Those words are from Muhammad Ali. I came across them the other day in an interview with Chrissie Wellington, 3-time Ironman world champion and world record holder. It was the same day I talked with Heather, my Ironman veteran friend I've mentioned many times in these posts. She passed on encouragement someone shared with her when she was training for Coeur d'Alene. It went something like this: You could do Ironman tomorrow. You have the physical ability to get through it. You just need to be able to believe that you can.
I'm still making my way there. Could I swim 2.4 miles tomorrow? Yes. Could I bike 112 miles tomorrow? Yes. Could I run 26.2 miles tomorrow? (no comment.) Could I do all of that without stopping? I really really want to say yes. My self-talk hasn't quite caught up to my desire.
I'm to the point now where I'm counting weeks left instead of months. Before I know it, I'll be counting days. I'm starting to sense what it might be like to be ready. The analogy that comes to mind to describe what I'm experiencing right now is taking a road trip. With every mile, home gets smaller and farther away and your end point, while still not within your sights, gets closer. You can just feel it. And at some point you cross the "halfway" mark--where you're closer to your destination than you are to home. I'm well past halfway, far from where I began. Even January seems like a million years ago. And yet the starting line in Coeur d'Alene is quite nebulous. I've been on many starting lines in the past, but not that starting line. I do and I don't know what to expect.
So I take Heather's words to heart. Perhaps I could finish the race tomorrow. At the same time I wonder if it's ever possible to be completely prepared for such an event? It is the thing that simultaneously excites and scares me the most: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tackle something a small fraction of the world will ever know. And of one thing I am certain: nothing can break my will.
Jen,
ReplyDeleteI totally appreciate those words. And they are SO true! I think "Ironman" refers more to the strength of mind than body, don't you? And if anyone in this world has strength of mind, it's YOU! You're going to rock it. I have no doubt.
One of the things that impressed (and surprised) David and me so much as spectators last year at your Tri and 1/2 IM was the number of people who from "outward appearances" would not seem to have the athletic ability to sustain such grueling physical challenges. Boy were we surprised and impressed with not only their abiilty but especially their will and belief. You have it all, Jennifer. There is no doubt in my heart and mind that you will achieve your goals and cross each and every finish line as we cheer you on!
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