Hopefully they are sleeping as I write this, but some of my training buddies and our coach will soon be running into the Gulf of Mexico waves to begin their 70.3 mile trek around Panama City. I really wish I was there for support, but work and races the last two weeks have my body craving a couple days of relaxation.
Jim is the one who got me into running and subsequently triathlon. He was incredibly patient at the start. Showing up night after night to drag me along as I trained for my first 5k. He then sacrificed his time by pacing me in that first race. It took me a long time to realize how important his attention was, but eventually I realized I owe him for helping me turn around my life.
This isn’t his first time at Gulf Coast, but he’s been struggling with a foot injury and as of Wednesday night he was a little uneasy about this race. His best event is running and he just hasn’t been able to put in the time. But, we have trained an awful lot since January and there is no doubt in my mind he is ready. He’s a competitor. He’s a gamer. When the gun goes off, he will lose himself in the moment and I predict swim and bike will be just what the doctor ordered for that foot. By the time he hits the run his adrenaline will be full on and his legs nice and warm for the run. He loves this race and it will love him back.
I met Robbie at the Calypso Cafe in East Nashville. He was sitting at the table alone and I was 
the first of the Fab 5 to show up. I sat across from him and felt a little strange making small talk about Ironman. Truth was, I didn’t know shit about shit, but I have always had confidence in my athletic ability and Robbie sensed that.
He has pushed me beyond anything I could have imagined. His workout schedule in the beginning was far more than I was ready for, but I honestly believed (or hoped) he was just testing our limits.
He has answered 100’s of questions in the last 5 months and there may be 1000 more by the time we get to Wisconsin. He has been patient, tough, and inspiring at once.
He came with me to Rev 3 in Knoxville last weekend and having that time with a coach who has been in the thick of triathlon so long is invaluable. He stood in the rain for 3 hours and I’m pretty sure he spent a good chunk of it thinking about his strategy for Gulf Coast.
I’m not sure what he expected from me that day, but his coaching and my work showed up. In some way I was hoping my performance inspired him and would in turn give him a little boost for his race. He’s an athlete and a competitor whose toed the line many times and I sense a new intensity about to bust out. I want success for my coach as much as he wants it for me.
Allison was there with Jim and I when I started my Couch to 5k program. It was obvious she loved to run and often did in pain. She had a toughness about her that I recognized immediately.
When the Fab 5 started talking Ironman last year, she started talking Half. She did a sprint, and that was the end of it until we started training in January. She was right there with us on our 4 hour spins and jumping off the bike to join us for the runs. She was doing our full training in preparation for her half. I kept thinking she might back it down, but she never did.
In about 7 hours, she will find jump in the water and swim in her beloved ocean. I know there is a good chance she is awake as I write this. Tossing and turning much like I did before my race last weekend. Questioning whether or not she is ready. But she is, and the other day, I sent her this note:
Hey…. I’ve been thinking about you and your race. I think it’s important for you to realize that you’re ready. It is very hard to recognize when you are so close to it, but you have come a LONG ways since we first met. You have put in the work. This race is now all in your mind. You have to believe in yourself and let go of the doubt. Your biggest goal for this race is to relax. A relaxed athlete is a stronger athlete. Spin your arms in the water. Spin your legs on the bike and run. Don’t resist. Just let it flow. Your endurance is there. Your strength is there. The allergies will not bother you once you start moving. Plus, you will be in your comfort zone. The ocean. It is a place you love and want to be. By far the biggest thing I have to work on is “letting the race happen.” This doesn’t mean you aren’t racing… it just means you can’t finish until you get to the end. The rest is just movement. Being focused and in the moment. Not worrying about what could go wrong, but being focused on what is going right. Be mentally tough, but don’t let your mind take control of your soul. Trust that you will know what to do when you face decisions on the course. Play the race through in your head, but always successfully. Stay calm, stay focused, and enjoy one of the most amazing experiences you can have.
Allison is ready. Jim’s Ready. Robbie’s ready. The hard part is over, now it’s time to let those long hours in the pool, on the bike, and in running shoes pay off. I will be watching closely from a distance and likely be more nervous than them. It’s hard watching your kids grow up, but sometimes you have to let them swim in the deep end by themselves.