My First Triple Digit Bike Ride

Napoleon Hill, that great author of the bestselling book, Think and Grow Rich, has written that: Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. 

"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, 

it can achieve."

—Napoleon Hill

While this statement is more of a general, metaphorical truism than a literal fact in every instance, there is no doubt or question that thoughts and beliefs serve as primary drivers of our actions—and the results that flow therefrom. As such, the things we think about and the beliefs we choose to implant and cultivate in our minds, hearts, and souls really matter!  

As my regular readers will recall, I recently completed a half IRONMAN 70.3 mile triathlon in Panama City Beach, Florida. 

Click HERE to read Tale of an Average IRONMAN 

The process of training for and then completing this grueling event, which took me nearly six hours to complete, planted "thought seeds" for accomplishing something even more challenging—a full IRONMAN 140.6 mile triathlon, which is twice as long and consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a full marathon at the end (26.2 miles of running).

Having now committed to enter the "Granddaddy of them all" (a Rose Bowl of triathlons) on November 2nd of this year, I have begun to further cultivate the thoughts and actions needed to adequately and properly prepare for this mammoth undertaking. 

In attempting any goal, thoughts and actions inform each other synergistically. In other words, while thoughts naturally lead to actions, actions can also serve to bolster thoughts and otherwise strengthen our mental capacity and confidence to achieve whatever we set out to do. 

Knowing this, I recognize the importance of strengthening my mind in preparation for the full IRONMAN event. To accomplish this objective, it is necessary to demonstrate (prove) to myself that I am increasingly capable of achieving what I have set out to do. 

For example, leading up to the half IRONMAN 70.3 in Panama City Beach earlier this year, I went on the longest bike ride of my life to-date: a 77 mile ride I accomplished in the Florida Everglades about three weeks before the Gulf Coast triathlon. Finishing a 77 mile bike ride did wonders for my mental confidence that I could capably complete the 56-mile bike leg of the half IRONMAN. 

But it did more than that...

It enabled and empowered me to begin "thinking" that maybe I could do something even bigger/greater: namely, a full IRONMAN 140.6 triathlon. Indeed, I can trace the beginnings of my current full IRONMAN goal to this 77-mile ride. To further cultivate this mental capacity and confidence, I knew I needed to get several bike rides in excess of one hundred (100) miles in before I attempt the full IRONMAN.  

I accomplished step one of this initiative this past Saturday by completing a 116-mile bike ride from Key Largo, Florida to Key West, Florida.

Having now finished a triple-digit-plus bike ride, I feel much more capable of and confident in my ability to cover the 112-mile bike leg of the full IRONMAN on November 2nd. 

To maintain this mental capacity and confidence—as well as to sustain my physical strength and resilience—I will complete two additional rides of 100-plus miles before I toe the line on November 2nd. These extra long rides will accompany many other shorter rides contained within my overall training plan, which includes swimming and running as well, of course.  

Top of bridge entering Key Largo. 6:38 a.m.
Mile marker 108. I rode the 108 miles to mile 
marker 0 plus 8 additional miles along the way.

The ride from Key Largo to Key West was WONDERFUL!  

I started at 6:38 a.m. and was blessed with a beautiful breeze (tailwind) that blew me all the way to Key West. Indeed, I was most fortunate to have the wind at my back; it felt an awful lot like SERENDIPITY (aka grace and mercy), which all self-action leaders need to reach their full potential at work and in life.  

It took me approximately six hours (not counting rest and rehydration breaks) to finish the entire 116 miles.  It would have taken me several hours longer and been significantly more challenging if I had been facing a headwind, although a headwind would also have stretched and strengthened my physical and mental muscles more than having a tailwind the whole time. 

As self-action leaders well know, adversity is always a blessing in disguise!

But Serendipity is also a most welcome companion whenever and wherever It chooses to magnify our own best efforts.  

A dehydrated Dr. JJ at the end of his journey
Saturday, July 20, 2024; Key West, Florida.

I also learned a good lesson about preventing dehydration. I hydrated pretty well for the first 96 miles of the ride. However, the final 20 miles I failed to drink any liquids. Then, determined to get photographic proof of my accomplishment before I headed to my post-ride oasis (Circle K) to rehydrate, I opted to stand in line at the Continental United States' Southernmost Point monument for the approximately 25 minutes it took to secure the coveted picture. As I stood in line in the near-100 degree heat and humidity, sweat poured profusely from every pore in my body.

