Well I did it! Today I completed my first sprint triathlon!
I titled this post "I am a triathlete!". In fairness I must say that I use that term lightly. This was my first event and hopefully won't be my last. I am already planning on two in 2010.
So why in the world did I want to do a triathlon? First of all let's consider why I shouldn't have done a triathlon. First I am deathly afraid of water and secondly I hate running almost as much as I hate mayonaise and that is a lot. So why do I want to do an event that is made up of 2/3rds of things I hate or fear? Good question. My distaste for running keeps me from pursuing 10K, half marathon and Marathon events. The fact that triathlons have swimming it intrigued me to conquer my fear of water.
Last December as I planned my goals for the year I decided to kick up my physical fitness efforts since the Air Force had been hinting at new fitness standards. I wanted to be ahead of the power curve and not get caught with a poor fitness evaluation.
Combine that with the fact that I will turn 40 in January and for the last few years I have wanted to do a triathlon, there you have it.
So this spring I came across a book that had about 50 stories of other peoples first triathlons. This gave me the fever even more so I took my first step and purchased a used Scwinn bike to train and race on. I also started looking for 5K races to run in.
So I had the biking and running equipment. I only needed one other thing, learn how to swim. In June I went to the base pool during lap swimming and jumped in the pool and swam one full lap and almost drowned literally. So I went online and started looking for swimming instructors. I discovered a swimming system called Total Immersion (http://www.totalimmersion.net/) I found a swimming instructor in St Louis and had my first lesson. I had a second lesson two weeks later and have been swimming laps for the last few months 3-4 times a week.
So that brings me to today. It was beautiful weather. Rainy and overcast all morning. I hit the road at 6:15 heading out to the site of the Triathlon. This event would be a 400 meter lake swim, 12 mile bike ride and a 5K run. To practice for the lake swim I swam a few times in the lake behind our house since they were very similar. I felt confident in my swimming ability and did not think my fear of water would be a factor. It turned out to be true but the swim was very interesting to say the least.
I arrived at the location and set up my transition area where I would change between each event. 15 minutes before the start time they went over the rules for the day. Before I knew we were at 1 minute out and I wasn't feeling nervous. The horn sounded and we jumped into the water and took off. I swam fine for the first fifty yards and then I don't know what happened but I started hyperventilating. I must have been breathing 90 respirations a minute and I couldn't slow myself down. I would try to swim my stoke nice and easy but holding your head under the water while breathing so rapidly isn't a good combination. I spent the next 28 minutes trying to swim the 400 meters with a back stroke zig zapping the whole way. I am sure I covered over 600 meters today. Believe it or not I actually was thinking to myself that I couldn't wait until the run portion, thoughts I would later question myself on.
Eventually my self inflcited version of waterboarding came to an end and I was off to my bike. I got all my gear on and was off...in last place. more to come
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
THRIVE 5K Run
Well yesterady was a great day.
Jason my baby brother, I am sure he hates it when I say that, came up from Clraksville Tn. to do a 5K Run with me. We weren't the fastedst but we ran the entire 5K!!!
We raised around $200 for the THRIVE crisis pregnancy centers in St Louis doing this.
Here is dad who did the walk with Carrie after the race stocking up on goodies!
Here is one of St Louis' talk radio hosts (my favorite) at the race, not only did he stop for the picture but he started up a conversation to boot...maybe that is why he has his own talk show!
Well, Carrie and I are planning our next 5K which is in a few weeks for the Eagle Scouts and it will be in Lebanon Il. Wish us luck.
I got out on the bike this morning and did 8 miles...no pictures...anyways progressing along slowly for my Spritn Tri in August!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
PT Test Finished
Being in the Air Force we get tested each year on our physical fitness. With my theme for 2009 being Finishing Strong a lot of my goals are centered around physical fitness. I just took mine today and look to continue to improve on it next year. I completed my 1.5 mile run in 13:30, not extremely fast but I had to give a 90% effort to get this time. I did 50 Pushups…probably could have done 10 more and 49 Crunches and that was my absolute maximum. Next year I want to do my run in 12:00 and be able to complete 60 pushups and crunches. This is the reason I will be completing a Sprint Triathlon in August 09. Hopefully I will complete the 3 mile run in under 30 min…we will see how my MAHR training works out.
