tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41402516052286701332024-03-05T21:53:28.873-08:00MATT SHEEKS TRIATHLETEThe Training and Racing Exploits of Professional Triathlete Matt SheeksMatt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-59772804366404104982017-04-28T16:50:00.001-07:002020-05-04T19:16:56.726-07:00How to Train Smarter - My Triathlon Training GuideHi everyone!<br />
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I'm excited to announce the new release to my <a href="https://tritheos.com/triathlon-training-guide" target="_blank">Triathlon Training Quickstart Guide</a>. <br />
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I've compiled the best training principles from the greatest running, cycling, and triathlon coaches of all time, then condensed it down into a handy triathlon training "quickstart" guide.<br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PdJAQJ_LoQBumLpM1pFQtChkOVVsKB-849sORVzenE6uQlxMb_vjS4VCEGVMJDYHLKi2TWDY4NMhkw9MhxKqirFSomFHNz76Of7tODne0Zyv11MCdozPtxeMY9kbTUVnX_wFxLgIy_Q/s640/Training+Guidelines+Upgrade+%25281st+Page+only%2529.png" width="492" /></div>
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<b>What's in the Guide?</b><br />
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Simply put, The Triathlon Training Quickstart Guide contains the best training advice from the most knowledgeable and scientifically adept coaches of all time.<br />
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<b>Training Plan Phases</b></div>
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Explanation of key training phases that almost all professional triathletes, runners, and cyclists employ. Train the right way at the right time!</div>
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<b>Heart Rate Zones</b><br />
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How to test for and set up your heart rate training zones, so you always know if you're training at the right intensity.<br />
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<b>Sample Workouts</b></div>
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<b><br /></b>Sample swim, bike, and run workouts during the interval training phase of your training plan.<br />
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<b>How to Get the Guide</b><br />
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The guide is available on my <a href="https://tritheos.com/" target="_blank">triathlon coaching website</a>, <a href="https://tritheos.com/">tritheos.com</a>. <a href="https://tritheos.com/triathlon-training-guide" target="_blank">Click this link</a> to get the guide.<br />
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Happy Training!<br />
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-14758792037578354842014-01-16T22:06:00.000-08:002017-02-03T20:03:09.947-08:00IM Canada InterviewMuch thanks to Shaw TV for the interview and making me sound smarter than I am!<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-0lvqdrEd8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-0lvqdrEd8</a><br />
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<br />Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-69785265138345251902013-12-27T17:33:00.000-08:002017-02-03T20:03:58.583-08:00Real Meaning of Christmas<div class="MsoNormal">
You’re probably aware <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians everywhere recen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly
celebra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s
coming <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ear<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> did you
know <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here
are ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ually <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>wo
compe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing views wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hin
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
as <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o why Jesus even came? One essen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ially
says <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> came <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
make demands on us, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
came <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o free us from demands <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
already exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed. One is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
He came <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ask you <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
DO some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
He DID some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing for you. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One verse I really like <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
expresses <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he correc<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is John 3:17 – “For God did no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
send <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Son in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he world <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
judge <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he world, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
world migh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> be saved <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough
Him.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sys<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ema<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ically,
one <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heory is known as <b>“works”,</b> and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <b>“grace.”</b> The works concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ually much more popular amongs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
churchgoers, is very similar <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
world religions, while <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he grace concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ely novel. The works concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
says <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> man
mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> earn <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
way <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o God by being a good person, while <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
grace concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> says <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
way <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o God is an undeserved gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
provided by God Himself. The works
concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is very similar <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> we experience in many face<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
of life such as business rela<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ionships, or
school. If you work hard, do well, and achieve
excellence, you ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a good grade, a job, a
raise, e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>c. Those who ascribe <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he “works” concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
assume <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
since so much of life is meri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>-based, why would
one’s moral and spiri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ual performance no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God? On <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her hand, in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
grace concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, God is viewed more in rela<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erms.
He is like a Fa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
loves you uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ionally, and no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
you can do as a child of God can affec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> your s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>anding
wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h Him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have a church background, which one would you say
your church <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>augh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The “works” concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
generally says <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus did for mankind, wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
His coming <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ear<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
and dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h for our sins, was necessary <b><i>bu</i></b><st1:personname><b><i>t</i></b></st1:personname><b><i>
no</i></b><st1:personname><b><i>t</i></b></st1:personname><b><i> enough</i></b>
for man <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be able <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
make i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God’s level; <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o some ex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
man mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> also do <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o make
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o heaven,
e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal life, righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness,
e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>c.
The “grace” concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> says <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus did for us was “enough” – final,
comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e, fini<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o! As our sins have already been paid for and
salva<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion has already been secured, God can
credi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> His righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o anyone who would rely on Him for i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
So we do have a role <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o fulfill, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as a passive role <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
accep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> has done on our behalf.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_JufpqwDYHbBd06FriQkMfIbLU8uHnb7XSJHRQtryWikGsMYD3Eu1AMEKj6g9ZjE_dsjt1O__RMlITOpy3Klmk4n1dZ7hNfoy3GLKQvvOZHyoo6CnqUPl96nIL9i1jkj2dX5FRqg-bc/s1600/20010611.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_JufpqwDYHbBd06FriQkMfIbLU8uHnb7XSJHRQtryWikGsMYD3Eu1AMEKj6g9ZjE_dsjt1O__RMlITOpy3Klmk4n1dZ7hNfoy3GLKQvvOZHyoo6CnqUPl96nIL9i1jkj2dX5FRqg-bc/s1600/20010611.gif" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a quick analogy I call “<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
dishwashing analogy” <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
illus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> well.
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is as <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough
you are responsible for cleaning <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishes,
ye<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he amoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of dishes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o clean is so grea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as you
con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>inue <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
load <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishwasher, you ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
hungry, have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
and crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e more dir<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
dishes. In fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
for argumen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s sake le<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s
say <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> which
you crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e dir<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
dishes is grea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
which you are able <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o load <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem. You admi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is your responsibili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o clean <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
dishes, ye<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you have no abili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
in yourself <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ever comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he job.
Dismayed, you finally give up.
Hours la<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er, your bro<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
comes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o you and says, “I have good news for
you – <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough you were unable <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e your responsibili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
of loading <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishwasher, someone wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
superior skill has come in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
house and has done <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishes for you.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion,
you ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ually have a couple op<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough only one is reasonable. You could con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>inue
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
clean <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishes, which would be ex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>remely
foolish, bo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h because <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
are already clean, and because all you ever succeeded a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
was crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing more dir<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
dishes. The o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
op<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you could rely on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he work of ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. This is wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> means <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
You rely on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he work of ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will leave i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Bible <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
drive <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
home: “Now <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
one who works, wages are no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> credi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
as a gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
as an obliga<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. However, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
one who does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> work bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s God
who jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ifies <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
ungodly, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
is credi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed as righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness.”
(Romans 4:4-5)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 480;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Religion / Works<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Christianity / Grace<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Do</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> – all about what you do for
God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">(Galatians
2:21, Romans 10:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Done
– </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">All about
what Christ has done for you. (Romans 4:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Merit-
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">rewarded/punished
based on your moral/spiritual performance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Grace
– </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Rewarded/punished
based on Jesus Christ’s performance and what you think of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 36.4pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 36.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Cos</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">s </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">(Romans 6:23a)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 36.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Free
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">(Romans
6:23b)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 44.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 44.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Humans
add to salvation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 44.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">No</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">hing lef</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> for you </span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">o do. God already did every</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">hing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 54.4pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 54.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Salva</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion accomplished by human
effor</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">(“works”
– Ephesians 2:9)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 54.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Salva</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion accomplished by </span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">he individual relying on wha</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> God has done <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">(“Fai</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">h” – eph 2:8)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 32.35pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 32.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Hope
so” Salva</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">No cer</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ain</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">y.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">“Know
so” Salva</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Know wi</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">h cer</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ain</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">y!<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">MUST
boas</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> in self</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> – look a</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> wha</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> I did. Check ou</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> my valida</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ing performance record, my
resume of good deeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Boasting
only in Christ</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">
– look at what God did even though I didn’t deserve it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 40.9pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 40.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Serve
God ou</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> of Fear - </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Fear of<b> </b>Nega</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ive consequences is mo</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">iva</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">or for good behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 40.9pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Serve
God ou</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> of Love - </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">already blessed, posi</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion of gra</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">i</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ude fuels behavior. <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 53.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 53.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Dead
works – </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">works
independent of God’s provision (Gal 5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 53.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Faith
works – </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">works
done by faith through the Holy Spirit, manifesting itself in the fruit of the
Spirit (Galatians 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 53.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 53.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Law
focused - </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">do
</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">hings for God ou</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> of obliga</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion and assume you have </span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">he power </span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">o do so.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 53.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 221.4pt;" valign="top" width="295"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Dead
</span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">o </span></b><st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></b></st1:personname><b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">he Law (Romans 7) – </span></b><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">relies on God </span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">o do wha</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> he canno</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> do on </span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">heir own </span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">hrough Chris</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">’s resurrec</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">t</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: "Tw Cen MT"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ion life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-70968282703729029972013-09-21T22:22:00.002-07:002014-01-16T22:02:34.701-08:00Not About Me<div class="MsoNormal">
The most significant message I could ever share..</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Par</b><st1:personname><b>t</b></st1:personname><b>
One: God’s love<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of all God loves you
wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h an uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional
love. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is much <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same kind of love <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we would imagine <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s should have for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
children; <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is, no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> how paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
behave all of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime,
bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> we
envision <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ideal <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> because of any sor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of performance on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he children’s par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
or benefi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s migh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
receive from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir children <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
chooses <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o love <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
child. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> because <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
have been such wonderful children. They
could have li<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>le
gra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ude for
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem,
be un<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hankful, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s,
and a hos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hings, and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> would s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ill
love and serve <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem. Why? Because
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey are <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
children and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
alone makes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem wor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hy
of love. Paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> reason as such, “<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
go<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves
in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
mess, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey should ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.” Nor do <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
fingers a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
sys<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>em, “<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
sys<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>em makes i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
nearly impossible for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
rise above <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir circums<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ances.” No, wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ers
is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
are human beings, and human beings have value and digni<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves, and you mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
help, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>each, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ake
responsibili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y and even go above wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
responsibili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y requires. This <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype of
love is known as agape, or uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional love is
really <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he only <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype
of love <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here is, or a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
leas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
only pure kind. Usually wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we describe as love is really jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> respec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
or mu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ual admira<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. I love you because you are like me, we see <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hings
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same way, we have common in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eres<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s,
or even because you possess some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing I do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rigues
me. Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> if such person discon<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>inued
possessing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hose <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hings? Would you s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ill
love <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem?
This is wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is referred <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
as fileo love in Greek. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is a love based on some <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype of meri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
usually a shared in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eres<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
all o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her religions besides Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
(and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his only <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rue
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> any
of i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s modern dis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>or<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions),
are based on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fileo <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype
of love. God only loves you if…God only
accep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s you if…You will ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o Nirvana if you do <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his…You
will be wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h 72 virgins if…Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> man yearns for is a God who accep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
him jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as he is, even wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
all his imperfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions and failings. However, all man-made religions canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>empla<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
God being <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his kind <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem, and so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
come up wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h some <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype
of sys<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>em whereby <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> earn or meri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God’s love and favor. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype
of love is called eros, and is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he love based
on sexual a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
and appe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e. This <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype of
love also demands some <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype of good from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her person.
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> demands physical a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
and sexual fulfillmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is an
erra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ic <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype
of love, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en
useful, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be replaced by agape love if, for ins<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ance, a
marriage has any hope of surviving - for eros love has <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
nas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y habi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of disappearing over a leng<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime,
once <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he infa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ua<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
period has ended.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of God’s love is his jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice. If God is love, love also demands <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God is jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
For example, le<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s hypo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ically
say <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you
were raped, and a year la<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er your cour<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
case came up. You are a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rial. The defendan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is brough<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> up, and pleads guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y. However, he claims, “I have been a good
person all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he days before I raped <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
vic<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>im, and all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
days af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erwards as well. Therefore, you should le<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
me go.” The judge con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>empla<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es
for a minu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e, and decides, “Sounds good <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
me, jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
do i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> again. Case dismissed!” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How would <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
make you feel? I assume you would be ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>raged. Why is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his? Because <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
judge was a bad judge; he did no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> serve his du<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y. Jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice was
no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> served.
The <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime should fi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crime, and so on. Jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> like i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
how well you drive all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
days of your life, if you drive drunk one <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime
and kill someone, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be consequences for your ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions. Some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
inside us yearns for jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be done for wrongdoing, and so i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
same wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h God.
In fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
would be unloving for God <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be an absen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ee
judge and allow his children <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be abused in
such a way as <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o allow no jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice
for crimes commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed. So we are God’s children <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
have been <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>respassed agains<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> in many ins<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ances
we are also <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>respassers
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Par</b><st1:personname><b>t</b></st1:personname><b>
2: Separa</b><st1:personname><b>t</b></st1:personname><b>ion<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now you may have no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iced <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
I nearly con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>radic<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
myself. Firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>alked abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional love, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen
I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>alked abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice.
The <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>wo seem <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be opposed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o each o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. And isn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ension <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we live in our en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ire lives? We wonder wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of our ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions will benefi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
a person more; if we re<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>alia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
fire wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h fire, we <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey will ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> and
realize <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here
are consequences <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions.
If someone commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s a crime, don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we reward <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
a punishmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> in accordance wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crime?
Tha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> seems <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be meri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> according <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a person does or does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
do. On <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her hand, we can give mercy <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
a person, and hope <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
our love for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem is con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>agious. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> causes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> even
desire <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o do such evil again, because <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
have had <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir needs me<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
by our kindness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Backing up for a minu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e, we
see a problem <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s.
The defendan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be excused for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
crime because of his behavior before and af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crime.
Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> judges and juries do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
reason according <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
defendan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> like <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his. Their one and only job is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
de<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ermine whe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crime was in fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed. A man’s lifes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>yle
all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he days of his life before and af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
a crime do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, you are <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he perpe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>or
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crime, God is your judge, and you have
been <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be acqui<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
by saying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you have been a good person all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he days
before and all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he days af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
you commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
various moral and spiri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ual crimes. This me<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hod
is called, “righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness by law,” or a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o asser<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
your innocence by appealing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>andards of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
law. However, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
provides innocence for no one, in fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
proves guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ins<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ead. Paul, one of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ers of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Bible, def<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly wro<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e, "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by works of the Law no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin." These words are found in the book of Paul to the Romans Chapter 3; they basically assert that no one can earn God's favor by saying they are worthy, in fact, based on our own efforts we prove ourselves to be unworthy. Yet most people daftly assert otherwise, that their good deeds should earn them the favor of their friends, family, and God.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> folks, knowingly or
unknowingly, s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en
commandmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s as a benchmark, and convenien<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly
forge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
commandmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey have broken. Tha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is why
when I ask a person who claims <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be a good
person why <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey consider <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be good, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en answer, “Well, I’ve never killed
anyone!” Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
how did <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 10 commandmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
boil down <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
one? If you don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
ignore several of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem, I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink
you’ll find ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you are in fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
of several of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem. Here <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen,
is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he lis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
1. Idola<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ry
– holding someone or some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing as higher in
impor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ance <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
God and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>herefore more wor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hy
of our worship, devo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime,
energy, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s,
or money</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
2. Taking God’s name in Vain –
Misrepresen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing God and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
au<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hori<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y His
name represen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
3. Remembering <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Sabba<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h and keeping i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
holy – God commanded <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Israeli<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o do no work for one en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ire
day of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he week. This demons<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in God <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o provide for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem,
as well as gave <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem a chance <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
res<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
labor. There is significan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
deba<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e over whe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians are under <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Sabba<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h.
My posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey are no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>;
Jesus Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is our res<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hin
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he scope of our discussion. Suffice <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
say, I do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink
Sabba<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h keeping is a moral absolu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e,
so will se<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
aside for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his discussion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
4. Honor your fa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
and mo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her – <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
respec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
digni<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y and au<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hori<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s
have and no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ry
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o usurp i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
5. You shall no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
murder – Jesus ups <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he an<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
by saying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
if you have harbored anger in your hear<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>owards
ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her person, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen
you have commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
murder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
6. You shall no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> adul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ery
– Jesus again ups <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he an<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e,
saying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
if you have looked a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a woman wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
lus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> in your hear<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
you have commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
adul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ery.
The inverse goes for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ladies. In essence, all sexual sins would be
encapsula<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed by <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erm “adul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ery,”
whe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be fornica<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, indulging in pornography, or
various o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her lus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he flesh </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
7. You shall no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eal – <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>aking
some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> belong <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
you wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
permission.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
8. Bearing false wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ness
– This is simply no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>elling
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ru<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h,
lying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
9. Cove<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ousness
– The desire for some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
belongs <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o someone else.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> folks will agree <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hese laws as found in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Bible and in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Jewish Torah are moral <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ru<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. There is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
much dispu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e because our consciences corrobora<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 10 commandmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
are saying. Ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
command, found in bo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Old and New Tes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>amen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
also rings <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rue <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
us.<br />
<br />
"'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'" This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'" (Matthew 22:37-39, also found in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I ask you, have you ever, a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
any <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime, commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
any of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hese crimes? Have you ever broken a single command? Obeying God’s commands are no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
simply avoiding wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> we shouldn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
do, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
example of loving God and our neighbors, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
are also no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> doing wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we should have done. When deciding whe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
you are a good person or no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
“have I ever done wrong?,” bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> “have I always
done righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>?,”
“Have I always done wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> I should have
done?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you were driving <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o an
appoin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>men<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
and on your way you wen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> pas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
someone drowning in a lake and screaming for help, would you have a du<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o help <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
person? Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
if you kep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> driving because you were la<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e? Why would you feel guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y? Because <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
would also be considered a breech of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he law
by anyone wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h any moral fabric. So <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be
vindica<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed by <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
law, you wouldn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> simply have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
avoid <u>commi</u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>ing</u>
any sins, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you would have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <u>omi</u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname>
any sins ei<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ill aren’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
convinced <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you have ever broken a command, s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>op
reading. Jesus has no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o offer you.
His offer is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o broken sinners, no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
uprigh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>izens.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The me<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hod known as righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness
by law, we now see, has mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> unpleasan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
consequences in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
no human being has ever been able <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eous
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
me<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hod of appeal. Paul wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es,
“For all have sinned and fall shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
glory of God” (Romans <st1:time hour="15" minute="23">3:23</st1:time>). Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Paul is
saying here, is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God’s s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>andard is perfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion;
you fall shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>andard. Only foolish people <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ry
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ain
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>andard
even <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
have already fallen shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s like a <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
where you have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o score 100% <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
pass and you’ve already missed several ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions
a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
beginning of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>;
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er how
many more ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions you answer correc<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly,
you will s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ill fail <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
for breaking God’s law. Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
for breaking God’s law? The Bible says i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h.
“For <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he wages of sin is dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h”
(Romans 6:23a). Why does <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
make sense? Firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly,
if we canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> be in God’s presence on accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of our imperfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen
we canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> experience life, as God is ul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ima<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ely
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he giver of life. God can delay our punishmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> un<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>il <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen
we are like prisoners on dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h row, wai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be execu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed. Secondly, if we are rebellious <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oward
God, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen obviously un<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>il
we cease <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be rebels can we be reuni<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h Him.