I can rarely remember being such a hot, slimy, sweaty mess!

It felt a little like I was boiling! 

In the meantime, I did not realize the extent to which my body was rapidly losing its fluids and beginning to dehydrate. The consequences of this fluid omission at the end of my ride became apparent once I began to rehydrate at Circle K.

Oh, the upper leg cramps I suffered over the next hour or so as I poured water, electrolytes, sugar, and caffeine back into and onto my body! I found myself involuntarily spasming and then writhing on the ground in the corner of the Circle K parking lot as I strived to alleviate the agony of the cramps. What a sight I must have made! One good samaritan even stopped by to check on me and see if I was all right. I was... but I'm sure I didn't entirely look it! Others noticed my discomfort, but kindly refrained from drawing added attention to my pathetic plight.  

The liquid replenishment was refreshing and delicious, but the cramps were really miserable, and could have been prevented had I simply hydrated before standing in line for that photo. I also suffered a brain freeze from pouring too much ice cold water on my head all at once. 

Some good lessons learned for the future!  

It had been over 17 years since I first

visited the Southernmost Point monument.

With my (then) girlfriend, Lina Tucker

Key West, Florida; March 2007.

Aside from this uncomfortable experience, the ride itself was FANTASTIC, and not overly challenging because of the helpful tailwind, a new (high quality) triathlon suit and anti-chafing products, and my previous preparations and fitness maintenance. 

Riding a bike (or driving a car) through the Florida Keys is PARADISE. If you have never done it before, I highly recommend it before you kick the bucket.  

My wife and kids drove to Key West to meet me there in the afternoon and we spent a fun evening together and then traveled home the next day after Church. It was a great experience, a fun memory, and an education all at the same time. And I am much better prepared to compete in and ultimately COMPLETE the full IRONMAN 140.6 triathlon in Panama City Beach on November 2nd.  

Is there something in your life or career that you have thought about someday accomplishing, but have avoided trying in the past for fear of failure? 

If so, and if your objective is worthy and your desire to pursue it sincere, I invite and encourage you to consider what the NEXT STEP would be for YOU in your own "training process" to move steadily closer to achieving your goal and/or vision. 

Winston Churchill
1874-1965
One of my SAL & Historical Heroes

I once read a statement written by Winston Churchill about the power of accomplishment that can be unleashed by virtue of an individual's commitment and discipline to dedicate oneself to a task and then stick with it until it is finished. Churchill was specifically referring to ambitious writing projects and his words have inspired me to tackle mammoth compositional goals myself.

I can tell you from personal experience that the fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction that comes from accomplishing or finishing something ambitious and difficult is immense! I have experienced these positive emotions of elation and euphoria on many occasions throughout my life and career as I have tackled ambitious projects and seen them through to completion. 

The Picturesque Florida Keys

I had those wonderful feelings again in the final few miles of my 116-mile bike ride on Saturday. As I rolled along those beautiful oceanside boulevards lined with Palm Trees in the tropical paradise that is Key West, I felt a little like a cycling champion approaching the Avenue de Champs-Élysées in Paris—minus the huge crowds, champagne, money, and fame! However, truth be known—and all things considered—this Lone Ranger would actually prefer the peace and solitude of my own solo ride to the elite, fame-filled alternative.

Thus, in the end, it is not so much our spotlights in the sunshine of public adoration that prove most meaningful, but rather the moments in the moonlight of personal, private achievement and victory that matter most in the end. And no matter who you are (or aren't), there are no end to the magical moonlight moments you can experience on your individual journey through life—as long as you are committed to Self-Action Leadership!

Bottom Line: our self-worth is directly correlated with our productivity (something my Uncle Hyrum W. Smith taught me). It feels good to accomplish small things. And it feels GREAT to accomplish big things. A 116-mile bike ride was, for me, a BIG thing, and it feels great to have achieved it!  

Tune in next week on Tuesday for a special celebration of my 400th Blog Article Publication since I began the Freedom Focused blog in late 2013, and then again on Wednesday morning to reconvene our serial publication of the SAL Life Leadership Textbook.

