Less than 2 Weeks Until I Face my Fears - Ironman

This isn't a race report, because I haven't yet done a full Ironman;  I'm comfortable with the 70.3 distance but the thought of doubling that has been tough to get my mind around. This year has been full of emotional ups and downs, mostly, I think, because of the training and time commitment required to compete in a full Ironman distance event. This instead is a report on the journey to get to the Ironman, because no matter what, unless I am pulled off the course by the paramedics, I will finish this race and be able to say I'm an Ironman.

What I've learnt so far from the training this year is that the big part of being an Ironman isn't just finishing the race, it's managing the training and your life leading up to the big event.  I grew up watching the Ironman World Championships every year on TV.  It was inspiring.  I thought I would like to do that some day.  Of course, other things happen, like kids and work,  and those fleeting thoughts of greatness are pushed aside, and then it becomes, " there is no way I will ever do that event, that's crazy!"

I can ride a bike now.  

When I started the journey last fall towards doing Ironman Mont Tremblant, I still said to myself, this is crazy.  I'll have finished my 2nd full year of triathlon this coming September and I'm tackling an Ironman.  Two years ago I was falling off my bike at every stop sign, who am I kidding, two weeks ago I fell off my bike at a stop light. Two years ago the longest run I had done was 12km.  The last three weeks I've run farther than I ever have and rode my bike longer and further than I ever thought was possible for me.  I've come a long way in these last 2 years.

This season started out really amazing.  I ran my fastest Half-Marathon at 1:24, I swam some decent 1500m races, and rocked The Around The Bay 30Km Road Race at 2:03 finishing top 10 for women. I was super excited to get into the triathlon season.  But then my back and hamstring started giving me grief.   If you know me, you will know that I will not miss a practice or cut out early unless there is a really good reason or I'm really really hurt.  One morning I stood on the treadmill, after forcing myself to literally roll off my bed and stand up straight,  pressed the green GO button, started to cry, looked at my coach and said,  "I CAN'T DO THIS."

Winning Overall Female Subaru Niagara Triathlon

My body has been adapting to the increase in volume, the changes in training, and really just the  change in my body make up altogether.  I was struggling to hold the speeds that I should have been able to, I was struggling to complete the long runs, I was actually afraid to start running because I knew the pain that was going to accompany the activity.  I  was only making it through by sheer will power and the support of my teammates. 

If you have read some of my previous blogs you will see a theme.  I feel that having a good coach and finding someone or many someones to train with and around is key to staying the course and

Team Tri-Hart at Subaru Niagara Triathlon

keeping motivation high.  My teammates at  Tri-Hart Triathlon inspire me everyday.  We motivate each other to keep going.  We are not all training for an Ironman.  There are athletes training for Try-a-Tris, Sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman Distance as well.  We find a way to work together to better ourselves and reach our personal goals.   Without this group I know for certain I would not be getting ready to do 226.3 kilometres in just Two weeks.  Nor would I have made it through the pain that plagued me for so long this season.

Me and my two youngest girls.
I turned 42 Last week.

Through regular treatments the pain has been manageable.  I've done well at all my events this season, from Ironman 70.3 Eagleman, to the local Sprint events at Milton and Niagara.  These events have brought in the fun and reassured me that despite the injury and slowing down on the training my fitness it still there and I am improving.  I wasn't sure I would make it.  Watching my teammates work their way towards their goals, struggling with life events and still managing to come to practice has inspired me to do the same.  My family has been supportive and we have found a schedule that works.  Sometimes there are setbacks along the way to reaching a goal; It is possible to work your way through or around the setback and persevere.  It makes getting to the end result all the sweeter.

For those of you reading my blog that are sitting on the fence as to whether or not to get out there to do a race of some kind, a 5k, a marathon, a mud race, a triathlon, stop wondering and start doing.  Start by choosing a race, sit down with your family and share your goal and your why, and ask for their help in reaching that goal.  Not sure where to pick a race or how to find one?  There are a few sites you can visit. Both Subaru and Multisport are a great hub for triathlon races.  Eventbrite  will have a variety of events from adventure racing to beer runs, relays,  to the Scotia Marathon.  Eventbrite also lets you create an event of your own, sell tickets, and get the word out, it's an amazing opportunity to create something to support your favourite local charity.  

