I am an Ironman. I know this because Mike Riley said I was. I had a lot of time Saturday to reflect on why this announcement was so important to me. I had more time to think about it than I had hoped, but for some reason, finishing became an extraordinary goal that matter so much to me on that one day.

Ironman is Extraodinary. Maybe it's because of the incredible race organizers that think of the smallest details. It could be because of the spectators, the awesome volunteers, or the family and friends that cheer. It is extraordinary that people that survive cold, heat, wind, rain, cramps,
dehydration, and miles and miles. Sometimes they survive illness, injuries and accidents on that one day just to be declared an Ironman.

But the reason we endure the difficulties on that day is a culmination of ordinary events we endured for months. Becoming an Ironman is mostly about the commitment to get up at 5:00 for swim workouts in the dark and snow. It is about convincing yourself that sleeping in for a 6:00 run on Saturday morning will matter. Ironman is the everyday commitment to bike when you're sore, tired, or hungry. It is riding your bike on the Computrainer for 6 hours because the roads are too icy to go outside. It is wet shoes from running in the snow. It is icing your legs after mile repeats. It is crashing on your bike, stitches and shin splints. It is friends that meet you on windy days so you won't have to run alone. It affects not only where and when you take a vacation, but what you do when you get there. (I always travel with my wet suit in case I can get in an open-water workout).

Ironman is a commitment that affects when you sleep and what you eat. It plays into what extra-curricular activities you do and when. It affects your Friday nights with your "significant other". When training for Ironman, you wonder what it would feel like to sleep in like the rest of the world, when you start out on a long run on the lonely, dark roads. Ironman is about the people in your life that creep around the house because once again you feel asleep spontaneously while watching a movie.

Ironman is an extraordinary accomplishment. But it is small, little, seemingly insignificant choices throughout every day, month after month, that makes it incredible.

The videos don't show it. The movies don't explain it. But we Ironman know, as we laugh, cry, jump, or collapse across the finish line, that we are an Ironman because of small, ordinary choices we made, long before that extraordinary day began.

Thank you, to my family and friends. You made it possible.

Review of St. George IM course

I'm back from training on the St. George IM course. Yeah! Now come all the adjustments to my taining and here is my impression, people.... Please let me know what you think, also, because I would certainly love to hear it.

I really don't know what to think. Will it be hard? Certainly.

I need more hill training and then some more hill training and then maybe I will do some more hill training. I did not underestimate the hills, but it was a great reminder not to take every training opportunity seriously. I don't think you can slide by with just long rides for this one.

I expected more gradual hills on the bike course. The slight down breaks were great on the bike. The area is beautiful. I was watching the old pioneer houses, kilns, etc. and can't wait to see it green up. I don't think the course map is really reflective of how it felt to ride. Elevatuation charts are bizarre! There are some crazy-steep hills that can emotionally get you when you're approaching them, but I felt okay on the climbs. Second time around will be hard. In fact, as I was riding it, I thought they might have a cut-off time half-way through for the bike, and they do. If you don't get the first loop done fast enough, you won't be doing the second one.

I love the run course. It is by far the hardest marathon course I have ever done, but for some reason, I really enjoy it. I can get in a groove on the long assents and just keep plugging away. I am excited to finish. When I ran to the end, today, it reminded me of the last miles of the marathons I have ran on the same road and it brought back great memories. I was almost in tears, anticipating the finish line for the Ironman.

By comparison, the ride is not as bad as the Alpine loop. The assents are further apart and don't last as long, but when you get to a hill, it is very steep. The descent back to St. George is long and straight, and you can let it go. No grabbing of the breaks necessary. Oh, and one other thing... the road out is NOT smooth. It is rough and quite bumpy. It's hard to get going fast when the terrain will allow it.

I can't wait to go back and train. I only did one loop of the bike course because we got there so late and finished in the dark (and cold). It rained this morning and so I only got about 12 miles of the run in, but I know what to expect.

I will add more weight workouts for my legs, less long hills, and more short, power hills for the run and the bike. Hope it isn't as windy and rainy as it was today....

I don't know why I decided to do a blog. Maybe just to write down my thoughts and feelings as I prepare for Ironman St. George. I wonder if anyone even cares and mostly I wonder what everyone else is doing to prepare.

I didn't think I'd ever do an Ironman, let alone an extremely challenging one. After years of people saying I should, it finally got to me, but reality is setting in.

Hey, anyone out there.... Are you training for something big? Some lofty goal you want to cross off your "bucket list" (before you kick the bucket!), or do for the New Year?

Well, today I ran another 7 miles, being careful not to slip and fall. I'm getting better at running in the snow and ice and even though it is cold and dangerous, I'd rather do that than be on the tredmill any day.

It was beautiful, peaceful, quiet, and cold, just the way I like it.

I logged my Ironman hours when I got home. The great thing about a journal like that is to validate that you do train. If you don't write it down, you forget what you've done and never have the confidence that you're ready.

26 miles of running. Not too bad for the Holidays.