Iron Jack

It is exactly a year tomorrow since my journey started with the Contact 393 at Whangamata. They ran that race today, on what looked like another gorgeous (stinking hot) Coromandel day.

 

And in less than a week’s time, my journey will come to an abrupt (but brief) halt. Next Saturday I should be lining up for the Tauranga Half Ironman. Unfortunately I won’t be.

 

I’d like to say that I have an injury which is preventing me from taking part, but really what happened was that ‘life’ quite simply got in the way.

 

“Life happens,” Coach Lawrence says to me fairly regularly.

 

I’d been trying to ignore ‘life’ for some time. That included work (times two), children (times two), husband, especially Christmas, family, friends. My key focus has been training. And to be fair, me and my life are much better for it. I’m fitter, healthier, less stressed and generally happier.

 

However, December was a manic nightmare on just about every front possible. My “real” job was insanely busy – fantastic – but really busy. I had a major contract to complete, managing the media at Rotorua Airport for its inaugural Sydney flights just two weeks before Christmas, a last minute trip to Wellington, Oli finishing up at school, Christmas to try and organise, as well as the financial pressures that have plagued us most of the year – to say that I got overwhelmed would be the understatement of the century.

 

I’d be tossing the Half Ironman around in my head for a few weeks. I was so incredibly determined not to give up. But the turning point came during a particularly unpleasant work experience in Wellington. I was absolutely craving my little family, desperate for quality time with the boys – all three of them. By the time I got on the plane to come home my mind was nearly made up. If I was to do the Half Ironman there would be no quality time, I would be training twice a day throughout the Christmas break. Not only that, I wouldn’t get the break that I knew I so desperately needed.

 

Despite this, I wasn’t going to give up easily and I knew I had to explore it properly so that I would know later (like when I’m watching the start next Saturday) that I hadn’t rushed it and that I had made the right decision. I talked to Mike, I talked to Mary Ann, I talked to Lisa (Coach’s wife) and finally I talked to Coach. They were all so supportive and I’m so grateful for their guidance and advice. As everyone very quickly reminded me, my ultimate goal is not the Tauranga Half Ironman in 2010 – it’s the full Ironman in Taupo in 2011. It always has been and until I’ve done it, that will always be the goal.

 

And I have still achieved a massive amount in the past 12 months. I can run! I can ride! And I can put it all together with my swim in ever-increasing distances. I’ve lost 10kgs and my stomach is better than it has ever been. These are achievements not to be laughed at.

 

So, I won’t be lining up in the Tauranga Half Ironman next weekend. But, I’ve made friends with my children again – particularly Toby who has been ignoring me for most of the year. I’m not the favourite (and I don’t want to be) but at least he’ll come to me now when he needs a cuddle. And Oli has caught his first ever fish, so exciting. We had a lovely Christmas with family, which even extended to several wines for me – the first ‘several wines’ I’ve had for over half a year. New Years Eve was spent working at Mt Maunganui (very entertaining), while New Years Day was spent working and sleeping. I’ve had a break, and I’ve needed it.

 

But this post’s story doesn’t quite end there. I couldn’t drop a goal without setting new ones could I?!

 

So, upcoming events are:

 

Kinloch Triathlon (Sprint) 7 February

Police Triathlon Champs (Sprint) 17 February

Takapuna Triathlon (Sprint) 21 February

Rotorua Half Marathon 7 March

Rotorua Marathon (gulp!) 1 May

 

I actually can’t wait to watch the Tauranga Half on Saturday – I know I made the right decision. See you all at Kinloch!

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 6:34 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.