Regardless of what happens in two weeks at the Ironman Mont Tremblant.  The journey has shown me that I can make it through the tired days, survive the long training, and still go to work and be a good mom. Don't put off something because of some excuse.  Face your fears, that's what I'm doing with this Ironman.  I'll let you know how it goes after I cross the finish line.  Hopefully it's as the first place finisher in my age category, but if it's not, and I struggle through the run, I know I will still have finished a gruelling race and enjoyed the ups and downs of an amazing journey along the way.

Better late than Never

Entering the finishing shoot Ironman 70.3 Eagleman 2016

Busy seems to be the theme of my life, as it is for many others.  "I at least got in 30 min of that 60 min run today", is not unusual to hear from me.  Since I've returned home from Ironman 70.3 Eagleman two and one half weeks ago it's been non-stop.  Business meetings, presentations, kids activities and school year end, it's just now that I am sitting down to write my race report on Eagleman. Better late than never, right.   I had written down each section of the race and what happened with in it, then changed my mind.  Instead here are my Top 10 experiences from the event.  

Eagleman Top 10 List

Cody Beals

10. The highlight of the awards ceremony was Canadian Pro Triathlete, Cody Beals.  He won the event overall.  He was asked to say a few words about his race.  He didn't speak about "his" race; he was humble and articulate. He spoke about the race itself. The people watching, the volunteers, the organisers.  He had a way of commanding the stage and endearing the crowd to him.  I'm proud to say Cody is representing Canada.  He is a great ambassador for triathlon in this country.

9. While racking my bike in the Silver All World Athlete area (which is really cool) I met two amazing ladies from the Betty Designs Team.  Both were incredibly talented triathletes and both were kind, supportive and encouraging women.  After the race they both came over and congratulated me. I'm hoping to see them both again at another race this year.  What I'm learning is the triathlete community is an amazing and positive group to be
part of.

8.  The Volunteers! It's 4:45 am.  Most people are still asleep.  The volunteers at the Ironman event were lined up at the entrance of transisiton cheering for every athlete coming in to prep their bikes for the event.  They set the tone for the day.  They helped all of us to make it through the sweltering heat of this race and remain upright and positive.  Thank you.

Finish line

7. Coming across the finish line thinking that I'd come in 2nd place for my age group and learning that I actually won!  Then finding out that I did a best time and actually placed 6th overall for women.

6.  Watching other athletes in the race persevere after having bike crashes.  I rode by one gentleman who had blood pouring down his arm. He was riding on and determined to make it to the end of this event.  Another man I saw come into the finish of his race, he had fallen from his bike, he had blood and gravel all in his face! He continued on the bike and finished the 21.1km run.  The perseverance and determination is beyond inspiring.

5. The drive to Eagleman.  Yes the drive.  My friend Christina and I drove together.  We left on Wednesday night and stopped in to visit my dad in the Fingerlakes.  We stayed the night there and after a short morning run and a nice breakfast continued our trek to Maryland.  We never turned  on the car radio.  We talked to whole trip!  Coach Lee and Natalie met us along the way and we were able to stop for lunch and socialize.  It truly was a great road trip to Maryland (and back).

Front: Natalie, Cindy, Diana
Back: Kevin, Bernard, Sheila,
Lee, Christina

4. Going to this race with the team.   There were 8 of us from Tri-Hart that competed at Eagleman.  We all stayed in the same hotel.  We went out for lunch and dinner together, and did our race prep together.  It was a lot of fun.  There is an amazing energy that is created when the team is together.  It really helps boost the morale and keep the nerves in check.

3. Tri-Hart placed 2nd overall for Team Division V! Three of our team mates were the fastest out of the water for their perspective age groups!  Yes, we have a large swimmer contingent on our team.

Coach Lee, Bernard, Sheila, Kevin

2. Watching my teammates perform their bests at the event! It was a hot day, to say the least.  If you read any of the race reports or the forums about Eagleman, that is the one common thread you will see in every commentary.  Although there were many athletes that dropped out due to the heat, everyone of our team finished the race and finished well!  We all could pick each other out on the course in our new team gear and cheer each other forward and keep each other going.  There is no underestimating the power of TEAM.

