Ironman

The Ironman Journey

Ironman registration is coming and maybe you're thinking of signing up or have already captured your spot. There's nervousness, excitement, and apprehension. Pause to take a moment and read these words. They may help prepare you a little more for this journey, a profound one that you will remember for the rest of your life. Some of my words may strike you as a little negative. I don't mean them that way. I want to deliver some reality, not a sales pitch. 

"Enjoy the journey." These three words have reached cliche status but only because they are so true and have been repeated so many times by those with the wisdom to understand. The only way to ensure your Ironman journey is truly worth it is to focus on enjoying the many months leading up to the event. If you can have a fantastic time and create great memories training for an Ironman then you have earned something much greater than a medal. You have gained joy, fitness, health, friendship and more. You will also likely have a great race too as a result. Another way to state this idea is what I believe is a Buddhist saying: Practice is the seed and the fruit.

"I'm not sure it was all worth it." That's what a friend of mine once told me after completing their Ironman journey. I NEVER want to hear those words from my athletes. The problem in my friend's case started with the motivation. I think they were doing the event more to add to their LinkedIn page than for the enriching experience. That is not going to fuel a rewarding training journey. And, make no mistake, the focus needs to be on the training journey, one that is hard and wonderful if you manage it well. 

Your event may be cancelled, or part of it may be cancelled. This happens regularly including in Penticton one summer where there was no swim. Imagine the countless hours of swim training and fitness that was never expressed on race day. But what if you really enjoyed all that swim training, the hard work, the progress you made, commiserating with lane mates. Do you regret all those swims? No, of course not. The bike leg may be cancelled due to rain. Will you regret the amazing long rides that took you places you'd never before been and all the bakery stops with your biking buddies? 

Dared, Navigated, Fought (DNF)

On average 10% of Ironman starters do not finish the event. Most times it's simply because their training wasn't consistent and complete. Stuff happens - illness, injury, work, family. If they made it to the start line that in itself is an achievement and they get the reward of being part of the Ironman experience. But the odds of a finish are less due to the degree of preparations. Once out on the course on that long day you might simply run out of fitness or an old injury may flare up. And regardless as to how well preparation went some athletes will face insurmountable obstacles in a race like a crash or illness. The letters DNF (did not finish) come with some sadness for we know there is disappointment attached to them. Do not fear those letters, though. Life is full of risks and sometimes you need to face up to the challenge despite them. So be brave and go forward knowing there are no guarantees, and knowing that DNF are just three letters to which we can attach whatever meaning we want. Here's mine: 

Dared: You had the courage to sign up for this event and commit to an enormously challenging goal. 

Navigated: You travelled the long journey, learned much, and overcame countless challenges to get to race day. 

Fought: You battled the physical, emotional and mental challenges all the way through training and during the event. Be proud.

Back to the friend I mentioned earlier. I'll let you in on a secret: no one really cares that you're an Ironman so don't do it to please others. Share it with others, celebrate with others but when the day is over, the day is over the finish arch comes down and the world moves on. You, though, are left stronger as an individual and carrying a load of pride and amazing memories of not just a race day but an epic Ironman journey.