By Maggie Fournier
I've never been the one to write much in terms of
race reports. Not sure why. It might have to do with too many race reports I
read that are too egotistical for my liking. In addition, I often times I get
so engulfed and focused while racing that I forget what happen, besides the
fact that it hurt. A lot.
I guess I never expected to toe the line in Kona
this year, to begin with. My bike crash on Memorial Day 2012 had a lot to do
with it. It just took a long time to heal physically, but even longer to heal mentally.
For the longest time, I was just happy to “putts around on my bike” and I
didn't feel like putting any efforts. I didn't want to feel the necessary pain
that goes along with hard efforts. I have had enough of pain. Of course, a
necessary discussion with my coach followed. The reason why she is still my
coach after nearly 5 years is that she tells it the way it is, and I like that!
Back in March, she essentially told me she wasn't sure what kind of shape I would
be for ironman Mont Tremblant. She actually wasn't even sure if I should toe
the line, let alone race well. I was behind. I didn't think so. After a few
tests done on the bike and on the run, I had to come to the realization that
she was right. I was seriously behind in my training and had lost significant
fitness.
I guess I could have folded and decided to finish
Ironman Mont Tremblant. Afterall, most of my family would be there and it would
be a big party, no matter what. (Case in point: my family never misses an
occasion to get together and celebrate. I even saw cousins that I had not seen
in 20 years!). I know my family would have been proud of me regardless of when
or if I would have finished. Geez, I am not even sure if my dad knows the
actual distances of each ironman legs! To him, at 80 years old, watching me
race is almost like a game of Where is Waldo? !!! He just loves to see me all
over the race course. But to me it didn't work this way. I was toeing the line
of my 10th ironman, and I was going to finish it strongly. Would I?...Did I
remember how to race this distance? Would I make mistakes? Would I falter?
Would I disappoint... myself?
And that's when I realized the only person I could
disappoint was me. Nobody cares how well or bad I do, as long as I am happy. I rolled up my sleeves and went to work.
I trained hard, harder than I ever did.
I guess it paid off. I got 3rd in my AG that day.
The funny story is, that I did not even know if it was good for a Kona slot or
not, and I would only find out the next morning. It did not matter. I gave my
all on race day, proved to myself and my coach that I was "back",
built some self-confidence along the way, and entertained my dad, since he got
to see “Waldo” multiples of times! I was happy. Kent did not even bring it up.
We just went to bed that night, after my traditional beer and burger, after a
fun evening spent with my family and loved ones.
Fast track to Kona.
Again, not the one for race report/details, I can
say that it is always a pleasure to land on that island on race week. There is
something unique about the atmosphere in Kona during IM. It is the way the town
gets transformed; how the locals and everyone else embrace and participate in
this event. The media, the top notch athletes, rubbing elbows with pros, swimming
at Dig Me Beach...All of it makes it special and unique. There is a feeling of
excitement, yet filled with anxiety. It will hurt and you know it. No way
around that one. It will be hot, windy and humid. Getting to the start is hard
enough and I knew that with proper pacing, staying on top of nutrition and
hydration, being wise, would land me a good race. Dad traveled again to see me
race. It was a fun day and made all the efforts, sacrifices worth it. And the
Mai Tai taste so much better after that race! (no beer and burger afterwards,
but Mai Tai and tuna poke!!!)
Til next time...!
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