I can not believe that Ironman Wisconsin is tomorrow.
TOMORROW!
The year has really flown by along with all the fun, fear and fretting.
Natalie and I volunteered last year on September 13th and signed up for the 2010 race which seemed so, so, so far away.
Base training started in December. Real training started in March.
Hiring one (lousy) coach; moving on to a much, much, much better coach.
Leaving behind things like Julie Murphy's candy jar, a once beloved container of chocolate comfort that I could count on finding in my co-worker's office. (I have not dipped my fingers in to that jar since December....).
I let go of other things too like sleeping in late on the weekends and more golf with my husband and golf friends.
Oh, and about 25 pounds.
But I gained so, so much.
I've gained confidence in the water and on the bike. I've run better than I have in a long time (until that pesky hamstring injury that happened about three weeks ago); I tried a bunch of new events this year (a couple open water swim events; a duathlon; a couple sponsored bike rides). I made "friends" with some of the tri-power houses in the Twin Cities. (Not that they would remember my name if they met me in an elevator... but I remember and have been inspired by them....).
I know what a cassette is and a crank is. I can tell you how to change a flat (even if I can't get the dang tire rim back over the wheel). I've ridden aero; I've moved on to road bike clips (although I'll be using my mountain clips for IM WI.... new shoes are still not quite broken in).
I've had a blast.
We've been in Madison since Thursday and it has been nothing but organized chaos. Things are not going quite as I "planned". I'm fighting a little virus; Hubby has a huge horrible cold.
But, the weather tomorrow is supposed to be perfect. Natalie and I are ready to go. Hubby is here; lots of other friends are here to help volunteer and to cheer us on.
No matter what happens out there tomorrow, it should be a wonderful, wonderful day.
My plan is to cross that finish line before midnight. To become an Ironman.
If I don't... I can always sign up for IM WI 2011
But I hope the day doesn't just go in a whoosh.....
3 comments:
Congratulations on a great year, Amy! You and Nat have been so inspiring. Now, Go!
Amy, hopefully you're getting some sleep and maybe won't see this until you've FINISHED! But it sounds like it has been a long road that has already had profound rewards for you, and I wish you a strong and emotional race tomorrow.
Congrats for doing your best on a hard day.
Simply making it to the start line is a victory, and although you may not have had the day you envisioned, you did the work, you put in the miles and the time, and you had the guts to have a big dream.
Hold your head up and be proud of yourself. We are proud to know you and will be watching you cross that finish line 9/11/11.
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