Find your Support Beams

Almost time to hit the road in my trek for Louisville this weekend. I can't believe the day has arrived. In less than 3 days, I will step up to the starting line of my very first full Ironman event. The road to getting here as been a bumpy one, but with a cortisone shot in the foot, a bike crash one week out, and almost a complete mental break down in front of my esteemed coach, I think I'm about now ready to take on the challenge.

My coach gave me some good (and NEEDED) advice this week. Advice that in fact I've heard myself telling others. Coach said "as humans we expect the worst, we plan for the worst case scenarios even prepare ourselves for it in fact." He told me what I needed to do is just calm down "I'm allowed to freak out, we all need someone to talk too." This felt along the lines of what I tell my athletes or the folks I work with at Hilton Head Health. "Control what you can control." Why is it so hard to convince yourself of something you regularly tell people around you? Why is it so easy to get wrapped up in your own head? As much as we want to be super hero's we do have to remember that we're all human and emotions are a part of that.

Emotions are interesting. Its the side of the brain that we don't have complete control over and we try to control it. I don't except excuses for myself so this is a tough side for me to grasp. The fact of the matter is what will be will be. I can only employ the two scenarios I am faced with on Sunday. #1 Where is my body on this day? and #2  Where is my head at? If my head is the strongest of the two I will be successful.

What I do have to remember on Sunday is that I have such an amazingly supportive community of people around me.  I am truly overwhelmed with My Hilton Head Health family; streamers and signs in my office, high fives, hugs, cards, emails and good lucks. Then I leave work on Tuesday, head to teach my CrossFit Hilton Head Endurance team and they surprised me with the coolest gift ever, an Ironman mask with all their signatures (I'm packing it with me). Its things like this that mean more than anything. Thoughtful. Meaningful. Genuine.

If I was to pin down the number one asset in my life it would have to be the people that I am blessed to work, teach, train and more importantly LIVE with. When you find people that support you just as much as you support them. You know you're doing the right things in life.

This one girl (someone I have witnessed get stronger and stronger each day) said it best in card written to me this week:

"In Medieval England, a new form of architecture was developed to build larger and stronger cathedrals than had previously existed. These cathedrals were supported by nothing but self-resistance, relying only on the strength of its own stones. To do this, a system of support beams were put in place until every stone was in order, then removed, allowing the structure to stand on its own."

We all need support beams. Its incredible how many support beams I have and I am simply stoked to be a support beam for people around me. I will be able to stand on my own, finding strength on Sunday because of each and every one of you...

Big thank you in advance to all the H3 Alum who are coming on Sunday. It means the world to me...

By the way, I've done the training another way...

Remember that different isn't wrong CFE folks. Two ways to cook a Turkey. Trust your training and remember that you belong out there. Great advice from my Triathlon guru @ On On Tri.

Training Overview in Preparation for Louisville: 
CrossFit WODs 3-4 per week
CFE Swim 2-3x per week
CFE Bike 2-3x per week
CFE Run 1-2x per week 
10 Total "B" Race  - Sprints(7) Olympic(1) 5miler(1) Cremator
Longest Swim  - 2400meter (45minutes)
Longest Bike - 80miles (4.5hours) nutrition test
Longest Runs - 10K Repeats (19miles@Cremator)

Functional fitness has been established with more skill work, hard intervals and in less time.

Track all the action on Sunday at www.ironmanlouisville.com