Ironman 70.3
Aim High
I stubbornly set my sights on an Ironman 70.3 (also known as a Half-Ironman). I remember David Goggins saying to set goals that you believe are beyond you, and in that fear, you grow. Facing the uncertainty of almost absolute failure and doing it anyway is necessary to become more than you thought you could be.
When I signed up for the Half-Ironman, it felt impossible, and it definitely was. But after six months of training, I thought maybe there was a chance.
The 70.3 Half-Ironman consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run completed consecutively in that order.
The part that scared me the most was completing the 13.1-mile Half-Marathon run at the end. I had so much fear surrounding running. I felt like broken glass; every time I went outside, I had issues with my hip flexors, ITBS, Achilles, back, ankle, quads, glutes, hamstrings, and calf. You name it, it hurt. I would run 3 miles and need 7 days of recovery before moving again.
Broken Body
I had been so frustrated with this for years that I hoped the 70.3 would scare me into getting the proper help so all this would stop happening. I hired a great coach and attended Physical Therapy weekly to improve my mobility, strength, and form. After 3 months of unlearning and relearning, I had a new running technique. I could now run 1.5 miles pain-free, but it fell apart after that. It took another 3 months before I broke 8.5 miles, which was the longest (and fastest) run I had attempted without a major injury (the second longest run of my life; the longest didn't end so well). It was amazingly cathartic to the point where I broke down crying and blew snot all over my shirt towards the end of my run (it must've been a sight to see).
I felt a shift during that run; something clicked in place. My stride and how all my muscles worked together changed. It was like snapping the final piece of a multi-year puzzle into place. It happened around mile 6.5, and after that, my speed picked up, and I felt stronger and more comfortable than everything that came before. The fastest mile of the run was the last mile, and it felt incredible.
One Week
As I write this, I'm one week away from the Half-Ironman. The race will likely be the hardest physical activity I've ever attempted. I'll need to dig deep, and I know I'll have doubts while on the course, but I'm confident I will have fun. And I know I'll cross the finish line at the end of that 13.1-mile run with a fat smile on my face (and probably break down into tears afterward).
