Why Ironman?
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Why Ironman? Why not?
People ask my why I want to do an Ironman triathlon and my response is always “why not?”
It always amazes me how many people dismiss various challenges in their life without ever asking themselves a question. Whether it be physical, financial, career or other, so many people take the safe option and find an early excuse.
As a personal trainer I have heard them all….
I am not fit enough…..
I am too old for that…..
I’ve always had back pain….
I can’t afford the time/money….
Whenever I hear an excuse like the ones above it annoys the hell out of me. The world is full of people who have done extra ordinary things with there lives. I am not going to try to inspire you by listing any of them….the fact is that they are out there - it happens!
And the reason they have achieved these extra ordinary things is because they have made it a priority in their lives to do so. They have commited time, money, energy into achieving something that they believed was worthwhile. If you make something a priority it can happen….if you make an excuse you have none of my sympathy.
Like the bloke who tells me he is desparate to lose weight but can’t afford to come to training. Then I see him out the front of the pub, having a cigarette and a beer on a Friday afternoon. Sorry mate….don’t tell me your sob stories. You are fat, you stink, and you are unhealthy because you choose to do nothing about it. Give up the smokes, go easy on the grog and make it a priority in your life to do something about it. Otherwise shut up….I don’t want to know about it.
I am a believer
I don’t want to get all high and mighty, but I guess I should answer the question…why Ironman?
I believe that anyone can do anything.
I know how much I hated my first half marathon (my second and third weren’t that much fun either actually) but the fact is I got through them. My legs didn’t fall off, the pain only lasted a few days and I lived to tell the story.
Now it’s time for an Ironman triathlon - 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run.
I have no idea what it’s going to be like to start exercising at 6 in the morning, and potentially still be going when the sun goes down that night - but I’m going to find out!
I swim like a refridgerator and run like a new born giraffe…..
At the moment I can’t really swim (50 metres is enough before I need a break), my running has improved a bit (although I still look like a new born giraffe), and my cycling is getting better. I have confidence in the process of training and hopefully over the next 9 months will gain a solid enough base to get me through the race.
My inspiration
I get inspiration from everywhere but here are 3 examples of some clients that help me along the way -
- A 15 year old boy and his Dad are about to ride their bike from Perth across to the Gold Coast in 30 days. Why….to raise money for disadvantaged youth. Read more about the charity bike ride
- 6 months ago I started training a 55 year old lady who was overweight and had high blood pressure. Since then we have climbed Mt Warning, and yesterday she competed in her first 10km race at the Gold Coast Marathon Festival. Oh…and she has lost 20kg. Sure I helped…but it was her who made it a priority.
- Last October we caught up with some friends after we returned from London. One friend in particular had just run 5km for the first time in her life at the age of 42. Since then she has trained, made fitness a priority in her life, and yesterday completed the Gold Coast Half Marathon!!!
One Response to “Why Ironman?”
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April 10th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Insperational stuff Chris. I have just ran the Port Macquarie half ironman course this morning (1hr 47 min). I was a volunteer on the weekend for the Full Ironman and have been inspired to do the Half. Hope to catch you out there one day.