The Happy Turtle's Journey to the Start: An Ironman Tale

For those of you that believe that you have to be sleek, slim, cut and fast to be an Ironman, think again! Some of our bodies just don’t fit that mold but we have the guts to set our intention, make a plan and see it to the end. In my heart, I believe that turtles CAN fly! The turtle society is not just challenged by fitness, but by the time limits imposed by race companies insisting we keep up with the status quo so they can get to the bars before last call. Well, I suppose there has to be a cut off or us turtles might be out there for days enjoying the sun on our backs. Some stare at the turtles on the course wondering why it even embarks on such a journey and what purpose it has. It is old, weathered, wrinkled, and slow no matter how you twist it. I just know that you can train a turtle and the turtle might teach you a thing or two along the way. We are old and wise and we have a shell that cannot be broken. We want a taste of victory just like our other friends. I cannot find another creature that I am most like. Join me on my journey from start to end to help the Happy Turtle win again!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Things Don't Always Go As Planned: Expect the Unexpected and Plan for it!

This week has been a reminder that things don't always go as planned so prepare for the unexpected.  My plan for the weeks before beginning training with the group that I signed up to train for IM on January 18th with were to be focused on recovering from my previous season, getting lots of rest, maintaining a base and focusing on weight training.  During the hustle and bustle of the season, I caught a bug, so I have been trying to do the right thing and just take it easy instead of sending myself on a downward spiral.  I have been taking more rest days and doing short workouts and my mind is going crazy as it does not like rest.  Here's hoping that I will get back on track soon.  Then I thought that this bug might be a reminder about always having a plan about how to proceed when the unexpected arrives, because if you do triathlons, you know that it will.  In my case over the last 2 years I wanted to complete a half ironman.  The first year when I was ready to do it, our dam broke and the lake that holds the big event was drained.  Then one of our local racing companies added another half IM distance event in the spring after the dam was repaired and the lake was refilled.  So I trained again and the night before we had rain which caused the swim portion of my first half to be canceled due to the city's rain policy and testing for e.coli!  As down as I felt about it and the mental struggles I endured during the triathlon that turned duathalon....I realized that there will always be factors that I will be unable to control and so I need to have to have an emergency response system built into my mind and body. 

In the midst of the hustles and bustles of the holiday season, my Santa brought me lots of motivational tools including my first Ironman Poster which reads BELIEVE, IRONMAN AZ 2012.  WE SUPPORT YOU!  signed by all our house guests.  In addition, I also received a bike trainer for indoor cycling when weather or darkness try to prevent a workout, bicycle cleaning supplies, socks, clothes and trinkets, motivational IM books, a super duper blender for my nutritional needs and best of all a turtle hanging on for dear life on a tire swing with the words:  TURTLES DO FLY, JUST LET GO!

So trying to put this cold behind me and clear out the clutter in my head and my house so I can resume my search for a TRI bike, I head into the final week of 2011 setting intentions to gradually get back into action and return to good health so I can start training hard.

FIRST STEPS:
1.  Signing up for IM (CHECK)
2.  Getting all the gear.  (IN PROGRESS)
3.  Joining a group and getting some professional coaching (CHECK:  Starting date January 18, 2012 with racelab (racelab.com) )
4.  Letting go, so I can FLY!
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