From A No Excuse Life by Chris Norton
"Call to Action: Starting today, let your actions speak for you. Reflect on your values and what you want to be known for, then align your actions accordingly. As you consistently live out your beliefs, watch how your identity transforms and how your impact on the world becomes more profound."
After my 2023 Grandma's half marathon I had all these thoughts, not all good, banging through my head. Really pretty negative for me.
Over the years I have run over a dozen half marathons, done four half ironman triathlons (the last one in 2019 - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run), and have always had a goal of completing one full ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run). My 2013 MS diagnosis knocked me back and 2014 was both a hard year, and an amazing year as I got to race on the Kyle's Bike team (they picked me before I knew I had MS for sure). Three of my half ironmans and most of my half marathons have come after Dx, but for some reason 2023 was hard for me.
Maybe because it was my first big race post covid, post racoon attack, post broken foot, post IT band nonsense that fought me for four years. Maybe I needed a couple more long runs in my training plan, maybe my head space was disrupted once I got into the Duluth city limits with all the crowds, but all I know is the last mile of that race nearly beat me. I stopped having fun and had to dig deep to keep shuffling... like an old lady... to find my way to the finish line.
During that last mile my inner dialog was about whether to invest in myself and my race equipment, or to give up doing long races and on that LONG time goal of doing an Ironman Triathlon. Maybe MS had beaten me after all... but I couldn't stop thinking about getting a real, proper racing watch that could see me through 15-17 hours of racing. Something that could track my data effortlessly instead of using my phone and a hand me down apple watch. Something that could be with me while I keep setting and meeting my goals.
I finished 2023 with a 10k run that went well, and made goals to do more races in 2024, and while I had a few setbacks related a broken ankle, I ended the year on a high note with a solid half marathon and my new Garmin. With the start of 2024 came a sale on a newer model of Garmin the forerunner 255s (over $100 off) so as a gift to myself for turning 50 and believing in my future goals I invested in myself. It arrived after I swam as part of an Ironman relay team with my triathlon club in June, but I had it in play for my favorite triathlon in Ames and along for that successful 13.1 run in November.
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| Me on my 50th birthday at the Clear Lake Triathlon in 2024 |
Drop 10 pounds of fat and gain 5 pounds of muscle (go to weights class each week or work with a trainer). Continue my PT rehab, add some yoga. HAVE FUN!
January - Girls on the Run Indoor Triathlon - have solid legs especially on the bike where I have languished in past years.
April - run the Drake Half Marathon (I was supposed to run last year)
May - Clear Lake Olympic Triathlon (.9 mile swim... mind over mater with the cold water, 25 mile bike, 10k run)
June - Run Grandmas Marathon 26.2 miles (MY FIRST MARATHON!!!)
September - 1/2 Ironman Wisconsin (This will force me to bike train over the summer as it is hilly, but I've done it before so I know what I am in for. Excited to have my teammates on the course with me.)
Oct/Nov - Half Marathon Grand Rapids, MI - hoping to race with my Run A Myelin My Shoes MS race team in Michigan if it works out.
2026 - IRONMAN! Course/Date TBD
So there it is, out in the universe for all to see. Hopefully I collect a cheering section along the way but I am determined so who is with me? Ironman at 52. You betcha! GOALS!
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