Gratitude
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Well Aloha from the Big Island of Hawaii!!! Saturday I’ll be racing in the Ironman
World Championship and I find myself often being asked how I feel. Am I ready? Yep! Feeling fresh? Well…. ish, yes! But my most overwhelming feeling? That of gratitude.
I’m grateful simply that I’m healthy enough to participate
in this crazy sport of triathlon.
Grateful that I have such an amazing support system that allows me to compete at a
high level. Grateful for friends, family
and co-workers, triathletes and non-triathletes alike that “get it” and are
fully part of this journey. Grateful to
have TWO teams in Endurance Nation and Raise the Bar that each provide
community and expertise in their own unique ways. And finally I’m grateful that
I have the opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest triathlon stage with
professionals and age groupers alike all striving to get their best out of
themselves on race day.
I don’t know that I’ll make another run to
qualify for Kona and obviously if I do there is no guarantee I’ll make it. My primary goal for this experience is to
soak it all up and enjoy every moment.
Plus, if I’m having fun hopefully my family, friends and supporters will
be too and that would be the biggest win of all.
Gratitude
There will come a day when I can no longer do this. Today is not that
day.
On Island Race Prep
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I traveled solo to the Big Island last Monday and have been
doing final race preparations while getting acclimated. The miracle of the day
was turning this bag of bike parts into a bike in preparation for riding the
complete course on Tuesday. It was done
in less than an hour and with ZERO tears.
This may be my finest triathlon accomplishment, truthfully.
I was assured this
pile of parts in a bag would return to the shape of a bike.
Well, with enough blood,
sweat and (no) tears - mission accomplished!
My brother Kyle blocked off the IMWC window for his Kona
condo in advance of IMTX and didn’t even TELL ME until I’d qualified. Hit him up at www.banyanbreakers.com any time you
may be in Kona. Note some condos charge
an EXTRA fee for greasy triathletes. Although
I can’t promise the family discount (errr….. freebie) he won’t rake you over
the (lava) coals.
This view sponsored by my brother Kyle.
Yep, grateful.
After Mark arrived on Friday we did a photo shoot in the
lava fields with friend of the family, Nick Johnson. Nick was super kind and easy to work with. He effortlessly welcomed us as ohana and
captured several shots we are thrilled with in just a couple of hours.
Aloha Mark! Now can you fix this little squeak here, here and here? And the tape on
the bars is a little sticky… and.. and…
Wednesday of this week was AMAZING!
It kicked off with a bike-to-run brick with our Endurance Nation
team. Kyle and his girlfriend Kari
arrived as a surprise as I finished the brick run out of the 98° Energy Lab. I
believe the scene included me pouring water over my head, discarding clothing
as fast as possible, fully drenched in sweat, snotty and generally totally
nasty. Well I STILL got a big hug from
Kari. Yay family!?! As if
Wednesday couldn’t get any better, after a dinner with our Endurance Nation
family we arrived back at the condo to my parents who had taken quite possibly
the longest, most circuitous route from Sequim to Kona. Yes, I cried. And I’ll get to see two of my dearest friends at bike check in Friday!!! They are taking this Iron Sherpa thing to the EXTREME (you've been warned) and it provides me a lot of serenity simply knowing they are here. My cup runneth over.
With Endurance Nation Coaches Rich (L) and Patrick (R)
These two guys have taught me
literally almost everything I know about triathlon.
I think I got a little smarter
just standing between them for a moment.
My “Fan Club" AKA Mom
See what she did there? FAN
club!?! Dawwww….
A one-minute video of final on island prep
training. A highlight reel, so to speak!
Race Day
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On race day my technical race goals are simply about
executing my plan as best I can. Ironman
is a game of chess between the brain and the body, yes? Who will win??? That being said, some of the details include:
Goals
- Race Morning: Attitude of Gratitude
- Swim: Start well within myself and stay calm. Pick up the pace as breathing normalizes and
sight confidently. Technique cues
include turnover and follow through.
Permission granted to finish the inbound leg strong if all is gong well.
- Bike: Stick to the power plan with an overriding heart
rate cap. Take in nutrition as planned
unless it stops staying down. Be smart
and keep the rubber side down.
- Run: Progress from the average heart rate off the bike
through my heart rate zones and empty the tank in the final six miles. SMILE!
Tracking
- Option #1: IronmanLive.com
Tracking is, as always available on
ironmanlive.com on race day. My bib is #1494.
- Option #2: Quarqrace.com
Our Endurance Nation partners at Quarq have
provided us with a device called the Qollector that should provide real-time
GPS, heart rate, power and cadence data on race day. Learn more about the product and check out Coach P’s interview with the smart guys!
With Cheers, Cowbell, MUCH Aloha and GRATITUDE!
- Jenn