Next week Caleb and I will start P90X and hopefully that will help me shed another 15lbs.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
2009 Finishing Strong!
It is hard to believe that we are already 40 days into 2009. Last year was a blur.
So here it is February 2009 and I am ready to start blogging again.
""Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few."
I agree wholeheartedly with this comment so for those of you that read my blog thanks!
My theme for 2009 is finishing strong. I picked this for many reasons. The biggest being that I turn 40 in Jan 2010. That's right the big 40. I haven't talked with many people who have hit this mark but I am sure they were just like me and wanted to reach milestones at the 40 year mark. I have set some goals for myself and will post my progress on my blog here. So first my goals.
Goal #1 Complete a Sprint Triathlon before I turn 40
Goal #2 Memorize the book of James form the New testament
Goal #3 Run 3 miles at an 8 min/mile pace (with my heart rate at 141)
Goal #4 Complete P90x with Caleb
Goal #5 Weigh 190#
Goal #6 Complete a 9 day Fast
I will add others as they come up...but first let me explain why I picked these
#1 I have wanted to do this for a long time, why I am not quite certain. I have never swam mulitple laps in a swimming pool much less in open water. But what is driving me to do this is the Air Forces big push on physical fitness. Over the last 4 years I have been able to pass the PT test but it was always tough and I was way too close to "not passing" for me. I will test this week for 2009 and expect to pass again with great effort. My goal by being able to complete Sprint level triathlon's is to increase my fitness to a new level that will allow me to easily excel at the AF Fitness test.
#2 I have always been good with memeory and many years ago had this as a New Years resolution but I never followed through with it. So I am going to in 2009.
#3 As part of #1 and being able to excel at the AF Fitness test this goal will allow me to get two birds with one stone. While getting psyched up for a Sprint Triathlon I came across the following webiste http://www.markallenonline.com/heartrate.asp . I am going to use this method of heart rate training with my running. To give you an idea of where I am at, this morning I ran a mile at an 8:30 min pace and my heart rate was 175bpm...now you see what I mean by "with great difficulty". Currently my MAHR (Maximum Aerobic HEart Rate) is 141 and I can run a 5MPH pace and keep my HR in my MAHR range + or - 5 bpm. I am sure this goal will require all 12 months but I will give you a monthly update.
#4 Caleb is 15 and a Freshman at O fallon Township Highschool. He was on the school's wrestling team until he damage a nerve in his back and was placed on a 6 month pass from contact sports. Caleb has been doing great and both of us wanted to do P90X so by making it a goal it will give us something to shoot for and will also allow us quite a bit of Father-Son quality time. And help me get more fit for goals #1 & #3.
#5 Everybody, well 98% of us are not happy with our current body weight. I am so unhappy that I am not going to share it with you right now. After I finish p90X I will share my starting stats.
#6 Earlier this year Carrie and I did a 21 day Daniel's fast and enjoyed the experience both physically and spiritualy. I want to complete a 9 day fast. More details to come as I get closer to the fast date.
So there they are, a few of my personal goals for 2009.
Another area that I want to push on my blog is politics. I am a staunch fiscal and moral conservative. So it should be no surprise that I am not excited with our current political leadership. My goal in this area is voice my concerns, opinions and sometimes disgust with what happens in DC.
Stay tuned more to come.
Tabor 2008 Christmas Letter
Wow, 2008 flew by and with it came change…
January ~ Ron returned home safely to Biloxi, MS from Afghanistan. Talk about a sweet family reunion! Ron’s, mom –
who had a hard time even walking – ran when she saw him arrive at the airport. If you haven’t
seen the blog Ron kept while deployed, check it out at www.taborrw.blogspot.com.
