I know it is cliche to say it changed my life, but in a way it did. It gave me hope and lit a fire. I had always secretly (VERY secretly) dreamed of being able to complete a marathon, but I thought I could never do something that required that sort of sustained effort. Reading her race reports and training trials and tribulations made me believe I could do it and as a result I have run a marathon.
When I read her IRONMAN race report. I was blown away. By the end I was speechless, crying, and blown away. Whoa. An IRONMAN. That, my friends, is some serious, balls to the wall, bad ass status!
(I am sorry. I would like to say for the record that my mother is a very classy woman and is in NO way responsible for the crass daughter she somehow raised. She would tell you that I am my father's daughter. She is right.)
Then through her blog list I also found Jane (Born Again Athlete) whose story is equally inspiring. I was immediately drawn to her honesty and humor (and let's be honest Toby, her adorable and much beloved pug, on the front page of her blog didn't hurt! I am drawn to animal people) and then I saw that she had made these HUGE gains in her fitness in one year. Her first big event was the MS150. That is a 150 mile bike ride. I have yet to ride 150 miles in one week and she rode it in ONE DAY! Now, she is doing an IRONMAN this July. In fucking Austria, no less! Whoa.
Every time I am trying to talk myself out of riding my bike, I tell myself "Jane would ride. Get your ass on that bike!"
ShirelyPerly turned 40, found her inner athlete and now kicks ass and takes names all over the country!
Alright, get to it Stacey, why have you lost your damn mind?
I am going for it.
IRONMAN in 2009
You can say it. It is ok. I have lost my damn mind.
These may be the scariest words I have ever typed, but damn it, if not now, when? I have officially registered for my first Half-Ironman distance triathlon on August 2 this summer (Barb's Race) and I have talked to my coach about getting me ready for an Ironman distance in 2009.
I am trying to decide on which Ironman. I need a late 2009 race for obvious reasons (those being that I need A LOT of time to get ready) Here are the options: I don't know much about either, so I am looking for opinions.
1. Ironman Tempe (November 2009)
Pros: In November gives me 19 months to get ready. No ocean swim, and water is supposed to be calm in the lake. Official Ironman (cool stuff)
Cons: can be hot, really hot.
2. Redman Full (September 2009)
Pros: Supposed to be a relatively fast, rolling hills course. Easier registration
Cons: Not an official Ironman event
Holy shit. I don't know if I am brave enough to post this.