Thirdly, if we are enemies of God’s will, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen
we canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> in all hones<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
be on His side and par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>aker’s of His kingdom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we are helpless <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
change our guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y sen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen we are s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>uck. Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here
any<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing God can do? God is in an in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eres<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing
posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, which I do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
know how <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o describe more reveren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly
excep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> by saying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here is a cer<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ain
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ension. God wan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
love like a fa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
loves uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ionally, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
also carries <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he charac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ic
of being jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Par</b><st1:personname><b>t</b></st1:personname><b> </b><st1:personname><b>t</b></st1:personname><b>hree:
God’s Provision<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus is God’s only provision for man’s sin problem. If sin is really wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
separa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es us from God, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
Jesus is surely <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he only solu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> has ever
been proffered. All o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
religions mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> blindly ignore God’s jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice,
which as we discussed, is a subdivision of His love. Jesus is God’s perfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
solu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
being perfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly loving and perfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly
jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
same <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 Pe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er <st1:time hour="15" minute="18">3:18</st1:time> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ells us
how God was able <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o do <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his. “For Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
died for sins once for all, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he unjus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> He
migh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> bring us <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Romans 3:23-26 <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ells us:
“For all have sinned and fall shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
glory of God, being jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ified as a gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
by His grace which is in Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus; whom
God displayed publicly as a propi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
in His blood <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. This was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
demons<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
His righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness, because in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
forbearance of God He passed over <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he sins
previously commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed;
for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he demons<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion,
I say, of His righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness, a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he presen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime,
so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> He
would be jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ifier of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
one who has fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h in Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coupled <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hese s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>emen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
by Pe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er and Paul are in comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
harmony regarding God’s solu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, which was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
have Jesus Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> die in our place for our
sins. In <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heological
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erms, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
is known as “penal subs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>u<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ionary
a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>onemen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.” Jesus a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oned,
or, made res<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>u<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
for our sins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A couple uncommon <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erms
occur in Paul’s s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>emen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. One is Propi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion,
which is a means of appeasing God’s wra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h (wra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
being a desire <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o punish an offense) for our
sin problem. Jesus is our propi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. He <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ook <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y for our sin so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o. The o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
fancy word is jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ifier. This means <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God can declare us innocen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, much like how a
jury declares a defendan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be innocen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. The penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
for mankind’s sin has already been poured ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
on Jesus when he died on a cross in 29 A.D. (or <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hereabou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s),
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>herefore God is free <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
declare man innocen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice
has already been served. If you have
been jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ified, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
in Biblical <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erms, you have been declared righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eous,
moral, innocen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, and perfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> how can Jesus <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ake
on a penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly due <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
us? When coming up wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
analogies, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>raffic
cour<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is a simple analogy, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
perhaps no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ally
sa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>isfying.
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is as <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough
you have a penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y for a <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>raffic
viola<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be paid, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he money in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
pay i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
If you don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> pay i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
you’ll have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o serve a prison sen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence. Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
if <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he judge on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
case were your fa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her? In an ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of
love <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>owards you, he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eps
off <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he bench and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>akes
off his official garmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as an ordinary ci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>izen. He says, “I know you don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he money <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
pay <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fine on your own, so I am paying i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
for you.” Tha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s
kind of how i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> works wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
Jesus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, in criminal cases, someone canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ep in for ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. In our wes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ern
cour<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> se<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing,
jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ice is only sa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>isfied
if <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he perpe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>or
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crime serves <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
sen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence.
So we are back a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
same ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, how can Jesus righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly
pay a penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is due <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o us?
I confess, I no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ally
sure, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> I will give you my bes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heories.
God has been <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ally
fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hful and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>wor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hy
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o me <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hus
far, so a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
one concep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
I do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> unders<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>and,
I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ake Him a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
His word. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The key here may be represen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. When Adam sinned, he represen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
all mankind. When he fell, we all bore <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
consequences of His sin. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
may be <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
Jesus. He is like a second Adam. He represen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
all mankind, being <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Son of Man. If he dies, he represen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
all mankind, and all our sins. If he is
raised <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o life, we <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oo
can all be raised <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o life. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is much
like how you mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> bear <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
consequences of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hings your paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
have done, whe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her good or bad, even before
you are born. If I was born in <st1:state>Alaska</st1:state>
as opposed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:state>Washing<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>on</st1:state>,
my life would look qui<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e differen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
as i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does now, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough
no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as a resul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of any<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing I did. The friends I have, spor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
I play, educa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional and job oppor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>uni<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ies
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> are
presen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
me would all be differen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> and apar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
from my choosing. I would also receive a
check from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
governmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> every year simply for being a
residen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:state>Alaska</st1:state>. Tha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> would
be nice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heory
I like is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
if dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
punishmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be served, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> can ei<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
be served by a fini<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e being for an infini<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
amoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime
(as in humans), or by an infini<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e being for a
fini<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e amoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime (as in Jesus). Ei<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her way, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be served. We could <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>alk
abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heories,
like Jesus being a sacrifice, much like <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Old Tes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>amen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
sacrificical sys<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>em, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he key here is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
unders<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
Jesus sa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>isfied <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y for man’s sin problem, whereas man on
his own could no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> rec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ify
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he problem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Par</b><st1:personname><b>t</b></st1:personname><b>
4: Man’s Response<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
only <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
Jesus made i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> “possible” <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
have e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal life in God’s presence; wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
he did was “enough.” I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en (<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough
no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en
enough) said <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you do for God, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God has done for you. Mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
people churches, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eachers, s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ill
ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his backwards
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oday.
They <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink man comes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God by offering some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God. This is incorrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
and here<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ical. Man comes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God by receiving some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing from God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus did is comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e,
final, finished, and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ally
adequa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e.
People of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en (<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough
no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en
enough) speak of “<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he finished work of Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.” I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be added <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o or improved in any way. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
man can receive <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he benefi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
of on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he basis of a gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>;
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> be
received in any o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her way. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
an exchange for fu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ure good deeds, commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>men<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
obeying of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he commandmen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s,
or discon<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>inua<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
of sin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es in Romans
4:4-5: Now <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
one who works, his wage is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> credi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
as a favor, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> as wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is due, Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he one who does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
work, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> believes in Him who jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ifies
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ungodly, his fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
is credi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed as righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness.” Paul uses a simple analogy from every day
life. When you work 8 hours a day <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
an agreed upon wage, and you receive a paycheck every 2 weeks, you do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
say <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o your boss, “Oh, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hank
you for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his indescribable gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>!” You say, “Gimme <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
I earned i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>!”
Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Paul is explaining, is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God’s righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eousness canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be approached in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same way as earning a
wage. Remember, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
is because i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> has no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o do wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you did, or wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you earned. All you added <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he equa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he sins – <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
bad par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>!
God was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he one who had <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
rec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ify your problem. You did no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ribu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
any<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing of value <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he equa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. Therefore, you have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
rely on wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> God did for you, and s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>op
relying on wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you do for God. O<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>herwise,
you canno<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal
life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
work of Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does is pu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
God in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o offer grace. Grace (men<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ioned
in Romans <st1:time hour="15" minute="24">3:24</st1:time> above) is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> impor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>an<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erm we have come <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
so far. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is God’s unmeri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed favor and love. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is like <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
uncondi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ional love of a paren<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> we <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>alked
abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
beginning, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> applied <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
a group of Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians in Ephesians 2:8-9 which
sums i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> up well: “For by grace you have been
saved <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h;
and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of yourselves, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of God, no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
as a resul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of works, so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
no one may boas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.” The way <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
we access God’s grace is “<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h.” Ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ually, in
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Bible “fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h”
and “believe” mean <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing,
only fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h is a noun and believe is a
verb. This is how John <st1:time hour="15" minute="16">3:16</st1:time> and Ephesians 2:8-9 can be <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rue
a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime. Man’s response is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
believe in Jesus, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o have fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
in Him and wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> He did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A good example of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
appropria<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e response <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s work, is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is like a clu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ch
in a car. The clu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ch
in no way powers <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he car, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
engine does <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. The clu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ch
is merely <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he way in which one can access <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
power which is already available. God’s
grace as manifes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed in Jesus Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> powers salva<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion;
our fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h is merely <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
access poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her example is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
dishwashing analogy. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is as <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough you are responsible for cleaning <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
dishes, ye<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
amoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of dishes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
clean is so grea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
as you con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>inue <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
load <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishwasher, you ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
hungry, have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
and crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e more dir<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
dishes. In fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
for argumen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s sake le<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s
say <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> which
you crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e dir<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
dishes is grea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
which you are able <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o load <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem. You admi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is your responsibili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o clean <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
dishes, ye<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you have no abili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
in yourself <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ever comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he job.
Dismayed, you finally give up.
Hours la<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er, your bro<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
comes <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o you and says, “I have good news for
you – <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough you were unable <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e your responsibili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
of loading <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishwasher, someone wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
superior skill has come in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
house and has done <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishes for you.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion,
you ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ually have a couple op<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough only one is reasonable. You could con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>inue
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
clean <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dishes, which would be ex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>remely
foolish, bo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h because <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
are already clean, and because all you ever succeeded a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
was crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing more dir<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
dishes. The o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
op<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you could rely on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he work of ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. This is wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> means <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
You rely on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he work of ano<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Someone may say, “I believe in Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,”
or “I have fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h in Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,”
bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
really mean is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey believe Jesus is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Son of God. This is necessary <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rue belief, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> enough.
True belief is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>aking God a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
His word. He says plainly in His word,
some 150 <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>imes, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
He can give you salva<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion as a free gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
because Jesus Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> died for your sins, and
all you need <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o do is believe in His Son. We
need <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ake
Him a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> His word on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
Many people believe Jesus is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Son of
God, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is in
some o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her objec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal
life and a rela<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ionship wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
God, usually <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves. This is no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h in Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his is fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
in self. The objec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
be Jesus, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in no way res<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> on any o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
hope, o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>herwise i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is useless and some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing less <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul elabora<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es on fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h.
“For <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his reason i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is by fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h, in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> may be in accordance wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
grace” (Romans <st1:time hour="16" minute="16">4:16</st1:time>). Fai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
only response <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
can possibly be congruen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
grace! I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he only human response which adds no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
deserving of meri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he equa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is merely
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he recep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
of a gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
All o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her responses which are of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en
promo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed – “<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>urning
from your sins”, “give your life <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,”
or “commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> your life <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>” are an<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i-grace,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
equa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion backwards! Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> died
for your sins, He gave His life for us, and He commi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
His life <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o mankind, so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
we would no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
bear <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he consequences of our sin problem.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many people say we mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
repen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of our sins <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
come <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
and by <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
mean we mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>urn from our lifes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>yle
of sin before we can have a rela<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ionship wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
This is incorrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is like <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rying
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o clean off before ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing
in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he shower, or wiping before you poop, or <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rying
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ow a <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ruck
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-21284327072064270852013-06-23T17:46:00.000-07:002014-01-16T22:03:09.725-08:00Ironman Couer d'Alene Bike Setup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndZIlp4L5bgJQItShzA5qZAdw9-yk3U-c2r8-V2hcjX7PCHT1G2M1VoCvqbt0kWfUg61e8ne9lKd3Rw9xEQFlw-xOK808JvJnkxEG_kOSskpzQqHOdPugw9LM3vx_ufWZ_phnElCJa6w/s1600/DSCN0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndZIlp4L5bgJQItShzA5qZAdw9-yk3U-c2r8-V2hcjX7PCHT1G2M1VoCvqbt0kWfUg61e8ne9lKd3Rw9xEQFlw-xOK808JvJnkxEG_kOSskpzQqHOdPugw9LM3vx_ufWZ_phnElCJa6w/s400/DSCN0883.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I have been working on pretty much have the sweetest bike set-up imaginable for Ironman and was stoked to do a little dry run today at Ironman Couer d'Alene. An injury kept me from training during the crucial final weeks before the race, so I did the swim, bike, and 12 miles of the run, then called it a day. <br />
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Hydration - <a href="http://torhans.com/">Torhans Performance Hydration </a>Aero30 (oz.) bottle fixed to the aerobar - no need to get out of the aerobars to drink! Another nice feature is the reverse facing bottle cage on my descending stem. When you get the smaller width bottles from the aid stations, it actually stays in place! Figured that one out during a tinkering session at <a href="http://www.woodinvillebicycle.com/">Woodinville Bicycle</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a0I-664263-FND7dQPHjSJOuBYT01CXkhSNGYTl03SzvtScDGgthwxe8VDPDfvB51dmggLLfLJ12YxyMC4HQXaZ5D6ZfAGTtyDhYirIfgqloeB9CTm3hxVrceWCgoK6I-4Ty8qQrnE4/s1600/DSCN0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8a0I-664263-FND7dQPHjSJOuBYT01CXkhSNGYTl03SzvtScDGgthwxe8VDPDfvB51dmggLLfLJ12YxyMC4HQXaZ5D6ZfAGTtyDhYirIfgqloeB9CTm3hxVrceWCgoK6I-4Ty8qQrnE4/s400/DSCN0885.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nutrition - Did 2 double strength bottles of <a href="http://www.generationucan.com/">Generation UCAN</a> on the bike (in addition to some solids and a few standard gels), and a held a flask of UCAN on the run. I took advantage of Special Needs to transport all the UCAN I needed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsi-88jfobDbECo8Y7QaeOduQClQh2ItGJIGolF12Q-UE90yWdulJy25I4OtOvABR9pR_H0SuJWi2mFb00PtVuW5AVdSzScp-H8j-cRmil-VmOXk2n9LyKIruZVs55X4XjrwDUcND4XI/s1600/DSCN0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsi-88jfobDbECo8Y7QaeOduQClQh2ItGJIGolF12Q-UE90yWdulJy25I4OtOvABR9pR_H0SuJWi2mFb00PtVuW5AVdSzScp-H8j-cRmil-VmOXk2n9LyKIruZVs55X4XjrwDUcND4XI/s400/DSCN0887.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Bike - <a href="http://www.specialized.com/">Specialized</a> Shiv, size M (courtesy <a href="http://www.woodinvillebicycle.com/">Woodinville Bike</a>). Not only super aero, but rock solid handling in corners and crosswinds.<br />
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Wheels - Hed 3 Front (courtesy <a href="http://www.woodinvillebicycle.com/">Woodinville Bike</a>) , Zipp Sub-9 Rear, 11-23 casette.<br />
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Upgrades - <a href="http://www.ismseat.com/">ISM Saddles</a> Prologue Saddle; Quarg Elsa powermeter with 55/44 Rotor Q-rings; SRAM Red Derraileurs.<br />
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Other Features - Pitstop fix-a-flat in old minipump bracket. No need to use an entire roll of electrical tape affixing all my extras this time!<br />
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And not to mention one out of shape rider (me)!<br />
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Next time I would like to cover how to use a control sheet to record your bikes measurements and geometry. This is essential to maintaining your EXACT fit when swapping parts in or out or when changing to a different bike.<br />
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<br />Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-79173179455234250162013-05-25T10:16:00.002-07:002017-02-03T20:03:09.970-08:00Training and Nutrition Post from Generation UCANHi there! Generation UCAN, a company that makes a unique "superstrach" fueling system recently interviewed me about a little bit of everything regarding triathlon. Please check it out at: <a href="http://generationucan.com/blog/2013-5-23-pro-triathlete-matt-sheeks-talks-ucan/">http://generationucan.com/blog/2013-5-23-pro-triathlete-matt-sheeks-talks-ucan/</a>. I will reprint the article, but this is also video which contains additional information not in the article.<br />
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Happy training!<br />
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Matt<br />
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Professional triathlete Matt Sheeks boasts a 9:09 Ironman PR to his name, a time he’s looking to improve on this season as he works to fine tune his nutrition and training strategies. Sheeks is on the <a href="http://tri4him.com/teams/elite-team/matthew-sheeks/#" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #549eb9; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tri4Him Elite Team</a> and recently picked up a win at the <a href="http://www.buduracing.com/raceresults/20130428_933.pdf#view=Fit" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #549eb9; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">USAT Long Couse Duathlon Nationals</a> in Enumclaw, WA.</div>
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After a successful running career at the University of Portland, he had immediate success in multisport by winning the ITU Age-Group Duathlon World Championships in 2009 and the USAT Elite Duathlon National Championships in 2010. We caught up with Sheeks to find out more about how he gets prepared to race.<span id="more-1129" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How did you get interested in triathlons and what was the experience like the first time you raced?</strong></div>
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I was a runner in high school. One of the gals on the cross country team knew that I had a bike racing background and invited me to do one with her. I believe that was junior year in high school. It seemed like a natural outlet. It was an “Aussie style” triathlon where you swim, bike, and run twice each. I went into shock during the swim, as many beginner triathletes do. I remember panting heavily and having to do sidestroke just to get through the swim. It was so slow! I still got 2nd in my age group with 2 good runs and 2 good bikes. I enjoyed the bike and run, but nearly died on the swim. I suppose not a lot has changed!</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As you’re preparing for an Ironman race, what does a typical week of workouts look like for you?</strong></div>
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<a href="http://generationucan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/timthumb.php_.jpeg" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #549eb9; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><img alt="Pro Triathlete Matt Sheeks" class="wp-image-1130 alignright" src="http://generationucan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/timthumb.php_.jpeg" height="168" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Pro Triathlete Matt Sheeks UCAN" width="148" /></a>Ironman pros can get even a little superstitious as race day approaches, and don’t deviate from their tried and true routine very much. Personally, I like to go in “with the engine running hot.” Early in the week, I will do one tempo bike session, usually consisting of 45 minutes to 1 hour of hard riding mixed into a 3 hour ride. Midweek there is often a travel day. That day, I try to run once I get off the plane for 30-40 minutes very easy. 2 days out, I survey the bike course. I might ride the whole course if it is a half-ironman, or 1/2 the course for a full ironman. The day before is a mini race rehearsal. That is usually a 70-80 minute ride with a few short efforts at race pace, a 25-40 minute run, and a 25-30 minute swim. The day before an Ironman often seems more grueling than race day, not because of the workouts, but because of all the details you have to take care of before racing such as prepping your bike and dropping it off, surveying the course and transitions, pre-race meetings, etc.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">People often refer to nutrition as the 4th discipline of triathlon. How important of a role does your nutrition play? Can bad nutrition negate good training?</strong><br />
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">Nutrition is a pretty huge factor for anything Half-Ironman and up, as far as “in-race nutrition” is concerned. If you don’t get it right, you won’t be able to perform up to your abilities. I didn’t get it right at Ironman Canada last year – my blood sugar felt like it was all over the place! If you don’t take in enough calories, you bonk. If you take in too many calories, you draw blood away from the working muscles for digestion, and you feel about as bad as if you had bonked. If you aren’t trained to take in the calories, you bonk. In the past, it seems like I was always riding a super fine line of too few/too many calories, but now that I am working more on the fat burning system, there is a lot more leeway as I am not as reliant on sugar.</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What has your experience with UCAN been like so far?</strong></div>
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The first time I tried it, I noticed how quickly it exited my stomach and I had good energy levels. It’s nice because you just feel more normal during long sessions as opposed to experiencing big swings in energy levels as a consequence of blood sugar spikes, like you get with other products. Often times when you feel “good” after taking a gel or sports drink, what you are really noticing is the difference from how bad you felt before. With UCAN your blood sugar is more stable and so you just feel good all the time.</div>
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However, the biggest difference you notice is with constant use. UCAN helps you burn more fat as a fuel source during aerobic exercise. This has complimented my early season base training really well, and I’ve noticed a big drop in heart rate at any given intensity. I’m hoping that translates into big performance gains once I get into the heavy racing season. Much thanks to you guys for developing this product and for Tri4Him for exposing me to it. I am definitely a believer.</div>
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<br />Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-2801090239848493942013-04-29T16:11:00.004-07:002017-02-03T20:03:09.959-08:00Long Course Duathlon NationalsHey all! I finally picked up a win at USAT Long Course Duathlon Nationals in Enumclaw, hosted by <a href="http://www.buduracing.com/">BUDU Racing</a>. More than just a race, it was the first real test after several months of difficult base training. <br />
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I've done this course several times before, and even though its been over a decade, I was reminded of the past and didn't want to make the same mistake twice. I used to race the Mud Mountain loop as a teenager when I was road racing, and I also raced the Mount Rainer Duathlon when I was 17. At times the weather has been unforgiving. I remember as a 14 year old, I was doing the road race as part of the Mutual of Enumclaw Stage Race and had to drop out due to hypothermia. There is one big (600 foot) climb on the 14.4 mile road loop; my dad was cheering for me about half way through the climb and I remember I just pulled off and got into the van, so cold I could hardly speak. Another time I placed 3rd on the G.C. (in the Cat 3 division) as a 16 year-old after climbing well on Mud Mountain, and that was a big result for me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MAyGCK9OOu7i9E327JtdaYPDzczsCjk4JhT093ywOmSAtjd8NR5dtyBlGNijqBUsHOl8y43yRY-RTV3kowiYwFfrqYQndSg6jL77Jruq_e6XF5e-Q7PWq22tc4U6DTA4JLpcHG-U6UU/s1600/2858981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MAyGCK9OOu7i9E327JtdaYPDzczsCjk4JhT093ywOmSAtjd8NR5dtyBlGNijqBUsHOl8y43yRY-RTV3kowiYwFfrqYQndSg6jL77Jruq_e6XF5e-Q7PWq22tc4U6DTA4JLpcHG-U6UU/s320/2858981.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Mountain Dam</td></tr>
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Clothing choice was going to be important and this time I got it right, but just barely. It was warmer and partly cloudy down at the race start and where the runs occured, but cold and rainy on top of the mountain. This time the course would be a 5.8 mile run down in the valley, two of the 14.4 mile loops for the ride, and a final 3.8 mile run for the long course competitors. Several athletes had to stop, put on rain jackets, or had to slow down and lost time due to the conditions rain and cold on the bike course. For me, a long sleeve base layer and liner gloves seemed to do the trick, and all I had to do was focus on my effort. The optics were exceptional in my <a href="http://www.rudyproject.com/">Rudy Project</a> Rydon sunglasses even with the rain; big improvement over my last pair.<br />
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Rusty Pruden and several other athletes had me against the ropes during the first run, and I didn't catch the leaders until 20 or so minutes into the first run. I had a small lead going into the first transition and never relinquished 1st position. This was my first race using a power meter, so I just "set it and forget it" at about 300 watts, which was really nice considering the windy, rainy, and hilly nature of the course. Getting off the bike and into T2, I realized my feet were totally frozen! I was wearing a really light (4oz) and low profile flat courtesy of <a href="http://run26.net/">Run 26</a>, which combined with the frozen feet, made my calves feel like they were going to split in two! I let off on the last run a little bit, but still felt good about the effort.<br />
<br />
Are you interested in stats? I am these days as I am gathering data from these early season races. <br />
<br />
1st run - My heart rate averaged 172 for the first run (28:15); I estimate this is about my lactate threshold right now, and equated to about a 5:15 mile pace (this depends on who you trust - my footpod was off and on the fast side while the mile markers were long and on the slow side, so I am splitting the difference). Mile Splits were very even throughout the first run.<br />
<br />
Bike - Averaged 160 bpm and 274 watts. As stated, I was shooting for 300 watts, but your average is always lower given short periods of time to slow down for downhills, corners, food, drink, etc. On the climbs I averaged more like 330 W for a 1.8 mile, 8 min, 500 foot climb.<br />
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Nutrition - I consumed 400 calories including 1 serving of <a href="http://www.generationucan.com/home.html">Generation UCAN </a>(110 calories), 3 energy gels (100 calories each) and 40 oz. of water on the bike. This is pretty close to the gold standard of 65 grams of carbohydrate per hour of exercise (which would have been 520 calories for a 2 hour race). I am actually surprised I consumed this much. My carb intake while exercising has gone way down due to a combination of aerobic training and the UCAN superstarch, which helps you burn fat while training/racing by keeping insulin levels stable. At Las Vegas just 2 weeks ago I consumed only 300 calories for a 2hr 50 minute race!<br />
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2nd Run - Started at 160 BPM and gradually built to 170 bpm by the end. Didn't capture pace data as I switched to a different shoe. <br />
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<br />Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-16174698450429675322013-04-01T13:57:00.000-07:002017-02-03T20:03:09.953-08:00Did Jesus rise from death?<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Discover </b><st1:personname style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>t</b></st1:personname><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">he Evidence, Decide for yourself.</b><br />
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Can
you discoun</span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion of Jesus?