February ~ Carrie turned 40!
March ~ After living in Biloxi, MS for 10 years, we decided to submit a Base of Preference (BOP) for Scott Air Force
Base, IL, very near Carrie’s home and where Ron was stationed when we met. We found out quickly the BOP
was approved and took advantage of a planned trip home to do some house hunting. While in IL, we received
a call from Ron’s family in Clarksville, TN, telling us his mom had been admitted to the hospital. Just
over a week later, Linda Tabor went home to be with Jesus on March 27, 2008, with her family by her side.
July ~ Carrie finished her time as Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center in Gulfport, and we closed on
our new home at 222 Evergreen Drive, O’Fallon, IL 62269 on the 31st. Carrie and Caleb remained in
O’Fallon while Ron went back to Biloxi to pack and ship our household goods and complete his time at
Keesler AFB.
August ~ Caleb started his Freshman year at O’Fallon Township High School, and Colin started his Senior year at
Temple Christian Academy in Gulfport, MS. We agreed to allow Colin to stay in Biloxi with our good friends,
Joan and Howard Bodouin, to complete his last year of high school. Colin dual-enrolled at MGCCC and
started his first college class, as well.
September ~ We closed on our house in Biloxi! Ron finished his time at Keesler, joined Carrie and Caleb in IL (yeah!) and
began acclimating to his new position as Radiology Superintendant at Scott AFB.
We traveled to Wisconsin to pick-up an addition to the family—an 8 week old German Shepherd
puppy— named Quaid. He’s quite handsome.
October ~ Colin turned 18, Caleb 15. We returned to Biloxi for Colin’s b-day, Ron’s final Radsym conference, and the
Women’s Resource Center’s annual fundraising banquet, while Grandma and Grandpa Elders took care of
Caleb and Quaid. Ron then traveled to MI to pick up Nazif (his interpreter from Afghanistan), Nazif’s wife,
Mary, and their three daughters. While in Afghanistan, Ron helped Nazif complete his paperwork to come to
the States. This family lived with us for three weeks, during which time we worked with the girls to learn their
letters, numbers, and some helpful, everyday English words like “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” They
loved watching Mary Poppins. We enjoyed authentic Afghan food and lots of Chai…also, lots of hugs, kisses
and smiles from Sarah (10 yrs), Mandy (9 yrs) and Felicia (3 yrs)…their American names.
November ~ Nazif and his family traveled via Amtrak to Newark, NJ to live with/near a family member.
We hosted Thanksgiving for Carrie’s family in our home. It was very special to
have so many family members together for Thanksgiving. We also hosted an
early Thanksgiving dinner for the Radiology Department – they are a tight-knit
group, which is good to see.
December ~ Caleb had his first wrestling match and won! He pinned his opponent in less than a minute. Then we found
out he damaged a nerve in his shoulder during wrestling practice and is unable to wrestle for 6 months. Well,
he went out undefeated. Caleb is looking forward to wrestling next year. Colin will be home for Christmas. He
and his girlfriend, Katie Brook, will celebrate their one year anniversary of dating.
~After being gone for 16 years, we love being able to spend lots of time with family. The cold weather isn’t
even that bad (although we haven’t seen anything too extreme as yet). The fall colors were beautiful, in particular
the trees across the lake with their fall colors reflecting on the water.
~We have connected with a wonderful group of people at First Baptist Church O’Fallon. Caleb really likes being
part of their youth group. Carrie is playing volleyball in the church league.
This year has been a testament to the Lord’s goodness, faithfulness, protection, comfort, peace and joy.
Celebrating the incredible gift of Jesus and wishing you a joy-filled, blessed Christmas,
Ron, Carrie, Colin and Caleb Tabor
Colin
Ron in MI w/Mary, Sarah, Mandy and Felicia
Caleb & Nazif
Ron and Carrie
January ~ Ron returned home safely to Biloxi, MS from Afghanistan. Talk about a sweet family reunion! Ron’s, mom –
who had a hard time even walking – ran when she saw him arrive at the airport. If you haven’t
seen the blog Ron kept while deployed, check it out at www.taborrw.blogspot.com.
