The final post for this blog - so will try to choose words carefully.
Firstly race day: I would like to have executed better and gotten the finer points right. It was a clumbsy and poor T1 and then had to dismount in the first 200m of bike to get shoes on properly was collectively a waste of at least 4 minutes - avoidable and stupid. That said, everything else on race day was close to perfect.
Glad I chose to race-it rather than simply try to complete, which had become a consideration in my mind over the last few weeks leading up. But I'm satisfied that I pushed right up against my capability all day, concentrated well, and didn't walk, even though the temptation was overwhelming at times from km 10 onwards in the run. Very very happy with the way I approached the day. It was very uncomfortable physically and mentally, right from the melee of fists and feet when the musket sounds to the end when I was just totalled on the run.
10:47 isn't what it might have been with some good run training, but is hours ahead of what it could have been three weeks out. Feel like I can hang my hat on it with some pride. 26th out of 195 in my group. good enough.
The journey: The whole process is one of compromise. Family, lifestyle, money, work etc. People talk about the limited time they have available to train, but I am not sympathetic to the point as it is always a choice - a trade off. And it is optional where you want to pitch - some sacrifice more along the way, and get more back on race day - some less. I tried to land in the middle somewhere and be as fair as I could be to family, work, finances, lifestyle etc. I probably got more back on race day than I was entitled to.
The only time where there is no compromise is race day. All you can really do is drain every drop out of it, hope for an even hand from luck and brace yourself for the hurt, because it does hurt rather badly.
On the whole, Ironman was an unbelievably rewarding experience for me. 4:30am alarms, chilling morning rides, desperately trying to make up lost time with the family, etc etc., yet through all this not a single temper tantrum among any the boys, good humor and effort the whole journey, great family support from Mez and RJ, and happy included families for everyone in our group. Couldn't possibly hope for a better bunch of guys - worked hard, at some point everyone spent time suffering the hands of the others, and it drove all of us towards a strong race day - along the way you could just feel a result growing for everyone.
The learning: There are plenty.
I think the most salient is that including your family beats asking them to tolerate your indulgence. The more they are an importnt part, the more they will enjoy the ride.
Its an adventure, and you hould see it as such. There is always a risk of it turning to muck, and those risks are part of the adventure itself. If it all went smoothly, it wouldn;t be as worthwhile.
You can't manufacture an adventure. Everytime you throw out the seeds, some will die in the ground, but some will germinate into life-markers and experiences that you will take to the grave. The essential incredients however are the same - great friends, a goal that is not attainable in the short term but which can be worked towards, with a prize at the end that is valuable. Study, travel, sport, work, family - doesn't matter - good people, meaningful goal, and a journey. It works.
Next: A rest. Some time with Merry and RJ. Find some more seeds, throw em out there, see what grows.
W