I can’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. The <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rouble is, if <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion did no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> happen, one has <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o answer <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he following ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions regarding Jesus dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he subsequen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> founding of Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h a be<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Who
was Jesus? - All his</span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>orical
sources of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime agree <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus really lived and died. Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ian sources affirm his iden<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he gospels; <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Jewish his<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>orian Josephus affirms his exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hose of his followers; Cornelius Taci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>us, a Roman His<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>orian, affirms <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus really lived and died under <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he reign of Pon<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ius Pila<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e.
Several o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her la<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er his<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>orians, wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ers, and philosophers assume Jesus’ exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Taci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>us wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es regarding <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he persecu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion of Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians by Nero: “Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he relief <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> could come from man, no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he boun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ies <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
prince could bes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ow, nor all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>onemen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s which could be presen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he gods, availed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o relieve Nero from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he infamy of being believed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o have ordered <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he conflagra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fire of Rome. Hence <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o suppress <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he rumor, he falsely charged wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, and punished wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> exquisi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>or<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ures, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he persons commonly called Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians, who were ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir enormi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ies.
Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>us, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he founder of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he name, was pu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h by Pon<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ius Pila<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e, procura<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>or of <st1:place>Judea</st1:place> in
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he reign of Tiberius; bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
pernicious supers<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion,
repressed for a <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime broke ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> again, no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> only <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough <st1:place>Judea</st1:place>, where <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mischief origina<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y of <st1:city><st1:place>Rome</st1:place></st1:city> also.” (Annals XV.44)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Taci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>us is in comple<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e agreemen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h gospels on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime period of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence and dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h of Jesus of Nazare<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Wishing
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o sa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>isfy <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crowd, Pila<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e released Barabbas for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem, and af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be crucified” (Mark <st1:time hour="15" minute="15">15:15</st1:time>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“They
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ook Jesus, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>herefore, and He wen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, bearing His own cross, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he place called <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew,
<st1:place>Golgo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha</st1:place>. There <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey crucified Him and wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h Him <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>wo o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her men, one on ei<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her side, and Jesus in be<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ween.
Pila<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e also wro<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e an inscrip<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion and pu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he cross.
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> was wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en, Jesus <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Nazarene, The King of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Jews.” (John 19:17-19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Pila<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e summoned <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he chief pries<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s and rulers of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he people, and said <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem, ‘You brough<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
man <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o me as one who inci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he people <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o rebellion, and behold, having examined Him
before you, I have found no guil<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his man regarding <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he charges which you make agains<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Him…Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
were insis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h loud voices asking <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> He be crucified. And <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir voices began <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o prevail.
And Pila<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e pronounced sen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ence <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir
demand be gran<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed.”
(Luke 25:13-14, 23-24).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Why
was </span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y? – all par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ies (<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hose opposed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o Jesus) agreed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus’ Tomb was emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y on Eas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er Morning.
The disciples claimed Jesus resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Jews <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> opposed Jesus claimed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
body was s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>olen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Why
did </span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he church s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>? – The church began in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city> based on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. This
is recorded by Luke in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he book of Ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s, and is corrobora<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed by Taci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>us in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he quo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e above.
Since Jesus was crucified in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>, why would people believe in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion if <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he loca<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion of His dead body was readily known? Why would <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples of Jesus s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a religion based on false informa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same loca<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion where <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> informa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion could readily be refu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed? If <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here was no resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> would have been smar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er, obvious ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a new religion based on false informa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion in a differen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> loca<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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did all </span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples suffer persecu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion and ul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ima<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ely dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir proclama<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion? – People of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en lie for some <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ype of personal benefi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hemselves; money, power, fame, e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>c.
People even die for lies which <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey believe <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rue.
However, people do no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
of<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en lie in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o lose ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erial possessions and have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir lives <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ened, when <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey made up <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he lie and know i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
be false. In <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he face of opposi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ru<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h will come ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. Why
did all 12 disciples never change <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mids<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of opposi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion? Why
were all of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem willing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o die for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir message?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bodoni MT";">e.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Why
did </span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s rely heavily on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>imony of women?
- Women in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> cul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ure had li<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>le au<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hori<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y as cour<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>room wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>nesses.
If <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he early Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians wan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e a fabrica<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey would no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have used <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he voice of women <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o help propaga<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Why
did devou</span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jews abandon <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir beliefs in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o follow Jesus? – To follow Jesus as God was
considered blasphemy by <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he religious au<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hori<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ies <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> were no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> convinced <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Messiah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bodoni MT"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Bodoni MT";">g.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR">Several
al</span><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erna<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heories have been proposed in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o evade <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he conclusion of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. My
convic<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> all of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hese explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions fail <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s surrounding <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, and none of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem carries <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory power <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>self holds. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some al</span><st1:personname style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t</st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">erna</span><st1:personname style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t</st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e explana</span><st1:personname style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t</st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ions </span><st1:personname style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t</st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ha</span><st1:personname style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t</st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> have been proposed are (the following is an adaptation from Duane Morris' "On Reasonable Ground" lecture notes - www.onreasonableground.org):</span><br />
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</span>i.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"><u>They
wen</u></span><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u> </u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>o </u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>he wrong </u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>omb</u>
– <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
Jews confirmed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb was emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y (Ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hew 28:11-15).<span style="color: #993300;"> </span>I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> also fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o recognize <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus body was buried in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he family <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb of Joseph of Arima<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hea (Luke <st1:time hour="23" minute="50">23:50</st1:time>-55), a well-known Jew and member of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Sanhedrin.
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> would be easy <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o recognize if <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples wen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he wrong <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb because Joseph of Arima<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hea’s <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb would have been rela<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ively easy <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o loca<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e based on his public posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> also fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he belief held by <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he early disciples, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
had seen <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed Jesus, a belief <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
promo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heir dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. Fur<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hermore, who would have believed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus had resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed, when <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey easily could have back checked <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory and found <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus was lying dead in Joseph’s <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb? Ins<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ead we find <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>housands
of devou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jews in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city> conver<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed and became <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span>ii.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"><u>Jesus
was really buried in a mass graveyard for execu</u></span><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>ed criminals.</u> Again, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his posi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he only his<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>orical s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus was buried in Joseph of Arima<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hea’s <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> all par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ies agreed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb was emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y on Eas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er morning.
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he appearances of Jesus <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> convinced <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o begin preaching <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he gospel in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>; fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he conversion of Jews <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he only ci<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y where <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he cen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ral fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s in favor of Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iani<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y could be easily refu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">William
Lane Craig poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> since we find no o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her burial s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory, in denying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he burial s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory, “One is reduced <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o denying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he his<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>orici<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y of one of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>raigh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> forward and unadorned narra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ives abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus and giving credence <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o imaginary al<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>erna<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ive s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ories <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> exis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.” (<st1:street>Craig
William Lane</st1:street>. <i>The
Son Rises. </i>1981. p63.)</span></div>
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</span>iii.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"><u>The
disciples were Hallucina</u></span><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>ing.</u> This explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he appearances of Jesus <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have an explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb, which is par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he equa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> one is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o explain.
Fur<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hermore, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is highly unlikely, nay I say impossible, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> all of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples would have had <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same hallucina<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
same <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime. Hallucina<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions are generally priva<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e experiences, and cer<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ainly no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> where everyone has <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same hallucina<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
same <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime. <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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</span>iv.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"><u>He
never </u></span><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>ruly died.</u> Known as Swoon Theory, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he belief <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jesus merely passed ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> and was revived in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he cool <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb. Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> come on people! - He was flogged, bleeding ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, crucified by <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rained execu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ioners, s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>opped brea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing, double checked wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h a spear <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he hear<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> sac, ye<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wasn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> dead?
The idea <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> he would have recupera<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb (had he even been alive before <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> poin<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>) wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> medical supplies, wa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er, or food, is absurd. Crucifixion involves an excrucia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing, painful process ei<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her resul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing in dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h by asphyxia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion or cardiac arres<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. You
can only fake a dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h by crucifixion for as long as you can hold
your brea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h; which isn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> very long.
Jesus never would have made i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> pas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
roman execu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ioners.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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</span>v.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"><u>Graverobbers
s</u></span><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>ole </u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>he Body.</u> Ancien<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> graverobbers don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eal bodies, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eal jewels, clo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hes, or any<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing of value a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ached <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o bodies.
This accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> also fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o address how <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he graverobbers would have made i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> pas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
roman guard (several <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rained soldiers); does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>yrdom of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples or mass conversion of Jews.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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</span>vi.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"><u>The
Disciples s</u></span><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>ole </u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>he body.</u> The original coun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, which claims <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
disciples lied in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a new religion. Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> would <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o gain?
Money, Power, recogni<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion? There cer<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ainly would have been an incen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ive. Bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> did <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ually gain?
Pover<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y, persecu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, and ul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ima<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ely dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. So <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion does accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> explain why <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples would die for a lie <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey
ini<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ially crea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed. Fur<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hermore, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he unlikelihood <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
disciples could ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> pas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
roman army <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o access <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which
explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s for all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he bes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>? Apologist Duane Morris explains, "If an
explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion fails <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for some of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hen i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s “Explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory Power” is deficien<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> rela<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ive <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o an explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion which accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s for all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s. If no
o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion accoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s for all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he surrounding fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he one which does necessarily possesses <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> 'Explana<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory Power.'" Which <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>heory explains <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he emp<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>omb, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ransforma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion/mar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>yrdom of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he disciples, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he church s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>, and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he conversion of a large number of devou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Jews? Only
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion explains all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s which follow <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crucifixion of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his begs <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, why did Jesus have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o die and rise from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he dead?
Perhaps <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here has been no grea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er amoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of wri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing done on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his subjec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>han
any o<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her in human his<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ory. I’ll
give <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> answer:
<u>For you.</u> Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> died for your sins, and rose again, so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> you wouldn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o pay <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he penal<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y for your own sins, so you wouldn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> have <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o face <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he consequences of falling shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of God’s perfec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>andard, which is an e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal spiri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ual dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. He
rose again so <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> we migh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> rise again <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o newness of life and e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal life.
This is a free gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> given <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o anyone who relies upon Jesus for i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. Salva<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion, forgiveness of sins, and e<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ernal life is some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is unearned and unearnable. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is impossible <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o earn God’s favor, i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> mus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> be accep<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed as a free gif<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he work of Jesus on your behalf. Those who try to earn God's favor and a place in heaven by being a "good person" are deceived as to man's nature and their own moral and spiritual batting average.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Because by works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for their is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:20-24)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> can man bring <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>able, in order <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be in righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>anding wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h God? Only
sins! Al<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough we deserve dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h, wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> does God provide and offer for man? Love, mercy, and grace, accomplished <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough His Son who died and rose on our behalf. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have more ques<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ions abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
resurrec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion? Con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><st1:personname>Ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Sheeks</st1:personname><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">www.facebook.com/ma<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hew.sheeks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:mattsheeks@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">mattsheeks@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Bodoni MT;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="mailto:mattsheeks@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a>
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-54870864877812028622013-01-31T15:30:00.001-08:002014-01-16T22:05:38.530-08:00USAT Winter Nationals Heart Rate DataThis is how you race at alititude for 70 minutes. Don't go out too hard or you will blow up, then peg it at just under your lactate threshold. Your ceiling heart rate is much lower than at sea level. For example, I felt close to maxed out on portions of the run, but my heart rate would only be 165. My lactate threshold at sea level is probably in the 171-175 region.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/268162440#.UQr9ycMyLkU.blogger">USAT Winter Nationals Heart Rate Data</a>Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-25724954676326224122013-01-31T15:19:00.000-08:002014-01-16T22:06:17.394-08:00Two Wheel Drift<h3>
USAT Winter Nationals</h3>
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The USAT Winter Triathlon Nationals is a not-too-often
compilation of three sports: running, mountain-biking (in the snow no less),
and cross-country skate skiing. You
would be lucky to find one of these events in your state per year. I tried my luck in the 2009 Nationals event
in <st1:place><st1:city>Bend</st1:city>, <st1:state>OR</st1:state></st1:place>,
and got rocked by various mountain-biking and cross-country skiing superstars,
so I figured, “Hey, why not relive the pain all over again?!” </div>
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The venue was Homestake Lodge, a beautiful cross-country
resort just outside of <st1:place><st1:city>Butte</st1:city>, <st1:state>MT.</st1:state></st1:place> It was a long drive from <st1:city>Seattle</st1:city>
– about 10 hrs. My dad played race
manager and I insisted we take his Ford Explorer (now dubbed “The Exploder”
because of its various mechanical problems).
On the way, the alternator gave up the ghost. Just regular maintenance this time but still
suck-worthy to break down on your way to a race. We were very fortunate though, rolling right
into <st1:place><st1:city>Ritzville</st1:city>, <st1:state>WA</st1:state></st1:place>
(the only town for miles) and straight into the <st1:city>NAPA</st1:city>
autoparts store right before the battery was totally drained. They had the alternator in stock, and a
mechanic 3 blocks down had it installed for us in just about an hour. There certainly could not have been a better
place to break down! You may call it coincidence;
I call it God’s <st1:city>Providence</st1:city> (providence
is how God executes His sovereign plan through the ordinary affairs of humans
and nature). Anyhow, we were back on the
road in no time!</div>
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Fast forward to the race.
It had snowed the night before, which made the snow much softer and
looser than in my trial runs the day before.
My run went well; I let others go out too hard and gradually reeled them
back in as is my usual tactic. I tried
to get my feet off the ground as quickly as possible so as not to sink into the
snow too much, which was pretty efficient.
I gradually bit into Chris Ganter’s lead, and caught him as we entered
T1. Chris and I headed out onto the bike
and were talking to each other that we should try to hold off the
uber-mountain-bikers for as long as possible.
It was quite loose and slippery on the new snow, and Chris and I had to
get off and run on many of the uphill sections, sections that I easily rode the
day before. Mountain-Biking phenom
Landon Beckner was somehow getting traction and breezed by us easily. I fared the worst and lost about 2 minute to
Landon and 1 minute to Chris over the entire bike course. It’s very difficult to ride in the snow, you
know. Definitely lots of controlled
drifting in the corners.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauC4xR7lt71naYY1PFVezIr02F7i2GbEijLEB3i8DxKyX9Boog0-XnHdgGZ19jRKFXyJn30P3rODj98Xh1DY0Xvqn36g84nVUoJwuh0o667yQ3T6Lv3uVc1bwXQ6wvgGHXjbV12ZDOVQ/s1600/IMG_2315_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauC4xR7lt71naYY1PFVezIr02F7i2GbEijLEB3i8DxKyX9Boog0-XnHdgGZ19jRKFXyJn30P3rODj98Xh1DY0Xvqn36g84nVUoJwuh0o667yQ3T6Lv3uVc1bwXQ6wvgGHXjbV12ZDOVQ/s400/IMG_2315_edit.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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You head up a couple switchbacks going into T2, and I looked
back to see if anyone was coming up behind me.
