Amazing Stories

Well its taper time and life has slowed just a little. I have been watching some of the people's stories unfold on the Ironman Facebook page with a lot of interest.
How wonderful that this sport is there, not just for the professionals. That everyday people with more than everyday stories can attempt such a wonderful/ challenging event such as an Ironman. There's a lady who's spent the past few years battling cancer. A gentleman who lost his wife to breast cancer less than 12 months ago and races in her honour, who will have a crowd of friends dressed in pink tshirts coming to Busselton to support him in his quest to finish. There are Grandmothers and Grandfathers. People coming from Canada, USA, Sardinia, Japan and many of the European countries. All with the same thing/goal in mind.
It's interesting how there are some things in this world that UNITE people. Music is one of those things and it appears among others that Ironman is also a conduit for people to come together from all walks of life. Out on the run people are supporting each other along the way. Crowds are cheering you on. Truly a beautiful thing....Away from wars and borders where colour, religion and burkhas hold no interest.... just the respect and honour that this race deserves.


As I mentioned I am in taper.. Monday I had a lovely swim. It was nice after the weekend rest to not swim with heavy legs!! In the afternoon I had a 20k run. My last longish run... Fantastic.


Tuesday morning I met up with Nat for a 30km recovery spin and then onto the track in the afternoon for a much lighter set than over the past few weeks..... 2kms at threshold,1km at interval pace then 5 x 400. With the 1st, 2nd and 4th lap at threshold and laps 3 and 5 at interval pace ( which is slightly faster).


Wednesday was back in the pool and then windtrainer session in the afternoon. The intensity in these sessions is still high but they have shortened considerably. This particular session only went for 70mins.


This morning I had 50kms to do on the bike. I got up at 4am was on the road by 4.15 and met up with Nat around 4.30. It was a full moon this morning with a steady but not tough southerly. Both Nat and I were both surprised at how fast the past few months have gone and we really are finding it amazing that in 10days we will be attempting probably one of the toughest things we will ever do in life. I enjoyed my ride this morning and felt relatively good. My calves and hamstrings feel tight but I am off for a massage tomorrow afternoon so that should help.
It's Friday morning and I've woken up with a sore throat again. Not happy about that at all. I skipped swimming this morning making today my rest day instead of Sunday.
This afternoon I grabbed 10mins of TV while having a quick bite to eat. There was a lady on there "Amy" who while in hospital having her 2nd baby had picked up a flesh eating bug. She ended up losing both her arms and both legs. The hospital staff said that they were waiting for her to hit the "Why Me"... but it never happened . She just wanted to get home to her children and look after them.... When interviewing her she didn't complain and was happy but made a statement saying there were just some things she would never be able to do... Never. Wow that resonated with me. We are all so very lucky to have one very important thing in our lives and that's choice. It made me think about the Ironman next weekend . I can do this Ironman..... because I want to...........
because I choose to.......
because I can.................
How blessed are we!!!!
I will think of Amy while I race. I know she will never know who I am or what I do but I have decided to carry her will and tenacity with me next weekend.....

The afternoon I headed up to my sister-in-laws for the best massage!! Thanks Ileana.
All greased up from my massage I headed down to Sorrento Surf Club to watch the Max Grieves run. The club holds this run every year in memory of one of their founding members who passed away from cancer. It was a great turn out. There's a 10km and 5km run and a 5km walk. At a guess I am thinking they got about 50-60 people down there and just as many if not more watching. My assistant coach (ha ha) Sue, won the females...you go girl!! It was a great night and hopefully the club will have a good donation to hand on to the Cancer Foundation.
Saturday morning I woke at 3 to chairs and umbrellas being blown around everywhere. I decided there and then that I wasn't going to ride this morning. When I spoke to the others they said it was horrible and that they didn't end up doing the 90kms due to such strong and dangerous winds. Will and I had a sleep in and then jumped on the windtrainer and did our 90kms. Later on in the day we headed off to Han's for dinner then went to watch the movie "The American " with George Clooney. Sad to say very disappointing . I love George but not in this movie . We found it slow moving and quite boring. We kept thinking there was going to be some big major twist at the end but it never came. Oh well ... still a lovely night out.

Sunday and today is supposed to be my rest day. But not having swam on Friday I just wanted to do a nice easy couple of k's. I had brought some new goggles and wanted to give them a run as well. Met Sue (Ass. Coach :) ) at Craigie and had a lovely swim. The weather was warm and the water was refreshing.

So a nice week of taper . All up did 12hrs 45 of training
Run...36.5kms ... 3hrs 10mins'
Bike...155kms....6hrs 55min
Swim.7.6kms.....2hrs 40mins

So as a tribute to Amy, I leave you with this quote from John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937)

I do not think there is any other quality

so essential to success of any kind

as the quality of perseverance.

It overcomes almost everything, even nature....