From Marathons to IronMan - Watch Me Tri
Have you ever dove right into a challenge that scares the *hit out of you? Not knowing if you can finish it but knowing on the other side you’ll come out stronger? This is my life pretty much always. When I got the call about the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days), my baby was 12 months and I had accumulated 300 total running miles that year. The event was in a month. To say I was not ready is an understatement. But I couldn’t so no.
Saying yes and then figuring out how to get there is a classic Kelly move. So, pressing register on a 140.6 miles of sheer physical competition in one day seemed typical.
The magnitude of the event should have been obvious from the onset - especially the ticket shock on my face as I clicked the finalize registration button for IronMan Texas and almost 4 figures zipped away from my bank account in a click. But, no...obvious did not slap me in the face. As a marathoner, pair of sneakers, pavement, get going. So I thought, sign up, put in the training, and give it a go on race day. But no this was different.
I knew that my bike was not the Ferrari of IronMan bikes; at most Kia level (nothing against Kia - solid little vehicle) but this was no cheetah for race day. And it's all good; I am confident my little specialized dolce can get me where I need to be, which like any other adventure, is the finish. Plus, I signed up to try something I have never done before, to challenge my inner self, to be scared of a goal but to reach for it anyway, to continue to entertain adventures as a mamma bear and to maybe inspire you to do so as well!
My trusty little Dolce and the only bike race I have done - Ride London 2014
But...
Training has set itself before me and on first splash into dark pond water fearing anything & everything (insert snapping turtles to loch ness) below and with first wheels into the wind, this is no “casual marathoning”. Do I feel over my head (I wanted to use underwater but that would have led to a series of cringe worthy tri cliches so I backpedaled - see what I mean). Sign up for an IronMan, I said. It will be fun, I said. You can do it, I said. My friends said, "Kelly, you cannot wing this one." And they were right.
If you ever want a lesson on how not to head into IronMan I am sure I am case in point. Let’s see, I registered for a Spring IM (of course) when it’s the dead of winter in the Northeast aka basement dungeon training (although there are some pretty cool basement “pain caves”). COVID has nixed any option of a half-IM distance for a test run. Always good. And I’ve entrusted my crazy (in all the most endearing of ways) Australian friend whose too many to count IM finishes involve swimming (& ginning) like a fish to chart my training course. Recipe for perfection.
Getting my toes wet - First Open Water Swim
Scared? Yeah me too. The distance. The cost. The gear - and not only just clothing - the wet suit or five, the bike, the cleats, the trainer, the skinsuit, the apps? It’s a lot to learn and take in. But that’s life, right? Always something that comes out of the blue or may be daunting. There’s something incredibly powerful and energizing about stepping out of your comfort zone. So here we go.
Trainer ordered and on its way. Trusty, rusty Kia Dolce sized to one said Kelly. Cleats ready. Balega dry fits in waiting. Bike computer, pedal power/cadence what not, training peaks on download. For someone that has never worn a watch, tracked splits or times, I sure am all bedazzled for this sport.
Uh, mom, not so sure about this idea…
I am not sure how this journey will end, but I am certain I’m giving it my all and I’m going to tri (like what I did there ?).
So here’s to diving right in. To saying YES! To having an awesome Aussie friend willing to set aside time to coach me to success; to a nearby teammate training with me and getting me to register; to a home base that supports me reaching this goal. Here’s to no practice course, to meeting IronMan head on in the blazing heat of Texas y’all, and to finding the red carpet...cause its been a tough year and not sure about you, but I needed a tough challenge.
Send help! And money...or say yes with me and dive right in as well…
