Pain

I just read that completing a 70.3 Iron man is like running 3 marathons with much more pain and total different nutritional needs.

Well doesn't that make you want to jump right out there and give it a go?

Pain.....

I've had pain before. Hey, I've had two kids. One with no epidural. Can't be worse than that right? Maybe a different kind of pain. In one of my 4 marathons I felt like my legs would split down the center with each step. Like a hot dog splits when its cooked too long. I actually thought while running that if I could just cut open the front of my quads the pressure would go away and I could run more comfortably. At mile 23 your thoughts may not be very realistic.

Pain.....

I have pain in my shin all the time. For an entire year. As I'm sure it will hurt even more in the year to come. How will it feel during those last 13 miles?

Pain.....

Here's a not so nice type of pain. Saddle sores. I have reached the mileage that it is an issue. Talk about pain. Not even just when riding but for the entire day and into the next until you again sit and pedal and make it worse yet again. They make a cream for this.....I bought two.

Pain.....

Migraines. Chlorine will do that to you when you are swimming three times a week with your head in the water an hour and a half at a time. I have seemed to get this under control and made a few changes so that I don't get them every time I swim. But it still does happen. Luckily for me the lake will contain no chlorine. It may contain some other things that I don't even want to know about.

Pain.....

I'm no stranger to pain. I have raced with pain many many times. I do expect this to be as bad if not worse. Based on what I read this morning I don't even know what I'm in for. That's a good thing right? If I knew maybe I wouldn't do it. I hope that I forget about the pain eventually. My bucket list does have "complete a full Iron man" on it. Someday.......when I forget about the pain and all I remember is crossing the finish line I'll tackle that beast.

I feel good about how this is all coming along. I started running back in high school then did nothing for years and years. 6 years ago I took up running again. Since that time I have done numerous races from 5K's to full marathons. I've trained for all and I have slowing been increasing the distances. Two years ago I flipped to the triathlon races. I need more. I needed to stop running so much yet still get to race and train. I have completed 3 tri's with another one scheduled before my big race. Now honestly maybe I should of done a couple more before the 70.3 but I think I'm ready. I have 6 weeks of training to go.

Pain......bring it on.