Let the countdown begin...5 Days until the 1/2 Ironman

"I'm tappering." I'm ready... or am I?

Signing up for this race was the most aggressive endurance related move I've ever made. The 1/2 Ironman (1.2 Mile Swim, 56 Mile Bike, 13 Mile run) is this Saturday, April 30th up in Napa... oh jeez!

This week Brett and I are focused on light workouts aimed at maintaining our intensity over a "briefer" (not a word) period of time. I just finished a quick 30 minutes jog and in a few minutes I will join Brett for a 30 minute swim at the gym.

I haven't blogged in a while but during my run today I self inspired myself to write a post.

When I run, I usually think a lot, and for those of you who know me - that can be a scary thing. After Brett and I returned from our 44 mile ride yesterday, I asked him what he thinks about while he's riding/working out. He said that he usually thinks about crossing the finish line. So today, while I was running the thought of crossing the finish line came in and out of my mind and it was difficult not to get emotional. So now I'm running with an increased heart rate and crying (happy tears of course) - which is an interesting combo, making it all that easier to breathe (insert sarcastic whisper). 70.3 Miles is a big deal. Plain and simple. It's probably the most I will ever push my body and to be honest ... I'm already $&6!#&^ my pants.

Alright, maybe I'm not having destructible bowel movements, but I'm ridden with anxiety that I can't seem to kick. Three nights ago, I was dreaming and telling myself over and over again that there is no way that I can finish a 70.3 mile race with 40% if my airway. Two nights ago, I had a dream that it was the day of my Half Ironman and I was taking my contacts out because I thought I'd be able to see better with glasses during the swim portion of the run, but then I couldn't figure out how to get my googles on over my glasses. And last night, I woke up in the middle of the night from a night terror where Brett and I weren't married and he was playing me like a fiddle. I woke up seriously dazed and confused, uncertain of what was reality and what was truth. As you can see, my mind is playing tricks on me, which leads me to my point.

How many times have we given up on dreams or aspirations we've had because our minds have played tricks on us? How many times have you told yourself no, knowing the answer could be yes with the right amount of determination. 2 years ago, as I watch Brett finish this same race, I remember vividly admiring him from afar and thinking there was NO WAY I could ever do a triathlon, let alone a 1/2 Ironman. I gave myself all sorts of reasons... There would be no way I could swim and/or bike with such a small airway. Those turned out to be the easiest of the three events!!!! I'm here to tell you that we can be anyone we want to be and do anything we want to do, it's only our minds that stand in the way and create false realities for us. We are the only thing standing in the way from us realizing our dreams and true capacity as individuals. Step aside "me," "I" know "You" can do this! Silly me...

I know many of you will read this, and some of you may have similar aspirations to complete a Triathlon, to run a half marathon, a marathon, whatever it may be - physical, mental, emotional. I'm here telling you that you can do it. Just believe in YOU. Don't worry about how fast someone else is, or how long it would take you to complete something, or how hard it will be, because you can't possibly know the truth until you try. Going in with the right attitude is everything. Just believe that you can do it. Imagine the finish line, the rest will work itself out in due time. You owe it to yourself to be the best you. Because I'm telling you, if I can finish 70.3 miles with 40% of my airway and you have 100% of yours...you can be a Half Ironman too! I promise you that! And if a Half Ironman isn't your cup of tea, I know something else is. Go get it and tell "Me" to stuff it!