Snow!

So a couple of interesting things happened last week, the first being the official arrival of winter to our Nation’s Capital. Last Tuesday morning, we woke up to a blanket of the white stuff, which basically rendered everyone incapable of driving. I don’t know what it is about people in this town, I mean, in Ottawa, Calgary, Minsk and Yellowknife, if one thing is guaranteed, it’s Winter, and LOTS of it.

As a triathlete married to a veteran ski instructor, I find myself planted firmly between two diametrically opposed groups, people who love summer/hate winter and people who love winter/hate summer. Actually, because of Ottawa’s wealth of local Nordic ski terrain, I’m not in a minority.  However, as an alpine skier who has avoided cross-country skiing since the age of 10, I am part another unique minority – “the alpine ski-loving triathlete”, I know a handful of these, but I know six bushels more of the other kind. Hey, both Sam McGlone and Julie Dibens ski in the off-season, it is cross training after all! – even Rinny Carfrae has hit the slopes around Boulder since her Kona win this fall. We’re stoked for the snow season, and when I’m not swim-bike-running, we plan to be on the hill.

Over the last ten days, the countdown to Christmas calendar dropped into the single digits, and my middle of the night repetition of “it’s only December” in reference to my training changed to “it’s basically January”. In fact, late one night I had what I would define as a minor meltdown as far as my preparation goes, which stopped short of morphing into a full-fledged panic attack. The game plan has always been to incorporate moderate training while enjoying life (within reason) with family and friends in the weeks leading up to and through Christmas and New Years. Theoretically, this will allow me to begin January with a high level of focus and fond memories of a great festive season. While this is still the plan, I must admit that more and more my thoughts wander to the work to be done in the weeks and months to come, the hours on the bike, in the water, on the run and in the gym.

But for now, it’s time to focus on family as we get closer and closer to Christmas. All the best to you and yours as you celebrate the season. I hope Santa finds you all!

The Big Idea

This journey began in July of 2010; I had just gotten back from an open water swim and was relaxing on the couch with my husband - who was reading one of the many triathlon training books we’ve accumulated over time. I got up to get a drink, and he said “Honey, why don’t you do an Ironman next year?”

My immediate response – after my drink came out my nose was - “Are you crazy? Do you still want to be married in a year?” This resulted in a bit of a grumbling from him and some comment about only wanting to be supportive and encouraging. The thing was, at first all I could think about how crazy the idea was, but then all I could think about was how it would feel to cross that finish line, and thereafter I started to visualize myself on the day, EVERY DAY. At that point I knew that I had to do it, I wanted to do it, and as terrifying as the prospect was, I was going to do it. It was just a question of where, and when.

By mid-August, I’d registered for the 2011 Lake Placid Ironman, taking place on July 24, 2011. But, I can hear some of you saying, general entry sold out the day it opened, how did you do it? It's better if you don't ask,  just know we didn't give up our first born. 

Now we're in December,and I've been keeping active through the fall, but I must admit that there have already been waves of panic when I felt I may not be doing enough. I've read the books, I've tasted the kool-aid, I'm ready to go.  The ramp up has begun, and the real deal training begins the first week of January, I'm going to enjoy the festive season knowing this. 

I'm excited and terrified, but I'm looking forward to it, and I hope you'll follow me along the way!