There is nothing more paralyzing than fear, and nothing will get you moving faster than your passion.
When did I ever think I could do an Ironman Triathlon? I’ve been trying to remember what I was thinking the first time I signed up for one, and the truth is, I don’t remember. I do remember training for it, and I also remember very vividly when I toed the starting line in Panama City Beach, Florida; God, I was soooo scared.
If you talk to someone who has completed an Ironman, you’ll hear them describe it as one of the best life experiences they’ve ever had. Words can’t describe the feeling of happiness at crossing the finish line after completing an event that you will not fully comprehend until you do it. Completing an Ironman can leave you wondering what life would be like if you had not gone though the experience—and I don’t mean the race day, but the journey you took to get there. It can change you and make you think about life differently.
Fast forward many years, and here I am, about to embark on yet another Ironman. I see the Internet forums and messages of people who will be doing the event for the first time, and their questions and concerns make me chuckle. But that was me not so long ago; my questions were naïve, and my fears were the size of the titanic. But the more I got into endurance events, the better I got, and here I am today. Just one day before my trip, and I haven’t even packed yet. But I’m not worried about forgetting anything; I know I will do just fine.
In his book, Drive, Daniel Pink describes how motivation works. There are three components: Independence, Mastery, and Purpose, and I find all of these in my motivation to conquer the Ironman.
Triathlon is not a team sport. The Ironman is a solo event, and you need to be independent in your journey to getting there. You’ve got to push yourself, because the hills don’t get any flatter or the distance any shorter.
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And finally, purpose—why do you do the things you do? In my case, Ironman, ultras, and Crossfit are all part of who I am. The purpose is to be true to myself, and to keep myself healthy and in movement. A body in movement will remain in movement. If you ever read the story of how I found love for the second time, you will know that one of my core values is fitness. I love to sweat, keep healthy, and push forward.
As I toe the starting line this coming weekend, I know that my sole purpose will be this race on this particular day. My only purpose is to finish. I will do this because I know I can; I have trained enough to feel confident that the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile marathon will not take me down. Not Saturday, at least…
Before the starting cannon goes off and we all launch into the water, I know that I will be among 2000 others whose journeys have been similar to mine. Many will be veterans and many will be newbies, but the goal is the same. We are all there to cross the finish line in less than the 17 hours allowed. In the process, many will find themselves by realizing how truly far their bodies can take them. I will continue my journey of challenging myself, facing my fear, and living my passion.
An Ironman Triathlons is intimidating; just to hear the shear number of participants is enough to make many people scared. But the reality is that anybody can do this. Anybody can do an Ironman if they really want it. So how bad do you want it? For now, if you are thinking about an Ironman distance event, the task is simple: decide that you want to. From there, anything can happen! Improve on your weaknesses and develop your strengths. Ironman will throw fear and self-doubt at you, but you will be ready.
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