Remember that new beau I told you about a few months ago? We were flying high in the clouds and loving every second of our time together. It was pure bliss, a true honeymoon phase.
So, where are we now? Here’s an update on my life as I continue to date Ironman.
A patient said something the other day at work that really struck a chord with me. She was asking me about my training and my history with triathlons. She was very curious to learn what initially sparked my interest in the sport and how I got to where I am now, just four months out from completing my first Ironman. After chatting for a bit, she mentioned that she’d love to do “something like that” one day. Then, she immediately followed that thought with:
“but I’m not a runner. I can barely run one mile, it’s just not my sport.”
An artist must be careful to never think he has arrived somewhere, he must always be in a constant state of becoming. – Bob Dylan
“What the hell am I doing?”
The question crept into my head just after 7am on the 4th of July.
You’d think that kind of self-interrogation and criticism would arise only after a late night of debauchery or a missed workout.
After all, I should’ve been peeling my hungover self off a couch (or stranger’s floor) and bee-lining it to the nearest breakfast burrito and cup of coffee.
Or at the very least, just sleeping in, lightening up and relaxing on a bonus rest day afforded by the holiday.
In past years, yeah – definitely. But nope, not this year.
For the past 20 weeks I’ve been living my life dedicated to and in full acceptance of the following: If you’re going to train for an Ironman, you have to be strict with all aspects of your life. Be prepared to trade in your social life for new friends on the bike path, your evening beer or whiskey for a protein shake and lots of water and your late nights of trash T.V. for training books and sleep. Becoming an Ironman takes sacrifice. It takes dedication. And, it takes flexibility, understanding and a few scoops of ice cream on top.
