Have you ever been devoted to a challenge or goal, like you body literally cringes when you speak of such thing? As some of you know, I had been training for Boulder 70.3 Ironman the last couple of months (August 4). Prior to half Ironman, I had participated in Superior Spring 50K and I DNF due to an injury on mile 9.2. I knew what a DNF felt like, but what I was unaware of was what success in an endurance race felt like. This was my deciding factor that I was going to be overly prepared and strong for the Ironman… I made a commitment to myself, while holding Ironman in my hands – not losing sight of what seemed like such a gift. I held the power to my success in Boulder 70.3, but the deciding factor was going to be my choices. The journey that I was seeking was going to be influenced by my decisions.
After eight weeks of intense training, it was finally time to show myself just how powerful commitment and the brain truly are. I set out to finish the race and show others that obstacles are only thrown our way because we are strong enough to hurdle over them. I set out to show my TBI family a different light to the hidden disability that we live with each day. I set out to prove to myself that I can.
On Saturday, August 4, I fell so in love with my personal flare I was ready to explode. I shared SMILE #UWokeUp with everyone who would listen. On the bike and on the run, the only thing I could verbalise was “I would love to quit, but anyone can quit and I am racing for SMILE #UWokeUp and my TBI family.” Everything else seemed invaluable. After 8 hours and 21 minutes, I finished the race and I became an official 70.3 Ironman. I knew what not finishing felt like, but what if you can rang over and over and I did. I made myself so proud and it opened a new road that lie ahead. With this, I can say that I have caught the bug – the 70.3 Ironman bug.
Always believe in yourself and remember, whatever we can do anything that we set our minds to.
SMILE #UWokeUp