T minus and counting til Ironman

Marc posted this today on his myspace page. With his permission, I want to share it with you.

T minus and counting til Ironman

So here I am, less than 10 days away from the Louisville Ironman. I have spent the past 10 months training for this one day, one race, one experience. A 1.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike and then to finish it off, a 26.2 mile run. All in under 17 hours.

You may ask "how did I get to this point?"

Last year, I trained for a half iron triathlon. At the time, I said I would only do a half mainly because lets face it....Im 5'10, 200+ lbs and while Im definitely no "tubs mcgee"(like that name, dont ya?), my body shape is the human equivalent of a bulldog. 70.3 mile races were not made for me. Football was more of my battleground for athletic endeavors. Plus my years of sports have definitely caught up with me at an earlier age than what I had hoped. After years of contact sports, I have 5 ruptured discs in my upper back and bad case of plantar faciitis in my left foot (which I will have surgery when this race is done). So a full ironman would be a great achievement but I was trying to be honest about the reality of who and what I am. So the half was more than enough and would be a GREAT accomplishment. Needless to say, my half went pretty well and while talking to another triathlete after the race, I knew that I had to go for the full Ironman.

The training is the difficult part.

I've learned alot about myself and others around me this past year. I have truly learned that I can accomplish anything. The race will be difficult, I generally expect that and I will deal with those situations as they come. I will grit my teeth and I will keep moving forward just like my mother and father have always taught me. As my dad used to say when I was growing up (and really still does to this day) "Pain isnt that bad. Just rub some dirt on it and you'll be fine".

The training is what is the difficult part of an ironman. I have swam, rode and ran so many miles in my training that I couldnt even give you a realistic estimate of how far I've actually gone. I have gotten up at 3:45 on so many mornings(so I could get a long distance run in before work) that 7:00am is really sleeping in for me now. Every morning I have gotten up and done what I needed to do so I can succeed for this one day. Many a mornings, I have questioned why this is a good idea but somewhere deep down, I knew that this is what I needed to do. "I DO LOVE A CHALLENGE!"

It hasnt all been training.

I also had two very important things happen in my life this year while training for Ironman this year.

First, I got married. YEAH, I was shocked too! Actually, I think I knew from the first time I met Mary that she was the one. I just had to get her to believe that as well!hehe She deserves so much for dealing with my crazy training schedule. Most mornings, I would do my best to get to the alarm before it woke her and while I did a pretty good job (and the fact that she could sleep through a dumptruck crashing into a nitroglycerin plant) there were definitely mornings where she was awakend. She also has been very aware on how difficult it has been on my body to train for this event and has always been willing to help, from getting me ice to soak in to giving me a back rub late at night. She is definitely an IRONSPOUSE!

The second event that happend this year just recently happend a few weeks back. My Nanny passed away. She definitely had a big part with raising me the first 10 years of my life and when she passed away I was crushed. Just about anything in life and especially training for a race really seems pointless when you lose a loved one that you cared for so much. I know how much my Nanny loved me though and she always was amazed at the fact that I was preparing for Ironman. The last time I saw her and was telling her about my training, she just shook her head like I was crazy and said that "I was her first grandchild, her baby boy and that I could do anything". While it still hurts to know that she is gone. I would never stop my training. She wouldn't have wanted that and actually I'm pretty sure I would some how get in trouble for it!

If I could go back to last year...

Once again, here I am...T-MINUS AND COUNTING. As the days count down, I have been trying to go over in my mind how the race should go, I've also gotten to reflect on the past year. The question usually comes up, "If I could go back to the when I decided to do Ironman, would I not do it"? Believe it or not, "NO". This has been the journey that I think every person who lines up for the Ironman gets. The year hasnt always been easy. There were times where I not only questioned the process of Ironman but I think life questioned the process of Ironman. But Ive stayed dedicated and done what I need to do. I found out how much I love my wife and my family(and how much they love me to deal with all of it). And last, I have to admit, I have really enjoyed seeing how amazed people are about what a goofy guy from Pensacola can accomplish if he puts his mind too it.

I once read that "less than one out of every two million people will do an ironman". While this statistic is amazing and will be great to be a part of, I feel blessed to have gone through this experience. There has been nothing like it in my life thus far and Im not sure I will ever have again. I just hope that the people who are close to me realize that none of it would have happend unless I didnt have their support. When I toe the line on August 31st, 2008, I tri for not only myself but especially for them!

I swim. I bike. I run. I will be an Ironman.