Mar 16, 2010

Somebody can title this one for me.

My last few runs have so pathetic that I'm not even going to blog about them. That'll teach'em. Give me a bad run will you; I won't even tell everybody about you then.

So a running blog without running. Could be pretty boring but then a lot of people would think a running blog with running would be boring. Those people aren't going to be checking out this place though so I could call them names without them even knowing. I could.

Maybe I'll write about something diametrically opposed to running, like triathloning. Okay, so they aren't diametrically opposed. In fact, they are a somewhat complementary but they are opposed in that if you want to do well (maybe we should say "your best" here as "well" is somewhat relative) in either you really have to sacrifice the other.

I have a friend who really wants me to do Ironman Florida in 2011 so we can go visit her and her future husband (who will likely do the race also). Interesting story, (at least to me, you might find it less so) she was one of my best girl friends in high school. So good in fact that she stood up for me in my wedding (my wife has 3 brothers and wanted them in our wedding so we each had 3 couples that stood up with us). We kept in touch some but then sort of lost touch (when I say sort of I mean didn't communicate for several years in a row) which I firmly take the blame for. I've never been good at keeping in touch and unless you live with me (or read this blog) you might not know I've died for several years.

So anyway, she got back in touch with me a few months ago to tell me that she is engaged and getting married. Yay for her. Not only that but it turns out she ran the Myrtle Beach marathon that I did last year. I was blown away! Too bad we didn't see each other that weekend. She is a runner now and does half marathons and marathons and I'm so jazzed about that. Of course I think it is great. I wouldn't have expected it from her.

So back to the triathlon. Her soon-to-be husband is big into Ironmans (Ironmen?) and since it is my goal to do one in 2011 it all fits perfectly. I'm right there with her until it comes down to actually signing up for this thing. I don't mind saying I'm as scared as hell and intimidated beyond belief by this thing. I've done several marathons and two half iron tris but this scares me. And you know, the worst part about it isn't really that I'm scared of failure or of not finishing but that I'm scared of not doing as well as I want to. It's an Ironman for heaven's sake, why can't I be happy with just finishing it? No, I must have some deep-seated insecurities that causes me to compare myself to other competitors with a need to be faster. What's up with that? I mean, just do your races and be happy with it. The only comparisons I should be making is against myself.

Okay, I'm done publicly psycho-analyzing myself now. Sorry you had to witness this.

All in: Saturday 11 at 8:44
Monday 14 at 7:42
Tues 5 at 7:47

12 comments:

Julie said...

Hi Az,
I totally think that you should do it! You will do great! You already have the running thing down and you mentioned that you have done two half iron tris:) All you need to do is train...it will be a walk in the park for you! See how much faith I have in you:) This is pretty exciting and I think you just need to find the right one and sign up! Good luck!

Bill G said...

How is the FL course? I would expect the weather would be good (unless it's in the summer in which case ugh) and also should be flat. 2.4 miles of swimming seems like a lot, which leg of the tri would you be most concerned about?

Karen said...

Psychoanalyzing ironman. You could absolutely do it, who are you kidding?

Jill said...

I have no doubt - you can do it!! I have a good friend, age 26 and a mother of 3 very young kiddos, doing the one in St. George this summer,here's her blog if you want to follow her journey: http://www.triathlon-mom.blogspot.com/

I've been kinda running blah lately, too, and I can't afford to. Hope you get your mojo back soon!! :)

SDrunner said...

Still some pretty solid runs if you ask me. I would have to say an Ironman is definitely my ultimate goal. I've yet to run a full marathon, so I need to take baby steps. I'm sure if you signed up, and really focused on doing well, it'll happen.

San said...

Oh Az, that is some twisted brain you've got there. Mmmh, sounds a lot like mine, with only one difference. You'll do fine with an Ironman next year, while I still struggle to get my first marathon over with. ;-)

IM Florida sounds fantastic, except that it's in the summer. So it'll be hot and you'll have the main training in the winter. Treadmill and loooong Trainerrides, doesn't sound to appealing to me. But hey, you can do it!

Beth said...

I get it. Mike was very concentrated on having a decent time, not just finishing. You want to do something that you will be proud of. IM Florida is a great course for a first time IM!

Jean said...

You have been running some amazing marathon times already this year. I have no doubt that with your training and dedication, you would do really well in an IM, AZ.

Unknown said...

Ok, the camera and leg connection was a far reach but a wonderful excuse. Let's see if my husband buys the correlation! I do like you're thinking though.
I totally get your feelings but I'm not going to coddle you. You can only get better and faster by attempting to do so. Looking, thinking and speculating/worrying isn't going to get you what you want to achieve. You know you want to go for it, just sign up. You'll make it and accomplish your goal. That' just the way you work. Look at your marathon goals...

Lindsay said...

i am sure i would be the same way... "just finishing" is somehow "not good enough"! i remember when i finished my first marathon and how people said "that's awesome! you ran a marathon!" and i was like ... "but i didn't meet my time goal". :) oh the pressure we put on ourselves!

i'm also bad at keeping in touch with people... i'm just not a fan of chatting on the phone.

Glenn Jones said...

I'll do a tri if you do the swim leg for me......

Velma said...

I really like the blog. I understand the fear of the Ironman - there are so many variables that come into play. You never know how months and months of training are going to translate on race day. At the same time, this is why you will be so excited to achieve your goal on race day. I am hoping that IMWI 2012 is my day.