from green to black

ironman

its coming to a month since i completed my ironman and i guess
the mixed feelings i had about the experience has largely congealed
and its time i wrote about them before it becomes another distant
memory. (haha, as if that would ever happen, i was told its like
sex. you never forget your first)

the story should be told in its entirety, taking any part in
context would probably not do justice to the experience. where
i looked invincible, there was probably another vulnerable
patch to match that. i'm not going to let my head swell over
this achievement because i realized that i should be humbled
to be in the company of giants who have probably overcome greater
odds to race as they did that day. i may be an ironman but those
guys are heros.

the ironman is a race, but yet more than a race. it requires
more than just money or time, it requires an obsession that is
almost extreme. you have to be determined to push yourself
across the finishing line everyday despite the demands of work,
social obligations and the protests of the body. it doesnt start
at the race line either, its fought every single day when we
wake up to start our first session of training. when we meet
the cold water of the pool or the chilly morning air which
chills to the bone with rain as a "bonus" on some days.

also different people have different starting points with
different genetic and physiological makeup, physical conditioning,
technical capability and discipline to train for the race. it is
no wonder that 20% of the field did not complete the race on
that day. there is so much uncertainty because one doesnt just
depend on the physical training he has clocked, but deciding
factors such the weather or equipment reliability come into play
as well and those factors can easily take a turn for the worst.

knowledge is also a determining factor. how do you prepare for
what you need if you do not know what you need. many things are
very individualized, such as the bike fit or a nutrition plan.
you lose effort and seconds with an ill fitted bike, you may not
complete the race if you cannot interpret the signals of your body.
self awareness is so crucial that one cannot progress far if a
bad judgment call is made. hitting the wall, cramping, heat injury,
hypothermia are all factors which could end a race, career or life, fast.
a training schedule and race plan are also essential. many a race
have been lost because athletes are ill-prepared, and that includes
overtraining.

this is a story of 2 friends who crossed the finish line. maybe
something like a tortoise and the hare kind of story. a journey
of sorts with lessons and friends to keep along the way.

this is the making of an IRONMAN

posted by green unseen @ 9:55 AM