Ironman Fever

Sitting only 18 days away from IM Lake Placid, I've officially been labeled with Ironman fever. It's hard to explain but I'll try. You see I've spent the last 214 days to be exact training for this Ironman. Gallons of sweat, hours of hard work, just the plain fact that I've pushed myself way beyond the limit the past 7 months all for one race. I don't think I've ever wanted something so bad. You see, my first trip to Kona was more of a reward and once I got there my race was finished. Just crossing the line is all I cared about. I don't feel I gave it my all in Kona, and just getting there was the prize. However that's all changed this year. I will not be happy with a simple flight to Kona. When I enter Mirror lake in 18 days you can bet I'll have my game face on. I didn't come this far to go home with another Ironman medal. Some people are happy just finishing the race, and you should be if that's your goal, but for me this will be Ironman number seven and I'm no longer in it just to hear Mike Riley say "You are an Ironman". I've put a lot of pressure on myself and I plan on giving it my all. I know I've paid my dues, trained the countless hours, and have made many sacrifices for this one chance of returning to Kona. Last year I finished 6th overall in my age group and had to rely on the roll down method. Let me tell you, that was the best and worst day of my life. I don't want to have to go through that again. I want to enter the water, blaze the swim course, hammer the bike course, and eat up everyone else ages 25-29 on the run. So you think you can run faster than me??? We'll see.

So this week I've been diagnosed with Ironman fever. In other words I can't even go five minutes without thinking of IMLP. My mind keeps thinking about my swim in Mirror Lake. My mind keeps thinking about that six mile decent on the bike and up those last couple hills past the ski resort. And my mind keeps thinking about running hard and out of control from mile to mile until I break the finish line. I head up to Lake Placid this weekend for training and to gain a peace of mind. I'm sure emotions will be high in 19 days but I also know I'm going to Lake Placid for one reason and one reason only . Kona.

posted by Chad Holderbaum @ 12:38 PM Comments: 2