I WANT to...but I just don't

I want to love the bike trainer and the treadmill, but I don't.  There are so many reasons to love these two pieces of equipment.  For one thing you can watch tv while on them!  Who doesn't love that?  I have a ton of Ironman races on my DVR that I can turn on while I work out on my trainer.  You can use either piece of equipment anytime!  I can't exactly go out for a run or a bike ride at 5 AM, but I can hop on the treadmill or trainer!  This is also the time of year when it begins getting dark early.  By the time I get home from work and get ready for my workout, I'm confined to the indoors.  Boooo!!  Last year the treadmill really helped me when I was training for a half marathon.  We had several days of icy conditions, which meant no running outside.  There was the trusty ol' treadmill waiting for me at the gym.  Mother nature couldn't help me, but that big hunk of a machine sure could. It seemed so happy that I was running on it.  I was able to get my workouts in, including a 7 mile run, and stay on track with my training.  This summer I did some of my running on the treadmill because it was so freakin' HOT outside.  I also did some of my bike workouts on the trainer for this same reason.  It was kind of nice not having to load up a bunch of equipment into the car, but still not as fun being outside and actually moving forward.

This morning I did a 30 minute run with pick-ups on the treadmill, and this evening I have 45 minutes on the bike trainer.  I really wish I didn't dislike these pieces of equipment so much, but I can't help it. In fact, part of the reason I'm writing this entry is so that I can put off the trainer workout a little longer. Perhaps over the winter training I will learn to NOT hate them so much.  For one thing, I've stopped calling the treadmill the "dreadmill."

The bottom line is that it's time for me to suck it and do what I need if I want to be an Ironman!

"Some days the training was harder than the race was today." Desiree Ficker

And So It Begins

In the summer of 2010 my friend Jim signed up for Ironman Texas.  I remember how excited I was for him, and I also remember thinking that he was absolutely nuts.  Despite  how insane this 140.6 mile race sounded, I was intrigued and wanted to know more.  I began asking questions and found myself watching hours of Ironman video.  I couldn't help myself...it was addicting and inspiring.  I like to watch Ironman races while on my bike trainer, and sometimes as I eat ice cream or Nutella. This, my friends, is how I got bit by the triathlon bug. 

Crossing the finish line in Austin was, by far, the highlight of my first triathlon season. Througout the race, I told myself I would NEVER sign up for the full 140.6 miles. But after a few days and some sleep, I knew I had unfinished business with Ironman. I toyed around with the idea of IM Florida, but when it was time to sign up, I knew it wasn't my race.  My heart was set on Ironman Arizona 2012.

Today it became official. On November 18, 2012 I will be in Tempe, AZ competing in my first full Ironman.  The race sold out online in 10 minutes! My shakey fingers were able able to manuver through fast enough to get me in.  Several of my friends were able to get in as well, including Roger.  Roger and I did our first triathlon together in May, as well as our first half Ironman just weeks ago.  It only seems right that we take on our first Ironman together. Earlier this year we could barely swim the length of the pool.  I'd say we've made some progress.  What started out as a dream, is now a goal. Over the next year I will prepare mentally and physically to take on the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and a marathon.  I have never done any of these distances.  My longest open water swim has been 1.2 miles, my longest bike ride was 102 miles (over a year ago), and I've never run more than 13.1 miles.

I'm not sure that it's actually sunk in that I'm going to do an Ironman.  Many would say I need my head examined, and they're probably right.  Some people do Ironman to prove something to the world.  I'm doing it to prove something to myself (I just wish I knew exactly what I'm trying to prove). Ironman has been calling my name for a while, and now it's time to answer. Who know, perhaps in the process someone else will be inspired to turn their dream into a goal.  Maybe someone will see that the seemingly impossible IS possible. 

There is no way I could complete an Ironman today, but with hard work and dedication I know I'll get there...hopefully in 364 days. To say I have a lot of work ahead of me is an understatement!   Thankfully I have a community of triathletes for support and an amazing coach to guide me. It will be a year of sacrifices, but I'm ready!

"A dream is just a dream.  A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.  And that goal will remain a dream unless you plan and execute a plan of action to accomplish it.  Every goal that gets accomplished has a good plan behind it."  - Harvey Mackay