February ~ Carrie turned 40!
March ~ After living in Biloxi, MS for 10 years, we decided to submit a Base of Preference (BOP) for Scott Air Force
Base, IL, very near Carrie’s home and where Ron was stationed when we met. We found out quickly the BOP
was approved and took advantage of a planned trip home to do some house hunting. While in IL, we received
a call from Ron’s family in Clarksville, TN, telling us his mom had been admitted to the hospital. Just
over a week later, Linda Tabor went home to be with Jesus on March 27, 2008, with her family by her side.
July ~ Carrie finished her time as Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center in Gulfport, and we closed on
our new home at 222 Evergreen Drive, O’Fallon, IL 62269 on the 31st. Carrie and Caleb remained in
O’Fallon while Ron went back to Biloxi to pack and ship our household goods and complete his time at
Keesler AFB.
August ~ Caleb started his Freshman year at O’Fallon Township High School, and Colin started his Senior year at
Temple Christian Academy in Gulfport, MS. We agreed to allow Colin to stay in Biloxi with our good friends,
Joan and Howard Bodouin, to complete his last year of high school. Colin dual-enrolled at MGCCC and
started his first college class, as well.
September ~ We closed on our house in Biloxi! Ron finished his time at Keesler, joined Carrie and Caleb in IL (yeah!) and
began acclimating to his new position as Radiology Superintendant at Scott AFB.
We traveled to Wisconsin to pick-up an addition to the family—an 8 week old German Shepherd
puppy— named Quaid. He’s quite handsome.
October ~ Colin turned 18, Caleb 15. We returned to Biloxi for Colin’s b-day, Ron’s final Radsym conference, and the
Women’s Resource Center’s annual fundraising banquet, while Grandma and Grandpa Elders took care of
Caleb and Quaid. Ron then traveled to MI to pick up Nazif (his interpreter from Afghanistan), Nazif’s wife,
Mary, and their three daughters. While in Afghanistan, Ron helped Nazif complete his paperwork to come to
the States. This family lived with us for three weeks, during which time we worked with the girls to learn their
letters, numbers, and some helpful, everyday English words like “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” They
loved watching Mary Poppins. We enjoyed authentic Afghan food and lots of Chai…also, lots of hugs, kisses
and smiles from Sarah (10 yrs), Mandy (9 yrs) and Felicia (3 yrs)…their American names.
November ~ Nazif and his family traveled via Amtrak to Newark, NJ to live with/near a family member.
We hosted Thanksgiving for Carrie’s family in our home. It was very special to
have so many family members together for Thanksgiving. We also hosted an
early Thanksgiving dinner for the Radiology Department – they are a tight-knit
group, which is good to see.
December ~ Caleb had his first wrestling match and won! He pinned his opponent in less than a minute. Then we found
out he damaged a nerve in his shoulder during wrestling practice and is unable to wrestle for 6 months. Well,
he went out undefeated. Caleb is looking forward to wrestling next year. Colin will be home for Christmas. He
and his girlfriend, Katie Brook, will celebrate their one year anniversary of dating.
~After being gone for 16 years, we love being able to spend lots of time with family. The cold weather isn’t
even that bad (although we haven’t seen anything too extreme as yet). The fall colors were beautiful, in particular
the trees across the lake with their fall colors reflecting on the water.
~We have connected with a wonderful group of people at First Baptist Church O’Fallon. Caleb really likes being
part of their youth group. Carrie is playing volleyball in the church league.
This year has been a testament to the Lord’s goodness, faithfulness, protection, comfort, peace and joy.
Celebrating the incredible gift of Jesus and wishing you a joy-filled, blessed Christmas,
Ron, Carrie, Colin and Caleb Tabor
Colin
Ron in MI w/Mary, Sarah, Mandy and Felicia
Caleb & Nazif
Ron and Carrie
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