I’m so excited to finally be going to the NYC Nautica Triathlon! I just competed in my first triathlon last weekend. It was the first time I completed the aquatic leg and I wanted to be prepared for New York. Since we will be swimming down current in the New York City Triathlon, everyone says that it will be each athletes fastest time ever. I have issues with open water swimming and tend to leave it for races only. I know, I know. I should be putting in some training hours in an open body of water, but it’s all I can do to get it done on race day.
I’ve been thinking a lot about training lately as I contemplate which Ironman race I should do next year. Seeing as how NYC is going to be my first solo Olympic triathlon, a lot of people think I’m crazy to be actually considering the Ironman next year. What they don’t understand is the story behind my choice.
I first fell in love with triathlons as the result of an experience I had at an event I was at shortly after I won called “Do Something Healthy.” I was at the event as their keynote speaker, but as I sat in the audience waiting to go on stage the emcee was showing a documentary he had been working on. He had recently completed the Kona Triathlon and documented his experience.
As I sat there and watched the way he was able to capture such raw emotion and articulate the process, I knew that I had to experience it for myself. At the time, I had been in such a surreal period of my life and processing every new moment took all that I had. I could not believe the life I was living, creating, and had the honor of experiencing. I was being flown all over the country to be on one television show or another. Meeting people that I only knew from watching on tv It was incredible having them share with me how they watched my journey and cheered me on. I was on the cover of numerous magazines and in many different shoots. I had been interviewed on countless radio shows. My life was anything but typical since before the Biggest Loser. At the time I was so connected to the entire experience, but I also wondered what might happen when that feeling was gone. As time went by, would I be able to continue to draw from an experience which was bound to be years away before I even realized it?
As I sat there watching, I knew that although I will never be able to experience the trials and triumphs from the time in my life when I was on the Biggest Loser ever again, I might be able to experience a different journey in the same way. I felt like he was taking the words right out of my mouth as he explained his journey during the Ironman. I knew I had to do it.
Since then when I would do different interviews I would recall this experience and, of course, they would ask when I was planning on doing an Ironman. The first time I was asked the question I was in a panic and answered, “In 2012 if I’m not pregnant.” Back in 2008/2009 that seemed so far away. I had no idea where my life was heading and I thought for sure I would be pregnant. Well as it turns out 2012 wasn’t so far away after all and I am not about to go get pregnant because I’m scared of the commitment training for Ironman takes!
The truth is I want to do an Ironman more now than the day I sat in that audience watching the documentary. I am just as scared as I was when I first stood in line on August 11, 2007 for the Biggest Loser. The reason I have been thinking so much about training is because doing a sprint triathlon with a river swim is not enough to prepare for any race let alone an Ironman. I can’t afford to wait 2 weeks before the start of a race that I’m excited about to worry about the open water swim meanwhile mentally preparing for the couple hundred mile ride and twenty-something mile run!
Well here it is, next week I’ll be racing in NYC with some good friends from this past season’s Biggest Loser, Olivia, Hannah, and Irene. I will keep you posted on which Ironman I decide to do. Which Ironman do you think I should do?
xo-ali
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