Seems I've been here before...
If memory serves, my first post to this blog was at a similar time. I have spent spent time today ignoring my immediate company and instead focused that period of attention to the screen on my phone. Today was "Busso" and my link to friends testing their skills, determination and force of will was contained within a 4.3" illuminated panel. About this time last year I was looking seriously at making this my first Ironman race. By all accounts, it was a great race in an awesome location with fantastic support from the local community, add to this, it would be my last opportunity to complete an IM before my 40th birthday - it seemed perfect!
Perfect until we realised that the scheduled race week would actually coincide with another important event. When the dates were confirmed, my plans took a back seat in favour a more important achievement, The Boy's primary school graduation. You see, this is a special occasion because The Boy has Autism and he is graduating from a main stream school and with the class group he started with.
As I watch the split times clock up on my phone of those I am following on the other side of the nation I know they are achieving a goal that was set some time ago. I am also watching a 12 year old boy talking to "Doc Brown" about his Deloriun (time machine) in detail at the Police family Christmas function and I know the milestones he has ticked off over time, though they are not readily viewed via an app. Countless hours of early intervention, socializing skills, occupational therapy, speech therapy have lead to this point. Throughout, he has been a trooper and worked tirelessly to exceed all expectations.
My big race is fast approaching and it is now that I, and those on the same path are beginning to ramp up our training levels. On my training calendar my weekend was to a 130km ride in the hills yesterday, and a 16km Sunday run. My social calender for this same pair of days included 2 Christmas family days, plus a bit of seasonal shopping. Having yet perfected the ability to be in 2 places at the same time, some compromises were required. The long ride through the picturesque hills of the Dandenongs became a 3.5 hour high gear / low cadence grind on the wind trainer (beginning at ridiculous o'clock in order to be off the bike and into family time on time). Sunday arrived and it was time to run, I guess I was still tired from the previous day as, for the first couple of km I was just struggling to get me breath. Pushing through this the next 4km were different, now I was pretty confident I was going to just throw up. There were thoughts at this point that, since I still fairly close to home I might just call it a day and turn for home. It didn't make sense to keep running away from home when it was obvious that today was not my day. Fortunately, there were also thoughts of those who would have been just climbing out of the water in Bussleton, a similar distance behind them and yet a long road ahead. Drawing inspiration from them, and The Boy at home I pressed on an eventually ran into some form and finally, began to run comfortably. It just took a while to get there, sometimes the good things just require a little extra perseverance.
By now, Ironman WA is in the books for another year, from what I hear, it was a very tough day for all of the competitors on the course. Those who wanted to claim their finisher's towel and medal were made to earn it.Congratulations to all who took on the challenge and pushed through to reach that finish line when things got difficult. And to The Boy who is also reaching his own finish line (sorry mate, now medal though), you all inspire the rest of us with your achievements!
Appendix
Today (Monday) was "Awards Day" at school and The Boy was presented with the ICT Award (computers and stuff) for the year, and was also a member of the Rounders team that won the Grand Final of the inter-school competition. Turns out, he did get his medal after all
If memory serves, my first post to this blog was at a similar time. I have spent spent time today ignoring my immediate company and instead focused that period of attention to the screen on my phone. Today was "Busso" and my link to friends testing their skills, determination and force of will was contained within a 4.3" illuminated panel. About this time last year I was looking seriously at making this my first Ironman race. By all accounts, it was a great race in an awesome location with fantastic support from the local community, add to this, it would be my last opportunity to complete an IM before my 40th birthday - it seemed perfect!
Perfect until we realised that the scheduled race week would actually coincide with another important event. When the dates were confirmed, my plans took a back seat in favour a more important achievement, The Boy's primary school graduation. You see, this is a special occasion because The Boy has Autism and he is graduating from a main stream school and with the class group he started with.
As I watch the split times clock up on my phone of those I am following on the other side of the nation I know they are achieving a goal that was set some time ago. I am also watching a 12 year old boy talking to "Doc Brown" about his Deloriun (time machine) in detail at the Police family Christmas function and I know the milestones he has ticked off over time, though they are not readily viewed via an app. Countless hours of early intervention, socializing skills, occupational therapy, speech therapy have lead to this point. Throughout, he has been a trooper and worked tirelessly to exceed all expectations.
My big race is fast approaching and it is now that I, and those on the same path are beginning to ramp up our training levels. On my training calendar my weekend was to a 130km ride in the hills yesterday, and a 16km Sunday run. My social calender for this same pair of days included 2 Christmas family days, plus a bit of seasonal shopping. Having yet perfected the ability to be in 2 places at the same time, some compromises were required. The long ride through the picturesque hills of the Dandenongs became a 3.5 hour high gear / low cadence grind on the wind trainer (beginning at ridiculous o'clock in order to be off the bike and into family time on time). Sunday arrived and it was time to run, I guess I was still tired from the previous day as, for the first couple of km I was just struggling to get me breath. Pushing through this the next 4km were different, now I was pretty confident I was going to just throw up. There were thoughts at this point that, since I still fairly close to home I might just call it a day and turn for home. It didn't make sense to keep running away from home when it was obvious that today was not my day. Fortunately, there were also thoughts of those who would have been just climbing out of the water in Bussleton, a similar distance behind them and yet a long road ahead. Drawing inspiration from them, and The Boy at home I pressed on an eventually ran into some form and finally, began to run comfortably. It just took a while to get there, sometimes the good things just require a little extra perseverance.
By now, Ironman WA is in the books for another year, from what I hear, it was a very tough day for all of the competitors on the course. Those who wanted to claim their finisher's towel and medal were made to earn it.Congratulations to all who took on the challenge and pushed through to reach that finish line when things got difficult. And to The Boy who is also reaching his own finish line (sorry mate, now medal though), you all inspire the rest of us with your achievements!
Appendix
Today (Monday) was "Awards Day" at school and The Boy was presented with the ICT Award (computers and stuff) for the year, and was also a member of the Rounders team that won the Grand Final of the inter-school competition. Turns out, he did get his medal after all
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| The Boy is presented with the ICT Award for 2012 |
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