Motivation
Finding motivation to accomplish something can be a taunting task. The motivation to get a job done, change a bad habit, or simply to get out of bed can elude us all from time to time. We all find motivation in different ways and for many different reasons throughout our lives. As I have wrote, my motivation to become an Ironman starts with my Dad and his battle with cancer. To be frank, I’m training for this race because my Dad can’t.
My Dad can’t be there to feel the nerves run up his back before the race, he can’t experience the sensation of 140 miles of pain, and he won’t ever be able to cross the Ironman finish line. My Dad can’t do any of these things because of cancer but, I can. I can and I will complete this race for my Dad. The thought of my journey being dedicated to my father, instead of a personal accomplishment, motivates me every single day I train; it motivates me beyond anything imaginable. That motivation fuels my long runs, intense spin sessions, and technical brick workouts. It keeps me accountable to the fact that this journey isn’t about how fast I can run or how strong I may be. I’m accountable to the reality that I must be smart, diligent, and meticulous during all 30 weeks of my training because this race is bigger than me.
My journey bears a heavy weight that I am willing to accept. I have dedicated this race to my Dad and his memory but, I’d like to also include the load of a greater cause as well: all those of have lost the battle or who are currently battling cancer. Millions of people are diagnosed with cancer every year and many of those people will never have the chance to complete an Ironman, just like my Dad.
My father was a humble, unpretentious, and never too outspoken person. He mostly kept a quiet demeanor and was rather modest. I feel that the thought of his son completing an Ironman just for him would undoubtedly make him extremely proud but, to some extent it would also make him feel somewhat ostentatious. He wasn’t into grand extravagant things or being in the spot-light and, I don’t think he would want this Ironman to just be about him when, there are so many other people affected by cancer as well. That is why I have decided to expand the dedication of this race beyond my father’s memory; to include the motivation of others who have lost the battle with cancer and will never complete an Ironman Triathlon.
If you are reading this blog, and have someone close to you that has passed away from or is battling cancer now, and would like to add their name to my list of motivators…Please comment below and I would be honored to dedicate my Ironman training to them.
Week #3 Update
This week kicks off Week #3 of my Ironman training! In total
I will be putting in 8 hours of exercise, which will be a very gradual increase
from Week #1's mere 6 hours. Over the next 7 days, the 8 hours of training will consist
of 2 hours of swimming, 3 hours biking, and 3 of running. A large portion of each
week’s training throughout the program will wrap up with a long bike ride and a
long run on the weekends. This Saturday and Sunday, the
regimen calls for a 2 hour ride and 1 hour run.
Finding motivation to accomplish something can be a taunting task. The motivation to get a job done, change a bad habit, or simply to get out of bed can elude us all from time to time. We all find motivation in different ways and for many different reasons throughout our lives. As I have wrote, my motivation to become an Ironman starts with my Dad and his battle with cancer. To be frank, I’m training for this race because my Dad can’t.
My Dad can’t be there to feel the nerves run up his back before the race, he can’t experience the sensation of 140 miles of pain, and he won’t ever be able to cross the Ironman finish line. My Dad can’t do any of these things because of cancer but, I can. I can and I will complete this race for my Dad. The thought of my journey being dedicated to my father, instead of a personal accomplishment, motivates me every single day I train; it motivates me beyond anything imaginable. That motivation fuels my long runs, intense spin sessions, and technical brick workouts. It keeps me accountable to the fact that this journey isn’t about how fast I can run or how strong I may be. I’m accountable to the reality that I must be smart, diligent, and meticulous during all 30 weeks of my training because this race is bigger than me.
My journey bears a heavy weight that I am willing to accept. I have dedicated this race to my Dad and his memory but, I’d like to also include the load of a greater cause as well: all those of have lost the battle or who are currently battling cancer. Millions of people are diagnosed with cancer every year and many of those people will never have the chance to complete an Ironman, just like my Dad.
My father was a humble, unpretentious, and never too outspoken person. He mostly kept a quiet demeanor and was rather modest. I feel that the thought of his son completing an Ironman just for him would undoubtedly make him extremely proud but, to some extent it would also make him feel somewhat ostentatious. He wasn’t into grand extravagant things or being in the spot-light and, I don’t think he would want this Ironman to just be about him when, there are so many other people affected by cancer as well. That is why I have decided to expand the dedication of this race beyond my father’s memory; to include the motivation of others who have lost the battle with cancer and will never complete an Ironman Triathlon.
If you are reading this blog, and have someone close to you that has passed away from or is battling cancer now, and would like to add their name to my list of motivators…Please comment below and I would be honored to dedicate my Ironman training to them.
Week #3 Update
 |
| Tuesday morning's swim workout. |
For my long bike ride I have 2 options: Either bundle up & hope for decent
weather to ride outside in the freezing cold or set up my bike on the indoor trainer
and stare at the wall in the warmth of my living room for 2 hours! Last week, I
weathered 40° temperatures on a ride with a friend of mine and seemed to fare quite
well so, I may try and take another stab at it this Saturday. While I realize
that a meager 40° may not sound very cold to most of you however, when you are biking
at 20mph with the wind in your face for 2 hours, it is quite cold! Trust me.
A far as I’m concerned for my long run this coming weekend,
I will most likely try running outside at Heritage
Park near my house or along the Swamp Rabbit Trail in downtown
Greenville. Although, if the weather does create any problems, a 1 hour run on
the treadmill is much easier to tolerate than 2 hours on the bike trainer!
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