"With great sacrifice comes great reward"After competing in numerous triathlons, marathons, and other races over the past few years, we have decided to take the ultimate challenge…to conquer the IRONMAN.
For anyone who does not know, an Ironman is unlike any other race in the world. It is a test to find out what you are made of, to find out how far you can push your limits.
2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking followed by a full marathon 26.2 miles one painful step at a time for a total of 140.6 miles.
Rewind to July of this year, we did our first half-Ironman race in Providence Ri. Under prepared and overconfident I entered the race with the highest of expectations, fast forward 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles on the bike and 6 miles into a 13.1 mile run I was beat. Every bone in my body hurt and I realize I am barely halfway through the run. Carolyn blew by my with about 3 miles left. Reality check: had she not flatted 3.5 hours earlier during the bike, she would have beat me. Needless to say we both finished in pain, disappointed in our finish, looking to eat everything in sight and looking at each other thinking "when is the next one?"
Redemption will come in the form of Half-Ironman Syracuse later this month. This then spurred the next step: a month ago we started to seriously look into races all over the country and chose Lake Placid Ironman, which will take place in July 2011. We chose this race in particular for a few reasons:
1. We can drive to it. (flying after a long race is extremely painful, refer to Disney Marathon 2010)
2. In all of the Ironman series races it is by far the best swim. (more to come on this later)
3. Our great friends the Withington's will be racing for the 2nd year in 2011. (Neil set a course record in the 60-64 yr old females this year!)
All great things, unfortunately there are about 2000 other gluttons for pain that decided on this before we did. This leaves us in a wonderful position to raise money for the Ironman foundation. In order to enter this competition of extreme endurance, we need to raise $2300 for the Ironman Foundation, which helps put on these events, and makes sure the athletes are well taken care of and contributes to the communities in which these events take place.
We invite you to donate as much or as little as you choose. Every dollar is one stroke, one pedal, one step closer to our journey to becoming and Ironman and Iron(wo)man.!
For anyone who does not know, an Ironman is unlike any other race in the world. It is a test to find out what you are made of, to find out how far you can push your limits.
2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking followed by a full marathon 26.2 miles one painful step at a time for a total of 140.6 miles.
Rewind to July of this year, we did our first half-Ironman race in Providence Ri. Under prepared and overconfident I entered the race with the highest of expectations, fast forward 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles on the bike and 6 miles into a 13.1 mile run I was beat. Every bone in my body hurt and I realize I am barely halfway through the run. Carolyn blew by my with about 3 miles left. Reality check: had she not flatted 3.5 hours earlier during the bike, she would have beat me. Needless to say we both finished in pain, disappointed in our finish, looking to eat everything in sight and looking at each other thinking "when is the next one?"
Redemption will come in the form of Half-Ironman Syracuse later this month. This then spurred the next step: a month ago we started to seriously look into races all over the country and chose Lake Placid Ironman, which will take place in July 2011. We chose this race in particular for a few reasons:
1. We can drive to it. (flying after a long race is extremely painful, refer to Disney Marathon 2010)
2. In all of the Ironman series races it is by far the best swim. (more to come on this later)
3. Our great friends the Withington's will be racing for the 2nd year in 2011. (Neil set a course record in the 60-64 yr old females this year!)
All great things, unfortunately there are about 2000 other gluttons for pain that decided on this before we did. This leaves us in a wonderful position to raise money for the Ironman foundation. In order to enter this competition of extreme endurance, we need to raise $2300 for the Ironman Foundation, which helps put on these events, and makes sure the athletes are well taken care of and contributes to the communities in which these events take place.
We invite you to donate as much or as little as you choose. Every dollar is one stroke, one pedal, one step closer to our journey to becoming and Ironman and Iron(wo)man.!
