The pacific ocean is beginning to warm up, but it’s still a frigid 60 degrees. I was out for an hour long paddle yesterday. Just a little cross training for my swim. I followed that up with a 2 hour bike ride. That was Tuesday. An Ironman race is one of the most grueling athletic events ever imagined. It was started 40 years ago when a bunch of people decided to swim 2.4miles, bike 112 miles, then run a marathon. Yes, all in one day. Since then an incredible sport and culture has been born. People get the famous Ironman logo tattooed on their body and becoming an Ironman or Ironwoman, becomes part of their identity.
Back in the year 2000 I ran my first marathon. Without getting into too much detail, that race changed the course of my life forever. I fell in love with racing, training, the excitement around race day, the anticipation leading up to the race, the recovery, nutrition, and all the places I’ve been thanks to endurance events. After that first Rock ’n Roll marathon down in San Diego, I did the Malibu Triathlon, then the Balance Bar Adventure Race and much more. Adventure Racing was my thing. I created a team called the Zen Warriors. We were pretty good for a while and would finish in the middle of the elite division during most races. These races would take us anywhere from 2 hours upwards of 36 hours. Yes, in a row. We would kayak, mountain bike, trek or trail run, rappel, navigate and what ever other cockamamy idea the race directors would come up with. I loved it. It fed my soul.
Competing in the sport of triathlon was a way for me to continue my training and stay in shape for adventure races and other endurance events. I always thought I’d do an Ironman, just never seemed to get around to it. Well, this year is the year and I couldn’t be more excited! What does it take to be an Ironman? Well, officially, I don’t know and I won’t be able to tell you until late in the day August 19 in Mont Tremblant, Canada. However, I can tell you what it takes to even think about registering for the race and what you need to prepare. I have loads of experience with endurance events and they’re very similar to what you need to live an awesome life.
Commitment. Focus. Balance. Perseverance. Gratitude.
That’s it, those 5 things, followed by a lot of training and you will not only make it to the start line of the Ironman, but living these principles will help create a pretty amazing life for yourself!
Commitment.
The first thing you have to do is commit to your goal. This year, I’m doing an Ironman. A few years ago my big goal was the Leadville 100 MTB race. I like to choose a big race for the year, then a bunch of little races throughout the year to help keep me in shape.
Focus.
You won’t get anywhere without a little focus. There will be times you’re going to want to sleep in or completely give up on what lies ahead. These are the times that you must stay the course. For shorter races, most people can show up at the start line without too much training, then go slow. But if you want to do well. If you want to continually push yourself, you must train, you must stay focused. One of my goals for the Ironman is to finish strong and healthy. Many people focus on finishing or their speed. I know I’m going to finish, unless some act of God happens, and I know I’m going to go as fast as I possibly can. So, what’s more interesting to me is finishing strong and staying healthy.
Balance.
That’s where balance comes in. Strength and Flexibility are two things that don’t normally go together, but thankfully, many athletes are beginning to see how they are complimentary and necessary for each other. As a yoga teacher and endurance athlete, I’ve been the product of strength and flexibility and together they allow me to continue to compete at a high level into my late 40’s. I expect that to be the case into my late 70’s and 80’s as well. I’ll add a third category into the mix which is mindfulness. I believe that strength, flexibility, and mindfulness together will help you train, race, and finish healthy. That plan has been working for me for the last 18 years, I don’t expect it to stop now.
Perseverance.
While this is similar to focus, there is nothing like going through the pain, reaching that extra mile, and coming out on the other side. This is as true in life as it is in racing. So often we quit before we reach the good parts. Any successful person you talk to will tell you it’s so much about being relentlessly devoted to your passion, craft, gig, race, spouse, etc. If you can find the grit to persevere you will finish an Ironman or at least add some amazing value to your life and maybe others too. At the end of the day, it’s not all about you, it’s really all about us.
Gratitude.
I firmly believe that my life wouldn’t be nearly as rich and beautiful without the immense sense of gratitude I feel on a daily basis. First of all, I’m happily married with a 2 year old, which means everyday there is something new to smile about when our little family comes together. We watch our daughter discover new things, and it’s truly miraculous. Gratitude goes beyond that as well. I have gratitude for the ability to train and race. I have gratitude for the ability to do what I do. I’m a yoga teacher, personal trainer, author, speaker, and wellness coach. I get to watch people set and reach their goals which is incredibly inspiring. I recommend you start doing things that inspire you.
If you accomplish what challenges you, you will be rewarded. Then others will see the joy and satisfaction you have and want that same satisfaction. It’s the coolest double whammy. You get to do what you love and inspire others to do the same. That’s how we change ourselves and change the world while we’re at it. So, yes, I’m doing the Ironman this August, but really, I’m changing the world. I hope you join me.
Originally posted on the author’s website.
Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@beaurunsten
