Got WAY ahead of myself and lost sight of my original goal this year, which was "simply" to do 2 irons tris 2 weeks apart. No cares about finishing times, just make the cut-offs and have fun. After all, I am still an iron virgin!I know this back-to-back iron nonsense may sound CRAZY to most of you, but I am someone who is motivated by the unusual. I'd much rather run marathons in all 50 states than shoot for a marathon PR (current PR 3:27:59). Only after running 21 marathons in 9 months did I dare try running my first-ever 5K. Ouch! To learn how to swim, I had to sign up for an Ironman (could not commit for anything less).
Some people have called me "hardcore" but I don't consider myself that, actually. WACKY would be a better description, I think.
But I am having fun, that's for sure. Perhaps too much at times as I have been accused of looking too smiley in my race photos. My apologies to anyone who may think I'm doing a disservice by making things look easy but I truly do feel fortunate to be alive and out there. In my younger days, I was a highly stressed out, malnourished workaholic who never thought (or cared if) she'd see her 40th birthday. Now approaching 50, I'm celebrating good health and making an effort to enjoy life whenever I can. And doing 2 irons this year, well, that just looked to me like a ticket to do more of that. (Plus, the training time and costs of doing both were not much different from doing one Ironman brand event anyway so it was like getting 2 for 1. And I am most definitely a bargain hunter :-)
But I must be reasonable with myself and Coach has put my head back on straight, again. My primary goal will be to start and finish both races healthy. If a certain desired race time (sub-13) comes with doing so, that's a bonus. If not, that's OK too. There'll be many opportunities for me to shoot for faster race times if I stay healthy and keep having fun.
So thank you to everyone who posted comments in my previous post. I'll be hitting the hills on the new GF bike course a few more times before race day (10/24) and by then should have one of only two thoughts:
A) Ready Freddy, all systems go.
or B) Still tougher than I'd like, but I got it.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
23 comments:
Option A... that will be the outcome.
I am so excited for you. All of the hours of training will be coming together to make up two awesome events. I just know it!
I admire your attitude SO MUCH, Shirley! Good for you, living life to the fullest and getting the most out of it that you can.
It's going to be an exciting autumn!
Shirley, I read you Olathe Marathon review, since that is where I live, and I almost peed my pants!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Kya can be your dog too! I think you are amazing for training for two iron distances back to back. I have been debating about trying to do an iron distance, but I have never done any distance of a triathlon! I have run three marathons but never a 5K, so I like to think I go big from the start, kind of like you!
You are going to do an amazing job and I cannot wait to hear about it!
It's so easy to get caught up in things.
Finishing healthy, in my opinion, is an ideal objective!
again, i'm glad you've got it all figured out and coach brought you back down to earth :) it IS pretty easy to get carried away, afterall.
i still think you are hardcore! :)
You scared me for a minute there with your post title. I thought you were going to launch into some kind of Britney Spears song and dance routine, phew!
As a women settling into my early mid life numbers and starting to feel it, I say finish healthy. It takes us too damn long to heal now.
Hardcore, Wacky, I'm adding here.....Beautiful, Inspiring, & Fun......should I go on?
Keep smiling for those race photos!
Yay Shirley, I am so glad you caught up with what your goals were. You have been training hard and you are seriously going to kick some behind on those two races.
And no, it doesn't sound crazy at all! After all, my first marathon was day 2 of the Goofy challenge. I think it is amazing that you set these terrific goals for yourself. Have a great weekend!
Shirley, I have noticed you like the unsual and that brought be a chuckle. The indoor marathon thing cracks me up...that is a very unusal challenge to say the least! You are also tough and that is inspiring! Thanks for leaving me such a nice message that was both inspiring and encouraging. I so appreciate you!
Excellent outlook! Glad you are back on track :) You are so tough and have been training so hard, I think you'll surprise yourself out there!
Should have read this post before I commented on the last! Yes, go out and have fun! You've got tons of races in your future for times if that is what you want to do.
Sometimes it just takes stopping and making sure you are looking at things with the right perspective. Glad to hear you have figured things out and cant wait to see you out there at B2B
HOLY CRAP! You'll rock it and I can't wait to see you at B2B. Hopefully, I'll be done before you and Ryan (just 70.3 for me) - so I can cheer everyone else on!
Oh Shirley, I just LOVE your style. Ironman as a twofer. Yep - that's so Shirley! It's very, very cool to see someone so aligned with their best self in action. You inspire me - not necessarily to compete in 2 IM's back to back :D - but to stay connected to my essential self.
Shirley, girl you just ROCK!
I knew you would come to a decision that worked for YOU if you gave it a little more time.
Your plan sounds perfect and it's a nice reminder to ALL of us amateurs out here in Blogland that since we don't do this sport for a paycheck that we should really not put so much pressure on ourselves. I'm very guilty of having time goals 'beyond' the finish; but I'm working on that; trying to not make 'time' so important... and the more I work on it, the happier I am. :o)
WAY TO GO, Shirley!!!
You have such an amazing motivation, way to go!!
way to live up to your blog name, humble triathlete. you know you have all your blogger's support behind you in both races! what a healthy outlook on life!
Crazy? no. As proven by our 15 years of marriage, lack of common sense? yep! ;-)
You will rock GF, from what I've heard, the 56 miles of the Florida Challenge are the hilly ones, the rest of the course is fairly flat. I need to catch up, but I am so excited for you on this venture! you are a rock - star!
You are amazing, love your zest for life :)
My mind still boggles at iron distance twice in two weeks.
If you complete the second one faster, we'll call it a negative split!
Glad to see you have arrived at a decision! Good luck with your continued training and don't you dare let that smile fade. :)
You never fail to crack me up Shirley. One Ironman IS usually enough for most but you have taken things to a new level. It's your attitude though that really really is amazing. So yes absolutely - stay healthy, keep smiling, keep happy and if this crazy stuff is what gets you there - carry on. I'd say it's working for you.
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