Full Circle

Ironman Canada is 5 days away. It feels weird to say that. Three years ago, when I decided to do this race after seeing a recap on TV, I was looking for something that would push my body to its absolute limits. I wanted a sport that would leave me wrecked at the end so I could feel a true sense of accomplishment.

Since that fateful day, I have grown to love this sport. My outlook changed; the desire to destroy myself in one glorious day of racing was replaced with a desire to live the triathlon lifestyle. Swim, bike, and run were integrated fully into my life. As I progress along with my training, my confidence (or should I say overconfidence?) grew to the point where I convinced myself Ironman would be easy and I should aim for a fast race with a good time.

Life got in the way however; I was forced to take a second job to make money and lost a lot of prime training time. Available hours were cut short and my workout sessions decreased in volume. Then a brutal IT Band problem appeared in my leg and all running was halted for four months. Ironman still felt within reach, but previous goals of glory and fast times evaporated.

Now, with only a few days to go, and having trained next-to-nothing (or so it feels like) for the last month, I feel like the race is going to be a mess. It will be hard, it will be hot, and I'll have to work my ass off just to finish.

That that makes me happy.

I'm back in the mental state where true enjoyment will come from being completely wrecked by the end of the race, no matter what my time. I want to feel like I was run over by a train when I cross that finish line, to hear the announcer (who I hope is Steve King) say I'm an Ironman, and then collapse into a blubbering mess, face kissing the warm concrete, content with all that has happened in my journey thus far.

Then again, maybe I'll go and end up with a Hawaii place. Crazy things like that happen, right?