I decided NOT to sign up for Ironman Florida next year.
I totally KNOW I'm not ready for an IM race, though I think I could handle the swim and the bike....and maybe half the run. Yes, I'd have a year to train, but I'm not sure that would be enough to be confident of finishing in 17 hours. Would I want to DNF after all that work? Of course not.
On the other hand, I thought ....whats the worst thing that could happen? So, I come close...I'll be better prepared for 2010 than if I don't sign up! It's only money. Sure, $525 is a lot of cash to spend right before the holidays.
Maybe if I weren't so sick this weekend, I might have been more positive about it, but with my athena sisters DNFing, I took this as a 'sign.' There's also this NYC marathon thing (which is the same weekend) that going to mess me up until hubby and I both get in and run that race.
My biggest fear is that this time next year, I'll be exactly where I am now........not ready and not any closer to being ready. The things I need to work on to make sure that doesn't happen:
1. Lose 50 more pounds.2. Learn to swim, really swim....so I can finish an IM swim in 1:30 or so instead of 2 hours.
3. More consistent training.
I guess in the end, I opted to respect the distance, and try and train for it properly....and as a thinner person, so that when I do show up on race day, I'll be ready.
What do I think it means for me to be 'ready?'
1. Weigh 170 or less.
2. Ability to do an 8 hour century
3. Ability to do a 6.5 marathon
4. A HIM time of 7:30 or less
