Sunday, June 14, 2009

Well, I said....

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until the Ironman race "popped up" on my Training Peaks schedule. Sure enough, three weeks ago when the monthly calendar changed to include my June 21 race date, I felt a few butterflies. But there was still plenty of time to go...No need to be alarmed yet!

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until after the Encinitas Sprint Triathlon. And that race was so short, so close, and over with so quickly, that I really didn't think about it. Though I did remind myself that the next race on the schedule was Ironman Coeur d'Alene. But there was still plenty of time to go...

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous after my LAST LONG RIDE. Somehow my legs, lungs, and (mostly) everything survived and I lived to tell the tale. I still had my taper to get through, though - so nothing to worry about! So there was still plenty of time to go...

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous last weekend, because really when you think about it - 14 days is a long time to go. So much planning to do, people to see, stuff to pack up... Still, plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous this past week because I still had nearly fifteen hours of training on my schedule. Yes, it was most certainly busier in the beginning than it was in the end, but the rest did me good and I got a chance to catch up on housework. Still, plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until I started folding the laundry and doing extra cleaning in the kitchen. That day came and went and the house (and our closets) look so much better for it. But at thirteen days out, there was STILL plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't get nervous until I made my packing list. But I realized that was a necessity eleven days out from the race, as I was shipping my bike. Best to wait until after the bike shipped. There was still plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I wouldn't be nervous until after I dropped off my bike and gear back to be shipped. But the Friday nine days before a race looks so far away on the calendar. Still, plenty of time to go.

Well, I said I would wait to be nervous until after all the races this weekend. It was incredible to (virtually) support all my friends and fellow bloggers via Ironmanlive.com and the Book of Face. And I know I hit the "refresh" button more than I could count...And Nathaniel knew exactly when my friends would cross the line, by the HUGE CHEERS that would erupt from my person.

But now the races are over. My hat goes off to everyone out there who raced AND spectated (because we all know that is hard work as well!) - thank you for the lovely distraction. And congratulations on your race and wonderful accomplishment!

Because now...well, now there's no hiding. Rebecca summed it up best, in my opinion. I kept looking at the clock today, thinking (knock on wood!) that, "In this time next week I'll be swimming...I'll be on the bike... I'll probably be running the 'Ironman shuffle'...hopefully be finished and enjoying many tasty treats..."

But it struck me as I was prepping the turkey burgers for tonight's dinner...I contemplated briefly weather or not I would want to jump ahead exactly one week. It would be 8 pm local time, and I would (hopefully) be finished with my race... Would I trade where I was now for the future?

And just as soon as I had the thought, I struck it down. Absolutely not. I would NOT trade the pre-race experience, the travel, spending time with new friends, seeing my family, and my FIRST IRONMAN for anything. I rationalized that right where I was, is exactly where I'm supposed to be. And one week from today, I'm supposed to be doing my first Ironman.

But I'll still be nervous and jittery and...you get the idea.

Here's to the unexpected joys and pre-race jitters, and all that other madness associated with my first Ironman Taper! Cheers!

17 comments:

Jen said...

Hey Marit...

I loved the Donut Run post :) What a great way to start your race week countdown.

I'm so excited for you! I found your blog just after your crash. I followed your journey through the ups and downs of your recovery and back to training and racing. You have come so far and been such an inspiration!

I know that you are going to have a great day out there! We will be sending lots of positive thoughts from sunny Tucson.

ADC said...

Hey, see you this week. Woo Hoo. It will be so much fun. I am getting nervous as well but good nervous. Very excited now. You will do great.

Anonymous said...

OH MARITKA !
We are EXCITED as well. We are making our lists, checking them twice, filling suitcases and loading the car. We've never seen an IM - and now we get to see one with YOU in it. OH BOY. We can hardly wait until Friday AM when we arrive. OH BOY, OH BOY. See you soon - never SOON ENOUGH - but soon nonetheless. OH BOY, OH BOY, OH BOY!
Love,
Mom & Dad

D said...

I'm nervous for my day out there, never mind all you guys ;P hahaha

See ya in a few days! :D

Rebecca DeWire said...

I agree with you that I would never want to skip over my IM experience and all the emotions and pain that goes with it. I have yet to find anything that makes me feel so alive...perhaps that is why this distance can be so addicting.

Laura said...

Yay-yay-yay! So excited for you for next weekend! :) Then we'll be following along and yelling at the computer!

I remember two weeks out from my first IM getting up in the morning and thinking about being somewhere swimming in Mirror Lake. Then later that night while watching a movie with my boyfriend saying, 'well, I'll either be almost done with the run or done my first IM by now'. It was kind of humbling to think about how many things I had done that day and that I was barely going to be finished the race in the same amount of time. Looking back though, it's SO different to be racing. Time isn't the same somehow - you'll see. ;)

Caroline said...

I want to share something with you that my coach told me before my first Ironman. He called the night before and said "when you stand on the beach you should not feel nervous. The hard part is done. The training required for an ironman is the grueling aspect of the race. As you stand on the beach be confident you conquered the hardest part. Now, your reward for that hard work awaits....jump in the water and go get your reward!"
Ahhh, remembering that feeling coming over me on the same beach you'll be standing on still gives me chills. I hope you too feel calm and excited as you await the cannon start. Your first Ironman will be SO SPECIAL, and I can't wait for you to enjoy your reward for the amazing work you've put in over the last few months!

kerrie said...

hope to see you out there! i'll be the one wandering around with the screaming 2 yo and the well behaved 12 yo and the frightening, heavily tattooed guy. i may or may not be racing, but i'll still be cheering loudly :)

Missy said...

Yay! So excited for you and with Kona already on the list, even better. Wishing you the best of luck from TN!

I stood on the beach, toe to toe, shoulder to shoulder, listened to the music and just KNEW it was going to be a great day...and it was. It was a weird sense of calm and just KNOWING that I had done everything to be ready for this day.

Kim said...

woot woot, im getting goosebumps in excitement for you!!!!!!!

ps...your parents are too cute with their comment.

Charisa said...

It is going to be FUN.

m said...

You're gonna do great out there! You have done so much incredibly hard training and Kona is already in the bag so no worries there. Can't wait to track you online!

Mer! said...

Marit...it's "GO TIME"....your journey has been long, and hard fought and you're ready....

I agree with the poster above---when you stand on the beach, don't be nervous, all the hard work is DONE.

Enter: Mer's favorite quote she recited during IMAZ in November:

"Somewhere behind the athlete you've become, the hours of practice, the coaches who pushed you, the teammates who believe in you, is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back, PLAY FOR HER.”

--Now go get 'em!!!! We'll be cheering you on!!!

Cy said...

You are going to have the whole tri blogger world cheering so loudly for you this weekend. I'm so excited for you, and there's no doubt you will rise to the occasion. Just thinking about you crossing the finish line with Nate and your parents there to watch gives me goosebumps. YEAH!!!!

Shan said...

I'll be glued to the computer all day long cheering as loudly as I can.

Enjoy every second of the race, because you've worked SO hard to get to this point!

LOVE YA!!!! And HUUUUGGGGSSSSS! (All the way from NorCal).

Molly said...

Wooohooooooo! It's go time! Can't wait to see you this weekend :)

Kathleen @ ForgingAhead said...

I'm kinda thinking nervous is the totally normal response. You go!