I thought I was in the clear, but took one last glance and caught Adam
Wirth in the corner of my eye, maybe 45 sec-1min back. Knowing that Adam is no slouch on skate skis,
I new I had my work cut out for me to maintain 3<sup>rd</sup> place.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwwZ3VWJ_bpIwrmB7sGEctHkfcashM_r89nOnWHQuiyZz_0fXsxf6CpDL_VdO5WEtmgvfV2ojOZLAo4urNrQJHZbAgDVlH-8UCWGCuiu9snU6r72iO1zyEbp1ypMA0fR6iAStAlbXsz0/s1600/IMG_2316_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwwZ3VWJ_bpIwrmB7sGEctHkfcashM_r89nOnWHQuiyZz_0fXsxf6CpDL_VdO5WEtmgvfV2ojOZLAo4urNrQJHZbAgDVlH-8UCWGCuiu9snU6r72iO1zyEbp1ypMA0fR6iAStAlbXsz0/s400/IMG_2316_edit.jpg" height="303" width="400" /></a></div>
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Somehow I caught Ganter in transition and ripped by him and
into second place as the ski began. I
stayed in the pain cave the entire time, knowing Chris, Adam, and a slew of
other good athletes (such as Matt Seeley) would be right behind me. The 6000 feet of elevation made the skiing
extremely tough, especially on a hilly, twisty, and sometimes technical
course. Somehow I held off Adam and the
rest of the lot, finishing in <st1:time hour="13" minute="7">1:07:38</st1:time>. Landon put another 3 min into me for the win! Ouch.</div>
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-56190815402595362612012-10-19T18:36:00.003-07:002017-02-03T20:03:50.156-08:00The Way She Goes<br />
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<u>Ironman </u><st1:country -region="-region"><st1:place><u>Canada</u></st1:place></st1:country><u>
– August 26<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<st1:country -region="-region">Canada</st1:country>
was supposed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be my “A” race for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
season. Hah! I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s funny
how <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hings work ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
when you don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> expec<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem (S<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
George) and don’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> work ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
when you plan for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hem <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
(<st1:country -region="-region">Canada</st1:country>). My nu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
definitely did not work ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
season. My blood sugar felt like it was all over the map. A couple days af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he race, I was sick. Maybe <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
had some<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
do wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. Or maybe I jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oo
hard on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he bike. I caught <a href="http://www.mattrusselltri.com/">Matt Russell</a> early on during the
bike, which might signal that I was pressing the early flat section to Osoyoos too hard. Following that, I battled weird
blood sugar from mile 56 to 112, and even into the marathon, and watched the
race gradually slip away. I was unsure if I would even be able to finish the marathon as a foot injury showed up just days before the event. Passing by the
house I was staying at (mile 5) during the marathon was the hardest part. I felt
so weak and would have loved to just stop and eat a burger right then and
there! My foot hurt with every step. Fortunately, <a href="http://nathankillam.blogspot.com/">Nathan Killam </a>caught
me soon after and we ran together from mile 2 to 18 which substantially killed
the pain. As we were approaching the
turnaround, we heard that several athletes were walking, and also saw some of
our competition was in distress as they headed the other direction. That
kept us encouraged and I think I ran the fastest <u>last 10k </u>of an Ironman that I
have ever. I was totally surprised to
run into a good placing after bumbling through most of the 2<sup>nd</sup> half
of the race. I guess this experience
further underscores the most important Ironman principle: <u>just keep going!</u></div>
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There are many positives to note here, even though it was a “B”
quality race on my part. I still came in
with a 6<sup>th</sup> place, had an Ironman PR of <st1:time hour="9" minute="9">9:09</st1:time>,
took home a little cash, and enjoyed an amazing time in <st1:city>Penticton</st1:city>. I think this course deserves a little more
respect, which I will certainly show it if I return next year for Challenge <st1:country -region="-region">Canada</st1:country>,
as the race will continue but under the race organization Family Challenge
instead of Ironman.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More concerned with finding a relevant bathroom than posing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCuvBWdNS6amXNDtPcIr34lTTcowBenSXZdA_Acy2LJTnRExUvuip33_u4Zu_bCAeDHrKOD1jsCQo8sHqf-F4QInLyr1Xa4uZMvcOYsFjbWiTgFhoL3I1cCF32bfo86R5vxDfvcTdDvA/s1600/sheekscan3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCuvBWdNS6amXNDtPcIr34lTTcowBenSXZdA_Acy2LJTnRExUvuip33_u4Zu_bCAeDHrKOD1jsCQo8sHqf-F4QInLyr1Xa4uZMvcOYsFjbWiTgFhoL3I1cCF32bfo86R5vxDfvcTdDvA/s320/sheekscan3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race support...wait, what does that say?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0g1BVKzklUb3ttdxzfrrt_VB3qPnFLsdiKUoCyvyfXAjsme1qGp65gX80IvbWmc9vb5bIwGzbxleL3leB0lIgWXpuSyc3jD97JPac5YDpIY96KdoRkNI-pJ83OwRVkmihtjB6lhJ0lA/s1600/sheekscan4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0g1BVKzklUb3ttdxzfrrt_VB3qPnFLsdiKUoCyvyfXAjsme1qGp65gX80IvbWmc9vb5bIwGzbxleL3leB0lIgWXpuSyc3jD97JPac5YDpIY96KdoRkNI-pJ83OwRVkmihtjB6lhJ0lA/s320/sheekscan4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was about to cry the first time up this hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQq1imU7FGdXxfVHttWXHJJ4e1DyPL0A7ZLQX7W81VAmZhSN9HN1P-B_pFDO23ExSB1c4WAmbS8WzImUPViFZ0DTTpFBuc6i1B02v7H93EhuyrYbZZ1FCUMJh3NE6XWzS5yN55yCozX0/s1600/sheekscan6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQq1imU7FGdXxfVHttWXHJJ4e1DyPL0A7ZLQX7W81VAmZhSN9HN1P-B_pFDO23ExSB1c4WAmbS8WzImUPViFZ0DTTpFBuc6i1B02v7H93EhuyrYbZZ1FCUMJh3NE6XWzS5yN55yCozX0/s320/sheekscan6.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second time I was out for blood!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-v6tkGLv8yWdLwwuf2U3QJgFQzdNzrkYUDDD1_s7xG-FcMtLs_vQ8SGTXJJTuauSufSN_eJVGGBlPuFXyXftiEJWsZEWsYCRoYHPJtvvDIUpNJK5Pyyao4gGcgjp2Xw73zHzAtAWWnY/s1600/sheekscan7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-v6tkGLv8yWdLwwuf2U3QJgFQzdNzrkYUDDD1_s7xG-FcMtLs_vQ8SGTXJJTuauSufSN_eJVGGBlPuFXyXftiEJWsZEWsYCRoYHPJtvvDIUpNJK5Pyyao4gGcgjp2Xw73zHzAtAWWnY/s320/sheekscan7.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Booya!</td></tr>
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<u>Frisky in Leadman – Sep 22nd<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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Leadman is an odd dis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ance
– 5km swim, 137 mile bike, finishing wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h a
half-mara<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hon.
I really liked <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he low-key na<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ure
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his even<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
even while i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> had some quali<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
competition. The loca<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
is amazingly beau<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iful, probably <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
bes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ria<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hlon
scenery I have experienced so far; <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he alpine
lake is super clear, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he bike has very low <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>raffic,
good roads, and moun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ain views. </div>
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<a href="http://woodinvillebicycle.com/">Woodinville Bicycle</a> helped me get some last minute equipment taken care of (they have bailed me out more times than I can count!), and I was on my way to Bend, conveniently camping at the race venue, Cultus Lake.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This could have been my bes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> race of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he season. I wen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> 1:02 for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he supposed 5km swim (obviously shor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>), 6:05 for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 137 mile bike, which included 2 <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>imes up Moun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Bachelor, and 1:25 for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he very difficul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> Half-Mara<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hon (did I men<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> was af<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er a 137 mile ride?). I hi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> run spli<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he day, ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>pacing Rapps<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar by <st1:time hour="13" minute="15">1:15</st1:time> and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he res<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he pro field by 5-6 minu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es. Trying <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o chase down Karl Bordine in 5<st1:personname><sup>t</sup></st1:personname><sup>h</sup> gave me some ex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra mo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>iva<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion! I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink I blasted a 5 minu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e mile a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he end <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ca<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ch Oli Piggin a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 12.9 mile mark, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> was s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ill 2 minu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>es off of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he las<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> "money spo<st1:personname>t"</st1:personname> in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he end. Overall a very consis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> day for 6<st1:personname><sup>t</sup></st1:personname><sup>h</sup> overall! I was really encouraged <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o see my bike spli<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> up wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h some really good cyclis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s; consis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ency was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he key as I paced myself very evenly.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrhwKoXBM7ysoAtYw2d-fvRPegCdhdOc5Inn7UAUUtGVnq45AyBj8_gn3sRES2JiGOQwp3HAJINafqdGmI136NRbM2ZkUcjIevix6qKG4KigsBu6rv1HQ8RLY22J3qrwRUiFXTqmIrKQ/s1600/sheeksleadman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrhwKoXBM7ysoAtYw2d-fvRPegCdhdOc5Inn7UAUUtGVnq45AyBj8_gn3sRES2JiGOQwp3HAJINafqdGmI136NRbM2ZkUcjIevix6qKG4KigsBu6rv1HQ8RLY22J3qrwRUiFXTqmIrKQ/s320/sheeksleadman.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a good ride - on my 2nd time up Mount Bachelor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a5djaw7gU39WxmFjGcyt5qAXn8HUZoWHihO0_53H7V9oFW0BhrB9pamB0NQAINgyC0YxgjnmXyIvqVBm37IG2JeU_9p61r4UQ3YlYWagy5zblooZ6DBHJ70dXqs0fK62vvuZ5YHlPss/s1600/sheeksrussell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1a5djaw7gU39WxmFjGcyt5qAXn8HUZoWHihO0_53H7V9oFW0BhrB9pamB0NQAINgyC0YxgjnmXyIvqVBm37IG2JeU_9p61r4UQ3YlYWagy5zblooZ6DBHJ70dXqs0fK62vvuZ5YHlPss/s320/sheeksrussell.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Matt Russell</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpEOGP8FUNKLGkv_1kkRCTj65V59_CCGhCnMD5hkQfcihWQhvOi5_TzxTzi_7vB9BBiNAjw6RWKWHikilR3dhyZ0CWDa5fiFSMDD7fB1GnRAJC2NFp1Yu6nhUa4GVDEX4UaGRX28yy58/s1600/P1020099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpEOGP8FUNKLGkv_1kkRCTj65V59_CCGhCnMD5hkQfcihWQhvOi5_TzxTzi_7vB9BBiNAjw6RWKWHikilR3dhyZ0CWDa5fiFSMDD7fB1GnRAJC2NFp1Yu6nhUa4GVDEX4UaGRX28yy58/s320/P1020099.JPG" height="320" width="299" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thomas Gerlach coming home in 3rd</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wx-K8c8Mkv3w3OxKnJhLV90kmhokcw7bmIUNJHGsb2XeWXLbp7ja61m77azAyeS-V46W9HgZ2KP68SlcHSWUeQLmW19zh0A0Hx55V-SOjQQiGU42k0hHGNeAiFuCF1fH6O9zt62zXao/s1600/sheeksleadmanfin2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Wx-K8c8Mkv3w3OxKnJhLV90kmhokcw7bmIUNJHGsb2XeWXLbp7ja61m77azAyeS-V46W9HgZ2KP68SlcHSWUeQLmW19zh0A0Hx55V-SOjQQiGU42k0hHGNeAiFuCF1fH6O9zt62zXao/s320/sheeksleadmanfin2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much faster overall time than I expected!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd2Wty5F1lfacjvx23cSJvkkjn4nXXM08h4iI7h9Yw_KISV-19L_N9aBnb7x30dg-6tU0TeMbiHkoVXzBSTeNwRdbI-w0mdHMTdRJaGVwZ1sxzgfC3j3PWB1stWWGHstL_b4qAuxygHU/s1600/P1020095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWd2Wty5F1lfacjvx23cSJvkkjn4nXXM08h4iI7h9Yw_KISV-19L_N9aBnb7x30dg-6tU0TeMbiHkoVXzBSTeNwRdbI-w0mdHMTdRJaGVwZ1sxzgfC3j3PWB1stWWGHstL_b4qAuxygHU/s320/P1020095.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rappstar himself</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Pain in </u><st1:personname><u>t</u></st1:personname><u>he
Poconos – September 29<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following Leadman, I knew I had one more good race in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ank of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
season. A<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he same <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime,
I really didn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> wan<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>end my
season un<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>il November like las<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
year! A door opened up for me <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
do 70.3 <st1:place>Pocono Moun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ains</st1:place>
in <st1:state>Pennsylvania</st1:state> and I took it. Besides, at the end of the season it is a
good time to take a couple risks and see how your body reacts.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once in PA, I thought maybe I had been a little
overoptimistic. Friday morning my heart
rate was around 60, up from the usual 42.
Obviously, I had not recovered from Leadman! Ooops!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, I managed a PR (<st1:time hour="16" minute="8">4:08:40</st1:time>)
and a top-ten placing. The swim went
really well, 26:00 for 1.2 miles, which was theoretically a 2.5 minute swim PR, but probably was short. I was passing people the entire
time, jumping up from one group to the next.
The bike was net downhill which contributed to the fast average
speeds. I rode consistently but lacked
the fire and tenacity that I have when riding fresh, which showed on the bumpy
and hilly sections approaching Stroudsburg.
The run really showed the lack of recovery; the course was a lot harder
than I expected and I couldn't push myself very hard. I think I felt good for about 10 minutes
during the bike and 5 minutes during the run; kind of like how you feel the day
after a long bike-run combo. Still, I
was happy to close out the season with a PR, especially with only 1 week recovery following Leadman (which was an 8.5 hour race).
Perhaps more importantly, this race had me thinking differently about
2013 as I was in striking distance of the lead group on the bike. Is it possible that if I work on my swim over the winter that I will be in the lead pack in 2013? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best part of this race was getting to hang with my friends
from the Great White North, namely the <st1:city>Ottawa</st1:city>
crew (Ryan Cain, Ryan Grant, and Jamie Stephenson) and <a href="http://hooglandt.wordpress.com/">Tennille Hoogland</a>. Hoogland had a decisive victory in the women’s
race – I am so proud of her improvement
this year!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As an added bonus, I scored some much needed KPR points for next year. But, did I get 10<sup>th</sup> or 9<sup>th</sup>? I will let you decide that. I was passed by a guy during the latter
portion of the run who didn’t serve a time penalty, but I did not see that he
got Dq’d for that.<o:p></o:p></div>
Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-27394845244786864952012-10-19T16:48:00.006-07:002017-02-03T20:03:50.146-08:00What a Cluster<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOCtK2groH98qIgBlQ3nJk5M1e3eMAwJF_OyAj_FWGXGFqURy0VlsIrS84cYB7rBcgtqTfjK83rFo3pzVxEXxR36DK1FxXhBTP9bFQlhxN5Gy5wtBLwgX8_CqApeqRHHQly_Ijv7JUE0/s1600/image-e1326944093618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOCtK2groH98qIgBlQ3nJk5M1e3eMAwJF_OyAj_FWGXGFqURy0VlsIrS84cYB7rBcgtqTfjK83rFo3pzVxEXxR36DK1FxXhBTP9bFQlhxN5Gy5wtBLwgX8_CqApeqRHHQly_Ijv7JUE0/s400/image-e1326944093618.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We did it! A phrase <a href="http://www.sportiva.com/ambassadors/athletes/mountain-running/andrew-fast">Andrew Fast</a> and I
coined has finally become the name of a nation-wide flavor of ice cream. I knew it was only a matter of time with the
vast quantities of ice cream I consume!
“What a Cluster” is not only delicious, but accurately describes my
racing exploits and those of my friend and training partner Andrew “the water
buffalo” Fast.<br />
<br />
So, who in their right mind would cluster 3 Half-Ironmans within 1
month of each other? Well, crazy people like <a href="http://www.mattrusselltri.com/">Matt Russell </a>or <a href="http://www.thomasgerlach.com/">ThomasGerlach</a> certainly would, but for a conservative racer like myself, it was a big
jump from the normal race spacing (usually 1x/month).<br />
<br />
<u>WA State 40k Champs <o:p></o:p></u><br />
<br />
And a "cluster" it was. The preview was the WA State 40k TT
champs in <st1:place><st1:city>Tenino</st1:city>, <st1:state>WA</st1:state></st1:place>
on June 2, which was going to be my warm-up for the <st1:city>Boise</st1:city>
70.3. I was on pace for an excellent ride, probably 56-57 minutes.
Unfortunately, I flatted out about at the halfway point - another
"phantom" flat caused by a leaky valve core. Not wanting to be
denied, I went back out on the course bandit style (after getting the flat
repaired) and clocked a 59 minute 40k on tired legs and with my training wheel
on the rear. Not too shabby.<br />
<br />
<st1:city><st1:place><u>Boise</u></st1:place></st1:city><u> 70.3 – June 9<o:p></o:p></u><br />
<br />
High hopes for the <st1:city>Boise</st1:city> 70.3;
unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. With sub 50 degree air
temperature, rain, and wind, coupled with 57 degree water temperature, many
athletes were left standing (rather, shivering) with hypothermia...or they merely
dropped out before that point. The bike course was shortened from 56
miles to 12 miles, with the concern of hypothermia looming over the organizers
heads with the low temperatures and strong winds. Several pros were smart and simply raced the shortened bike into
town with their wetsuits on! That was the right move. I was frigid coming out of the water, and was
getting even worse coming down from <st1:place><st1:placename>Lucky</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype>Peak</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Once the legs thawed
out (about 2 miles into the run), I was able to throw down a high <st1:time hour="13" minute="12">1:12</st1:time> Half-<st1:place>Marathon</st1:place>,
which was encouraging. Too bad it was for 19th place!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkF2bD0IMnMvgFhdw-l5L_ybID9GCqdOxlmFj8SGXkpgYdCQ-Fu4AqgIk9Z5ve7Ubu7wdckhKgtdH6Or6HkKx6SXLxlCcGzPAGDSIV5eq7g_mEQaiav2B_hFbcJ7RZ_JmAPZ12x_Czy0/s1600/0179_05361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkF2bD0IMnMvgFhdw-l5L_ybID9GCqdOxlmFj8SGXkpgYdCQ-Fu4AqgIk9Z5ve7Ubu7wdckhKgtdH6Or6HkKx6SXLxlCcGzPAGDSIV5eq7g_mEQaiav2B_hFbcJ7RZ_JmAPZ12x_Czy0/s320/0179_05361.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a><br />
If I've learned one thing from pro-marathoner <a href="http://mikesayenko.com/">Mike Sayenko</a> (aside from how to do a
proper Borat impression), it's that when you're hot, you race. I
knew I was in good shape, but had failed in the last two attempts to show
it. Fortunately, I had already created a back up plan. <br />
<br />
<u>Tremblant 70.3 – June 24<o:p></o:p></u><br />
<br />
Ironman was hosting an inaugural Half-Ironman in <st1:place><st1:city>Mount-Tremblant</st1:city>,
<st1:state>Quebec</st1:state></st1:place>, which I thought might suit my
capabilities. I had scheduled a flight to the race, knowing that if
something didn’t go right at <st1:city>Boise</st1:city>,
I would have another option to show my fitness.
This is where Southwest is really the greatest and the worst option in
the world for the indecisive. You can
cancel a flight at any time before the flight, and have your airfare fully
applied to the next flight of your choosing.
I was fretting over whether to go to Tremblant, but finally decided not
to let the opportunity slip by.<br />
<br />
In <st1:state>Quebec</st1:state> I had the
opportunity to stay with Romaine Guillard out in Tremblant, was we were both
hosted by skiing and outdoor fanatic Bob Gilmour who generously invited three
people to stay with him. Romaine is
quite the character and “astetitician,” as I call him. That is, he really knows how to have his
equipment working well but also looking good.
