Memorial Day weekend is a busy time in Bellingham, Washington. The big event is a team relay race. Teams of three to eight teammates who compete in various sports over a 90-mile course vary in size. The individual legs of the race are: cross country ski, downhill ski/snowboard, running, road bike, canoe, cyclocross bike, and sea kayak. Racers are issued race timing chips on wristbands, which are passed from teammate to teammate when changing from one sport to another. The chips are read at stations that mark the beginning of each leg and at the finish line. Mandatory safety meetings for each sport explain the course's specifics and any known hazards, and equipment inspections are included.

When I first learned about the race, I thought I might compete if I could find a set of teammates who weren’t too bent on winning. A group of seniors would probably be best. I enjoy canoeing and thought that might be where I would participate. I looked at the river, and it is pretty much flat water. I would judge the entire canoe course to be class 1, the easiest to paddle.

Further investigation, however, revealed that I am not up to the race. The canoe portion is run exclusively in tandem canoes, and most teams use high-tech and very expensive, lightweight Kevlar canoes. Expensive equipment is standard for all the legs of the race. The two bicycle portions, for example, require two specialized racing bikes. There are a lot of $5,000 bikes in the race. Multiply that by two, and you have a substantial investment.

Of course, the equipment used for the race can be used for many races, and many competitors enter multiple races each year over a long time to maximize their investment.

Ski to Sea has been held for more than 50 years. Event organizers have lined up a long list of sponsors and recruited a large team of volunteers.

A couple of years ago, we forgot about the race and headed to the neighborhood where the finish line is located, planning to go out to lunch and take a walk. There was no parking to be found. I’m sure that had we remained in that neighborhood, there would have been no seating in restaurants. On the other hand, most of the food trucks in town were congregated near the shore, so obtaining food wouldn’t have been a problem if we’d been willing to wait in line.

I’ve never been much at competitive sports, but I enjoy many of the activities of the race. I don’t ski much these days, but I was an avid cross-country and downhill skier when I was younger. I own two bicycles and enjoy riding on streets and trails. I have made canoes and kayaks and enjoy paddling. But I’m not a racer. I enjoy those activities at my own pace, and my pace is slowing as I grow older.

These days, I enjoy doing things at a slow pace. When I am in the shop, I often work slowly, carefully selecting my tools, taking time to ensure I have the right tools and that cutting tools are properly sharpened. If I don’t have the right part, I stop and get what I need. I know that others can accomplish the same job more quickly. I used to do jobs at a more rapid pace. I’m less driven to complete tasks as I grow older. I enjoy working and don’t have as many tasks lined up.

On the other hand, I am often frustrated by how little I accomplish in a day. I usually think that I will get more done than I do. That has always been part of my life. I have frequently commented that part of being a pastor is learning to go home without completing tasks. I always had more things I wanted to do. There were always more calls and visits I could have made, more books I could have read, more meetings I could have attended. Now that I am retired, I have finally learned to slow down. I commit to fewer obligations. I choose my projects more carefully. Still, I have stacks of books I intend to read. I have lists of tasks I hope to accomplish. I have chores that don’t get completed nearly every day.

Yesterday, I failed to notice that there was an object on a shelf that the garage door would hit when raised. When the door hit the object, the opener reversed as it should, but in the process, a cable disconnected from a pulley. I don’t have the tools or expertise to repair the garage door, so I called a repair company that assured me they could have a technician at my home within about four hours. Since the big door was temporarily unusable, I decided to take my bike through the house to get it outside. It was a challenge, but I managed to maneuver it. I finally got on my bike about an hour later than I intended. Within a block, my glasses were spotted with rain, and I decided to head back home and ride when the weather was better. Without access to the garage, I had to put my bike in the backyard and remove a small toolkit I keep on the bike so it wouldn’t get wet. I brought my helmet, gloves, tools, and other things into the house. Then I decided to make myself a cup of tea. By the time I sat down at my desk, it was an hour later than usual, and I hadn’t even gotten in my daily bike ride. I had managed to consume over two hours and accomplished nothing.

I watched as the technician repaired the garage door, thinking that I know many people who would have simply repaired the door themselves. I could have figured out how to do it.

By dinner time, I had managed to get the garage door repaired and attend a one-hour meeting. Before I retired, I would have been frustrated with how little I had accomplished. But I am retired now, so I added some things to my “to-do” list and called it a day. I won’t be winning any races at this pace. I’d probably procrastinate and miss the entry deadline.