I have been in training for Ironman Lake Placid (2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking, 26.2 miles running - in less than 17 hours) for the past nine months. During that time, I swam approximately 210,000 meters (130.5 miles); I spent 11,996 minutes on my bike (3,199 miles); and I ran roughly 712 miles. I trained for an average of 12.2 hours each week. That meant about seven hours less sleep than I was used to and five fewer hours of “free time” with my wife than if I wasn’t training to accomplish something that less than 0.002% of the world’s population will try to do – and for good reason!
I encountered a few problems during my training. There was my IT Band Syndrome, but with regular stretching and some PT treatment, it was quickly brought under control. Then there was the issue of beginning a new job mid-training, which has a significant commute – cutting into training time. Weaving through all that was some upper back/neck pain. Initially I assumed this was related to training, as it actually began last summer while I was near the end of training for my first 70.3 – but I finally had an MRI and found out that I have some sort of arthritis in my spine – awesome!
My guess is that the struggles I went through are pretty common for people training for an Ironman. I can’t imagine many age groupers make it through what rounds to a year’s worth of heavy training without needing some minor repairs or tune-ups.
I used to think it was all just hot air when people said things like “I learned a lot about myself during the process,” and “it’s an honor just to be competing,” but then again, I also used to be 100 pounds overweight and my idea of a triathlon was snack, couch, TV.
I have, in fact, learned a lot about myself physically, but more so, mentally. I found that I do in fact have will power. I never thought I had any; or at least not much of it. But, during the past nine months I’ve accomplished things I never would have thought possible. I finished my second 70.3 race, with a smile. I nearly ran a sub-6 minute mile (and the attempts at that will resume once I recover from the madness that will commence shortly after dawn on Sunday). I came in fifth in my age group at a sprint (less than 2 minutes shy of the podium), running my fastest 5K ever (including road races without that pesky swim-bike). I ran in the snowy mountains of upstate New York while my family slept in a warm condo. I biked through rain while my friends gathered at brunch. I went to bed, some nights, earlier than I used to eat dinner. I woke up earlier than I used to go to bed. I’ve raised more than $1,500 for local cancer treatment, through LIFEcycle (you can donate on my personal fundraising page). I miraculously cut candy out of my diet (a few days a week, anyway – I had to pick my battles!). And the biggest miracle of all - I managed to remain a good enough husband to still have a wife!
Speaking of miracles, when I finish the race, it’ll be at quite a fitting venue: the Lake Placid Olympic Center, where “Great moments are born from great opportunities. And that’s what [I] have here tonight, boys. That’s what [I’ve] earned here tonight!” Sunday will be my great moment, born from the great opportunity I earned by making it through training.
I look ahead to Sunday, knowing that I am truly lucky to have made it this far. I still have another 140.6 to go to reach the end, but just toeing the line is a miracle for me. I am honored to compete… I am ready to race… I’m here to finish.
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