Secret tip: “Hide your Vittoria
Pitstop under your front bottle cage. It
looks better in pictures that way,” says Romaine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccTDPJIiuiaphlr_Uh8aPuhHL7yOBvwr0feVzWFiwy_3eOt7v0mNdx0lKCiM-0SHrCxcbq16ewRu7yJYIL1T5_P4Jz7KrX93o0e19ljgzMpJaBtia3l7p8Hmxus-219XASlETcQnlQqo/s1600/IMG_3792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccTDPJIiuiaphlr_Uh8aPuhHL7yOBvwr0feVzWFiwy_3eOt7v0mNdx0lKCiM-0SHrCxcbq16ewRu7yJYIL1T5_P4Jz7KrX93o0e19ljgzMpJaBtia3l7p8Hmxus-219XASlETcQnlQqo/s400/IMG_3792.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I think my fitness increased in the swim and the bike off of the fitness
from <st1:city>Boise</st1:city>, I swam a PR of 28:30
for the 1.2 miles, and rode a <st1:time hour="14" minute="19">2:19</st1:time>
(24.0 mph avg) for the 56 mile course, which had some nasty, spikey climbs
thrown in. I thought for sure I could
run myself into 3<sup>rd</sup> place on the run given my position on the bike,
but folded big-time at during the last half, clearly not recovered from the
effort at <st1:city>Boise</st1:city>. I think I clocked <st1:time hour="13" minute="20">1:20</st1:time> or <st1:time hour="13" minute="21">1:21</st1:time>,
which was still good for 5<sup>th</sup>.<br />
<br />
<u>July 8 – Rev 3 </u><st1:city><st1:place><u>Portland</u></st1:place></st1:city><u>
<o:p></o:p></u><br />
<br />
Rev 3 was the biggest confidence builder of the 3 races. I spent a few days before the race in <st1:place><st1:city>John
Day</st1:city>, <st1:state>Oregon</st1:state></st1:place>, getting in some
altitude training with my younger brother Patrick. <st1:place>Eastern Oregon</st1:place> is
super sweet for training, I don’t even know where to start. I guess I’ll have to table that conversation
for another time.<br />
<br />
Things went off the rails a bit on our way from <st1:place>John Day</st1:place>
to <st1:city>Portland</st1:city>. We drove down to Portland, and, according to my custom, I previewed the bike
course 2 days out, getting in about 45 miles.
Afterwards, and I still don’t know exactly why (dehydration?), I got incredibly sick
and puked my guts out several times. The
whole ordeal lasted until about <st1:time hour="0" minute="0">midnight</st1:time>,
and I wondered if I would even be okay to race on Sunday.<br />
<br />
Race Day. I was hoping for a wetsuit
legal swim, but it was not to be. I came
out and the clock read 36 minutes and I thought, “this is gonna be one LONG
day.” But, I unleased a super solid
bike-run combo, averaged 23.7 on a ridiculously hilly bike course, and unleased
a <st1:time hour="13" minute="16">1:16</st1:time> half in hot (90 degrees-ish)
conditions, and managed to pull myself up to 12<sup>th</sup>.<br />
<br />
If you take the bike-run splits only, I was 6<sup>th</sup>. That built my confidence based on who I was
up against – Cunningham, Thomas, Rapp, etc.
I think I lost some of the feel for the water with my lack of swimming
while in <st1:place>John Day</st1:place>, but aerobically I was obviously super
fit. Still, following Rev 3 I really
needed a mental break and then planned to rebuild for Ironman <st1:country -region="-region">Canada</st1:country>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOxjrGKB9gQYCR-TijE8ypD1aOtmHVAtYnLXbPLqIuKYF55HpiCf3RfMpn_KGmJnhPk7c_iDCjVsp66oCSkvpYscGUJC4dwkFUSOMrjvlMNlQjRhZiIR5IhnEEWlNBp0-4q0PiBKLnsg/s1600/NK58919-REV3-Portland-2012-XL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOxjrGKB9gQYCR-TijE8ypD1aOtmHVAtYnLXbPLqIuKYF55HpiCf3RfMpn_KGmJnhPk7c_iDCjVsp66oCSkvpYscGUJC4dwkFUSOMrjvlMNlQjRhZiIR5IhnEEWlNBp0-4q0PiBKLnsg/s400/NK58919-REV3-Portland-2012-XL.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
Now I can’t adequately tell the story of these several clusters without mentioning
Andrew’s exploits, as he was busy with a cluster of his own. Andrew was ready to pop a good one, but flatted out
of the Victoria Half-Iron with a nasty sidewall gash on the rear tire. He also had a flat the day before on the
front, but frantically found a replacement before race day. Bad luck with tires lately! I did hear tale that Andrew was able to stay
with Andy Pott’s parents out in <st1:state>Victoria, which was quite the experience.</st1:state><br />
<br />
Andrew really had a <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ough <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime
ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing back
up men<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ally, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
managed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o pull himself <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Vancouver Half 2 weeks la<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er.
Delivering an incredibly even race, he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrew
down a <st1:time hour="16" minute="22">4:22</st1:time> for 7<st1:personname><sup>t</sup></st1:personname><sup>h</sup>
(or 8<st1:personname><sup>t</sup></st1:personname><sup>h</sup>, I’m <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oo
lazy <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o check) overall. The <st1:time hour="16" minute="22">4:22</st1:time>
was abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a ½ hour personal record, I believe. 2 weeks following, Andrew “rode angry” on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
bike course a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
ChelanMan Olympic, and won wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h an impressive <st1:time hour="14" minute="3">2:03</st1:time> overall <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ime.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> was a one big clus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er,
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>’s for
sure; filled wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h mishaps, mechanicals, and misadventure.<br />
<br />
<br />Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-1220132967631590462012-06-27T11:27:00.000-07:002017-02-03T20:03:50.136-08:00Kind of a Big Deal<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everywhere I travel, there seems to be an odd fascination
with one man. His picture is all over the wall or the fridge; this is how
I am tipped off that people are thinking and talking about this guy a lot.
It's not Crowie or Macca, the Raelerts, Andy Potts, or the Brownlee
brothers. He's been around a lot longer. It's Jesus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In St. George, it's the Mormons. In <st1:city>Birmingham</st1:city>,
there are Protestants, and in <st1:city>Boise</st1:city>
they are non-denominational. Why, even out East I still find the
Mennonites in <st1:place>Lake Placid</st1:place> (or maybe those are orthodox
Jews...anyways). One homestay host is a V.P., another a Ph. D in Biology,
another a Ph. D in chemistry, yet another is a police officer, another is a
college student. But the fascination still remains- it seems to traverse
age, education level, socio-economic status, and occupation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUOqLzHbac5YKfke1bBZQRKaTTaSMDX-FswDLJD_1G_mBHHGBV51pY7KBDddZ3gW7oLDPOnNW8zqIhidp8u-iRUlZRdKisS_lJTJT_ym0G0nMCH-pNuvQs2pFRrKAcvj3JDpUhOG5OgU/s1600/triathlon_jesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUOqLzHbac5YKfke1bBZQRKaTTaSMDX-FswDLJD_1G_mBHHGBV51pY7KBDddZ3gW7oLDPOnNW8zqIhidp8u-iRUlZRdKisS_lJTJT_ym0G0nMCH-pNuvQs2pFRrKAcvj3JDpUhOG5OgU/s320/triathlon_jesus.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus is kind of a big deal. Even in a sport that can
consume our time, thoughts, and (especially) our cash, there is still a big
interest in Jesus in the triathlon community- Pro, Age-grouper, volunteer, fan,
and homestay host alike. We pray at Ironman banquets, and at Rev3 you
hear worship music. Wildflower has Campus Crusade for Christ all over the
place, and numerous Christian organizations are very active in triathlon- <a href="http://www.fca.org/">Fellowship of Christian athletes</a> (FCA), <a href="http://www.multisportministries.com/">Multisport Ministries</a>, and <a href="http://tri4him.com/">Tri 4 Him</a> to name a few.
Consideration of who this man is or was cannot be easily dismissed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some say he was a good teacher. To that, Jesus
replies, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God
alone." Some say he is useful for some people if they feel it helps
them, but is not useful for others. To that, Jesus says, "I am THE
WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE <st1:stockticker>LIFE</st1:stockticker>" (emphasis
mine). The repetition of "the" carries the same meaning we
would ascribe it like when we call someone “the man” – terms like
"supreme," "preeminent," the only thing that really
counts," or "kind of a big deal" could carry the same meaning.
Following this, Jesus statement, concludes, "No one comes to the
Father except through me." If that isn't a chilling statement, why
did I just have to put my arm warmers on?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still others think that Jesus is on his throne in heaven,
angry at them, issuing commands and expectations, while offering no real help.
To this Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." So just what is going on here, is Jesus
demanding something or offering something? Because many are confused on
this point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet others assume that if their good deeds outweigh their
bad deeds, then Jesus will love them, accept them, and grant them admittance
into His heaven. According to Jesus, this is the grossest distortion of
them all. The gospel of Luke records:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He also told this parable to some people who trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The
Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not
like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector.<span style="background-color: white;">'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of
all that I get.' "But the tax collector, standing some distance
away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his
breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'"I tell you,
this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be </span>exalted<span style="background-color: white;">." (Luke 18:9-14)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My point today is not to give a philosophical proof for the
existence of God, or provide evidence that Jesus rose from the dead, or even to
provide a clear explanation of the gospel. All these things I can and
will do, but that is not my aim here. My simple question is, "do you
really know Jesus?", and my appeal to you is, "get to know the real
Jesus." Don't rely on hearsay, rumor, or conjecture. Don't
even rely on what your parents, priests, or pastors told you when you as a kid.
Go to the primary source documents. If you don't know where to
start, start with the Gospel of John.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge
the world, but that the world might be saved through him." - John
3:17<o:p></o:p></div>
Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-23765657151414398552012-05-31T14:09:00.002-07:002017-02-03T20:03:50.141-08:00St. George and the Strangest Race<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I call <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his race <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ranges<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
race because I always considered myself down, ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
and nearly dead for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he majori<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he race.
Only in maybe <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he las<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
half of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mara<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hon
did I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink any<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hing
good would come of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his endeavor. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
was jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> so funky, windy, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>reacherous,
ho<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, scary, and crazy, that it was easy to get
negative. I don’t <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink
anyone <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
raced really fel<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> good or in con<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rol
for the vast majority of the race.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apparently M-Dot has decided <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
change <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his race <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
a Half-Ironman nex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> year. Given <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> is considered <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oo
difficul<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>oo
early in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he season (for a full dis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ance
race), <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>endance
has suffered over <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he las<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
couple years. Well, I <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hink
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 2012 edi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
really pu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
nail in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he coffin on <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
one! One nice par<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> since
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he mara<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hon
course was changed from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he previous year, and
will never be run again in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he fu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ure,
I am <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he proud owner of a run course record <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
can never be broken!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pat “Nope no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> enough”
Sheeks, my coach and soigneur, road<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ripped
down wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h me <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
S<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. George.
We fel<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> good abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
our journey, my prepara<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion was very solid
coming in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
I had my race s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ra<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>egy
mapped ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, and we <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hough<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> migh<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> even
cool down a bi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> on race morning. We also had an amazing homestay family to
show us the ropes in St. George and treated us like royalty. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But little did we know wha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
awai<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed us on race morning…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This news article from the Salt Lake Tribune gives a pretty
good description of the days events: <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/54055727-77/race-didn-george-athletes.html.csp">http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/54055727-77/race-didn-george-athletes.html.csp</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>My Own Stats:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Swim - <st1:time hour="13" minute="4">1:04</st1:time> (10<sup>th</sup>
elite)</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Even
with the nasty chop, this was still my fastest IM swim by about 10
mins. Apparently I have a nasty
chop stroke! I tossed my race
strategy about 20 minutes into the race and went into “just don’t die”
mode. Even though I am not afraid
to die, I figured I would save it for another day if possible.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bike - <st1:time hour="17" minute="48">5:48</st1:time> (9<sup>th</sup>
Elite)</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">It was
super duper windy, with 20 mile stretches at 8-12 miles/hour. This was the windiest ride I have ever
been on, much less raced in. My IT
band got sore just from trying to stabilize the bike! My time was so slow, I assumed
incorrectly that there was no way I could eek out a good placing.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Run - <st1:time hour="14" minute="55">2:55</st1:time> (1<sup>st</sup> elite, results incorrectly
have me at 5<sup>th</sup>).</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Thinking
I was down and out, I asked my brother how far back I was while leaving
transition, wondering if I should even start the run. Oh, only 50 minutes; No Big Deal! I only realized how much ground I made
up by about the 15 mile mark, and proceeded to take some names. Coming into the finish chute with a lead
bike by my side, high-fiving spectators was one of the most exhilarating
experiences of my life. Apparently
I accidentally denied my brother a high-five though!</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve had some amazing support leading up to this race,
mostly from local sponsors such as <st1:place><a href="http://www.srcpt.com/">Sports Reaction Center</a></st1:place>,
<a href="http://elitesportsandspine.com/">Elite Sports and Spine</a>, <a href="http://run26.net/">Run 26</a> and <a href="http://www.woodinvillebicycle.com/">Woodinville Bicycle</a>. I am super blessed to have these guys 100%
behind me. As an example, I stepped on a
rock while on a training run in <st1:city>Klamath Falls</st1:city>,
which inflamed my foot pretty badly. A
last minute dual-threat treatment from Sports Reaction and Elite Sports and
Spine totally extinguished the pain and got me through the marathon. Thanks guys!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Matt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hmqrt6GNHuqIdz-Nlx8QR5N4IZ8p6xgUaEm9fyrexE3gm_XeLbiz8IUX6nSGFdxAt_Z26P836xuaPdvEUKce4fxbwTJhtK4ED2SaKBm3YodBJp7m0euUiHxBFDlwaowArOft1B8DMkk/s1600/stgeorgeprerace_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hmqrt6GNHuqIdz-Nlx8QR5N4IZ8p6xgUaEm9fyrexE3gm_XeLbiz8IUX6nSGFdxAt_Z26P836xuaPdvEUKce4fxbwTJhtK4ED2SaKBm3YodBJp7m0euUiHxBFDlwaowArOft1B8DMkk/s320/stgeorgeprerace_1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pre-race, looking sleepy but really I am jacked to get started!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXWYmB_v569-WekFdOwnf0qOqaHGdlpAnamligxb7x9qM8i8s2EPb25_NUqpVrSsajEwO5zGG8zFVbi6hE8-3kTe__ykezNBm36pRfOTtVZGkuDIghLiLgLYN-gweCm5nROXj3ii87dM/s1600/stgeorgerun_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXWYmB_v569-WekFdOwnf0qOqaHGdlpAnamligxb7x9qM8i8s2EPb25_NUqpVrSsajEwO5zGG8zFVbi6hE8-3kTe__ykezNBm36pRfOTtVZGkuDIghLiLgLYN-gweCm5nROXj3ii87dM/s400/stgeorgerun_1.JPG" height="150" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Fastest run split of the day</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3dRIy0LBjhy1q3SsWXK72FrlD1QaozhhxJNV9Uag03t9scMJiwBqivYOdDWsAGKOLnJ4xg5KL0BhStF7ki3YGt41-iNRBG2N-NtmncWi_h65Ol3UWUVkcOLF-qbttd9L-WlnkP-XPRE/s1600/thankyoujesus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3dRIy0LBjhy1q3SsWXK72FrlD1QaozhhxJNV9Uag03t9scMJiwBqivYOdDWsAGKOLnJ4xg5KL0BhStF7ki3YGt41-iNRBG2N-NtmncWi_h65Ol3UWUVkcOLF-qbttd9L-WlnkP-XPRE/s320/thankyoujesus.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Never been happier to have a race be over!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYhNLisdMbFs3pGNqtp1g1XMe1y9KZXP_XwVHYR87RWsfVhhnUuFKaWvv-axE0MNZy3cOfEv252DglE0FmL92gktE3rfS0-sbsO6yLq1HyQyBahhoRocQy_ve6Kqq_7LqfXvZ5ZlaFNM/s1600/stgeorgepodium_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYhNLisdMbFs3pGNqtp1g1XMe1y9KZXP_XwVHYR87RWsfVhhnUuFKaWvv-axE0MNZy3cOfEv252DglE0FmL92gktE3rfS0-sbsO6yLq1HyQyBahhoRocQy_ve6Kqq_7LqfXvZ5ZlaFNM/s320/stgeorgepodium_1.JPG" height="314" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the money</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmjpUvLgDtnEtvEzl4WdphwFlFrppqjN7jHm3APDQr4H9P_ZoFVaJqkPywKLYbUJTQNcwxmOrjxdAkhhUV0bJxb5hVMt0DXog5wAVMO548yCDeFGX1CXsWywa4D_fkwpJVbbDG6WV2Lk/s1600/benhoffman_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmjpUvLgDtnEtvEzl4WdphwFlFrppqjN7jHm3APDQr4H9P_ZoFVaJqkPywKLYbUJTQNcwxmOrjxdAkhhUV0bJxb5hVMt0DXog5wAVMO548yCDeFGX1CXsWywa4D_fkwpJVbbDG6WV2Lk/s320/benhoffman_1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eventual winner and outstanding guy Ben Hoffman </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyL2nnTh3rs4wgVELNgmaBqkm4bDXesNSsKgqHqdosq-neIfHGa8JCW_wSnK5pEf7FfiQ-gfurSWBrI41dZVTHurvKaZORcxdyoTu0QRjUNkc7Q06go5tVjz9jx6SuuNxKyW_9K-AgIc/s1600/dynamicduo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyL2nnTh3rs4wgVELNgmaBqkm4bDXesNSsKgqHqdosq-neIfHGa8JCW_wSnK5pEf7FfiQ-gfurSWBrI41dZVTHurvKaZORcxdyoTu0QRjUNkc7Q06go5tVjz9jx6SuuNxKyW_9K-AgIc/s320/dynamicduo.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Dynamic Duo - Matt with Patrick "nope not enough" Sheeks, the ultimate manager. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Matt: "Hey Pat, I put in 5 hours of training today. Is that enough? I was kind of thinking I still have enough energy for a shake-out jog."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pat: "Nope not enough."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: #1A1A1A; border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<thead>
<tr>
<td style="background: #222222; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Name<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Country<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Swim<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Bike<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Run<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 45.0pt;" width="60"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Finish<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 26.25pt;" width="35"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Div. Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #222222; border-left: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt; width: 26.25pt;" width="35"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Overall Rank<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background: #171717; border-top: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newathlete.php?rid=1143239885&race=/events/ironman/st.george/&bib=2&beta=&1338493500" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153);"><span style="color: #da0000; text-decoration: none;">Hoffman, Ben</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">USA</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="0" minute="52"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">00:52:44</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="17" minute="10"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">05:10:01</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="15" minute="1"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">03:01:24</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="9" minute="7"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">09:07:04</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #131313; border-top: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newathlete.php?rid=1143239885&race=/events/ironman/st.george/&bib=1&beta=&1338493500" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153);"><span style="color: #da0000; text-decoration: none;">Twelsiek, Maik</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">DEU<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="0" minute="52"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">00:52:42</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="17" minute="10"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">05:10:35</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="15" minute="18"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">03:18:23</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="9" minute="25"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">09:25:58</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #171717; border-top: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newathlete.php?rid=1143239885&race=/events/ironman/st.george/&bib=4&beta=&1338493500" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153);"><span style="color: #da0000; text-decoration: none;">Zeebroek, Axel</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">BEL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="0" minute="51"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">00:51:22</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="17" minute="26"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">05:26:52</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="15" minute="12"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">03:12:53</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="9" minute="35"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">09:35:33</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #131313; border-top: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newathlete.php?rid=1143239885&race=/events/ironman/st.george/&bib=15&beta=&1338493500" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153);"><span style="color: #da0000; text-decoration: none;">Gerlach,
Thomas</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">USA</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="0" minute="59"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">00:59:19</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="17" minute="33"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">05:33:54</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="15" minute="12"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">03:12:14</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="9" minute="49"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">09:49:00</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #131313; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #171717; border-top: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newathlete.php?rid=1143239885&race=/events/ironman/st.george/&bib=20&beta=&1338493500" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153);"><span style="color: #da0000; text-decoration: none;">Sheeks,
Matthew</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">USA</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="13" minute="4"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">01:04:09</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="17" minute="48"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">05:48:41</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="14" minute="55"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">02:55:37</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<st1:time hour="9" minute="52"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">09:52:03</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #171717; border-bottom: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #202020 1.0pt; border-top: none; float: right; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="background: #131313; border-top: none; border: solid #202020 1.0pt; float: none; mso-border-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #202020 .75pt; padding: 3.0pt 7.5pt 3.0pt 3.75pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://tracking.ironmanlive.com/newathlete.php?rid=1143239885&race=/events/ironman/st.george/&bib=13&beta=&1338493500" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153);"><span style="color: #da0000; text-decoration: none;">Moser, Ernst</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">AUT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:time hour="13" minute="4"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">01:04:52</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:time hour="17" minute="39"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">05:39:00</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:time hour="15" minute="16"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">03:16:58</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:time hour="10" minute="4"><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">10:04:07</span></st1:time><span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-53289242931364593022012-05-31T13:24:00.000-07:002017-02-03T20:03:50.151-08:00Klamath Falls Training Camp<br />
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<img src="http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/KlamathFalls_OR.gif" />
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Following my <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rip <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
Pear Blossom, I immedia<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ely headed up <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:city>Klama<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h Falls</st1:city>,
abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> a 1.5 hour drive eas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. I was really in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>eres<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o check ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his
area of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he coun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ry,
seeing <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
is a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> medium al<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ude
(4200 fee<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>) wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
having <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o be in <st1:state>Colorado</st1:state>. This would be ideal prepara<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
for S<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>. George, which si<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> 3000 fee<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>,
I reckoned.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> reac<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he place
was how amazingly friendly <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he people are in
Klama<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h.
