Bringing in Bob

meet bob.  he's 70.  he had brain surgery earlier this year. 

and he just completed a 70.3 half-ironman (or half-rev, as we like to refer to it). 

how many of us can say we will be doing THAT at his age?

the awesome guys that surround him are from multisport ministries.  i like to think of them as angels.  their job is to come along side of the last person on the race course and encourage, support, and coach them to the finish line.  today that guy was bob.  and his angel today was j.d.  (the guy in the middle, standing directly behind bob).

my words will not do justice to the events that happened today, but God's can.  

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  -isaiah 55:9

we thought j.d. was going to do the swim and bike portion of the race that day, and then come out on the last part of the run.  he had major surgery on both of his legs less than 5 months ago.  completing a half-marathon was not part of his rehab plan.  but God's ways are not our ways.

j.d. began his "angel work" in the water.  bob was floundering, and j.d. is a fish.  who better for God to have chosen to help him?  our rev3 staff was astonished back on the beach watching the two of them in the lake.  they kept saying, "i just don't know how he can tread water for that long!"  

with j.d.'s help, bob completed the swim.  as only God could have planned, the bike was bob's strength.  he did not need his angel.  instead, his angel had mechanical issues and had to return to transition.  just God's way of saying, "Rest your legs.  I know what is in store for you."  bob rocked the bike.  he rode 56 miles and finished entirely on his OWN!  what an amazing accomplishment!

but his legs were tired and his lower back was in pain.  he needed his angel again.  so him and j.d. hit the run course together.  run.walk.stretch.run.walk.stretch.  hours passed.  the run course closed.  the roads reopened.  bob was over the race time-cut off.  but he pressed onwards to the finish line.  his wife and angel by his side the whole way. 

this is a picture of him on the road to the finish line.  it is breath-taking.  look at mount hood in the background.  literally, hours were spent running, walking, and staring directly into this majestic mountain.  i will never forget it.  ever.

below is a video of j.d. "bringing in bob" to the finish line.  it is a day i know he will remember for the rest of his life.  bob, you are my hero.  i hope we made you feel loved.  you are amazing and an inspiration to us all. 

j.d., isaiah 55:12 sums up your day.  "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst in song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."  as you ran with bob into the mountain, God was watching.  and He was giving you a standing ovation.

 watch and enjoy:)

Bringing in Bob at Rev3 Portland from REVOLUTION3 Triathlon on Vimeo.