1. That every time I race I go out thinking I'm going to do my best and whatever happens happens.  That I was satisfied thinking I'd placed 2nd and surprised and elated to learn I was 1st.  I am grateful for the ability that I've been given, the opportunity to try my hand at this sport, and the support I receive from my family, friends, teammates, and coach.  My win is really our win.

Leaderboard results from Eagleman.

Next up?  

Ironman Mont Tremblant.  And yes, I am terrified.

That Girl

Me and my 3 girls

Who hasn't looked around the room and seen "that" girl. You know the one I'm talking about.  She comes across cute, bubbly, nice looking, fit, great career, attractive spouse, she's had 3 kids, and to you looks like she couldn't possibly have eaten anything in her life but carrots and celery, yet comes to the soccer potluck with a delicious, homemade, cheesecake and eats 2 pieces. On facebook and instagram she posts pictures of what looks like a perfect life, with the odd funny mishap that happens along the way, just to show that perhaps she is a little fallible.  You look around at the mess in your house, the inablilty to find time to get to the gym, the marker all over your kids face before they have to run out the door to catch the bus for school and wonder why you can't be like "that girl"! You hate her and want to be her all at the same time. 

Let me reassure you, you don't really want to be her;  "that" girl's life is not as rosy as you may think.  Just like you, she has struggled with her post baby weight, fights with herself to not eat the extra cookies when packing the kids' lunches, and sacrifices certain pleasures so that she can be in the shape she wants to be in. She throws laundry in at 4:30am before workout and switches it over at 6:30am when she gets back so the kids have something to wear to school.  She works hard to be as fit as she is; gets up early and goes to bed late. She fights through injury and exhaustion;   if she can get a minimum of 5-6 hours sleep per night that's enough to make her happy.  Every few weeks or so she crashes and then she cries when the number of tasks she has on her plate become too overwhelming and she feels that she is failing everyone around her when she can't fit it all in.  "That" girl, wants to help everyone and when she can't solve the problems of others, she blames herself.  She struggles with balancing her own goals with the needs of her children, husband, and those she has around her.  She takes on the extra projects at work, and has a hard time saying NO, when sometimes she really would just like to have a bottle of wine, half a chocolate cake and watch 3 movies on the couch in her pjamas.  

Although she is grateful for all of what she has, and accomplishes, it is stressful.  She wakes before 4am most days to get started so she can fit in work, life, kids, etc.   She forgoes the wine and almost never watches TV.  But that doesn't mean her life is terrible, she has much to be grateful for. She also possesses many good time management strategies that she puts in place. The pressure, she puts that onto herself.  Take the good qualities and attributes you like of "that" girl and see how you can start to integrate some of  those positive

My Kitchen Counter at times....like every day!

attributes into your daily routine.

When you are looking at her and saying "look at "that" girl,"  what I've recently discovered is someone else is saying that about YOU!  So what can we do to bring our life into balance? Where are you willing to make some additional sacrifices and be a bit uncomfortable to make time for what you truly want?  

Here's a few ideas to get you started:

1. You can start by looking at your calendar and saying "where will I schedule in 30 min of exercise 3-5 days per week"?  It may mean you wake up at 5:30 am to do it.  You will feel better about your day if you start it with something positive, like exercise.

2. Everyone has a different body, a different internal drive, and a different goal.  Maybe you don't want to win a race or win the Miss Fitness crown, perhaps your goal is to accomplish finishing a 5k, fitting into your favourite dress from 2 years ago, or having more energy throughout the day.  Your fitness regimen will be different from hers, allow for a more balanced life approach that still allows you to reach your  goal and rock that sexy dress. 

3.  Learn to be okay with who you are.  It's okay for your kid to have marker on their face and cake in their hair, for the room to be a bit dusty and dishes to be on the countertop.  Sometimes this has to happen for you to have time to fit in something you want.

4. Everyone has to work at change;  make time for yourself to get fit, race a swim meet,  or take a cooking class, whatever it is that is your personal goal. 

Remember, you are "that" girl to someone else.  Be a role model, do what you can, and remember, just as you do, "that" girl struggles with the everyday too.