Life Was Easier When I Was Training For Ironman

I sent this statement out the the Twitter world last week...

"Life was easier when I was training for Ironman"

Most people that replied were surprised although some understood. Here is the explanation for that statement.

When I was training for Ironman I had no time for socializing with friends, I didn't feel guilty about not cleaning up around the house, I didn't feel guilty about not cooking dinner, I didn't need to take Jamieson to soccer, x-country or the orthodontist. The school PAC understood if I missed a meeting or could not commit to taking on a special project. I missed family functions, my nephews birthdays and various other family get togethers. My friends and especially my family understood that my Ironman goal came first. I was selfish in my goal and no one EVER complained about it. They all supported me in this crazy journey and were just as excited as I was about it. All I had to do was work, eat well, sleep well and train.

Fast forward to today. I rushed home from work meeting downtown to pick up Jamieson from school. We quickly drove home and grabbed peanut butter toast for dinner the off to the the track. I am composing this post in a local coffee shop using their free WiFi while Jamieson is at x-country practice. In a few minutes I will leave the coffee shop and go back to the track to get him ready for his soccer practice. The good thing is that they are in the same location. Tim is at the hockey game tonight with a buddy enjoying well deserved fun time.

I am keeping up with my working out (running, going to the gym, and swimming) but sometimes I need to skip a workout or change my schedule for a PAC meeting, Strata meeting or SAA meeting. I have managed to say yes to everyone who has asked me to join a committee or a good cause. My calendar is jam packed with dinners with friends, activities with my family, and long overdue appointments I have been putting off.

I think I was so afraid to get the 'Post Ironman Blues" I have over compensated.

So, that is why my life was easier when I was training for Ironman. :-)

|ronman Canada Race Report - Part 6 (Final Report but just the beginning)

Run – 42.2kms – 5:11:09 The run was slow and basically went as planned. The first 3kms of the run are in and around the finish line. When I was at about the 2km mark, I could hear Jordon Rapp, the race winner giving his victory interview with Steve King. How crazy is that??!! I have 40kms to go on the run and the winner has finished. As I headed out of town and down Main Street I saw www.twitter.com/kelownagurl and her husband Erik cheering me on. Not more than 50 feet later I saw www.twitter.com/trifunster and her husband. I was running slowly but had a smile on my face and felt pretty good. I was not really concerned about the distance I had to cover still. I was pretty excited that I had now finished the swim and the bike and was now on the run. It was like being in a dream how quickly the time had passed during the day. Around 9kms into the run I started to feel the distinct tightness of my right IT Band. I had ITB 10 years ago when I first started to run marathons but t...

April Fools 1/2 Marathon Plus 15km cool down

After my minor breakdown at work on Friday, I set off on Saturday for Sechelt. I have run the April Fool's Half Marathon two times and this was my third time. It never fails to be hilly and hard. Sunday morning I started off at in Gibsons ready to run to Mission Point Park. I took it very conservatively knowing that I would be adding another 15kms on at the end of the 'race'. I crossed the finish line, collected my medal, filled my water bottles, ate a piece of bagel and a bite of banana and kept running west. I do not recommend running your longest run before a marathon in Sechelt if you are not used to hills. That place is full of 12-15% grades both up and down. At the end of the day, I ran from 9:17am - 2pm with a few quick breaks to refill bottles, eat gels and take few rocks out of my shoes. After a shower and some real food, I was back on the ferry to North Vancouver. Reward: Whit...