I have a secret to share with you. I’ve known this for a while, but I wasn’t comfortable to share it until I had a but more confidence in myself and had worked out some details. I think I’m ready to share my secret now, or at least I hope so. Are you ready? You probably need to sit down for this. And I wouldn’t have any liquid in your mouth either. OK, here goes…
*takes a deep breath*
I’m doing an Ironman.
Yep, I caught the bug and I’m going for the big kahuna, all the marbles. It all started last year when I went to cheer on a friend competing in Ironman Chattanooga.
I came home from the weekend and the idea of completing an Ironman wouldn’t leave me. I prayed over the idea for a few days and felt a peace about it. To further confirm it, a friend suggested we do one together before she knew it had been weighing on my mind.
For the past few months, I’ve added significant running into my workout regimen, and I’ve started swimming. This summer, I’m working with a swimming coach to amp it up a notch. Jennifer and I are working with a tri coach specifically geared to type 1 athletes. This is such a giant and ridiculous goal for me, and it’s one I’m likely to never repeat again. But you only live once, and I really, truly want to knock this off my bucket list.
I want to push myself to be stronger, physically and mentally. I want to put diabetes in a box and show the world it doesn’t have to be limiting or controlling. I want to cross that finish line and have the world know I worked hard to overcome something others said would limit me. I want to do this for me, for my future children, for my niece and nephews, for every person with type 1 and for every parent.
I am terrified to share this secret dream, partially because of critics, but mostly out of fear. What if I don’t make it? What if I fail? Those things are possible, but with both of them, I still tried. I still worked hard and I still trained to become stronger. Who knows how this journey will end, but I’m going to work hard to make sure it ends with a medal around my neck.
Join me? I’m looking for prayer partners throughout this journey, and partners to pray over me throughout the race. Jennifer and I have signed up for the Ironman ?? In ?? next year. We have a schedule and a plan to be ready. This is going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but quite possibly one of the most rewarding.
Whew… that secret was a doozy. Crazy, huh?