It’s arrived. T-1!! I
have spent the last 9 months thinking of this day, from the moment I got the notification
“Congratulations, you have secured a place for Ironman 70.3 Dublin”! I have spent the last 12 weeks living my life
by a plan that’s been stuck to my fridge door since the 11th of May,
with swims, cycles, runs, cycles and runs, races, days off and a few sessions
skipped. And here is it! This time tomorrow I’ll be out of the water,
on my bike and hopefully somewhere in and around Sandymount, about 10k down, 80
to go.
Tomorrow I am taking part in my first Ironman 70.3. I never doubted this day would come, I knew
it would be emotional, but I never really thought of what it would be
like. I’m sitting here in my apartment, a notebook of lists to my right, three gear bags laid out on the
floor with all the requisite bits and bobs sitting on top, ready to be packed
and taken to the drop off points in Dun Laoghaire and Phoenix Park. I’m trying to focus on the logistics because
it will stop me from breaking down in tears and laughter!!
I was an active child and not too bad at sports, but never
excelled hugely. I was a typical university girl, finding
booze, boys and beauty products always much more attractive
than a session at the gym, on the roads or in the pool. About 11 years ago I started working out in
the gym because I’d been asked to be a bridesmaid and my vanity made it damn
sure I was not going to be the ‘heavy one’…and eight years ago I started
running. Slowly at first, then a little
faster. I completed one marathon, gazillions of other distances and got well
and truly hooked. Three years ago I
changed my training focus, got a new personal trainer, which exposed me to a
newer, healthier and happier way of training….and I started to get evil
thoughts about triathlons. I couldn’t swim very well, so that was always going
to be a struggle, but I was willing to give it a go. Five triathlons, one panic in the sea, four teary
starts and I am now one day away from starting my very first Ironman 70.3.
My goal since November 2014 has been to make it to the start
line. And it’s looking like I’ll tick that box! And after that it’s – finish
the swim, start the cycle, finish the cycle, start the run, finish the run…and
get that IM70.3 medal and t-shirt. There
are times I look at myself and can’t believe I’m doing this. Who do I think I
am? I’m 38 years of age, I weigh 71.4kg,
I’m neither fast nor furious, what makes me think I can swim 1.9km, then cycle
90km and finish it off with a 21km run.
What kind of idiot are you? And
then I look back at all I’ve achieved in this area. I have never backed out of
a race, I’ve finished every race I’ve started, I’ve usually (if not always) finished
in and around the times I’ve set myself. I can do this and I will do this. Slow
and steady, you’ll get there.
The thoughts that are going through my head right now are
crazy “I can’t believe I’m doing this” “I’m doing this!” “What if I miss a cut
off” “You’re going to nail each and every one of these” “I’m so tired, how am I going to do this” “Your
body and mind won’t let you down!” “I want to cry, why do I want to cry?” “I
hope my blue onesie fits me” “I kind of wish I’d bought a new onesie!” “At
least people will be able to spot me in my blue onesie” “I’m wearing my medal
for three days afterwards” “People think I’m joking” “I’m not!”
I have the most amazing set of friends and family who are
all supporting and cheering me on this Sunday.
The emails, notes, texts, calls and cards I’ve gotten over the last few
weeks have been so amazing and so emotional.
So emotional that I can’t read any of them today. I’ve had family and friends cheering from
abroad, my mid-late 60s parents travelling 120km to Phoenix Park, family with
children and baby-bump out on the roads, friends with home-made banners, friends
getting up at 5.00am to drop me to the start and cheer me out of the water,
friends with children in tow likely dragging them up and down Chesterfield Ave
all to cheer and support me. It is amazing and makes me very emotional. I can’t
imagine what I’ll be like tomorrow. And
while I really want to finish this first and foremost, I also want to enjoy it.
I want to cross the line with a smile on my face and legs on my body!!
It’s now 9.50am and I’ll have passed the Eastlink Bridge by
now and be on my way down the quays towards the West. The sun is shining
outside. Tomorrow is going to be a good day.
It’s going to be my day.
Now I better go shower and change and get bag dropping or
there’ll be no bike for me to hop on tomorrow.