Maybe <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hey should ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrown in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o a
compe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ion
wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Sco<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>s
and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he Birminghaminians! I drove up wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
my li<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>le bro<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>her
Pa<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rick (also my unofficial coach and
“soigneur”). Our firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>op was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
bike shop, <a href="http://www.hutchsbicycles.com/">Hutch's Bicycles</a>, <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o inquire abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rails and good road riding and so for<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h. One of <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>aff
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here, Andrew, no<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
only gave me some grea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> riding advice, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
also invi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed me <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
s<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ay a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> his
place! Andrew is a major cycling en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>husias<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
and cyclocross racer, and also very active in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
communi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y. I<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
always pays <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o know an insider when you are in
a new <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>own.
He and his wife Chris<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ine made my life
very easy while I was checking ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>own and <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>raining
my bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname> off. Hopefully Andrew gets that engineering job at
Specialized once he graduates! </div>
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I was looking forward <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
some long rides, bu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> hones<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he firs<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
couple days my legs fel<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> like dea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
from <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 10-miler; I was super sore and
couldn’<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> even run for <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
nex<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> 3 days!
I managed <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o ge<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> 3-4 hours per day, wi<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h
some auxillary running and swimming.
Ella Redkey Pool is an excellen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> facili<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here, which is a geo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hermally
hea<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ed pool righ<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The cap off <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>rip was <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 102
mile Dead Indian loop. You really need <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
do <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>his ride if you are ever near Ashland of
K-Falls. S<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ar<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ing
in <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>own
of <st1:city>Keno</st1:city>, jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
wes<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> of Klama<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h,
you head nor<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>h on Clover Creek road. This runs you in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:street>Dead Indian Memorial Road</st1:street>,
which is a swoopy backroad, mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly big
rollers, which leads all <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he way in<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o
<st1:city>Ashland</st1:city> a<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
sea level. The las<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
10 miles or so is an epic <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>wis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
descen<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
Enjoy <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he crazy hill<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ops
and varied scenery as you en<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er Pe<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er
Bri<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname> coun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ry. From <st1:city>Ashland</st1:city>,
you climb back up <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he 4000 fee<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you jus<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> descended on Rou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>e
66 eas<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>.
This is a fierce , <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>wis<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>y
climb and i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> was abou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
80 degrees when I did i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>; 39 x 23 almos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he whole way.
Once you peak ou<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>, you assume i<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
will be mos<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ly fla<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
or rolly back <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>o K-Falls. You assumed wrong, as <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>here
are several 500 + foo<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> climbs <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>ha<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>
you will encoun<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er on Highway 66 as you labor
and pu<st1:personname>t</st1:personname><st1:personname>t</st1:personname>er <st1:personname>t</st1:personname>hrough
<st1:personname>t</st1:personname>he las<st1:personname>t</st1:personname> 30
miles or so of riding. Agonizing but
beautiful training.</div>
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<img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3198/2894049014_0fcd96d922_z.jpg" />
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View from Moore Park in Klamath Falls.</div>
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<br />Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-79419460148800803752012-05-07T08:56:00.004-07:002017-02-03T20:03:50.161-08:00See you at the Pig, Meet you at the Pear<br />
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<b>7<sup>th</sup> at Duathlon Nationals, 2nd place at Pear
Blossom</b></div>
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<b>The Pig<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br />
The race
season is just underway, and with it my resentment and hatred towards <st1:city>Seattle</st1:city>
weather has all but melted away, and in its place is a sense of gratitude and
awe on account of the hospitality of people I have met and beauty of our
country that I have experienced recently.</div>
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My first
stop was <st1:place><st1:city>Birmingham</st1:city> <st1:state>Alabama</st1:state></st1:place>,
for the USA Elite Duathlon National Championships. <st1:city>Birmingham</st1:city>
continues to hold a special place in my heart, with its genuine Southern
hospitality, courteous drivers, and a beautiful, hilly landscape. If anyone can come close to the friendliness
of the Scots (where I visited in Fall 2010), it has to be a <st1:city>Birmingham</st1:city>
native. I stayed with Keith Giles of <st1:city>Homewood</st1:city>. Keith, a biochemist at <st1:place><st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename>Alabama</st1:placename></st1:place>, was only the 2<sup>nd</sup>
biggest tri-geek in his home for about a week, as we waxed philosophical about
which aero wheels to own, swimming form, saddle tilt, seat tube angle, and
various other nauseating topics.<br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I had a couple good runs during the
race, but had zero legs on the bike, and ended up 7</span><sup style="text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> for the
day. Not to fear though; the race merely
opened up the legs, and I had some amazing rides down south. In other words, the form came on just a bit
too late. D’oh! Within a week of training in the sun I
dropped to racing weight at an alarming rate, and was no longer the doughy, pasty
man that ran at Nationals.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">After some serious skirt-chasing in
Birmingham, as well as my first time to a Piggly-Wiggly grocery store (their
slogan is “see you at the pig”- a slogan I don’t think would fly at snooty
organic grocery stores in Seattle, just sayin.), the next stop was Deland,
Florida, for some warm weather training.
Why Deland, you ask? Well, my
college teammate and longtime training partner, Brendan, had somehow convinced
his family that I was a nice guy, and would be someone that could use their
vacation home in </span><st1:state style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Florida</st1:state><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. I was floored when his dad called me a few
months back to ask me if I would ever like to use it! Who ever asks you if you would like to use
their house, anyway?! </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Who are these
people of high generosity that I keep encountering, you ask? I can’t answer that question, but I am
banking on the statement of theologian William Newell: “to believe, and consent
to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret…to expect to be blessed, though
realizing more and more lack of worth…to testify of God’s goodness at all
times…”</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">After several, now standard 3.5
hour hammer sessions on the bike, not to mention swimming in Delion Springs,
AKA “the fountain of youth” supposedly discovered by Juan Ponce Delion, I was
far too quickly back in Seattle, but not for far too long.</span></div>
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<b>The Pear (10 mile running race)</b><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Perhaps the juiciest race of the
year would be the long-standing and now infamous Pear Blossom race, where
“everyone’s a winner.” And in fact it was just what I needed; a low-stress race
to test my fitness and enjoy some competition. I knew pro runner
Max King would likely be there, but assumed I wouldn’t have a fighting chance
against him. Perhaps I was a little
pessimistic about my odds against him, and ended up finishing in 51:38 for a 10
mile road race, a near 15 seconds behind Max.
Holding </span><st1:time hour="17" minute="10" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">5:10</st1:time><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> pace is not bad
for an ‘ol washed up triathlete! </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Doing a
running race makes me miss the simpler days – all you have to show up with is
your shorts, jersey, flats, and maybe a water bottle on race day, and you are
ready to go. Too bad I will be doing an
Ironman soon and will have to pack 75 items with me on race day! </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The local newspaper in </span><st1:city style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Medford</st1:city><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
did a good write-up, so you can get the rest of the dirt </span><a href="http://m.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120415/SPORTS/204150372/-1/WAP08&template=wapart&m_section=" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">here</a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> if you like.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
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1. Max King 51:23</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
2. Matt Sheeks 51:38</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
3. Glenn Tucker 53:02</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
4. Tyler Davis 53:16</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
5. Chris McIsaac 55:04</div>
</div>
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-85769590314270051132011-10-26T23:56:00.000-07:002017-02-03T20:04:28.561-08:00Showdown at Soma<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTXkdV3P7ZerXz1v1_uC-ld_ia_ObGhaSC9vxsBng81cAdbAege-to-rUsJVwooq3XUdrM1PREB6Y3TQ-EHrGE4fyUI_Rgy73pXYMngnAzIkwJF-HkVEa3VwiJE9xG7WXwtKOXQ9fmp8/s1600/IMG_0199.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668062912068940866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTXkdV3P7ZerXz1v1_uC-ld_ia_ObGhaSC9vxsBng81cAdbAege-to-rUsJVwooq3XUdrM1PREB6Y3TQ-EHrGE4fyUI_Rgy73pXYMngnAzIkwJF-HkVEa3VwiJE9xG7WXwtKOXQ9fmp8/s320/IMG_0199.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Matt had a good placing in his sights, but couldn’t deliver the goods<br />(he did get to shoot an AR-15 after the race, however)<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><br />Last weekend was the Soma Triathlon hosted by Red Rock Co.; it has been a popular local race for Arzionans…Arizonians…Arizonites (there we go), in the past. Durapulse Performance Co. and Iron Gear Sports put up a nice little prize purse for the professionals this year, so I figured I might as well give it a shot. If nothing else it would be a good learning experience to see how well I can do two half-ironmans with only 2 weeks between. Having gotten into shape for Rev3 South Carolina, I figured I might as well give it a crack as the end of the season was approaching, and there wouldn’t be many other opportunities to test my fitness.<br /><br /><strong>Pre-Game</strong> – “by delayed you should have known that we meant early”<br /><br />There was one big surprise on my trip to Phoenix. My 5:45 flight was delayed until 6:10 (according to the check-in counter, arrival/departure screens, everything), so I took my sweet time at Sea-Tac and downed a burrito prior to the flight. I showed up at the gate at 5:43 and to my dismay, the flight had left already! Why delay a flight and then un-delay it? I didn’t even know you could do that! Anyway, Southwest partially redeemed themselves by getting me to Phoenix only 2 hours later than my reservation. A good lesson that the battle of getting to your flight is not won until you arrive at your gate.<br /><br />Fortunately I was staying with the coolest homestay couple ever, Denise and Dave Jones, and they didn’t mind picking me up late. I met this classy couple the last time I raced in Phoenix for the Desert Classic Duathlon, and since then they have gotten married, gotten pregnant, and moved to the suburbs! My how things change.<br /><br /><strong>Swim</strong> – “I can’t believe I was in a pack”<br /><br />The swim was held in Tempe Town lake, this strange man-made lake in the middle of the city. The pro field was much different than usual in that most of the field was not a super strong swimmer, and most were good runners. Also, men and women started at the same time, so I knew I would have people to swim with. I found myself a nice pack and steadied into rhythm. The pace felt pretty comfortable, so I suspected maybe I should have been up one-pack. Usually I am just fighting by myself in order to not lose too much time, so it was strange to have options! I got out of the water at about 31:15, so sure enough I was a bit slower than last race, but no matter, plenty of time to reel people in, or so I thought.<br /><br /><strong>Bike</strong> – “By now I have no pow-a”<br /><br />I decided to start the bike out conservative this time in order to get the legs warmed up before really putting the smack down. Jozef Major and Kevin Taddonio passed me early on, but I let them go as I was more interested in attempting to grab a gel at the first aid station and somehow they escaped my grasp. I just kept riding consistent and thought things were going pretty well, hitting 27-28 mph on the flats. I was passed by another rider and decided that I should ramp things up and try to stay with him. Unfortunately, this was the exact wrong move at the exact wrong time! I picked up the pace a bit too much, ended up losing all composure, and immediately hit a nasty head-wind section. I floundered for the next 5-6 miles, and struggled to find a normal rhythm. Finally, I came out of my tail spin, but not before my average speed had plummeted by ½ mile/hour. Still, I finished in a PR bike split time of 2:17 thanks to a fast course. The mistake of attempting to ride at a higher intensity probably cost me a top-5 in the end, but hindsight is 20/20 and I have used other riders to pace off of and follow their lines thru corners and it has worked in the past. It just didn’t work this time.<br /><br /><strong>The Run</strong> – “I saw the Devil”<br /><br />Coming into the transition around 2:50, I was about 3 minutes up on my time thru T-2 from two weeks ago. Sweet, I thought to myself, unless you really blow it on the run, you are headed for another PR. Aside from stopping to drain an unusually full bladder at mile 1, the first lap (6.5 miles) went off without a hitch, I kept hitting 5:45-5:50 mile splits and was surprised at how easy it felt. Then, the thermostat hit 90 plus and in the matter of about a mile I went from feeling great to barely moving. My weak Seattle-trained body couldn’t handle the heat! I hit an aid station and decided to walk thru. I dumped as much water as I could and grabbed ice to put in my hands. I repeated this a couple times. By the time I hit the aid station at the eleven mile mark I had sufficiently cooled myself down. The refreshment that cooling the body down has an almost immediate effect, and one can start running quickly again. The heat has another weird effect in that I nearly forgot I was racing, but once I cooled myself off I looked at my watch and realized that I still had a chance to PR. “Oh crap Matt, start sprinting!” I thought. So I hit the gas full throttle, must have hit 5:30 for the last mile. I just missed my PR by around 30 seconds. Looking back at the results, other guys must have been having the same issue, because I still posted the 3rd fastest run time even with 3 stops.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Lessons learned</strong> – “I done goofed!”<br /><br />Circumstances worked out nearly perfectly this race. I had an ample warm-up, the course suited me, my Kestrel was fast and fit well, I had plenty of First Endurance EFS liquid shot and gels on course along the way, and the Avia-Bolt shoes felt amazing as usual. Probably the main thing is that I don’t have the base built back up sufficiently to compete at this level, especially in the running department. Still, I could have executed the race better tactically. I also found it pretty difficuly to concentrate and push myself quite as hard as last time, and have a new respect for the pros out there that can put in good performances week in and week out. </div>Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-80011260237362089862011-10-10T19:08:00.000-07:002017-02-03T20:04:28.556-08:00A Long Ways to Go - Rev 3 South Carolina<strong>70.3 Personal Record! - 4:12 </strong><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><br /></div></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662060532957318610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8JMdEBHE2W-N0kOxjN-ZrljTR0RhOludnOp1g8ORalemZygdEbNBr-045-4n37c1yXtGHvXpO7Jej3Ag3Nw2sfxfWh6RBGLL2uBpm_N1ecY15T3lR2W4KaosATKIG7Q_vBSkxiJ9ZyA/s320/DSCN0430.JPG" border="0" /><br />I surprised myself out there Sunday at <a href="http://www.rev3tri.com/anderson">Rev3 South Carolina</a>, a long trip from Seattle but well worth it for the amazing race experience that Rev3 provides. The race was stacked with some 45 or so male pros, all of which I knew would be excellently prepared. A $50,000 prize purse tends to attract good competition; who would have thought!<br /><br />Coming off a pelvis fracture in late April, Rev 3 South Carolina would be my first important race back. I competed at the Black Diamond Olympic Triathlon a couple weeks ago and won by a good ten minutes, but that was just a small local event. This race would be against some of the world’s best triathletes.<br /><br />I have received some amazing assistance from <a href="http://www.srcpt.com/">Sports Reaction Center </a>(SRC), a physical therapy clinic, and <a href="http://www.elitesportsandspine.com/">Elite Sports and Spine</a>, a chiropractic/Active Release Therapy clinic, during my comeback to competitive triathlon. I’ve also been using the Alter G anti-gravity treadmill at SRC during my build-up, which is new technology that is a huge advantage to anyone that has to learn how to walk and run again. Special Thanks goes out to Jacob Perkins at Elite and Neil Chasan at SRC. Your support is amazing!<br /><br />Okay, now before we get into the details about the race, let’s get past the nasty little issue every endurance athlete has: excuses - I woke up to a nasty cold race morning…I couldn’t get comfortable on the bike…I didn’t fuel well enough early on…I’m just coming off a big injury…okay, now that that unpleasantness is behind us, let’s move onto the positive.<br /><br /><div><br />SWIM: The swim was by far my best 2000m swim ever. No questions about that. Thirty minutes sixteen seconds. I’ve done close to that in the past, but that was while wearing a wetsuit, which usually shaves off 2-3 minutes. Starting off was a little frantic as usual, and I tried in vain to get on some feet after getting around the first buoy. No luck- I just missed getting on a good train! The first woman passed me half way through (the women start 3 minutes after the men). I couldn’t get on her feet either; she was just too quick. Second women’s pack went by…still too fast for me to hop on. Eventually the 3rd women’s pack rolled by and I hung on for a good minute or so. I think there was something pushing me the entire time and that helped keep my tempo up. Controlled but not letting my arm-turnover lag. This helped me to a fast time (for me) even though I didn’t draft virtually the entire swim.<br /><br />BIKE: The bike was my fastest half-iron distance bike, 2:22, but maybe not my best. I was getting good feedback right away, catching all the pro women early on and a few guys. It might surprise you, but that’s actually very positive for me. Even though I have had some good placings in the past, sometimes I don’t catch the top woman until the beginning of the run!