As soon as I saw that first post and read the first few submissions, I knew I had to turn away and start my own list. I did just that and have kept adding to it throughout my journey. Here is what I came up with.
IRONMAN is...
-Laundry. SO much laundry.
-Bike bottles to wash. SO many bike bottles to wash.
-Going through the inconvenience of shaving just before bedtime because you have an important meeting at work, the next morning, and the pool locker room does not have hot water in the sinks for you to do it there.
-Being completely willing to bike X miles and immediately run X miles over the course of an X-hour brick workout, but being TOTALLY UNWILLING to park more than 3 spaces away from the cart-return at the grocery store, later that day.
-Biting down on your shampoo bottle to keep from crying like a little girl when the water in the shower hits your chafed spots immediately after a long bike or run.
-Having the complexion of teenager with a penchant for greasy foods, thanks to all of the sunscreen and sweat.
-In an effort to avoid skin cancer, committing to always use sunscreen and not getting a single sunburn all season! (Pretty proud of myself on this one!)
-Finally locking in your hydration and nutrition so well that your body ALWAYS wants to eat and/or drink every 15 minutes, not just when you are training!
-By the end of IRONMAN training, seeing a 4-hour bike/1-hour run brick as your “long” workout for the weekend and thinking, “Yes! An easy day!”
-With one week to go before your race, your compulsive hand-washing and hyper-sensitive germ-avoidance makes people suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorders look absolutely normal and well-adjusted!
-Doing ALL of the prescribed yardage/mileage in your cool down. Even when nobody is “looking”!
-Knowing more about the week’s weather, just so you can figure out when to fit in all of your workouts, than all of the local meteorologists combined!
-Realizing that tomorrow’s weather is going to keep you from your swim workout… and doing it today instead!
-Waking up before the alarm goes off for that early morning swim/bike/run!
-Hoping the “raccoon eyes”, caused by your goggles during your 5:30 am swim, are gone before your big 9:00 am business meeting!
-Spending more time, the week before the race, thinking about how you want your finish line picture to look than you did in the pool!
-Spending an hour on IRONMANStore.com, the week before your race, trying to decide what Finisher gear you’re going to buy.
-Wondering if you should buy an extra MDot vehicle magnet to have on hand in case you ever need to rent a car.
-Completely nonsensical, race-catastrophe nightmares in the week or two (during taper) before the event.
-Anyone who finishes in less than 17 hours!!!
These are just a few of the humorous or otherwise interesting observations I have made throughout this journey. I hope that your journey has been equally as enlightening and humorous!
The countdown continues! Only eight more days until 2014 IRONMAN Florida!!!
Great post! Can't wait to experience the craziness firsthand!
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