Ironman Dreaming
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
It has only been 2.5 weeks since my last race and my race mojo tank is already filling up!
I’ve been giving my body plenty of TLC in the form of good food, yoga, stretching and self massage. I knew for sure that my training mojo was coming back when I had a dream/nightmare about racing a tri with some of my blogger buddies, got my bike stolen and frantically ran around my home town in Connecticut trying to find it. I think my legs miss my bike and are trying to convince me to hop back on.
I’m still sticking with my “purposeful nothingness” training plan for another week or two, but I’m starting to get psyched for next year.
The biggest thing on the plan: IRONMAN!
Or should I say “Ironman??”
As Sam can attest, I’m very slow and deliberate about making any decision. The thing is that once I do, I’m dead set on meeting my goal. Racing an Ironman has always been a part of the long term plan, but I’ve never really known when. I’ve come to accept that I will never have as money or free time as I want, and my job will always be more demanding and and stressful than I wish.
While on a run a few weeks ago, I saw a car with a bumper sticker that said “Don’t Postpone Joy.” Bumper stickers usually say some pretty lame and fleeting stuff, but this one really stuck with me. When you boil it down, it is really the reason why I race in the first place. Training, competing and crossing that finish line, so I do it. No questions asked.
There will always be another excuse to put off finally making that commitment to signing up for an ironman, but do I have it in me to try and pull it off in 2010? The half ironman distance used to be pretty scary to me, but now I have a really good understanding of the kind of training needed to pull off a half, and don’t have any worries about being able to get myself to the finish line. Now that I’ve gotten convident with the 70.3 distance (and only slightly faster) is it time to step it up?
As always, tough questions are always best answered by people smarter than myself. I asked some of my twitter followers. Here are the responses I got.
Question: Hey Ironmen. How did you know you were ready to take on the full 140.6?
- PatWheeler: don’t let people fool it’s so mentally hard because phyiscally your wrecked and your willing the legs to turn over. Sign up!!
- bradbirkel: easiest way to get over the mental hump is to close your eyes and jump… quickly.
- cyktrussell: Thought the first step was to pick out a tatoo?
- DavyRockett: I didn’t really feel ready. I just did it.
- tahughes: I didn’t know if I was ready, but I was inspired to take the plunge by a friend who signed up before me.
- j_hirsch: when your ready to commit to the training. Its mental, not phyiscal. Oh and be injury free if possible.If you want it,its yours
- HardyBreed: when you get tires of seeing those 140.6 stickers on the soccer moms minivan.
- goSonja: when just thinking about it made me giddy excited, and when I knew I was motivated enough that I could train alone for it.
- bquigley: you’re never “ready”… Just committed.
- megankillian: i did IM without doing any triathlon beforehand. i guess i just knew i’d like it. it was more of a “why not” than a “why”
- IronmanBobby: never did. Even after I did it I wasent sure
One thing is clear from my conversation with the masses. Mental commitment is more important than mental preparation.
I definitely have the desire to get there. I get rushes of adrenaline watching Ironman Hawaii on TV every year (but strangely fall asleep while watching the New York marathon…). I have the commitment to add it to my training pland and build up a solid base, but my main concern is keeping that up when the training gets tough in June and July. That is what I need to be sure of before drawing a line in the sand…
So tri peeps, what do you think?
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Category : Ironman, Life, Running, Training Log, Triathlon
Tags: commitment, Ironman, planning, Triathlon
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Maybe a quote will help – “If you decide not to take action until conditions are 100% ideal, you’ll never get anywhere.” There is no way in hell I think I can complete an Ultraman let alone train for one while working 50+ hour weeks. That did not stop me, I just need to prove I can. What is your excuse?
WORD! You know you want to. You can do it!!!
Be an ironman is itself a great achievement in all of us.. this may lead to extra practice and strong efforts but the results will keep high and happy with strong fit always..
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I usually tell people to wait until they have done a half iron race and you finish the bike feeling like you want to do the bike course again. But now that I have done an ironman, I think my opinion has changed. I do still think that you need good solid bike base. But more importantly, you need to expect pain and suffering, and be prepared to deal with it mentally. So, ya, the mental commitment factor is the ticket. I know you have the stuff, Jamie!
You said “There will always be another excuse to put off finally making that commitment to signing up for an ironman”
I say its time to make ironman your excuse to put other things off. And really, is it THAT much more than what you did this past season? You already had the weekend days set aside for training, you’re already getting your bike ready, nutrition dialed in etc… so what’s the difference between 4 hours on the bike or 6? You can come train with me and the gang!
is there a particular Ironman that tickles your fancy? If so when is it? can you still sign up? can you get in 9 solid training months?
if the race location doesn’t matter – then just go for it — you clearly want to!
oh, and i thought of you last night going to a hot yoga class – it was a corepower though — definitely not the same as our studio in davis — why oh why would you look for a replacement to it?
Jamie,
I think you will find things within yourself that you didn’t know you had. The training will bring out a commitment in you that will leave you very proud of yourself. The actual day is the reward, the question is “Are you ready to train like a banchee for an all day event”?
I can’t wait to hear your decision. I know you will make a good one.
Oh, and if you are asking the question, then you are ready.
If you can do it now, then do it! You don’t know what is going to happen in the future. A lot can change.
But if you wait till 2011 you can do Ironman Flordia with me.
That’s my two cents.
i thought you had balls. just fucking do it already!
I think you think too much. You know you want to, but I think it is fear of the unknown that is keeping you from jumping in. Be brave and go for it.
Haha. I can’t argue with you on that one. Every single personality test I’ve ever taken points out how (over) analytical I am.
I just call it a distaste for doing something halfheartedly. I’d rather not do it at all than not fully commit.