<br /><br />Unfortunately, my hamstrings were on fire right away, and I couldn’t seem to get my powerful quads into the mix. Eventually my muscular endurance waned. I was on the hoods often or out of the saddle on many of the small climbs, and was generally could not get into a good rhythm. Fortunately, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to get more aero, and even though I wasn’t putting down great power numbers, I was still pretty fast compared to my previous self simply because of more aerodynamic equipment and body position..<br /><br />The bike course ended up being WAY harder than I expected with all the small grinding climbs. The course is held mainly on quaint backroads with virtually no traffic. It’s kind of like 70.3 Lake Stevens only with less opportunity to get into a rhythm because of the various turns and shorter but more frequent climbs. The wind was much worse than expected out there on race morning too. I have no clue how Starky went 2:10 on that course, but props to him! I felt like I lost a lot of time on the 2nd half of the course, and started running out of gas way too early. I had one flask of First Endurance EFS Shot with me, which provides about 400 calories, and was expecting some gels at the aid stations. Unfortunately I didn’t see any until mile 2 of the run!<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662058076767744530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZUGFO2BWpED-zT82dIcnj_30Dh7CRm-T6HWdOneAHpNGJw8TsR6_8Kq7ebwHvIdf4q5dbYNUiI-_kPCb3bWlbxehItZJdifAP9sq-ru1QEuy5GqZpcSb3g0bqtpVP_vfja11NCyWZ4U/s320/DSCN0442.JPG" border="0" /><br />THE RUN: I was actually pretty pleased with my 1:18. I couldn’t pull out my ace-card simply because of lack of consistent run training. I’ve had some residual back pain which has caused me to be very conservative in my build up to real running training again, so I knew racing 13.1 miles would be a stretch, and thought anything under 1:20 would be good at this point. After throwing back as many gels as I could find in the first half of the race, I started to feel almost normal again. I passed a few athletes on the run, but not enough to move me far up the leaderboard. Still, I went about 1:30 faster than my best Half-Iron distance race for overall time, and I think there is even more potential to discover.Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-51218661296652997982011-05-11T13:13:00.000-07:002017-02-03T20:03:09.965-08:00Tumble in TucsonHi there! A lot of good things have happened recently in the triathlon realm of my life recently. The happiest of which was signing with the Team Trakkers/Rev 3 Triathlon Team. This is a big step for me and one I think will really help my triathlon career continue to progress.. The team is comprised of some really solid pro triathletes including Michael Lovato, Brian Fleischmann, and Richie Cunningham. We have some awesome sponsors lined up including Trakkers GPS, Rev 3 Triathlon, Avia Shoes, First Endurance Nutrition, TYR Swimwear, Kestrel Bicycles, and Canari. Check out <a href="http://www.trakkersgps.com/">http://www.trakkersgps.com/</a> when you get a chance and you can get more of the “scoop” on the team and the Trakkers technology. I am really excited to work with these fine individuals and companies, use their products, race fast for them and represent them well.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605555201774894450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRKDkEaGZ5fZWbodFXgoxQeY86OF7MT9SbdFX-eLYnsHKjzQ0CGLhqfxHkH48oKmVY_Hq-3aoe795Bl6XvcNti9UPvHpjpSLiFJufwIerabk49-SVP-0d3G4Dyjaz6P8Re3MRbizQbNs/s320/IMG_0091.jpg" border="0" /><br />Okay, onto the bad news. So, last Friday I was in Tucson for the Duathlon Nationals Championships, and was excited to be in good shape and ready to defend my title. I was literally two-blocks away from finishing my pre-course ride the day before the race, was about to go through a T-intersection, and that’s about the last thing I remember. I woke up on a stretcher, took a helicopter ride, and ended up in the Emergency Room with a fractured pelvis, pneumothorax (air that gets outside the lung but still inside the body, where it is not supposed to be), and a concussion.<br /><br />Apparently a car was traveling in the opposite direction as me, did not see me, and going through the intersection, made a left turn into my line of travel. We were both traveling at low speed (~15mph), but it was enough to knock me unconscious, as from what I can ascertain, I went headfirst into the passenger side of the car. I was unconscious for a couple minutes, and when I came to, apparently said some things to my dad (who was on the scene quickly) that I have no recollection of!<br /><br />I have a long road of recovery ahead of me. Your prayers are more than appreciated, and I would like to thank all of you that been praying for me. I am making a very speedy recovery, which I know is what most of you have been praying for!<br /><br />USAT did publish a pre-race article, in which I was a contributor. It can be viewed here: <a href="http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/2011/04/29/elites-value-duathlon-community-give-advice/42074?ngb_id=12">http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/2011/04/29/elites-value-duathlon-community-give-advice/42074?ngb_id=12</a><br /><br />Another pre-race article gave me a little press: <a href="http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/2011/04/26/stellar-field-headed-to-usa-triathlons-duathlon-nationals/42013">http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/2011/04/26/stellar-field-headed-to-usa-triathlons-duathlon-nationals/42013</a><br /><br />Other than that, I would like to give a shout out to my friend Matt Russell, who won the national championship in my stead!<br /><br />Thanks for reading,<br /><br />Matt SheeksMatt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-26028619925156266222011-03-02T21:56:00.000-08:002017-02-03T20:03:33.035-08:00Keeping up in Costa<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPwH9nZakbIDWTk3omUm0n7XIU_Ylm_9zdE0I3hKLfkEO78J9kNYDnYE28S0TF9f5d-us3rcvnBe2vKOuVYisbT_IVQEfi-cLYgLaoO_aQDJJPxVa5OEU5hid438aqbq-1KN1cxlQlvs/s1600/DSCN0217.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPwH9nZakbIDWTk3omUm0n7XIU_Ylm_9zdE0I3hKLfkEO78J9kNYDnYE28S0TF9f5d-us3rcvnBe2vKOuVYisbT_IVQEfi-cLYgLaoO_aQDJJPxVa5OEU5hid438aqbq-1KN1cxlQlvs/s320/DSCN0217.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579729274012579458" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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Hey all! I just returned from Costa Rica, where I finished my first “Rev 3” series race and first race of the new year. Rev 3 specializes in family friendly triathlons, and also treat their professional racers really well. I was fortunate enough to have them put me up in a sweet location down there, and can really recommend the Guanacaste region in Costa Rica as a vacation spot if you are interested in a beach sort of vacation.</div>
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Sunday happened to be my first ocean water swim race and first Olympic Distance race as a pro. Conditions were pretty warm, if not downright hot. I learned at least two things from my race down in Costa: (1) I am not good at Olympic Distance, on account of the length of the swim. (2) I am not good at ocean water swims, yet. That said, I was really pleased with my bike leg (1:01 for 40k including a gigantic hill) and run (34:30 for 10k on a really hard course) in the race, and gives me confidence that I am getting back into shape. It also tells me that I have a lot of work to do on my swim before my next race. </div>
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On another note, I was really pleased with how my Kestrel Airfoil performed, and estimate it is about 1 mph faster in all conditions than any other bike I have ridden before. Now the rider just needs to get a bit faster! Seriously though, I can tell that the bike is really well engineered, with every measure made to make it more aerodynamic, light weight, and stiff (see pic). Now that’s a triple threat!</div>
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I would like to thank Krista from Rev 3 for her hard work helping all the pros out down in Costa. Things can get complicated pretty fast when you are racing in a foreign country. My next major race will be Duathlon Nationals on April 30th in Tucson. So look for it!</div>
Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-21572701343041671292011-01-27T16:25:00.000-08:002017-02-03T20:03:33.030-08:00Sheeks signs with Team Trakkers!!!Hey all and greetings from beautiful Woodinville, WA, where we haven’t seen dry pavement from over 100 days. I wanted to make a quick announcement that I have officially joined the Team Trakkers Elite Triathlon team! This is a big step for me and one I think will really help my triathlon career continue to progress.<br />
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The team is comprised of some really solid pro triathletes. You might recognize some big names like Michael and Amanda Lovato, Richie Cunningham, and Brian Fleischmann. Look them up; they have some awesome credentials and many of them have won multiple Ironmans and Half-Ironmans. We have some awesome sponsors lined up including Trakkers GPS, Rev 3 Triathlon, Avia Shoes, First Endurance Nutrition, TYR Swimwear, Kestrel Bicycles, and Canari. Check out <a href="http://www.trakkersgps.com/">http://www.trakkersgps.com/</a> when you get a chance and you can get more of the “scoop” on the team and the Trakkers technology. I am really excited to work with these fine individuals and companies, use their products, race fast for them and represent them well. I will be putting everything to the test as usual. After all, you know the Matt Sheeks’ motto: “If it ain’t broke, break it!”<br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3ZlUJvu_TLLkYkcSmJfAN98DvH4mfHxXcUcGwWH9azjJZIN3eNwZWqKoZLMJKNdo-29v2hszCwFlGJ6DzAbCDhyqM0ErACk3FPs6rYUzX4C6sqof2tR_jlQO4z01BJ6-G2HgHT4pIus/s320/1006539_300.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567026939338960706" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 232px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 235px;" /><br />I would like to give a quick shout out to some people that have really helped get such a long way in the sport in such short order. In particular, I would like to thank coach Ben Bigglestone. It is hard to say in what areas Ben has been instrumental because he has pretty much helped out with everything. Ben even helped make the connection that got my plugged in with Team Trakkers. I would also like to thank Rob Whitacre who was my triathlon manager in 2009, took care of all the details I suck at, and convinced me not to give up when the going wasn’t going so great. Thanks guys. Your support means a lot to me!<br />
Training has been especially tough this year given the interesting winter here in the Northwest, but I am bound and determined to make it to the starting line for my first race February 20th at Rev 3 Costa Rica. It is a non-drafting, Olympic distance race that is part of the Rev 3 series. Also, you may have noticed some updates to my race schedule (see sidebar at www.mattsheekstriathlete.blogspot.com). I’ve decided to go ahead and re-route my 2011 plan to include more Rev 3 races; there are many good reasons to go the Rev 3 route, and believe this route will better suit where I am at in my career and will make more sense for my long-term development.<br /><br />Fee free to drop me a line anytime at <a href="mailto:mattsheeks@gmail.com">mattsheeks@gmail.com</a> and happy training!<br /><br />Matt<br /><br />P.S. Here is a re-posted article announcing the team: <br />
<br />Press Release: 2011 Trakkers—Revolution3 Racing Team<br />(Boulder, CO) January 25, 2011 – The 2011 Trakkers-REV3 Racing Team returns with new athletes, new sponsors, and a new mission. <br />
<br />After a successful first season, Team Trakkers begins the New Year by revitalizing its relationship with the Revolution3 Triathlon Series, which now supports the team as its co-Title sponsor. Presenting sponsors include both Kestrel Bicycles and First Endurance, who return this year to support the 11-person professional team and 39-member amateur squad.<br />New partners for 2011 are industry-leading companies, AVIA (footwear), TYR (wetsuits, speedsuits), and Canari (apparel). <br />
<br />“The Revolution3 Team is overjoyed at the opportunity to be a sponsor of such high-class professional athletes. Their determination and drive to succeed motivate each and every one of us at Rev3. Our goal is to push the sport of Triathlon forward and we hope our commitment to this group of athletes shows that we take this growth seriously. We cannot wait to see them at the Rev3 races this year,” said Charlie Patten, Head Honcho of the Revolution3 Triathlon Series<br />“Kestrel is excited to be part of the Trakkers-REV3 Triathlon Team,” said Steven Harad, Kestrel Brand Manager. “This is our second year with the Trakkers team and with the addition of many top level athletes, we are looking forward to a successful season.”<br />“First Endurance is pleased and honored to be associated with this high caliber team of athletes and sponsors,” stated Robert Kunz, the VP of Science and Technology at FE. “All of the athletes will be using the entire system of First Endurance products, and more importantly they will have influence and input on our new product development, allowing us to keep producing and upgrading our line so it remain the best on the market.” <br />
<br />In addition to the changes in sponsorship, the team roster has grown and evolved. Returning members—Richie Cunningham, Brian Fleischmann, Jacqui Gordon, Amanda Lovato, and Michael Lovato—welcome new athletes, Hillary Biscay, Courtenay Brown, Kathleen Calkins, Chris McDonald, Jessica Meyers, and Matt Sheeks. <br />
<br />With a refreshed athlete roster and its committed sponsors, Team Trakkers—REV3 begins the 2011 race season with an evolved mission: to promote and help grow the Revolution3 Triathlon brand; to gain exposure for the world’s first real-time GPS tracking devices; to represent triathlon’s strongest brands; and to compete at a world-class level over varied distances, at multiple triathlon series worldwide. <br />
<br />“We had a great year in 2010, but our aim is to improve across the board, as we go forward,” stated Michael Lovato. “To evolve in a positive direction, we have partnered with key sponsors who are committed to the sport of triathlon, to its growth, and to its athletes. We could not be happier with our group of sponsors, or with our recharged roster of athletes.” <br />
<br />The full professional team includes:<br /><a href="http://hillarybiscay.com/wordpress/">Hillary Biscay</a>: 2008 Ironman Wisconsin Champion; 15-time top-three Ironman finisher<br /><a href="http://courtenaybrown.com/">Courtenay Brown</a>: Danskin Tri & Silverman Half winner; Inside Tri columnist<br /><a href="http://kathleenclarkcalkins.blogspot.com/">Kathleen Calkins</a>: 2010 REV3 Cedar Point 3rd place; Top Amateur Kona 2009<br /><a href="http://www.richiecunningham.net/">Richie Cunningham</a>: 2x 70.3 Champion; 4x Top-Five 70.3 World Championships<br /><a href="http://www.brianfleischmann.com/Site/Home.html">Brian Fleischmann</a>: 1st World Team Champs; 2x 2nd place USAT National Champs<br /><a href="http://jacquigordon.blogspot.com/">Jacqui Gordon</a>: Multiple Ironman and 70.3 Top-Ten finisher<br /><a href="http://www.amandalovato.com/">Amanda Lovato</a>: 2010 Pucón 70.3 Champion; Multiple Half Ironman Champion; Multiple Top-Five Ironman finisher<br /><a href="http://www.michaellovato.com/">Michael Lovato</a>: 2x Ironman Champion; 3x Top-Ten Kona; 3x National Champion<br /><a href="http://www.chris-mcdonald.net/">Chris McDonald</a>: 3x Ironman Champion<br /><a href="http://jessicajonesmeyers.blogspot.com/">Jessica Meyers</a>: 2010 Augusta 70.3 Champ; US National Team; Armed Services Champion<br /><a href="http://mattsheekstriathlete.blogspot.com/">Matt Sheeks</a>: 2010 Duathlon Pro National Champion; 2009 Duathlon AG World ChampionMatt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-54100389682556681452010-09-23T12:29:00.000-07:002014-01-16T22:16:22.489-08:00Duathlon Worlds<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhZotlIaSL5CAu1wdwtk76sk2pXzuu_-VOnqC9M2ODTuqxpI_I9xYg-GjXJ7XQWa01hFIsl2uucXIiuorevc7uDQsrmQIof4FOn20dqM2ur93_lzXWUhXRY7s-szKTDR_zUMZdEl1PeI/s320/2009-09-03+065.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520195283870310738" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFkOwLohx6gvLgDTWZMmcmnHjHInC3Bs4agTMU3adbxlfmES8WjMMclLzBAAWiJt7qXPSqJJZulwHL_1ubjSRkWUnCAieJtYSczPcikUdKyXVrrH74mmHx_20L1Hx1fRm04CMaZ0vdrI/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFkOwLohx6gvLgDTWZMmcmnHjHInC3Bs4agTMU3adbxlfmES8WjMMclLzBAAWiJt7qXPSqJJZulwHL_1ubjSRkWUnCAieJtYSczPcikUdKyXVrrH74mmHx_20L1Hx1fRm04CMaZ0vdrI/s320/IMG_1974.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520196861925720418" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a> <span style="font-size: 85%;">enthusiasm before and after duathlon.</span><br />
Hey All! A lot of people have been asking how the Duathlon Worlds race went. Since I have been traveling around Scotland for the past couple weeks, I was unable to respond for awhile. So, the long story is that it did not go so well. In fact, I blew up worse than I have ever blown up in a race before. I mean, I was just happy to finish I was feeling so bad at points. On the other hand, I hold a philosophical "no lose" policy according to this verse: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) So, I am taking comfort in the fact that my result in Scotland was the best result I could possibly have as far as God's plan for me is concerned. I know I learned a lot from this race, and I am planning on making a good bit of changes going into the 2011 season, in my training, how my bike is set up, my race strategy, my sleep schedule, and much more. I am still just figuring out how to go about this whole triathlon thing, and their is much complexity to it, and much to consider. Sometimes I miss the days when I could just show up to a race with my spikes and a bottle of water! But I know triathlon is where I am supposed to be for now. <br />
Not to be left out, I had an awesome time touring around the U.K. and Ireland following the race, and saw some amazing sites.<br /><br />Below I included my race highlights from last year, and a picture of my team and coach, and my race plans for next season. Thanks for reading!<br /><br />Matt<br />
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-83976824521049032742010-09-23T11:59:00.000-07:002014-01-16T22:17:13.132-08:002010 Season Highlights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHYTGC8LITiYW1bI9m41C4jyZOetk0zZ18f8xYeDjmB-F_2V-nxi01iLgm7HOryMp2mHPtxeYMOC-KayQ2xHI_TwHbITt8jtDb7E0Rcvx8yVeDyAKWcY8qSIUDU3QeoVmYHa4alOYukQ/s1600/DSCN0018.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHYTGC8LITiYW1bI9m41C4jyZOetk0zZ18f8xYeDjmB-F_2V-nxi01iLgm7HOryMp2mHPtxeYMOC-KayQ2xHI_TwHbITt8jtDb7E0Rcvx8yVeDyAKWcY8qSIUDU3QeoVmYHa4alOYukQ/s320/DSCN0018.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520188444535000674" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> <span style="font-size: 85%;">VO2 Multisport Elite Team (L to R) - Matt Sheeks, Ethan Lyons, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"> Charles Rivers, Erin Heard, Gerry Marvin, Coach Ben Bigglestone</span><br />
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<strong>“Only Going to Get Faster”</strong><br />
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Matt Sheeks roared through a successful rookie year as a professional triathlete, winning a professional national championship, with two top ten finishes in a WTC event, and placing top 3 at the Desert Classic Duathlon. Matt also posted the fastest run split at two WTC events, at Boise against the likes of Craig Alexander, Matt Whyte, and Jamie Whyte, and again at Ironman Lake Placid against Ben Hoffman and Mark Twelsik. With big plans to swim 2 times a day this winter, we should see Matt more towards the front at these races next year!<br />
<br />
1st - USAT Elite Duathlon National Championships </div>
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March 2010 - Birmingham, Alabama<br />
10k/60k/10k - 2:45:28</div>
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8th- Ironman Lake Placid<br />
July 2010 - Lake Placid, NY<br />
9:17:57– fastest run split</div>
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8th- Boise 70.3 Half Ironman </div>
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June 2010 - Boise, Idaho </div>
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4:13:48 - fastest run split, 3rd American</div>
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3rd - Desert Classic Duathlon </div>
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March 2010 - Phoenix, AZ</div>
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1st– Top Put Donut Dash<br />
April 2010 - Seattle, WA<br />
5k - 14:43</div>
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<strong>2009</strong>1st- ITU Duathlon Short Course World Championships<br />
25-29 Age Group and Overall winner -1:43:09<br />
September 2009- Concord, NC</div>
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1st- Who's the Hardest? Off-Road Duathlon</div>
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December 2009 - Tacoma, WA</div>
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<strong>2011 Race Plan</strong></div>
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Matt plans to follow the Ironman Hawaii track and so will be competing in at least 5 WTC events. He also plans to race Duathlon Nationals again, where and whenever that might be.<br />
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Ford Ironman St. George </div>
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St. George, Utah </div>
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June 11, 2011 </div>
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Ironman Boise 70.3</div>
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May 7, 2011</div>
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Boise, Idaho</div>
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Ford Ironman Couer D’Alene </div>
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June 26, 2011 </div>
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Coeur d'Alene, Idaho<br />
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Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3</div>
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August 14, 2011</div>
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Lake Stevens, WA</div>
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Subaru Ironman Canada<br />
August 28, 2011 </div>
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Penticton, B.C. </div>
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Ironman World Championships </div>
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October 8, 2011 </div>
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Kona, Hawaii </div>
Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-50545257471373282352010-08-24T14:33:00.000-07:002014-01-16T22:18:05.132-08:00Pain in Placid - Sheeks Ironman Debut<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7g0o7YuciYOo_gUnaeGT1OSpLWwQ3cHUr4gU6Bgi5y3iTibuf8pXembdKjMQnygo9LvJ-4HxCdUjmNMK_FkgD4hn2vcKS9OYDezMo29p_-zK4KV07v9Go6OdDtPUjW6rF5UWEprLtNo/s1600/Ironman-Lake-Placid.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7g0o7YuciYOo_gUnaeGT1OSpLWwQ3cHUr4gU6Bgi5y3iTibuf8pXembdKjMQnygo9LvJ-4HxCdUjmNMK_FkgD4hn2vcKS9OYDezMo29p_-zK4KV07v9Go6OdDtPUjW6rF5UWEprLtNo/s320/Ironman-Lake-Placid.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509094933413426594" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>Full Version</strong> (short version also available below)<br />
<br />
For some reason I had the crazy idea to do a full Ironman this year, and with Coach Ben egging me on, a free flight available with Alaska Air, and space available in the race schedule, I decided to go for it this summer when the ministry workload was down and plenty of time to train was available. Despite it being my first Ironman AND first full marathon ever, I was optimistic about racing well, and was looking to be somewhere in the 9 hour region.<br />
