Ever since I was in grade 8 I have wanted to do an Ironman before I was 25. Therefore in order to do this I had to sign up this year! Grade 8 was a tough year for me, like many I think. I am not sure what happens in junior high school but for those 3 years girls go a little crazy and can be just plain mean. I had short hair and liked sports so needless to say the teasing had no end. But I did have some really great teachers and a great family who helped me throughout those 3 years. One of which was Mrs. Dunne; she had done Ironman Hawii the world championships and became my inspiration to do an ironman before I was 25. However, after my first kids triathlon in grade 9 my dream was kind of forgotten about until I met Ben 3.5 years ago. He was weeks away from doing his first marathon, and having just quit playing hockey I felt I needed something to train for too so i signed up for a half marathon later in the year, then the next year a full marathon, and after getting sick of running every day I convinced Ben to do an olympic distance triathlon last summer. The plan was to do a half ironman this year and a full next year, but I broke my foot weeks before my race and didn't get to compete. After not racing this season and only having 2 triathlons under my belt (one of which was 10 years ago) Ben and I went down to Penticton to volunteer this year and sign up for next year. Well it was a pretty emotional weekend with doubt filling my mind after a whole race season without doing a single race and never even having done a half ironman. Espcecially after working at a running aid station 5 kms to the finish line and seeing hundreds of people in pretty rough shape. Up until I was signing my name on the dotted line I didn't know if I was going to be ready. . But we paid the money and at the last minute ben signed up to! So we are both doing Ironman Canada 2011!
I have to remember why I signed up because I know that this race is a huge sacrafice both financially and with the time committment. November 28 is the first day of our 9 month training program which entails twice a day workouts. And there will be mornings where it is blizzarding outside and the last thing we want to do it get up and hit the pool at 6 am and that is when I have to remember grade 8 and Mrs. Dunne and why I am doing all of this. Ill have to remind myself on those days that this is something I have wanted to do for the last 11 years and this is the last shot to do it before I'm 25. Why 25? I have no idea.. maybe in grade 8 that's when I thought old was haha. I'm just luck to have a very supportive training partner, best friend, and boyfriend who will be up at 6 am with me.
