There are times in this sport when I feel like a fraud.
I go too slow to be called an "athlete"...
I am too "plus sized" to be a coach to aspiring athletes...
I shouldn't own that flash bike because I don't make it go fast enough... (well, I don't own it yet but I will soon - I'm sooooo excited)
I run in the womens gym because I hate running in front of men...
All these things add up to my mixed feelings about triathlon at times. I love achieving the goal, but sometimes wonder if I should really be there at all.
I have just caught up with some of my Tri Club friends on the weekend, and was filled in on some gossip that made me really mad! Apparently, one of our club members thinks that if you can't do Ironman in under 15hours, then you obviously didn't put the work in and that you shouldn't be doing it. Well, that got me all kinds of riled up!!!
I worked my GUTS out to become an Ironman. I SACRIFICED everything to train to become an Ironman. I SPENT a wad of money selfishly working towards becoming an Ironman. I HURT, I CURSED, I PLODDED, I WAS FRUSTRATED, I CRIED, AND I DID IT...... I became an Ironman and it was the most amazing day of my life. I had achieved something that I had thought IMPOSSIBLE! I did scrape in under her so called 15hour deadline, but I wasn't expecting to. I was expecting to take up as much of that 17hour cutoff as I was allowed.
This came from a woman who I admired and respected alot. She worked bloody hard to qualify for Kona, which she got, and she made her dream come true. Right now I just feel sorry for her, as she has lost that respect, and that of alot of other people for her rude comments (all this was said to a guy that DID take over 15hours I might add - how would that make you feel???).
This sudden burst of rage was then backed up and calmed down by a great post written by someone who has obviously experienced alot of the CRAP that can come out - usually from the lazy slobs doing nothing, or the elite idiots (not all are idiots, most are actually really nice, there are just some who spoil it for the rest) who think that we back-of-the-packers are a waste of space. Well, at least we fill up the numbers at events, or there wouldn't be any!!!!!!! She has put all that we feel into words fantastically, and how we really should just get on with it anyway - IN YOUR FACE LOSERS as it might well be said!!!!!
I LOVE this sport; I enjoy the friends I've made, the experiences I've had and the goals I have achieved. I work as hard as anybody else to be a triathlete. I'm not overly good at it, but I do it anyway for the simple fact that I can!!!! I would NEVER have entered Ironman if I felt that I wouldn't be able to do it. No-one enters thinking they can't, they just give it a damn good try. Some days are good, others not so good, but we persevere anyway. That should be enough!!!!!
I plan on living, not existing, and if that means it takes me 16:59.59 to complete an Ironman, well excuse me for breathing!!!!!
1 hour ago
11 comments:
I'll never understand why some people think that "regular" people completing an Ironman diminishes the achievement for them. If you put in the time and effort, you're a triathlete, or an Ironman, a marathoner, whatever you can achieve. No one will ever take that from you. You deserve everything you have.
It sucks that there are people like that out there. People who don't understand that not everyone is super fast no matter how much effort they put into it. They have lost sight of the reason so many people do this to begin with. Ugh... fires me up!!
You should never doubt yourself or feel like a fraud. You are amazing! So often I read your posts and it is like you are writing my thoughts. So know you are not alone in your feelings and that you are an inspiration to me.
If I ever do an Ironman I will need every bit of those 17 hours. You know what they call the last person over the line in an Ironman? AN IRONMAN!.
BTW would you take the comments you make to yourself from anyone else? Be the good friend you are to others to yourself, mate!
I loved that post, so much! It was an anthem for many of us and I've seen it linked everywhere. I'm so glad the original poster put it out there. And I love your follow-up post. It is sad to me that other people could feel that way or say those things. But it doesn't take away any of your accomplishment, as you know!
People like that have confidence issues. It's sad that they will never appreciate their own accomplishments because each time they hit a goal, it's not good enough.
If you look up the definition of athlete. It doesn't say anything about weight, bmi, bodyfat or anything.
Your right about the ego-elites....fortunately most of the elites are very nice people who understand that the reason the sport growing and (purse sizes are growing...ahem) are because of people like us!
Kathy--the haters can tell you otherwise, but you can take your IM medal and shove it up their.......:-)
What an effing joke. I finishe din under 15 hours, but I walked a bunch of the marathon part - does that makeme less of an Ironman? Heck no!
I think you said it best when you said you worked your butt off and sacrificed everything to get yourself across the lone - that, to me, is the definition of an athlete. It's a person - any person - who has the heart and courage to push themselves to the next level, to physically and mentally go to places that they have never been. You ARE an athlete, and now you are going to spend your life helping other people realize that they can be athletes too.
You know, the beauty of these events - be it running or triathlon - is that ANYBODY can do it. We start at the same line on the same shores as the pros. We can't all play for the NBA or the NFL, but we can all do a tri. No matter how tall, or short, or thin, or heavy, or whatever you are.
Its not about the time. Just ask Cam Brown, never has he gone faster (Germany), but yet he still only managed 4th.
The challenge with Ironman is not about the day, but what it takes to get there. The first time its about setting a goal that not many are willing to do and achieving it.
I wonder if she would make the same comment to Mike Ramsay and Tony Jackson who have both done every IMNZ race (24 times), most well over 15 hours. And this year Tony finished his last round of Chemotherarpy only 3 days before race day.
David
BTW - you made NZ Multisport Mag (page 65).
Right on!! Some people just like to be negative and judgmental, makes them feel better.
COLORS
[1]
What is pink? A rose is pink
By the fountain's brink.
[2]
What is red? A poppy's red
In its barley bed.
[3]
What is blue? The sky is blue
Where the clouds float thro'.
[4]
What is white? A swan is white
Sailing in the light.
[5]
What is yellow? Pears are yellow,
Rich and ripe and mellow.
[6]
What is green? The grass is green,
With small flowers between.
[7]
What is violet? Clouds are violet
In the summer twilight.
[8]
What is orange? Why, an orange,
Just an orange!
---------- by maple story account
Post a Comment