tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post2463653392902996817..comments2023-04-29T04:35:23.614-04:00Comments on Perpetually Moving Target: Life after the Ironman / Ask Me AnythingRirinettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-59420183964607118242014-10-17T09:29:09.730-04:002014-10-17T09:29:09.730-04:00Oooh, I can't wait to answer that one! :-D
I&#...Oooh, I can't wait to answer that one! :-D<br />I've always been too honest on social media and it hasn't always helped me, but after retiring old blogs or making them private for fear of repercussions, I think I reached a stage where I say "f the haters" (not that I had any so far, knock on wood) - but living in fear is no longer an option. This IS who I am dammit, you either stay or get the f out. Sorry for the f bombs, but I realize that I need to start using these a little more because they come somewhat naturally now. We always grow and make new connections, but paying attention to those who matter is the key. <3Ririnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-90942841124523870662014-10-17T09:19:31.262-04:002014-10-17T09:19:31.262-04:00Big squeeshy hug back to you!! Thank you. <3Big squeeshy hug back to you!! Thank you. <3Ririnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-45908368024448059342014-10-17T09:15:23.277-04:002014-10-17T09:15:23.277-04:00Such great questions!! Will answer them all, no wo...Such great questions!! Will answer them all, no worries. <br />As for rides with friends, my Saturday long rides have always had a big social component to them, so I am still trying to ride "for fun". It's just the length and the landscape that makes them more or less fun, but I am not being too hard on myself these days. I just go out and enjoy!Ririnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-8110981591950916222014-10-17T09:00:51.788-04:002014-10-17T09:00:51.788-04:00oooooh, I have a question for you! Can you write a...oooooh, I have a question for you! Can you write a bit about balancing work/family/kids etc with Ironman training? Did you ever feel guilty about things like long rides? That's what's tripping me up when I think about 70.3 training next year. Am I being too selfish/a bad mom if I take off for a 100k ride on a Saturday, am I paying enough attention to my kids. #momguilt, it's an issue for me.Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07455307792115305791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-15028830972241580262014-10-15T17:17:33.271-04:002014-10-15T17:17:33.271-04:00What's your favourite long ride? It's Sat...What's your favourite long ride? It's Saturday, and you have 4 hours to spend, so where would you go?<br />What's your religious affiliation, and how does it affect you motivation?<br />What movies are you most likely to pick if you are going to put on something you have already seen?<br /><br />As a word of encouragement, I remind you that surely you got into triathlon as a sport because you like to ride, and you like to run. Those adventures are still there for you, even though you aren't training for a big event. ...and they are just as much fun now as before you signed up for the Ironman. Go for a ride with a best friend, just for the joy of it.jethroelfmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05154313429911481786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-92130269417371249122014-10-15T09:10:34.697-04:002014-10-15T09:10:34.697-04:00Ah Irina. I'm giving you a huge virtual hug. I...Ah Irina. I'm giving you a huge virtual hug. I've been there, heck I'm there right now and I didn't even do an IM this year. My body has flipped me the bird and I'm trying really hard not to slide into a black hole. Running is my sanity and to not be able to do it is killing me. <br />Post IM is tough. I took a lot of time off after my first one and just did what I felt like. I didn't race at all - in fact I didn't do another tri until 2 years later. I spent time working on the garden and generally just puttering and that seemed to be good enough for me at the time. Phaedra Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10348700813435281507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-59080068478351304162014-10-15T09:05:35.123-04:002014-10-15T09:05:35.123-04:00I admire your honesty so much! It takes a lot of c...I admire your honesty so much! It takes a lot of courage to share something so personal, so openly. I'm guessing a lot of athletes go through something similar in their own personal way - I know I have been there more than one time myself, even if it's not exactly the same. <br /><br />It makes me sad that this coach made you feel so crappy regarding the external accountability. We all find motivation in different ways, internal or external, and it is nobody's place to judge. Without knowing her or the whole story, my guess is that she would say something like that to make herself feel better... making you feel worse was simply a by-product. <br /><br />Anyway, kudos for taking these baby steps, and finding your way in a NEW way! You are always learning and growing as an athlete but also as a person. I know I have learned so much about myself this year thanks to injury, and it sure has been a bumpy road. This "return to running" has been my first time "training" without a set goal or plan. It was rocky to start, but I am getting the hang of it and I'm hoping that in the end I will be a better/stronger/more balanced runner as a result. But who really knows?!