During my training for IronMan Wisconsin 2007 I spent many hours in the pool, many hours on the bike, and many hours running. I would train six (6) days a week from anywhere between seven (7) hours to twenty-two (22) hours per week. I would go on eight (8) hour bike rides, I would run 18 miles, and I would swim for almost two (2) hours on a workout. I did this for twelve (12) months without let up.
But I’m also semi-retired with a couple small businesses that I run from my house. My weeks are made up of working ten (10) to fifteen (15) hours per week. So, my IronMan training was just adding a few more hours to the week that was not filled with work items. This allowed me to workout when the rest of the family was at school or at work.
Part of the benefits of doing an IronMan was to show my kids that ANYTHING is possible. I’m nowhere near an “IronMan” even though I now have that title. I was never the best of athletes and I just crested the “over the hill” with my age. Prior to the IronMan I had commented on someone’s blog about what the IronMan meant to me.
Here is what I said:
But I’m also semi-retired with a couple small businesses that I run from my house. My weeks are made up of working ten (10) to fifteen (15) hours per week. So, my IronMan training was just adding a few more hours to the week that was not filled with work items. This allowed me to workout when the rest of the family was at school or at work.
Part of the benefits of doing an IronMan was to show my kids that ANYTHING is possible. I’m nowhere near an “IronMan” even though I now have that title. I was never the best of athletes and I just crested the “over the hill” with my age. Prior to the IronMan I had commented on someone’s blog about what the IronMan meant to me.
Here is what I said:
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IRONMAN:
To me it is not about the other competitors, it is not about my finish time, it is not about the number of people I pass or pass me. I WILL finish IronMan Wisconsin 2007, but that is not what it is all about. It is all about setting that "bar" high, doing the work, and then giving it my best "jump"!! That is what my Kids will learn from my experience and I'll always know that I KICKED ASS regardless of the results on September 9th!
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IRONMAN:
To me it is not about the other competitors, it is not about my finish time, it is not about the number of people I pass or pass me. I WILL finish IronMan Wisconsin 2007, but that is not what it is all about. It is all about setting that "bar" high, doing the work, and then giving it my best "jump"!! That is what my Kids will learn from my experience and I'll always know that I KICKED ASS regardless of the results on September 9th!
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So, that being said -- now I’m watching my 14 year old doing some amazing stuff. He decides to go out for his High School swim team, even though he has never competed in swimming and hasn’t been in swim lessons for years. He just doesn’t care – he just wants to be part of the team and do his best.
He has practice from 5:30AM until school starts, then he attends school until 3:30PM and then has practice until at least 5:30PM. Then he comes home and does his homework until 9:00PM. Never does he complain when he gets up at 5:00AM for his practice, he just gets his stuff ready and out the door he goes. But you want to know what the best part of all this is? He also is pretty close to a STRAIGHT--A student!!! Now, that rocks.
So one of my goals to have the kids “set that bar high”, doing the work, and then giving it your best “jump” – well, that seems to have come through.
Talking about a ROCK STAR – I think my son is!!
1 comment:
What a wonderful role model you are for your son! Perhaps you two can duke it out in the lap lanes once in a while. Best of luck with your IM Louisville training...I'll be following your journey. I'm the "Iron Sherpa" for my hubby who is training for 8/31 as well. :)
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