With
Ironman Cozumel a mere 18 days away, I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on the
past year and a half – since my very first 5k race. I’ve been trying to collect
a boat load of information, tips, positive thoughts, quotes, etc. to take with
me and repeat to myself during that long 140.6 miles. I’ve watched inspirational
videos, read inspirational stories, and posted tons of inspirational quotes on
my Facebook page. I’ve asked friends who have completed full Ironmans what are
the top rookie mistakes and what they would have taken with them for their
first race. I feel like I’ve done everything I can to prepare for this race,
even with my limited experience and time constraints.
But what
it all comes down to, and the underlying theme for most of my posts this past
year, is the mental preparation. My friends who are doing this race without
much training at least have the knowledge they’ve finished an Ironman before. I
don’t have that. I’ve never done anything like this before. All I have is the
little victories I’ve amassed over the past year. These victories aren’t the
ones you can see. Sure, I can walk downstairs and admire the 26 medals hanging
on the wall. I see my own personal leaning tower of Pisa of race shirts in my
closet every day. I completed my first 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon,
sprint triathlon, Olympic triathlon, and half Ironman races all in a year and 3
months. I did my first triathlon a mere 2 months after deciding to learn how to
swim. I not only completed a triathlon 9 days after heart surgery, but placed
first in my age group. And one year after my first full sprint triathlon, I’ll
complete a full Ironman.
Those are
all incredible accomplishments. Especially for someone who has always been
afraid of the water and who never thought of herself as an athlete, and who
never had the self-confidence to even try some of these things five years ago. But
honestly, those aren’t the big wins for me. So below is my list of real
accomplishments over this past year – those small moments that have meant more
to me than any amount of race shirts or finisher’s medals. I’ve also linked to
some of the blog posts that go into more detail about those races.
As you
read through these, I want you to think over the past year and a half. What
have those moments been for you? Can’t think of any? Then it’s high time to get
out of your comfort zone and try something you never thought you could. The
rewards of overcoming fear, pain, disappointment, exhaustion, and trials will
mean more to you than anything tangible.
Mandy’s list of Yee Haw! Moments –
May 2012- Nov 2013
May 2012 –
my first 5k. I never imagined I could go 3.1 miles in a running race. As I
looked at the half marathoners finishing, I thought, I could never do that. I
was just excited to have finished my first 5k!
October2012 – I completed my first half marathon. My ankle had started hurting really
badly about 7 miles in – it felt like it cracked. Not knowing any better, and
quitting never entering my mind, I kept going. And I realized, contrary to my
thoughts 5 months before, I can do a half marathon.
Nov 2012 –
my first almost triathlon (It snowed so we didn’t do the bike portion).
Although I had to stop every 50 meters to catch my breath, and I had to back
stroke a lot (the swim was last), I did 350 meters (in 17 minutes). I wanted to
jump out of the pool halfway through and say I was done. But I kept going,
surely the slowest swimmer there. And I finished!
Dec 2012-
My first official sprint triathlon in Palm Springs, CA. The weather was
gorgeous, the water wasn’t too cold. My first open water swim ever. I was
scared to death. During the swim, I had to back stroke a lot, but I just kept
going. One of the last ones out of the water, and running like a drunken
sailor, I was filled with excitement and accomplishment! That feeling carried
over into the bike and run and I passed quite a few people. It was such an
amazing feeling! I never in a million years would have thought I could actually
swim in a race!
Feb 2013 –
Ragnar Del Sol. During my third and final leg, I got lost. By the time I finally
got back on the course, I was trying desperately to not let tears fall. I had
never experienced such pain shooting up and down my leg (from my IT band). Even
if I wanted to quit, I couldn’t because there was no one from my van around to
help. My six mile run turned into 8.5. Around six miles, when I kept thinking,
I should be finishing by now, it hit me that I was on my own. There would be no
help, no rescuing. I had to man up and keep going until I got to the exchange.
So I willed myself to not stop. But at the same time, I felt so alone, I had
feelings of desperation and I was worried about my IT band. But somehow, I kept
going because I knew that was the only way. When I rounded the last corner and
saw my teammate, relief flooded over me. And when I collapsed in Kermit’s arms,
I couldn’t believe I’d done it. The relief I felt at being safe, and done, was
incredible.
April 2013
– Three weeks before this, I’d done a splash triathlon and my SVT heart
condition kicked in on the run. It was so hard. I was in pain and exhausted,
but I kept going. I kept thinking, I don’t ever want to do another race where
my heart messes up again. Then on April 13th, nine days after heart
surgery, I took a total leap of faith to complete another splash triathlon. I
expected to be the last one in to the finish line. I wasn’t sure what to expect
so close post-surgery. But then I started running and felt so amazing. No
racing heart, no pain, no exhaustion. Then when I saw the standings after the
race and saw I placed first in my age group, I couldn’t believe it! The surgery
worked!
May 2013 –
Ogden Marathon. Wet. Cold. Long. That’s about all I have to say about that.
Knowing I could finish this race despite the weather conditions was a huge
boost.
June 29,2013 – Rock Cliff Triathlon. Three weeks before, I’d had to drop out of the
swim at the Boise Half Ironman. My self-esteem took a huge hit and I’d been beating
myself up ever since. As soon as the swim at Rock Cliff started, which was also
my first Olympic distance triathlon, I panicked. It was a 2-lap swim and one of
the guys on a surfboard stayed close by for most of my first lap. I had to hold
on 2-3 times to the board to try and calm down. I was planning on quitting
after the first lap. But then all of a sudden, something clicked in my head,
and at the start of my second lap, I just put my face in the water and swam –
and kept swimming. I experienced an even stronger feeling of accomplishment
when I finally got out of the water. Success after a huge failure is so much
sweeter!
August 24,
2013 – Utah Half Ironman – I was so tired on the bike during this race. I
couldn’t imagine running a half marathon after biking 56 miles. As I neared
transition, I thought about dropping out because I was just so tired. But
somehow, as I left transition, I felt energized again and ran the first mile
and a half. The rest was pretty slow, but learning I could keep going even when
I was so tired was an amazing feeling.
October2013 – two races this month taught me a lot. St. George marathon was a lesson
that things don’t usually go according to plan, but even when in a lot of pain,
I can keep pushing through and finish. The Provo Halloween Half marathon taught
me that again, I can not only suffer through pain, but I can keep running
through pain. And, there will always be someone to catch me at the end.
November
2013 – The moment I lapped someone in Master’s swim class, I wanted to stop and
start jumping up and down in the water. I thought back to all my struggles with
swimming – the first few races swimming mostly on my back, all the times I was
one of the last ones out of the water, and not finishing Boise, and was amazed
at how far I’ve come. And super excited to know I’m not the slowest swimmer
anymore.
These
moments mean more to me than anything else during my journey over the past year
and a half. I’m sure I’ll have quite a few of those moments in Cozumel. But, I’ve
learned I can keep going in bad weather, overcome panic in the water, keep
going even when I’m tired or don’t follow my nutrition plan very well, and that
I can keep going even when I’m in pain, when I feel alone, and when I feel
discouraged. And I will be an Ironman!
So, what
are your little victories?
