As I write this post we are about 12 days out from Ironman Lake Placid which is hard to believe with how crazy busy this year has been so far. This will probably be my last post before the race but I am sure to follow it up after the race as the feedback from most of you has been very inspiring. Who ever knew that putting words down was so therapeutic.
We live in a crazy world these days in which if you blink an eye time will fly bye leaving you wondering where the days went. Perfect example is my middle (still hard to believe I have a middle daughter) daughter will be a very grown up 5 years old this Friday and growing up faster than I would like. The speed at which they grow up is one reason why family will forever be my number one priority above everything else. I feel if I don't engulf myself in everything they do then someday I will be kicking myself.
Adding the third child into the mix this year has been very challenging recently in that it adds one more kink into our already busy world. My wife and I have had to become even more of a fluid machine or else everything becomes just a little crazy. I know both of us are ready for the Ironman to be behind us as it will open up a little more time in our world while Little C is still young. The most amazing thing about my wife though is she would never complain about me having to train or the race itself. She is my number one support person which I know is hard for her as she is busier than me but always keeps a smile on her face.
In the world of Ironman triathlon racing the last 2 weeks before the race (called the taper) is usually the hardest for most athletes to handle. Not because they are physically demanding weeks but more the psychological stress builds to a boiling point for many athletes. For most people they have devoted at least a year of very focused training and when you start taking away that time of training along with the looming race deadline approaching a lot of athletes tend to become very stressed. There is even a tendency at times to question every single day of training that you have done and wonder if you have done enough. As as sports medicine physician that deals with most of these athletes and their injuries I get the pleasure of also helping calm the minds of many of these athletes.
At the end of the day we are blessed with even being healthy enough to compete in the race. There are plenty of people that would love to have the opportunity to toe the start line but for whatever reason life didn't give them the chance. That is the main driving factor why I tend to not be so stressed before the race. I have seen to many diseases end peoples dreams and I know that no matter what I will cross that finish line on July 28th with a smile on my face. Hopefully the training has paid off and I will be one of the lucky few and my dream of racing on the big island will come true but if not I know that just showing up with a positive mindset and racing for those that can't is also a victory.
Enough of the rambling today as I hear my little lady crying for me in the background. Thanks to everyone in my world that continues to support me and know from deep down in my heart that I appreciate everyone of you. Many thanks again to my wife Britt...without her in my life I am not sure I would have come close to becoming the person I am today. I owe her a lot for being in my life and pretty sure I will never be able to repay her.
Make It Count!!!!
P.S. If you live in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area you should look into the Mid-Maryland Triathlon Club or Maple Lawn Endurance Club. Many of the members are competing in their first Ironman at Lake Placid and many of these people have become like a second family to me. The sport of triathlon has some amazing people in it but many of the people in this club take that to the next level and are exceptional people which I can't wait to cheer in to the finish line on July 28th.
