Do Not Go Gentle

Do not go gentle into that good night
by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

***

I thought I should start out with something literary. This isn't the first day of my blog - this is still dress rehearsal.

I hope with this blog to develop a dialogue with other athletes in their fifties and sixties and seventies. The specific goal that I am working toward is to compete in the USAT National Age Group championship in 2011 when I am 60. I want to finish in the top 10. That will take a time of 2:30 or better and my best time so far is 2:52 so I'll need to get a lot better. At everything.

I've qualifed for the championship this year with 5th place finishes at Keuka (5th out of 6) and Evergreen Lake (5th out of 16). I finished that race with two pulled hamstrings so I wasn't planning to compete at the championship (Tuscaloosa August 21) but now I'm feeling better, so I think will try to race there. It will be a good starting point for this journey.

I've looked at the times from last year and I could easily finish last, but I figure that's a good place to start. There are some awesome athletes in that competition. Last isn't that bad.

WORKOUT - swam 1800 yards at Gillson beach - Lake Michigan. Time: 42:02. Water was great, haven't used a wetsuit all summer. I love the feel of the water. I'm an average swimmer, but open water early morning swimming (5:30 am) is my favorite workout.I just need to get faster and that will be part of my workout master plan: More swim lessons. Harder workouts in the McGAW YMCA pool. I hate the pool.

WEIGHT - I want to track this and some other "metrics" but I haven't figured out the best way to do that, yet. I think if I post it daily, maybe it will make me more disciplined. To be truly competitive I need to get my weight down to 180. Which might require giving up my daily wine and cheese course. That's going to be tough. Don't need to start that today.

Morning weight: 190