Almost time!

So, I am sitting writing, having my coffee and thinking that in 24 hours I will be in the water with 2000 other triathletes.
This is the part that astounds me! Over 2000 athletes have pushed, pulled, dragged, and forced their bodies to the limit over the last year. Endless days of biking, running and swimming and it all come down to this one day. Going to bed early, waking up early, and sacrificing those daily pleasures to get the training in. What a special day it is!
But, let’s face it, no one does this alone, we all need some sort of support system! Families, friends, teammates and the odd stranger help us, motivate us, and get us going some days when it feels impossible to move one more inch!
This morning, my race top will arrive, and not only do I have my sponsors listed, I also have my family and friends because they are as much a part of this journey!
However, there is one portion of the Ironman that I strangely dread, yet anticipate because I know that this will be all “me”’ pure, elemental “me”. I am talking about those last 6 miles of the marathon (perhaps it starts earlier for others, last year it was the last 10 miles for me) where you are stripped to the bone of all the layers you shielded yourself with to get you to that point. The HR, the rate of perceived exertion, the positive mental talk, the loud cheering from those around and the amazing volunteers encouragement are drown out by the real “reason” you are out there covering 140.6 miles. You draw upon strength you never knew you had and learn SO MUCH about yourself. Whether it is the pain from a hard year, divorce, fight, death…you confront those issues and FACE them! At the end of the day, when you cross that line, you cross more than a race finish line, you cross a line that enables you to attack the next problem, setback and challenge in life. It really is life changing; every Ironman I have done has helped me grown and learn about myself.
This year, I am hoping to get to this part and embrace it, know it is going to hurt like none other and go with it. At the end of the day, I want to cross that line and say I “did it” fully, not half heartedly ; I want to give it my all physically and mentally. Then, and only then, I want to be DONE…for a while at least; time to soak up what has been already a phenomenal year!