February 6, 2007

I Told You So, the Prologue

Monday 4.5 m run, 2 m WU then 10 x 200m on 9% with 200 m rest
2000y swim, 4 x 500 with 1-2 min rest
Tuesday Crossfit/Strength/Stretch

I was talking to a group of tri guys at the gym yesterday, guys who have been tri'ing for several years and a couple of whom have completed a few different Ironmans. I told them about Zurich, and Wisconsin, and about my swim struggles. They expressed a sincere doubt that I would be able to swim IM Zurich by the time cutoff, AND that I would be able to survive IM Moo just 2 1/2 months after Zurich...

I smiled, a bursting at the seams new car for my birthday kind of smile...

You see, there is very little that motivates me more than someone who knows what it takes to accomplish something doubting that I too can accomplish it. If a couch potato with a beer belly the size of Montana doubts I can swim 2.4 miles, who cares... But if a 3 time IM doubts me, game on.

My high school guidance counsellor pleaded for me not to drop out... What will happen if this doesn't work? Yea, you're smart, but you can't do anything without a diploma... Well, Ms C., how ya like me now??? Doubters...

You can't take 4 kids 5 and under for a week-long road trip covering 2500 miles... Ha!! Ask my 2 oldest kids what the most fun thing they ever have done and you know what they say?? "Driving around the world with Daddy," that's what! Doubters...

It probably is pathological and child-like, but I get immense pleasure from saying "I told you so..." Not that I usually actually say that, but you better believe I think it.

So, as if I needed any extra motivation, from this point on IM Zurich is about I told you so... Because I can, because I will, and because they think I can't...

Game on!

12 comments:

RunBubbaRun said...

Sometimes being told by people you can't is more motivation than anything else.

Taking your kids on a long road trip is pretty dang tough.

TJ said...

prove those bastages wrong!
i agree with bubba...that road trip had to have been equal to an ironman. :)

SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

I think you CAN, but I guess I'm gonna just keep that to myself....
;-)
I agree with Bubba - that road trip will top all other challenges and you earn double points for enjoying every minute of it.
Jenny

Lisa said...

How sweet those words will sound in a few months! You are putting the work so no problem.

And what everyone said about the road trip...I got tired from an afternoon at the park with my nieces and nephew so I am in awe.

marz_racer said...

Put your time in and you will prove them wrong. If you can handle the road trip you can handle the training to get you thru Zurich.

Robin said...

That's terrific motivation to accomplish your goals (I had a similar conversation with my high school principal when I left early, and it didn't stop me either). You seem to be the kind of person to take just about anything in stride and keep on going.

On the swimming front: do you have a good local coach? Putting on my coach's hat here: swimming is the one discipline where form and good technique counts for so much more than putting in the yards. For someone of your fitness level, I can't imagine that it's the endurance aspect of swimming that is holding you back time-wise. If you don't have a coach and feel like posting or emailing a video, I could take a shot at your stroke. I've coached a few people to their first Ironman who thought they might not make the cutoff, and haven't lost one yet!

momo said...

sounds to me as if they do not know you one bit. i believe if you can close your eyes, and see yourself cross that finish line - then you can make it so. whatever you have to do, it is within you. all the naysaying is just going to fuel your desire to prove them wrong (as we're seeing... )

have you read that book - be iron fit? it talks about energy givers and energy takers. stay FAR FAR away from the energy takers between now and your races. they do it for a variety of reasons - they're jealous, they could never do it, they simply want to see you fail, whatever it is - stay away.

as for the swim. i agree with robin. have you gotten a coach or taken some lessons? i just started working with a total immersion coach and it has helped tremendously to streamline things. little tweaks in the water can help you to conserve energy so that you can use it later on, say on the bike or the run... maybe you could check that out?

and finally, as if this wasn't long-winded enough, you took all four kids on a trip for that long??? i bet that was a blast and something they will remember forever. you're a good daddy, trijack.

Audrey said...

People are such haters!!!!!!!!! I would NEVER say that to someone. NEVER. What is wrong with people...

You'll do it.

LoneStarCrank said...

Make sure you send them personalized copies of your finishers photo!

DV said...

yea, i had a coach, but she told me i was basically in good stroke form, so i decided that maybe she wasn't as good a coach as i thought... i had to drive 4 hours round trip to see her too - no fun! so, for now, making progress sans professional advice.
i played around with front quad swimming concept today - that looks promising!

greyhound said...

Incorrigible. But then, you already knew that. Luv it.

TriShannon said...

Nothing like the challenge of someone saying you can't do that to up the motivation factor.