Training in Fear

When I signed up for IRONMAN Wisconsin 2011, I was motivated to train and complete my workouts because I was afraid of the 140.6 mile distance.  The furthest race I had completed prior to IRONMAN Wisconsin was 70.3 miles…How on earth would I be able to complete double the distance?!?!?!?!  Thanks to a little fear of the distance, I put my best foot forward every day and completed most of my scheduled workouts.

I know that fear can be unhealthy, but I believe it can also be motivating and empowering.  It all depends on how you allow it to impact you.  I don’t allow fear to intimidate me; instead, I allow it to motivate and empower me to be the best version of myself that I can be.  I allow it to help me get my feet to the floor…I allow it to motivate me to complete my workouts…I allow it to push me to be my best while training and in my everyday life…I allow it to help me “keep moving forward.”

When I signed up for IRONMAN Wisconsin 2014, I knew I was no longer afraid of the distance…I had already crossed the finish line at IRONMAN Wisconsin in 2011, so I knew I could do the distance.  Why then was I signing up again???  To have a “better” race…to push myself out of my comfort zone…to continue to find that better version of myself…to experience a different journey on my way to the IRONMAN finish line.

So what motivates me now to complete my workouts as I race for IMWI???  Why FEAR of course…fear of getting too lackadaisical with my training and therefore not being adequately prepared to put my best foot forward on race day.

What motivates you to complete your workouts?

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Week #3 (Base Training) Totals:

Swim:  6200 yards

Bike:  15.9 miles (I only had one bike ride this week 😦 )

Run:  20.05 miles

Strength Training:  2 hours & 45 minutes

Hot Yoga:  1 hour & 30 minutes (I only made it to one class this week 😦 )

Week #3 in the green 😉

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Racing Bucket List #4

This race is actually in a tie for #1 on my bucket list, but my OCD tendencies have me listing it as #4…they must be in numerical order. 🙂

How magnificently BEAUTIFUL?!?!?!?!

IRONMAN Canada has recently snuck onto my racing radar.  What intrigues me about IRONMAN Canada???  Here are just a few things:

1. It is in Whistler, BC, Canada…the Official Alpine Skiing Venue for the 2010 winter Olympics.  I have never been to Canada, but have always wanted to go.  What better reason than to race IRONMAN Canada?!?!?!?
2. IRONMAN Canada is held in late July, which is a perfect time to race for a school teacher.  I will be off school during the hardest part of my training.  I will not have to take time off of work to race.  We can make a longer vacation out of it (instead of only being allowed to take two paid vacation days if I were in school).
3. The bike course…112 mile one loop course with 4213 feet of climbing.  I love climbing on the bike and having a more challenging course that provides a variety of things to keep me mentally focused.
4. The run course…the 26.2 mile run course is two loops.  It is a relatively flat run course with only 699 feet of climbing.  After 112 miles of cycling on a rather hilly course, a relatively flat run will be a welcomed change.
5. The swim…will happen in the beautiful clear waters of Alta Lake.  With water temperatures in the mid to upper 60s, it is a perfect temperature for the 2.4 mile wetsuit legal swim.
6. I love the mountains…this will provide for some amazing views while on the bike and run.  (Since my face will be in the water during the swim, I don’t anticipate seeing much of the beautiful scenery while swimming.)
7. I’m always up for a challenge…IRONMAN is always a challenge.  It doesn’t matter where the race venue is or what the day brings, when you race for 140.6 miles, you are bound to encounter challenges along the way.

I’m thinking IRONMAN Canada 2016…who’s with me????