Next weekend, on Sunday August 28th, I will be doing an Ironman Triathlon. For those who don't know, it is one of the longest triathlon race, the distances being 2.4km swim (1.2 miles), 180km bike (112 miles) and a marathon as 42.6km (26.2 miles). You have 17 hours to finish it. There are over 2000 people doing it and they all start swimming together (mass start) which is like being in a washing machine.
I did that event last year and below is a picture of me at the beginning of the marathon (I was not really smiling at the end!).
Today I watched the DVD of the highlights from last year and had tears in my eyes. Actually I tried real hard not to cry in front of my father. It is so emotional for me to have done it once, let alone do it again this year!
I don't come from an athletic background and a few years ago I would have never thought I could ever do such an event. I had to surmount physical and mental barriers. I put my life on hold and concentrated on training for the last 2 years. All the time I spent preparing, training. All the money I spent getting the gear or traveling to races. All the parties and night outs that I missed because I had to get up early the next day to train and didn't want to be tired or hung over. Or the vacation away from home I didn't take because I would have missed some training. It is a lot of sacrifices that goes into preparing to do a long endurance race like that. And you know what? I wouldn't change it one bit! All the pain, sweat, tears, laughs, money, missed trips... Not one thing I would change!!
I can't believe I am doing it again this year! Me? Wow I have come a long way from the non-athletic girl I used to be! I am so excited!!!!!!!!! It is surreal! Think about me next Sunday! It will be a long hard day and I will enjoy every second of it!
Angelique xxx
Last year's Ironman
