I’ve been asking myself what it is about this Ironman thing that keeps me wanting more…? After Kona last year, I entered a bit of a no-man’s-land (so many people told me this would happen), I didn’t rest enough but I couldn’t stop training. I was nursing a hip injury and a knee that would hurt on and off right up to race day. The worst part is that I kept most of this from Lucie just in case she stopped updating my Training Peaks (really!?). In January I ended up at my physio, Julia Witt, somewhat over-trained, stressed about starting a new career and not quite sure what was next for me with regard to triathlon. At this point I wasn’t running as my hip was too sore. In our first session she asked me, “Why are you beating yourself with this big stick?” and I know this sounds weird but I began a journey with her where we got to understand how my body works, but more importantly how my mind works and what are the things that drive me both positively and negatively. To cut a long story short I am better at understanding the “why” to the “what” if that makes sense. The “what” is triathlon and the “why” is so many things. I think I have been able to let go of the fear of failure and accept this gift that I have been given relatively late in life and make the most of it while it lasts! So the “why” is because I love training, I love racing, I love winning (there I said it), I love what this sport has done for my body, I love the people that I have met and the friends that I have made and I love sharing this journey with everyone around me. Having said all of that, deep I know, I arrived at this year’s race in a very good head space and with the right amount of training in the bag. My injuries were behaving and I was pretty confident that my body would keep it together. The moment of truth comes when you are standing on the beach and the pros have gone off…there is no turning back. There is so much excitement but also utter fear and dread, but once you’re running into the ocean it’s down to business. When it comes to the swim, there are dolphins, racing snakes, mermaids and even penguins…I am none of these. I prefer to think of myself as one of the turtles in Finding Nemo. Like yo Dude, let’s do this thing…whoo hoo…what 1:14:00? Can’t be right…I swear I swim faster than that! But clearly I don’t, and in reality the race starts once I have exited that damn condom of a wetsuit!
3 Comments
Rae
4/19/2016 10:15:34 pm
Well written Desi, and truly inspirational as always:) You are going to achieve anything you put your mind to not only because of your incredible athletic ability but, because you have everything it takes.
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Patsy
4/19/2016 11:04:32 pm
Well done Desi, great to see that you are still a leader. Keep it up.
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Cols
4/20/2016 11:45:50 am
Well done Desi you're such an inspiration. Just as i was thinking of giving up on Triathlon as a sport and focus just on RUNNING there i see your remarkable PE performance and suddenly boom! a mind shift for me. Definitely looking HOT! for your age.
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