  

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 399th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 209th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 398 FF Blog Articles 

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks    

The Elusive, yet Euphoric, Rewards of Endurance

I am a runner and triathlete.

To date, I have completed an Ironman 70.3 triathlon, 13 marathons, and countless other distance and middle distance races on roads, trails, and tracks.

Why do I run, bike, and swim? On their face, all three activities can appear dull, monotonous, and challenging? And there are many people who would agree with all three of those sentiments. And despite my love and appreciation of all three activities, I understand the source of the naysayers' groans. After all, running, biking, and swimming can all be both monotonous and challenging activities—especially when your aim is to cover a long distance.

Yet, despite any and all difficulties involved, I continue to get back into my shoes, onto my bike, and in the pool, lake, or ocean time-after-time-after-time. 

Why? 

The answer to this question lies in the countless experiences I have had that demonstrate the importance of endurance and the joy that comes from effortfully enduring something that is difficult. In other words, the Runner, Biker, or Swimmer's "High" is a real phenomenon.

And while such euphoria can be elusive, the elation is real.

Himalayan Mountain Range

But it goes well beyond the natural "High" that comes from hurtling along a track or treadmill, spinning along a highway or byway, or coursing through a pool or lake at personally satisfying speeds. It also has to do with the immense natural rewards inherent in overcoming myself as I exercise endurance.

In the words of the famous New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary—the first person to ever set foot atop the world's highest mountaintop, Mount Everest—It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.  

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."

— Sir Edmund Hillary 

A Natural Reward is something positive a self-action leader obtains as a by-product of engaging in a certain activity. Self-action leaders wisely arrange and plan their work and lives in ways that maximize their leverage over naturally rewarding activities.

Over time, a self-action leader comes to discover that one of the greatest natural rewards of all is the quiet, inner feeling of accomplishment that can only come in ONE way—by enduring to the end of a given task, goal, or mission. And the more difficult the process, the more rewarding its completion. 

Pikes Peak as viewed from the desert-plains at its base

A few years ago, I signed up for a half-marathon race to the top of Pikes Peak in Central Colorado. I had run several half marathons before entering the Pikes Peak Ascent. But scaling a mountain towering 14,115 feet above sea level was no ordinary half-marathon. 

The race begins at an elevation of just 6,315 feet—just west of the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Over the course of the 13.3 mile course, runners gain an elevation of 7,800 feet. The first eight or nine miles are challenging, but doable—even at a running or jogging pace. The last four of five miles—and particularly the last mile—are another story! Between the steep grades and rarer air at the top of the mountain, it took me a lengthy 30 minutes to complete the final mile, meaning that my pace amounted to that of a slow walk! In all, it took me four hours and eight minutes to run those 13.3 miles—more than twice as long as my average half-marathon time on a paved course. 

But that was the price required to summit that mighty mountain; and if I wanted the full scale of satisfaction (natural rewards) of making it to the top, I had no other choice but to faithfully endure.

As you can imagine, it was worth it.

The view from the top was stunning, and the sense of accomplishment was significant. After arriving at the summit, I learned that the view from the top of Pikes Peak was the same vista that inspired the American poet, Katherine Lee Bates (1859-1929), to write the words to the famous song: America the Beautiful.

"O beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain,

For purple mountains majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea!"

In Bates' own words:

"One day ... I decided to go on a trip to 14,000-foot Pikes Peak. ... I was very tired. But when I saw the view, I felt great joy. All the wonder of America seemed displayed there...."

Interesting, don't you think, that the inspiration of Bates' pen did not arrive until after she had made it to the top of the mountain?

Life is often just like that. It holds out its greatest joys, rewards, satisfactions, and inspirations until the end of a given journey—or at very least until well into it. As such, you cheat yourself out of great riches and plenty if you give up short of a worthy goal. Sadder still, you will never really know what you are missing if you decide to settle for less along the pathways of your life's journeys.  

What is something worthwhile in your life that you are tempted to give up on, but know deep down in your heart and soul that you would be selling yourself short if you prematurely terminated your journey? 

What might you do beginning TODAY to refocus your vision, energy, and efforts on enduring to the end? Additionally, what kinds of positive cues might you employ to continually remind yourself of the natural rewards that await you at the Mountain Top?

Click HERE to learn more about "Positive Cues."  

.......................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to learn more about Freedom Focused

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan Jensen

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks