Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The Many Faces on an Ironman

Ironman is a tremendous personal achievement and as far as I'm concerned it is something to be sought after not because it garners one serious "bragging rights", in my mind that is the least of it. Ironman should be pursued because of the myriad other benefits associated with it, health, friendships and personal growth on many levels.

However, I am more than an "Ironman", I am a friend, father, husband and son among other things and it is those very important personal considerations that may sometimes go out the window when we, I, strive so single mindedly after a cherished goal.
I had many people deeply worried while I ran IMAZ, which is great so far as discovering you are so well appreciated goes but not so great with respect to the emotional health of those that are close to you. I try to imagine the GEEKGRL going through what I went through at IMAZ and it makes me sick. I just want her to be able to get out there and have a good time. Sure, a long hard day is always involved but I do not believe that Ironman has to be a struggle so long as you train and race wisely.

No matter how fast you are 140.6 takes a long time and as the saying goes, "there is many a slip betwixt cup and lip" but we, I, do not have to do things to increase the likelihood of those slips.

So…I offer a public apology for my stubbornness and failure to take better care of myself during the race. I really can back off and it does not diminish my enjoyment in the least.

However, as far as I can see triathlon in general and Ironman in particular, is a permanent part of my life; there is nothing else like it and there are no people like you people.

Here is a link that I believe proves my point.

5 comments:

  1. Great article (link) and great post! We are glad you're okay and still in this for the long haul!

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  2. Thought you might want to see that the course is up! Hurrah!

    http://www.ironman.com/louisville

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  3. great post and link to article.

    Thanks for comment on Cap Tex Tri!
    Im excited, nervous too as it is my first oly distance and im using my old roadie bike still.

    rockon`

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  4. Next time I'll be there to make sure you/we get to bed on time, help make sure that you/we have all our supplies that that you/we have the right nutrition and hydration. XOXO

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  5. I think what people don't realize until they finish is that they won't change who they are when they cross the line. The grit, the passion the determination to get there can still be applied to other aspects of life.

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