So, um, I did it. I can’t believe I did. For a while I just thought it was talk and shit. No way that I was going to go through with it. But it is one of my goals for this year so I couldn’t disappoint myself. Besides it’s just the first step in the journey that’s going to follow, and with everything that we do, it’s about the journey not the destination, because let’s face it, nothing is worth doing if the journey completely sucks. You have to enjoy the process to enjoy the result.
I have registered for the Canberra 70.3 Ironman. Paid a hefty sum of $325 to have the privilege of putting myself through up to 7.5 hours of torture on the day, and to spend the next 47 weeks or so working my butt off to build endurance, speed, and technique in all three disciplines so that I on December 16 2012 I make myself proud and will be able to say, yep, I did it. I signed up, I trained my rear off regardless of the obstacles that got in the way, I showed up, I raced hard and I finished with a smile on my face with my loved ones watching on the sidelines, and my darling giving me a big smooch after I cross the finish line exhausted, drenched in sweat, tears, sticky energy gels and water, and feeling like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to… well a girl can dream a little can’t she.
Ok, so why did I sign up for a 70.3 that’s almost a year away? Well, firstly and probably the most important thing is that it’s in a lake. I am a wuss when it comes to open water and recently there have been a lot more shark sightings. So I’m a little bit paranoid but there’s no point in doing a race where I’m going to be freaking out for the 30-40 minutes or so that I’m in the water. Thanks but no thanks.
Secondly, there are a few things happening throughout the year. Races that I wanted to do, planned travel and little bits and pieces here and there. I want to make sure they get done. The great thing is that they will make me better at racing and training – fingers crossed that’s the case.
Finally, this is a long distance. While it’s not the Ironman (not sure if I’ll be game enough to do one), it’s still half of one and that’s up to 7.5 hours of racing in the three disciplines. Given my recent training history I have been slacking off. I need the time to train and build endurance. I’m sure I could do it within a few months of training but all the 70.3s between now and then are in the ocean – sorry not gonna happen.
So Canberra 70.3 on December 16 2012 it is. It’s the beautiful capital city of Australia and I can’t wait. The countdown has begun.
