Let me first say, I am thoroughly enjoying this training. Yes, there are days where I'm tired, hungry, sore and just downright cranky (it's a proven scientific fact that low blood sugar levels will cause this, look at Jay Cutler). But I love the challenge, the day to day variation, the repetition, the small but perceivable changes in both myself and my performance, and the friendships that are developing as we spend hours together on lonely open country roads. Training 6-7 days per week, in the neighborhood of 13-15 hours per week (for now) may seem like a lot, but with organization and dedication, it's not so bad......yet! ;)
A lot of friends and family often say, "It will be better in a few months", "Things will be back to normal after the race", "You'll have your life back in August". How do I explain this? THIS IS MY LIFE. And it's great right now and I don't want to go back, entirely. I can't explain to you the feeling when you literally feel like a fish in the water, gliding effortlessly across the pool as if you had gills instead of lungs. I can't explain the freedom and exhilaration of the wind on your face riding in aero on a flat country road. I can't explain to you the feeling you have during an amazing run, when hills seem like flats and downhills feel like your flying. Almost everyday and almost every workout is something new, a new time, distance, pace, course. You do something everyday that you've never done before. Some of those things are small, others are big accomplishments that just a few months ago you would have sworn were physically impossible. So when you say, "things will get better" I'm not sure we mean the same thing.
Yes, sometimes this training sucks. Getting up before dawn to jump in a cold pool, being hungry all day despite downing 3000 plus calories, being sore & tight and just mentally exhausted are not really anyone's definition of fun. I get tired and want to take a nap instead of going out, but I feel accomplished and successful and full of life (and hopefully good food). Sure there are times when I'd rather be doing something else than heading out for a 12 mile run or 60 mile ride in the cold, but I ENJOY this. I get cranky, just ask my husband why he watches the time to make sure I've eaten recently. But at the end of the day or week, I've done at least one new thing and completed one new accomplishment. It may have only been swimming a single 100 faster than last week, or adding one more mile to the run, or getting my Stinger waffle out of the package without dropping it on the road, but it's an accomplishment of some sort. How many of us can say we do this on a consistent basis?
I will admit, there are days when I think for a split second that you're right. I want my life back, I want to sleep in until 10 on the weekend, I want to make it through a Wednesday without feeling like a 10 am nap is necessary and totally reasonable. But then that thought is gone. Sure, it will be nice when training is not the #1 priority in my life, when I can go for a swim/ride/run, or not, and not feel guilty. But I want you to understand, this is what I love, this is what motivates me to get up and get everything done in my life.
Training for this race is more than simply "training for this race". It's learning skills that translate into every aspect of life. Organization, prioritization, determination, education, competition, the list could go on and on. It's also about the friendships that are formed in the water, or on the roads. Mid Maryland Tri Club (MMTC) and our RipIt Coaching athletes & coaches are incredible. We build friendships as we log the miles and when you're having one of "those days", there's always someone who will give you that little nudge to get you moving again. These people have turned into more than my "tri friends" they truly are family. They see you at your best and your worst. They're there with you at 4:30 am before a race start and aren't afraid to make sure you've had your PBR that morning. (No that is not PBR as in beer.) They're there at the toughest mile when you want to quit with words of encouragement or even a verbal kick in the a$$, they're at the finish when your one of your biggest goals are achieved to catch you as you nearly collapse from the emotion. Watch any video of IMLP and you will see MMTC red and yellow ALL over the course. I chose Lake Placid because while my family will be there, we are a small crew and with all the MMTC support as well, I know I can do this. And this is why whenever someone says to me, "Wow an Ironman, I could never do that!", I look right into their eyes and say, "Yes you can" because with a support system like this anything is possible.
So the next time you see me and I seem cranky or tired, instead of telling me life will be back to normal soon, offer me a snack or a cookie instead! Kidding, but never about cookies! I don't expect everyone to understand, but to simply understand that this is not a chore or some awful process to get to some crazy, nearly impossible race or finish line. It's a choice and a privilege and a really f'ing awesome experience. And this is my life.
~e
P.S. In case you want a glimpse of IMLP & several of our awesome athletes, check out this video.
