Well it got me to thinking: How do you measure an Ironman? We all know that it is 140.6 miles, but what about all the other "things" that make the story complete?
Of course, there are all the basics that happen in 18 weeks of training:
1931 miles on the bike
543 miles run
137,000 yards (78 miles) of swimming
280 hours of training
And don't forget:
3 pairs of running shoes
54 loads of laundry
1 flat tire
3 dropped chains
There has to be food:
176 cups of coffee
24 post training breakfast/brunches in which we solved the world's problems
32 breakfast tacos
10 pizzas
countless pancakes/waffles
52 packages of Shot Blocks
10 Pop Tarts
85 bottles of Topo Chico
24 MexiCokes
Along the way there were also:
2 races
3 bike rallies
1 5K age group win
3 parties
5 pedicures
4 massages
1 large book read entirely on the bike trainer
But this is the best part of the whole process, the part that will keep me coming back again and again:
24 Lake Grapevine sunrises
1 duck (the lovable Floyd MayFeather)
35 bad jokes
235 laughs
4 "you are stronger than you think" pep talks
1 long Goat walk
3 "pretty sure this brick run might kill me" runs
1 rain run
8 post long training day camp chair chats
3 friendships that grew stronger and deeper
It is officially less than a week until race day and my bike is on its way to Maryland tonight. I didn't just survive the training, I thrived. I am not sure that I have ever had this much fun or learned this much about myself while training for a race. I feel as if I am on a roller coaster that is slowly climbing the hill before that first big drop. There is no getting off now, time to enjoy the final ride.
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