Ready...Set...Go!

Okay, I think I'm ready to put this in writing--

This year--August, to be exact--I'm going to be doing a HALF IRONMAN!

1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run.

I know.  It sounds crazy just reading it, right?  Imagine saying it out loud!  I'm going to swim for a mile, then I'm going to ride my bike for over 50 miles and THEN I'm going to run 13 miles.

So let me back up a bit...

Last September, I was signed up to do a duathlon with my buddy M.  As the summer wore on, I was wearing out really fast.  I was also nursing an ankle injury.  I put in a pretty dismal half marathon in August followed by a half-hearted sprint tri the next weekend, and I made the decision not to do the duathlon.  I emailed the race director and she graciously rolled my entry fee to 2012.

But I wasn't really thinking about 2012 because, as you may recall, Baby #3 was on it's way.

And then December happened.  At one of my lowest points (hi, welcome to my roller coaster), I received an email from the race director reminding me of my deferred race fee and she wanted to know which race I wanted to sign up for.  And suddenly, I felt like I had something to look forward to.

I spent a lot of time considering my options--all of them.  Not just which race to do, but non-race options as well.  I don't want anyone thinking that I signed up for this thing on a whim.  I spent many hours contemplating the impact it would have on my life as well as our family's life.  And in the end, I really felt like this was a unique opportunity at a fraction of the cost and I would regret not taking advantage of it.

(I know this sounds like I put a race ahead of having a baby, but there were other factors at play.  Not just this one thing.  I'm just choosing not to share those parts).

Anyway, after much contemplation, I decided to jump into the biggest race they offer and sent back the email declaring my intentions.

Then I set about telling people.  I didn't want to just tell everyone.  There was a part of me that was afraid that it would be too much for me to handle.  The training and the actual race.  But, after a few initial balks at the idea, pretty much everyone I've told has been very supportive of the idea.

In fact, my buddy M, who I was suppose to go with last year, signed up to do the duathlon again this year.

But the most surprising thing was when I told my running buddy H.

H looked at me like I was crazy and said "you can't do it without me."

I laughed and said "but, H, you just had a baby in September.  Your fifth baby, to be precise.  I don't want you to feel like you have to do this." but inside I was thinking "please, please, please do this so I don't have to do it--the training and the race--alone."

A few days later, H called up and said "I'm serious.  You can't do this without me.  Send me a link to the website.  I'm signing up."

And that, folks, is true friendship! I'm excited and terrified at what lies ahead.  But, in the end, I will be able to cross off my list something I thought I wouldn't be crossing off for years to come, if ever.  An Ironman (Half or Full) really was a pipe dream I never thought I'd have the guts to try.

And I have the coolest friends EVER!  M. and H. rock!