<br /><br />I'm rambling now... all that to say, I'm proud of you and I wish you nothing but GOODNESS on this journey! Thanks for sharing. <3<br /><br />Oh, and a question.. hmmm... What has been your FAVOURITE part about no longer being in Ironman training? Marlenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08230997094889375925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-87910964860634323352014-10-14T20:03:14.868-04:002014-10-14T20:03:14.868-04:00One more thing - I did not ignore your questions, ...One more thing - I did not ignore your questions, but they will most likely require a dedicated post. You are right, I should look back at the past as much as I look towards the future and be grateful, so grateful for making it thus far. It's all a gift, really.Ririnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-72305466303163106202014-10-14T19:47:01.638-04:002014-10-14T19:47:01.638-04:00I so wish I knew who wrote this, because I would w...I so wish I knew who wrote this, because I would want to look you in the eye (picture?) and say Thank YOU. That gray silhouette is not very inviting to talk to, but I will reply anyway. You are right - I could spend time trying to develop a new skill, and if my list of goals for this year could speak, it would tell you that I'm always up for a new challenge, of any kind. And strength training IS a major challenge. Only thinking about it gives me urticaria, as I never liked doing it. So here's something I do outside of my comfort zone. It could definitely not be fitness related, but just like I said to someone on Twitter (maybe you, who knows) - exercise IS my outlet. I spent many years of my life depressed and I depend on exercise to remain ... happy. It's what works. I have not tried anything else and truth is, I am terrified of going back in that black hole. Putting back the pounds, starting to hate myself again, not finding joy in anything, neglecting my family. I don't need to do MORE, to climb a higher mountain, to break new records. I just need that minimum of sweat and pain to get my heart pumping so I feel alive again. So when I found myself going from 100mph to 0 and not being able to start the engine again... that terrified me. DO-ing - that's exactly where I am right now. Anything would be great, but as I said before, I used to depend on a coach and now that I no longer have one, I need to find myself, that drive to keep moving forward - only for health. I hope it makes sense... Yikes.Ririnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-66649174073297934242014-10-14T19:31:01.880-04:002014-10-14T19:31:01.880-04:00Sandy - I read this comment and it made me sad bec...Sandy - I read this comment and it made me sad because truth is, the person we are talking about is someone that I admire and respect a great deal, even though I don't think we could be friends in real life... Because she expects only the highest standard from their entourage and I never felt that I could reach that level... anyhow, I prefer not to talk about other people, especially when they are not part of the conversation, and I talk full responsibility for my own feelings. The fact that I felt shitty after our discussion, in which she only said "this is where we differ" - is because I often feel inferior to top level athletes and coaches... Especially when they point out such differences and all I hear is "I'm better than you". I suppose it's their personality that clashed with my uber sensitivity. I changed the text in my blog because it wasn't fair to her. I bet she didn't mean to hurt me. I learned my lesson not to get into such conversations with people of her caliber as I may end up hurt again. <br /><br />And I am totally ok with having that carrot dangling in front of me, don't worry. Loved that you wrote so passionately though. Don't change a thing!!Ririnettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08655714425760755697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-69139194873972200412014-10-14T18:45:30.138-04:002014-10-14T18:45:30.138-04:00You have spent months on a tidal wave of endorphin...You have spent months on a tidal wave of endorphins. You pushed yourself mentally and physically. You reached the top of the mountain. The natural tendency is to look up and wonder what to conquer next -- and to feel lost when you see nothing. Have you stopped to admire the view? Have you looked back at the path you took to get where you are? Can you still see where you were, all those many months ago, before that first run? What about the prep for that first 50k on the bike? Did you take the time to recognize that? You aren't a princess; you have never been - you work hard and from my perspective, you've been inspirational to many people (including me) by taking the time to SET a new level of the bar... let a lot REACH and SURPASS that level. Have you thought about developing a new skill on a new (but related) tangent? Take a pole dancing course. That will kick your ass for a bit. Join Toastmasters. Exercise your mind in a non-lateral way. What I'm trying to say is... you've done so much. Spend a few mental cycles thinking of what else you could do. You don't need to do the impossible - you've proven that doesn't exist - you just need to DO. I admire you. So very very much. I don't have a coach -- I need one. I'm inherently lazy and I spend my life wishing I wasn't. I live my life with coulda, shoulda, would. You are the epitome of could, should, would, did and WILL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7061247060314874235.post-5637540109928364512014-10-14T17:32:47.274-04:002014-10-14T17:32:47.274-04:00"I talked to a coach once and she made me fee..."I talked to a coach once and she made me feel pretty shitty about myself when I admitted not being able to train without external accountability and/or a coach"<br />That person sucks! We all need a carrot on the stick. For some it's races, others a coach/training partner etc. Shame on that person.Cupcaketrigirl/Sandynoreply@blogger.com