Chills, goosebumps, excitement, fear, and tears
Leave it to blogland to once again come up big when I’m in a crunch. Flatman had a link on his page today to this amazing video. The video is part of the coverage of the 2003 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. As I watched this video the waves of emotions rushed over me. It’s amazing how a 5 minute video can have such an effect. Like many triathlete the Ironman is my Everest. The Ironman is the pinnacle accomplishment in this sport that I hope to one day achieve.
During the video they had small bits about pain and how it is apart of every Ironman and its something that just has to be dealt with. This struck a huge cord with me today as I once again was not looking forward to another session at the pool. I knew in the end that I would end up with a shoulder that was painful and bothersome. Watching the video was just the kick in the pants that I needed. It set firm in my mind that pain is just something that I will have to deal with this season. That my shoulder is just something I will have to deal with and its time to stop being a baby about it. Now I’m not talking about being reckless, but not allowing things like this to turn into excuses.
To me this season is just part of the process towards my Everest. That it is not just another season of training or racing, but that my efforts will have an effect on my future as well. How can I expect to someday race an Ironman if I’m defeated by small ailments? Now I know everyone has their good and bad days, but it adds ups. Each training session or race is just another building block towards something greater. I was amazed by how a long term goal can aid a short term problem and it works both ways.
Through this great community of people I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by people accomplishing goals all the time. It’s amazing to read about the ups and downs that we all experience along the way. I consider myself lucky to be able to follow the lives and progress of so many great people as they reach for their own goals. It doesn’t matter whether it’s someone training for an Ironman, someone working towards their first triathlon, or someone trying to qualify for Boston. I size/subject of the goal doesn’t matter. What matters is that each and every one of you has made the statement that you can and have set out to achieve your goals. I can, you can, we can, and we will. There are NO limits!
During the video they had small bits about pain and how it is apart of every Ironman and its something that just has to be dealt with. This struck a huge cord with me today as I once again was not looking forward to another session at the pool. I knew in the end that I would end up with a shoulder that was painful and bothersome. Watching the video was just the kick in the pants that I needed. It set firm in my mind that pain is just something that I will have to deal with this season. That my shoulder is just something I will have to deal with and its time to stop being a baby about it. Now I’m not talking about being reckless, but not allowing things like this to turn into excuses.
To me this season is just part of the process towards my Everest. That it is not just another season of training or racing, but that my efforts will have an effect on my future as well. How can I expect to someday race an Ironman if I’m defeated by small ailments? Now I know everyone has their good and bad days, but it adds ups. Each training session or race is just another building block towards something greater. I was amazed by how a long term goal can aid a short term problem and it works both ways.
Through this great community of people I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by people accomplishing goals all the time. It’s amazing to read about the ups and downs that we all experience along the way. I consider myself lucky to be able to follow the lives and progress of so many great people as they reach for their own goals. It doesn’t matter whether it’s someone training for an Ironman, someone working towards their first triathlon, or someone trying to qualify for Boston. I size/subject of the goal doesn’t matter. What matters is that each and every one of you has made the statement that you can and have set out to achieve your goals. I can, you can, we can, and we will. There are NO limits!
posted by walchka at 9:57 PM
2 Comments:
Glad you think so!
Just kidding. :)
Not much else to say here, you did a good job at saying it for me!!
Great post!!!! Since it hit May, I've felt kinda giddy for some odd reason...maybe cuz it's 4 months away? I know there's so much work to be done, but I feel like I'm ready to tackle it, too! Your post pumped me up!
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