It is official: I will be racing my first FULL Ironman on October 1st, 2016 in Maryland. I signed up this week after hearing rumors that it was close to selling out (which still hasn't been confirmed, but it's better to sign up than to regret missing it later.) I have been part of the Ironman Maryland Facebook group since the summer. I joined the group as I tried to decide which race to do. Each race has it's perks and pitfalls. The only thing that worries me some about this race is the jellyfish in the Choptank River. But, I figure that since I will be at the back of the pack for the swim, everyone else should take the stings! I'm excited that the bike course is flat, since living in Greenville lends itself well to training for a flat course.
When I registered this past week, I did not feel the anxiety that most people probably do when they sign up for a 140.6 mile event. I know the training will be hard, I will probably cry at times, and there will be times that I will want to change my mind about the whole thing.
When I registered this past week, I did not feel the anxiety that most people probably do when they sign up for a 140.6 mile event. I know the training will be hard, I will probably cry at times, and there will be times that I will want to change my mind about the whole thing.
But that's the thing about Ironman: It wasn't meant to be easy. In fact, I think it is mean't to break you, but it wont break me. Even this early in the game, I have people questioning me if I am ready for the commitment. I just look at them and say, "I wouldn't have spent $746.00 on a race that I wasn't sure I could do." This is the point where their jaw drops at that figure. Yes, Ironman is expensive. Yes, it is a crazy idea. Yes, I will do it.
As I sat at my computer and got ready to hit "REGISTER" I stopped for a moment. I closed my eyes and thought of the promise I made to Justus on September 11th, 2015. As I cried tears into his fur in his last moments, I told him that I would "do the damn thing" and do an Ironman in 2016. I told him I would make him proud. I told him I knew he would be behind me every step of the way. So before I hit the button to make it official, I grabbed a picture of Justus, kissed his little face, turned his photo toward the computer, took a deep breath and clicked the button. I set the picture down and leaned back. I felt at peace with my decision. Even a few days later I am thinking, "Why do I have to wait until October!?!?" Ironman is about the journey, not just the destination. My training plan starts six months out from race day. I will complete a training plan to get myself ready for the volume that will begin at the beginning of April. I am determined to make 2016 a completely different year from 2015.
As I sat at my computer and got ready to hit "REGISTER" I stopped for a moment. I closed my eyes and thought of the promise I made to Justus on September 11th, 2015. As I cried tears into his fur in his last moments, I told him that I would "do the damn thing" and do an Ironman in 2016. I told him I would make him proud. I told him I knew he would be behind me every step of the way. So before I hit the button to make it official, I grabbed a picture of Justus, kissed his little face, turned his photo toward the computer, took a deep breath and clicked the button. I set the picture down and leaned back. I felt at peace with my decision. Even a few days later I am thinking, "Why do I have to wait until October!?!?" Ironman is about the journey, not just the destination. My training plan starts six months out from race day. I will complete a training plan to get myself ready for the volume that will begin at the beginning of April. I am determined to make 2016 a completely different year from 2015.
In the meantime, I will try to take the next few weeks to enjoy time with friends, stay up late, and enjoy life before settling into the long road ahead of Ironman training. Am I ready? Damn right, I am!
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