My super awesome mentor Jacky James sent me a pearl of wisdom today called 'The Ironman'. This was after I had a wee emotional meltdown last night feeling completely overwhelmed, under prepared, utterly exhausted, absolutely guilty and totally fed up with everything. Fortunately last night, my other super awesome training buddy Lee-Anne picked me up, fed me pizza and got me back on track. Jacky had received this from a friend of hers called Stu while on her own journey of Ironman 2011. He had got it off an Ironman website somewhere along the way of his own journey in 2010. It is so fitting for the emotional rollercoaster I am currently on, especially the first and last paragraphs. The middle paragraph is not so fitting to me personally, as I have had heaps of wonderful and encouraging support from everyone who has been following my training to Ironman 2014. Thanks all.
"The Ironman.
The Ironman will try and psyche you out and wear you down over the course of the year. If you know what to expect then each swing that Ironman takes at you, will have less effect. The way Ironman can beat you is with self doubt. If your self doubt gets to a point where you decide not to take on the challenge, then the Ironman has beaten you.
This is where it beats most people before they even get close to the start line. The first self doubt weapon is in the form of other people. They will constantly either tell you or imply that "you cannot do it" when they have no idea if you can or not. They will tell you "it is a long way" which is not rocket science. They will tell you they had a friend who has done ironman and make them out to be much better than you. If they have already done it themselves and are really self absorbed they will even imply how much better they are than you.
The other more deadly weapon to ironman is Ironman intimidating you directly. This will be you telling yourself you cannot possibly do something like that. What were you thinking. Are you insane? Don't tell anyone or they will laugh, your not good enough, etc, etc. This is all Ironman trickery and not true at all. Be ready for it and know that this is what prevents everyone else from taking on the challenge.
From Stu to Jacky - 'Just remember - It's you versus the Ironman, nothing more - nothing less."
Last night 'The Ironman' had me in his grip. Today - I am free again...
