together usually), watched movies, prayed, and grown deeply in our love.
Another place that’s been important in my life—especially in the first third—is Table Rock Lake. Almost every weekend of almost every summer through my high school years, and as often as possible during the summers of my college years, we headed from Neosho to Shell Knob, Missouri, to fish, swim, and ski at Table Rock Lake.
Yesterday, I made a decision to return to Table Rock Lake for my first half ironman triathlon. We’ll swim 1.2 mile, then bike 56 miles and run 13.1 mile.
I held off as long as possible before registering, waiting to see if I had any injuries going into August. Right now, my body feels pretty good, so I’m going for it.
Forty-seven days and counting!
Good luck with your half ironman! This is a great goal and something that you can be very proud of. There is nothing more moving than being at the finish line (as a participant or spectator) of an endurance event like that. Take it all in and enjoy the ride.
Thanks for keeping it going for 8 years. Your discipline is amazing. it has blessed us all in different ways and days.
I hope the weather breaks before then!
You are the Godfather of CoC bloggers. Happy Anniversary!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeldwfOwuL8
Dude. I thought you got into biking, etc., because you needed to quit running. Whoa. I am SO excited for you and look forward to a race report. Would LOVE to hear more than “still breathing”!
Love your tradition/ time of respite at Pensacola Beach — and so long for one of my own. Right now I’m thinking mountains/ less than 70*.
Thanks for sharing so much of your life with us.
The Blogfather! Good luck with that Ironman. I’ve got my sights set on a sprint tri. I hear they are addictive.
Thanks for all the good words. (Thanks for all the mediocre words, if there were any!)
Hmmm. “Good words.” Isn’t that kind of what “benediction” means?
Thanks for blessing us.
Seems like only yesterday you were taking your first bloggy steps off blogspot… You’re practically pre-teen now!
I’m afraid to go back and read my comments from then. Since just *almost* 24, I’m sure I knew a lot more and pronounced it loudly back then. (And those who think I haven’t changed, well… you’re lucky you didn’t get the 24-year-old version. All I’m sayin’.)
I can think of very few places I visited online 8 years ago that I continue to visit today. I think you, LJ and gmail are pretty much it. You should feel special. ^_~
Thank you. May you have another eight years ahead of you!
By the way, any idea of how many posts that is in eight years?
Begs the question: half ironman, half what?
Congrats Mike – you have been a huge blessing to many. Best of success in the triathlon. Reading your’s and Wade Hodges physical feats makes me feel more inadequate daily – but motivated too. It’s all good.
Congrats on the eight year anniversary. And congrats to whoever it was that encouraged/convinced you to start blogging in the first place.
I’m looking forward to hearing updates on how the training goes.
There are some days when I wake up thinking about running a marathon again. Then the thought passes and I’m happy to stick to 5ks and CrossFit wods.
Rock on youngster!
“Eight more years! . . . ”
Do you have a post and comment counter? Those would be interesting numbers.
Mike, wish there were words to thank you for the great blessing so many of your posts have been for years…my heart is grateful.
We celebrate 8th year anniversaries just a few weeks apart. When I began reading your blog my thought was you’d been at it for awhile. As has been said, you have so blessed me and encouraged my life, tested and stretched my thoughts so much these past 8 years. I’m hoping to be around for your/our 16th anniversary.
Thank you and bless you dear pastor-teacher/preacher and friend and hope you do exceedingly well in the 1/2 tri!!!
Congratulations on 8 years of guacamole! Is there such a thing as a 1/4 Ironman?
Yep. It’s usually called an olympic triathlon. The one I did in May was 1500 meter open water swim, 24.1 mile bike, and 6.2 mile run.