Ready

I am ready.

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Wow. It's been two months since I touched this blog. Yikes. My bad. Life has been so busy, which doesn't mean I haven't thought about a million different sentences I wanted to put down on digital paper. I just have been so tired lately...I don't have to explain that to anyone in the last months of their Ironman training. It's just...a lot to ask of your body AND your mind.

Anyway.

4 DAYS Y’ALL.

It’s race week!

And I finally feel ready - a place I never thought I'd arrive at. It's been a "long engagement," or so it feels. I can't believe it's finally here.

This has to be one of the biggest moments of my life. And I know I haven't experienced a pregnancy, or even marriage for that matter, but this feels just as important to me.

I’m so insanely fired up. If there’s one thing that this taper has done to me...it’s given me a lot of time to clean…and a LOT of time to reflect on my journey to 140.6.

Over the last several months, a lot of people have asked me "why." Why I wake up at 4am. Why am I riding 100 miles today. Why do I go to bed at 8pm. What’s the point of all of this. Don’t I miss “my life.”

I simply tell them, "well, Ironman." And then I get the “you’re insane” stare, or the “I don’t have a clue what that means” look, or my favorite: “so you’re one of those Crossfit people.” 😑 Totally different, people.

During my last long ride before taper, I thought, this is not really why I'm doing all of this. Yes, Ironman Louisville is the end goal, but this…all of this… is who I aim to be. Dedicated, disciplined, community driven, always moving forward. This training gives and it takes. But more than anything it teaches and nurtures and pays forward. It’s my lifestyle, my family, my outlet, my pleasure, my pain.

Many people don’t get it and that’s fine. We all have our own journeys. Hell, I write about other peoples' for a living. I write of their accomplishments and success. Trials and tribulations. Medical breakthroughs, miracles, the game changers, the dreamers, the doers.

One thing I always take away from the artists, musicians, and athletes that I profile is their shared outlook and attitude. To some extent they all have the same message: Don’t try to fit in anyone else’s box. Be who you are and invest in it. Within you is something powerful and meaningful that you have to share with the world.

And that’s what I’m aiming to do with mine.

This training block has been a big chapter in my story. I've become more "me" than I've ever been before. My life is now more grounded, focused, and full of unwavering dedication.

I set out for a goal, but that goal transcended a finish line, it became more about self-discovery. Diving into myself with clarity and intentionality.

And for that I'm forever grateful. That's why I tri. And that is why I will never stop tri-ing.

#ironmantraining #ironmanblog #ironman #ironmanlouisville #louisville #triathlon #1406 #raceweek #womenwhotri #discipline