I am out of triathlon. My bike disappeared. So did my strength. (Page 5)

OK, I am seriously considering that for my next tattoo. 

Meh...

Hi Claaaw. This is my second season of Triathlon and I just read your blog. It was so inspiring and I saw a lot of my own emotions in what I read there.

Thanks so much for sharing yourself :-)

Wow! Very cool and inspiring! Andrew, I wish you many happy future tri's, can't give up now, we're watching You're an amazing giving person and I think it's great that you get to be on the receiving end, enjoy, you deserve it!

Patsy

Doughboy + Phoenix = Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, yes that springs to mind too

Alternatively here's a picture of Dough Boy in Phoenix, as it's damned hot down here, but as everyone around here says "it's a dry heat"!

(Phoenix Dough-Boy.jpg)

Hilarious, I love Photoshop.  That is Photoshop, right?

Given your T-shirt, perhaps you should be oooohhhh-boy rather than doughboy?

First, that terrible tattoo is not photoshopped. It's not even in the top 50 of bad ink I've seen online. I totally believe it. 

As to ooooo boy, those are the aliens from Toy Story. That's where I get TheClaaaw. I picked the name before BT, for a Disney running board, then carried it over. I've since discovered, after starting the Doughboy to Ironman blog, that BT has a resident doughboy already. Interesting how he and I have had a similar bike mystery disappearance, as well as generosity from BT. 

I want to say something about this all. I had no idea any of this would happen. I worry that a casual observer to this board and/or thread might think it looks a little too convenient how in the span of a couple hours, I went from quitting tri to accepting gifts happily. That may be what the pixels on the screen resemble. That is not the full reality. By the time I got to the computer to tell this story, I was a beaten down man, emotionally, in many ways. The bike was apparently the final straw that day. I came to honestly tell the people I know would understand. I really hope no one is seeing this and thinking I was trolling for sympathy and free stuff. 

Again, I try to keep this all in perspective, and this was such a small "problem" to have. So I feel stupid even mentioning this as a comparison, but I'll risk it. Lance's book "it's not about the bike" had a statement that I have mulled over a lot, especially since I deal with sick and dying people as a major part of my calling. He was thankful for the cancer. Now, I resist any idea that everything that happens to us is God's will and part of a plan. I really don't think a loving being says "hey 5 year old, your illness is part of my plan, congratulations for being selected!" - And please, let's not turn this otherwise beautiful thread into a theological war - PM me to tell me where I'm wrong. Lance was not thankful to be ill, but the fight that he waged because of it made him a better man. I know he's a lightning rod of controversy in the endurance sport world, but on this point, even his major detractors offer respect. 

Where I am going with this is right here: I'm glad this happened. I'm glad because the response and result of it has brought such positive energy and love into my life. And that energy has given me more motivation and inspiration for continuing this path which has little to do with finisher medals as the outward sign, but much more to do with moving toward becoming the guy I want to be, for my wife, my kids, my community. For me, it's not just about clicking off the box this fall of finishing a HIM after a DNF in June. It's about becoming the guy who does it even when it gets hard. Especially when it gets hard. That's why I do this. It's not easy for me. "Just finishing" is still a massive goal and achievement for a lot of us, and I'm at the head of that back of the pack.

I almost became the guy that quit because it got hard. I really, honestly, was there Saturday. You have not let me become that guy, you have not let me quit. I am going to ride the heck out of this bike (and I wish the filter wouldn't take away what I want to write there, because I mean it literally, or not so much out of the bike with out THROUGH this bike) 

Like I said, words on a website can look to a casual observer to be easy and shallow. Believe me when I tell you that this whole experience has been anything but.

Absolutely, Positively, Amazing!! I try to explain to my wife how awesome the Tri community is especially all the folks here on BT. BT folks welcomed me at my first Tri and got me hooked. I had here read this and she finally got it.

Claaw, I am amazed by your story and hope God continues to bless you and your family and that you continue to be an inspiration for all of us!

Andrew... those that mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind.

Isn't that always the true fight.. to be the person you want to be? I know it is for me.

There was a time in my life when the only wish I had was to not wake up. I had dug a pretty deep hole for myself. But when it came time to check out, I thought I might try the one thing I never wanted to do.... ask for help.

I'm not that same guy today. I am grateful for the life I have. I don't regret a thing because it got me to where I'm at today. Today I'm just trying to be the best me I can be. Some days are better than others.

The most incredible thing I learned from all of that is: when you ask for help, you find out it has been around you the whole time. We all need help at some point. You didn't come here and "ask", but what you did is instead of packing it in... you reached out because you didn't know what else to do. Humility is a good thing. So is gratitude. So is the gift of knowing how we are all connected to each other. I'm sorry for your loss, but happy you got to see what you mean to others. Isn't this a cool ride?

I don't anyone ever thought you were doing this threat to get sympathy.  Looking at the response, I think everyone felt touched my your story and the response from BT.

Good luck at the race.

Nothing wrong at all with going to your community for support, those that are able to help welcome the opportunity to do so!

If I hadn't been 15th in line by the time I saw your post I would have liked to help as well. I don't see your post as fishing for sympathy at all. I am just glad to be a part of a place where people give and receive support from friends and like minded people. 

Enjoy the new bike, crush the HIM and pay it forward someday when you can!

Claaaw,

Thanks very much for all you do here and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we want to see some race pictures afterwards.

twomarks