It started out innocently enough. I registered for Ironman UK because my dad wanted me to. My extended family all lives in the Manchester area and this was an opportunity to visit and do an Ironman with a very supportive group of people to cheer me along. The weather was beautiful, which was incredibly lucky considering the rainy spring and early summer they had endured. Without going into too much detail about the race – it was tough, beautiful and a true Ironman – painful!
The day unfolded in a way that left me satisfied, I was happy to be there and having a good time. I had entered with no expectations and this allowed me to enjoy myself without pressure. Although the run was an out and back (3 times), I really had no idea where I was compared to other girls my age. I was curious but not concerned; it is what it is. It wasn’t until I was approximately 2km from the finish that Jane (owner of RF Milton, good friend and fellow racer) yelled “you are in 5th!” that I started to think about how I was doing. Cool – 5th, that’s pretty good! At this point I didn’t even know what my overall time was. As I got a little further along, I ran past Scott (Jane’s other half and spectator extraordinaire) who yelled “you are in 4th and gaining on 3rd”. Wow.
So I ran faster – all the time thinking that Scott was either lying (there was a history to that theory) or that there was no way I was going to run down 3rd…someone I had never even seen despite the out and backs. But I ran as fast as I could considering it was kilometer 41 of an Ironman. As I crossed the finish they announced me as 3rd in my age group. Amazing! It was very soon after that that a single thought entered my consciousness. Kona.
There were two slots in my age category. Only one person had to refuse their spot and it was mine. There was no question whether I would take it or not. So the next 12 hours were spent wondering, hoping and freaking out that I might actually be going. To skip a long and boring roll down story…waiting for my age category to be announced, I will just say it was one of the most anxiety filled half hours I can remember. But they indicated the spot was available, and I had it. Mine to refuse and that was not going to happen.
So here I am, 6 weeks out and my emotions go from terror, to excitement to terror. I will be playing with the big boys (and girls) and will undoubtedly get my butt kicked. What I failed to mention is that while I am a decent Ironman, I am not your standard Kona qualifier. I competed in a year that was not as competitive as previous years but I got my spot fair and square. I feel that I belong there but I am not kidding myself that I will compete. I look forward to racing on the same course that Macca and Crowie will be battling it out on, being near the back of the pack in the swim (think of the room!), enjoying a windy hot ride and a scorcher of a run. But most of all I will cherish crossing the finish line…in Kona. How many people can say they have done that?
Ultimately, I appreciate I am doing something that many will never have the opportunity to do. Whether it is a result of effort, luck or preparation meeting opportunity (thanks Oprah for that quote); I will be in Kona on October 13. A dream come true and I will enjoy every single second and appreciate the experience for the rest of my life.