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Not being able to convince anyone to come out with me to New York from Seattle, I was lacking my usual race support personnel for this round. Surprisingly, I managed to keep all the details organized and somehow showed up to the start-line on time without going insane. Long distance triathlons require a ton of little details!<br />
<br />
<strong>SWIM: 2.4 miles in 1:13</strong></div>
<strong></strong><br />
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The only major hiccup in the race plan was that I assumed (wrongly) that the swim would be wetsuit legal. You may know that age group racers can race in a wetsuit at up to 76 degrees, while professionals have to ditch the wetsuit and go for what is called a “swim-skin” at 72 degrees. Fortunately, the TYR reps at the race expo saved my butt and set me up with a swim-skin the day before the event. A swim-skin is made of a closed-cell membrane that makes one faster in the water than just wearing traditional race clothing, but has no neoprene to provide buoyancy and so is not considered a wetsuit.<br />
<br />
The Pros started out 10 minutes before the age-groupers, and as usual I was dropped by the main field almost immediately. This swim featured a two lap swim of 2km each, and to my surprise the age-groupers were already coming around me by the end of the 1st lap! If you know much about tri racing, you will understand that racing with a wetsuit is much faster than going with-out, and being in the pro field does not in anyway make me a better swimmer than many of the age-groupers.<br />
<br />
Going into the 2nd loop, I was getting “rolled up” by everyone and their Grandma. My race strategy changed to “just don’t drown” as it seemed that I was getting pummeled by every age grouper that came around me, and every time I made contact with someone (or rather they made contact with me) the lack of wetsuit just made me more freaked out and likely to drag my legs to ensure I got another breath, slowing me down considerably. Somehow I made it out of the water, relieved to be alive, but obviously about 20 minutes down on the leaders already.<br />
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<strong>BIKE: 112 Miles in 5:05</strong><br />
<br />
The bike course is a 2-lap course that can essentially be divided into a beginning flat/downhill section, followed by a shorter section of rolling uphill back to the start. Overall it is a very challenging course. I probably came out of the gate too fast, wishing to come around every age grouper that was now in front of me. Every time I executed a pass, it left me hungry for another. Pretty soon I was rolling 26-28 mph on the flats, blowing by most of the riders around me. At about mile 40, I paid the price as we exited the flats and onto the hills back into Wilmington and eventually the Lake Placid area. I tried to go easy/moderate back into town, not allowing the heart rate to go much over 160.<br />
<br />
Coming back into Lake Placid, you feel like you are in a full on time trial in the Tour de France. There are fans everywhere, and barricades are placed on the roads in town to keep them off the course much like in the Tour. Let me tell you, it actually does make your legs feel about a million times better when a crowd is cheering you on then when you are out on some lonesome road, only able to think about how much pain you are in!<br />
<br />
Leaving town and starting the 2nd lap, I realized quickly how strange my stomach felt, and how weak my legs were. Now, keep in mind that fueling for an Ironman, or really any long triathlon, is quite tricky business. If you don’t fuel enough, you can run out of glycogen to fuel the muscles, and hit the dreaded “wall” as it is known. However, almost as disturbing is over-consuming calories, as you get a sort of appetizer effect that makes you feel hungrier, and also you have too much blood going to the stomach to digest the food, rather than to the working muscles. In most races, I am always riding a constant fine line of too much/too few calories. In this case, I was feeling hungry, and didn’t know what it was from. I made the decision to switch to plain water as opposed to sports drink and not consume any energy gels for about 30-40 minutes. Once my stomach cleared out, I felt awesome again, and getting onto the flat section once again, was ready to pound out the rest of the miles.<br />
<br />
Not having quite as much gusto as the first lap still, I pressed on at about 24-26 mph on the flats, but going into the final hilly section, I believe I had the greatest second wind I have ever experienced, and really dominated the hills back into Lake Placid. 5:05 was the 10th fastest ride in the pro field, which is pretty solid for me.<br />
<br />
<strong>RUN: 26.2 miles in 2:52</strong><br />
<br />
The run course at Lake Placid starts out with a nice downhill, and then a very long out and back section along a river. Eventually you have to run back up the long hill you came down, take a short 2 mile out and back through town, and then do it all over again. Going into the run, Coach Ben told me to take the first 3 miles easy, running at about 6:30-6:45 pace. I was trying to float through the first downhill section, which actually meant I was hitting somewhere in the 6:00/mile region. Getting onto the flats, I was running the opposite direction as the leaders, and noticed that the first pro male, Ben Hoffman, had about 7 miles on me! Ouch. He certainly wasn’t coming back! However, I thought there was an outside chance of catching 5th place, which would be a $2000 pay day. I figured I would go for it or die trying.<br />
<br />
I felt amazing running 6:00-6:15 pace on the flats, and must have completed the first half marathon in around 1:20-1:22. However, the next loop crushed me into a fine pulp, and my thoughts of fifth place quickly diminished. I assumed (wrongly) that if I kept taking in calories at the aid-stations that I would not hit the dreaded “wall” at the 20 mile mark.<br />
<br />
At about 20 miles, my vision was starting to get just a bit fuzzy and my concentration declined. I could barely put one leg in front of the other coming up the last hill, and heard reports that my pace during the last 6 miles was somewhere around 8:00/mile. At one aid station, I stopped to grab a bushel of grapes and consumed them while continuing to jog. My stomach just could not handle the sugars in the energy gels and sports drinks any longer, but I still needed calories badly.<br />
<br />
What proceeded my crushing was the greatest plot twist to ever happen to me during racing. Fully expecting to cruise in the last mile at a wobbly 7:30 pace, suddenly, despite my unbelief, I saw another pro competitor a scant 50 meters in front of me, struggling just I was to bring it home. At this point I had to think fast. Do I float about 10 feet behind him, and surprise him as I sprint past in the last 75 meters? Or is that too risky, and should I just get past him as soon as possible and assume I am stronger? Before I was done discussing the strategy with myself, I was on top of him, and he noticed my presence. The crowd went absolutely insane as I first passed him, he surged and passed me back, I surged past him, he counter-attacked and went past me one more time, and then I finally threw down a kick worthy of a 5000 meter track race, finally leaving him behind and securing 8th place! My run, 2:52, barely gave me the fastest run split of the day.<br />
<br />
<strong>Finish Time: 9:17 with transitions</strong></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<div>
<br />
This race was indicative of the entire season. I can run pretty much as fast as anyone in long distance triathlons, and the run will always be my strength. I believe that my run could even be better in an Ironman like this, considering the limited amount of work I do in the run department. The results at Lake Placid were pretty tight, and even running 2.5 minutes faster would have given me 6th place. However, I have some serious work to do in the swim department if I want to make it to the next level, as I am constantly left behind at the beginning of the race, leaving me in a dispirited position even before the bike leg starts. My bike has in the past been a strong point, but this year it has been curiously mediocre this season. I am going to have to figure out what exactly is going on with it if I am going be in contention in these big races. Overall, the race was a great success, and according to coach Ben, my “biggest” result to date!<br />
<br />
I just competed in the Lake Stevens Half Ironman and that race report should be ready in short order. So look for it!<br />
<br />
Matt<br />
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<br />
<br />
<strong>Short Version</strong><br />
<br />
For some reason I had the crazy idea to do a full Ironman this year, and with Coach Ben egging me on, a free flight available with Alaska, and space available in the race schedule, I decided to go for it this summer when the ministry workload was down and plenty of time to train was available. Despite it being my first Ironman AND first full marathon ever, I was optimistic about racing well, and was looking to be somewhere in the 9 hour region.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>SWIM: 2.4 miles in 1:13</strong></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<div>
<br />
The only major hiccup in the race plan was that I assumed (wrongly) that the swim would be wetsuit legal. You may know that age group racers can race in a wetsuit at up to 76 degrees, while professionals have to ditch the wetsuit and go for what is called a “swim-skin” at 72 degrees. Fortunately, the TYR reps at the race expo saved my but and set me up with a swim-skin the day before the event, which is made of a closed-cell membrane that makes one faster in the water than just wearing traditional race clothing, but has no neoprene to provide buoyancy.<br />
<br />
The Pros started out 10 minutes before the age groupers, and as usual I was dropped by the main field almost immediately. This swim featured a two lap swim of 2km each, and to my surprise the age-groupers were already coming around me by the end of the 1st lap! If you know much about tri racing, you will understand that racing with a wetsuit is much faster than going with-out, and being in the pro field does not in anyway make me a better swimmer than many of the age-groupers.<br />
<br />
Going into the 2nd loop, I was getting rolled up by everyone and their Grandma. My race strategy changed to “just don’t drown” as it seemed that I was getting pummeled by every age grouper that came around me, and every time I made contact with someone (or rather they made contact with me) the lack of wetsuit just made me more freaked out and likely to drag my legs to ensure I got another breath, slowing me down even more. Somehow I made it out of the water, relieved to be alive, but obviously about 20 minutes down on the leaders already.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>BIKE: 112 Miles in 5:05</strong><br />
The bike course is a 2-lap course that can essentially be divided into a beginning flat/downhill section, followed by a shorter section of rolling uphill back to the start. Overall it is a very challenging course. I probably came out of the gate too fast, wishing to come around every age grouper that was now in front of me. Every time I executed a pass, it left me hungry for another. Pretty soon I was rolling 26-28 mph on the flats, blowing by most of the riders around me. At about mile 40, I paid the price as we exited the flats and onto the hills back into Wilmington and eventually the Lake Placid area. I tried to go easy/moderate back into town, not allowing the heart rate to go much over 160.<br />
<br />
Not having quite as much gusto as the first lap still, I pressed on at about 24-26 mph on the flats, but going into the final hilly section, I believe I had the greatest second wind I have ever experienced, and really dominated the hills back into Lake Placid. 5:05 was the 10th fastest ride in the pro field, which is pretty solid for me.<br />
<br />
<strong><br />RUN: 26.2 miles in 2:52</strong><br />
<br />
The run course at Lake Placid starts out with a nice downhill, and then a very long out and back section along a river. Eventually you have to run back up the long hill you came down, take a short 2 mile out and back through town and many fans, and then do it all over again. I was trying to float through the first downhill section, which actually meant I was hitting somewhere in the 6:00/mile region. Getting onto the flats, I was running the opposite direction as the leaders, thought there was an outside chance of catching 5th place, which would be a $2000 pay day. I figured I would go for it or die trying.<br />
<br />
I felt amazing running 6:00-6:15 pace on the flats, and must have completed the first half marathon in around 1:20-1:22. However, the next loop crushed me into a fine pulp, and my thoughts of fifth place quickly diminished. I assumed (wrongly) that if I kept taking in calories at the aid-stations that I would not hit the dreaded “wall” at the 20 mile mark.<br />
<br />
At about 20 miles, my vision was starting to get just a bit fuzzy and my concentration declined. I could barely put one leg in front of the other coming up the last hill, and heard reports that my pace during the last 6 miles was somewhere around 8:00/mile. At one aid station, I stopped to grab a bushel of grapes and consumed them while continuing to jog. My stomach just could not handle the sugars in the energy gels and sports drinks any longer, but I still needed calories badly.<br />
<br />
What proceeded my crushing was the greatest plot twist to ever happen to me during racing. Fully expecting to cruise in the last mile at a wobbly 7:00 pace, suddenly, despite my unbelief, I saw another pro competitor a scant 50 meters in front of me, struggling just I was to bring it home. At this point I had to think fast. Do I float about 10 feet beind him, and surprise him as I sprint past in the last 50 meters? Or is that too risky, and should I just get past him as soon as possible? Before I was done discussing the strategy with myself, I was on top of him, and he noticed my presence. The crowd went absolutely insane as we I first passed him, he surged and passed me back, I surged past him, he counter-attacked and went past me one more time, and then I finally threw down a kick worthy of a 5000 meter track race, finally leaving him behind and securing 8th place! My run, 2:52, barely gave me the fastest run split of the day.<br />
<br />
<strong>Finish Time: 9:17 with transitions</strong></div>
<br />
<div>
<strong></strong><br />
Overall, the race was a great success, and according to coach Ben, my “biggest” result to date!<br />
<br />
I just competed in the Lake Stevens Half Ironman and that race report should be ready in short order. So look for it!<br />
<br />
Matt </div>
Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140251605228670133.post-62826863152183214612010-05-10T14:26:00.000-07:002014-01-16T22:19:00.176-08:00Sweet Home Alabama<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMQCmqs_-OSd6WvSLQlLO_rhimfgyJ_-C8I1IgfbN371JY_ndos0_J9Zvhds0qt9HI6d4-RpuDVH_3nDEFJnkuVgoaRZDJOeTR22qk8z6z2g2OHFyD4maPvs2MsLWhZiK-DqbqkdUKm8/s1600/23661_378798041036_49958286036_3554474_7439132_n.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMQCmqs_-OSd6WvSLQlLO_rhimfgyJ_-C8I1IgfbN371JY_ndos0_J9Zvhds0qt9HI6d4-RpuDVH_3nDEFJnkuVgoaRZDJOeTR22qk8z6z2g2OHFyD4maPvs2MsLWhZiK-DqbqkdUKm8/s320/23661_378798041036_49958286036_3554474_7439132_n.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469757055472284050" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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<strong>Sheeks "takes the Dub" at Elite Duathlon Nationals</strong></div>
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Why anyone would want to leave Birmingham, I cannot imagine. What they say about Southern Hospitality is true, and it even spilled over to my little world of multisport racing a few weekends ago for the Powerman Duathlon in Birmingham, Alabama. </div>
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The Powerman Duathlon is a long-standing event in Birmingham, and this year it served as the professional duathlon national championship, as well as the qualifier for the Duathlon World Championships in Edinburgh in September. Coming off my third place finish at the Desert Classic Duathlon in Phoenix about a month ago, I was a bit worried about my odds coming into Powerman. The top 4 from the race would advance to the World Championships, and I really wanted to go. Surely, the competition would be stiffer at this race with so much at stake (a national championship, a world championship qualifier, and better prize money). </div>
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The kindness of the southerners even threw me off a little bit. Not being any stranger to grace*, I wondered how much I should take advantage of their hospitality. The first thing I noticed is that people always have time to talk to you in the South. It was so surprising to have waiters and waitresses just sit around and actually have a real conversation with you. The second thing I noticed is that southerners are always willing to help you. Angela, the mom of my host family (and herself a triathlete) was always offering to make my stay as “easy-peasy” as possible, which most of the time meant procuring large amounts of food or drink for my high calorie diet. The third thing I noticed is that Southerners don’t mind waiting. While out on the bike, I noticed how polite the drivers were, always waiting until it was absolutely safe before attempting a pass. I felt like I was holding people up so much, sometimes I would purposely swing off to the side of the road and waive drivers on to pass me! You will never see a cyclist/driver interchange like that in Seattle! Birmingham puts bike friendliness on a whole new plane.<br />
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So, if you bothered to read this far, you probably want to hear something about the race. Here it is, finally!:<br />
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The race consisted of a 10k run, 60k bike, and another 10k run. There were many American professionals, as well as a few from out of the country. Jurie VanSteelant of Belgium was the biggest name, as he has been Pro World Champion in Duathlon, and is pretty well-known for cleaning up in the Powerman race series in Europe.<br />
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Run 1: The race started out fast and, as expected, I started out dead last out of the 15 male pros. I worked my way through the field on a difficult, hill-laden run course. Derek Yorek and Josh Merrick took the pace out hot, while Jurie was content to follow. At about the 5k mark, I caught Merrick and Van Steelant, and decided I would settle in at their clip. We finished the first run in 31:50 (blistering considering the nature of the course), with Yorek about 15-20 seconds ahead of us.<br />
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Bike: I was excited to see how my new Ceepo Venom would perform, as well as nervous that I had not spent enough time on the new rig, having only built it up about one week prior. Van Steelant had about ten seconds on me by the time I was 200 meters down the road, and I was shocked at how fast both he and Merrick got out of the gate. I took a sharp right hander, and had my eyes set on Merrick, and was nearly run over by a minivan that was traveling in the wrong lane! Yikes, southern drivers are nice, but they sometimes get a bit flustered with what to do with bicyclists traveling at 30 mph on random back roads.<br />
I was “out to dry” in second place for the remainder of the bike portion, knowing their was no chance I could catch Van Steelant, and just hoping to maintain my gap. Going into the last lap of three, I ran out of calories (usually taken in a liquid gel format called “Gu”) and knew that the rest of the ride would be me trying to survive. Going up each hill on the course I was about 2 mph slower over the crest, and knew this was a sign that I was beginning to die.<br />
Coming into the transition area, I noticed last year’s winner, David Thompson, was closing the gap on me. I slipped my feet out of my riding shoes, only to cramp up in both hamstrings going into transition! Ouch! Finally pedaling out the cramps, I tried my usual cyclocross dismount, but having been somewhat disoriented because of the cramping situation, I managed to lose my balance and fell off the bike, leaving a nice chunk of my right knee in Alabama!<br />
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Run 2: Being nearly completely out of glycogen in the body, I wasn’t sure if I was even going to make it through the run without hitting the dreaded “bonks” as they call it in cycling or “hitting the wall” as they call it in the marathon. I think in Duathlon they should call it “bonking the wall” but I don’t think it will catch on. Anyhow, I yelled out “Give me the sugar” or some other desperate exclamation at each aid station for sports drink and energy gel to keep me going. Surprisingly, I managed to drop Thompson early on in the run, and was just hoping to maintain my advantage on him and not have to stop and walk any of the hills. Thinking about catching Van Steelant was very unlikely as he put 2.5 minutes on me during the bike. Hitting the turnaround, I could tell no one was going to catch me unless I really blew-up. I survived the last 3 miles, finishing the last 10k around 36:00, over 4 minutes slower than the first run! I don’t think I have ever been so happy to see a finish line in my life, finishing an exhausted but encouraged 2nd place overall, and winning the national championship! Woot Woot!<br />
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This race actually got a little press, so to see other articles on the race, here are links:<br />
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<a href="http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-sports/2010/03/top-ranked_duathlete_wins_nati.html">http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-sports/2010/03/top-ranked_duathlete_wins_nati.html</a> (this is the best article and even has video of me falling in the transition area).<br />
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<a href="http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/2010/03/28/asplund-sheeks-grab-usat-elite-duathlon-national-titles/34926">http://www.usatriathlon.org/news/2010/03/28/asplund-sheeks-grab-usat-elite-duathlon-national-titles/34926</a><br />
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<a href="http://triathlon.competitor.com/2010/03/news/asplund-sheeks-grab-usat-elite-duathlon-national-titles_8031">http://triathlon.competitor.com/2010/03/news/asplund-sheeks-grab-usat-elite-duathlon-national-titles_8031</a><br />
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*Grace is a fundamental principle of Christianity which would make me a thankful recipient of God’s grace. It implies that one is given something without respect to their having earned it. The chief example is God himself taking on humanity in the form of Jesus to take the punishment for humanity’s sins, which if left unreconciled, would have left man in a position of separation from God forever. However, since God did complete this act, man is left in a position of trying to earn their way to God by trying to be as good as him (which is impossible, and frustrating), or by simply letting go of all their pride and thankfully taking the undeserved gift of eternal life, reconciling the individual to God forever. In the spiritual realm, this is done by trusting what someone (Jesus) has already done. The concept of grace can be extended to various practical areas of life and the more one thinks about it, the more he realizes how indispensable a concept it is. At any rate, trying to outdo a southerner’s grace is similar to trying to outdo the grace of God. </div>
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Matt Sheekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07099331303312261409noreply@blogger.com1