As I write my Top 50 Reasons to love Ironman Triathlon, this is one of my favorites. Although I live in a place where triathlon and endurance sports is popular the overwhelming response when discussing Ironman triathlon is questioning my sanity.
Now, I get this at a lot of levels. People want to know why I would spend 5 or 6 hours on my bike on a nice Saturday afternoon instead of doing about 100 other things. Or why I would get up early on a Tuesday morning so I can get a 5k run in.
But there is something special about that feeling that you are doing something that most others wouldn't even consider. That you are bringing dedication and discipline into your life that many don't want or don't think they need.
I swam on the team at Ohio Northern University during my junior and senior year. It was very difficult at times and required me saying no to a lot of fun stuff. Of course, I would get the question, "Why are you doing this, you are not being paid to swim" and they were right about that. I can still clearly picture in my mind walking to the pool from my dorm room at 5 in the morning in the dead of winter and relishing the fact that very few others would embark on this journey. Subject themselves to this cold and then the pain of the workout and want to do it!
I thought that was cool. I loved being someone who was taking a very different path and not an easy one at that. I have that same feeling now with Ironman. I guess that does make me crazy in my own way but I don't want to think of my life without triathlon.
Want to join me in the craziness?