And just like that……it’s almost here

I’m in disbelief that it is only 12 days until IRONMAN Texas. A journey of 2 years and a goal I once thought not achievable are just 288 hours in front of me.

The hard work is done. I couldn’t even begin to add up the thousands of hours I have swam, ridden my bike and run. Out of bed at 4:45 am to head out the door; getting on the bike after a long day at work; weekend workouts where I leave the house before sunrise and don’t return until late afternoon. I was determined to do all the training so there would be no “if only I had done this.” No excuses. I did almost all of it.

Last Sunday at the TEXAS 70.3 Half IRONMAN in Galveston I had a great ride. I was the bike leg of a relay with teammate Pam Meaux. It was very cold and windy;  I had a tailwind almost the whole way out and then a headwind on the way back. But the headwind wasn’t the worst I have faced in my training; so I handled it with no problem. Best bike leg to date – power over 100 and highest mph yet. Huge confidence booster heading into the final goal. Said when I left Arizona I was going to make my weakness my strength and I’ve worked very hard towards that goal.

Race bib list came out this week. I’m number 1001 – it’s a palindrome: a word, number, sentence, or verse that reads the same backward or forward. It derives from the Greek palin dromo, which means “running back again.”  It’s supposed to be good luck – how awesome is that?

I know for me the next 12 days are going to go by quickly. And be very emotional. This journey has been such a gift for me. I’ve met some of the most amazing people and learned so much about myself. I love working hard to achieve something and then watching it happen. And I know deep in my heart that God has a plan for me on April 28th and I am fully ready to accept what he has in store for me. I’m just so very very truly grateful to have had this journey.

Anything is possible, I am stronger than I know, Actually, I can, and the journey is the reward.