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.


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.
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?