The first time I thought it was silly. And maybe even a little flattering. The second time, I was surprised two people would base their definition of race success on someone else's performance. The third time I heard it, I began to feel like a moving target.
The only person I want to beat at Kona is me. Which I realize gives me something in common with those girls. I will beat the me that decides somewhere around Waikoloa: Screw this ridiculously overpriced torture event, I'm going to drop this bike off at T2 and watch the winners finish from the stands. (With beer and chocolate.) The me that gets bored and chatty as I run through the energy lab, losing focus and making friends to pass time. The me that inevitably panics during the swim start and considers stopping to let the madness go by. If I do the best I can every leg of that race, and stay in the moment instead of spacing out, then I win. Even if some other girl does it faster and tops the podium. Good for her, because she probably had a great day and is ecstatic, and that is all hers.
As always, there are some awesome amateur women racing in Kona this year, many of whom could kick my butt on any given day. My goal is not to beat anyone. My super-secret goal is to beat my time from last year, because why not? If 9:56:19 puts me 12th in my age group, I will celebrate improvement. But I guess that's not super-secret anymore..
As always, my primary goal is to not die. Seriously, people. It's an Ironman. It's a miracle we all don't die. My secondary goal is to race it. With every ounce of me. I would also like to smile through the entire marathon. And to not do so much math because my math sucks by the marathon anyway.
The only person I want to beat at Kona is me. Which I realize gives me something in common with those girls. I will beat the me that decides somewhere around Waikoloa: Screw this ridiculously overpriced torture event, I'm going to drop this bike off at T2 and watch the winners finish from the stands. (With beer and chocolate.) The me that gets bored and chatty as I run through the energy lab, losing focus and making friends to pass time. The me that inevitably panics during the swim start and considers stopping to let the madness go by. If I do the best I can every leg of that race, and stay in the moment instead of spacing out, then I win. Even if some other girl does it faster and tops the podium. Good for her, because she probably had a great day and is ecstatic, and that is all hers.
As always, there are some awesome amateur women racing in Kona this year, many of whom could kick my butt on any given day. My goal is not to beat anyone. My super-secret goal is to beat my time from last year, because why not? If 9:56:19 puts me 12th in my age group, I will celebrate improvement. But I guess that's not super-secret anymore..
As always, my primary goal is to not die. Seriously, people. It's an Ironman. It's a miracle we all don't die. My secondary goal is to race it. With every ounce of me. I would also like to smile through the entire marathon. And to not do so much math because my math sucks by the marathon anyway.
9:45 it is then. Go Rachel! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll be cheering you on here in Jacksonville, at my computer! That island is filled with adrenaline on race day and I'm sure you will soak it up. can't wait to watch you. You will do great!
ReplyDelete-marn
I think your goals sound awesome! You can only control what YOU do on race day, not others...so why worry about them and where they are? You must be getting so excited...the big day is almost here!
ReplyDeleteracing yourself is the best way to get fast. race your own race and have...don't chat too much on the run...until you pass those girls, then wave, chat like you're out for a sunday stroll and drop 'em!
ReplyDeleteIf I could keep up with you, I'd so chat with you along the way! But then I'd totally die trying to maintain that pace. My #1 goal for each and every race is to have FUN! I'll be rooting for you.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens, I (along with everyone else) will be proud of you...NOW GO KICK SOME ASS! :)
ReplyDeleteYou really know how to set goals don't you?
ReplyDelete1. Live
2. No math
3. Beat yourself
I can't tell you how excited I am to read your race report. You AMAZE me Rachel.
What a perfect mantra and race goal. You just slap on those little blinders and worry about your own speedy long legged self come Oct 11th.
ReplyDeleteI like it. I like it. :-)
Rach...
ReplyDeleteYOU got the attitude in the RIGHT spot! It's all about you & YOUR day! Not really sure who is saying what but I know girls talk...the scary thing is that THEY DON'T even know you! They have never seen you swim through the Pacific like we have, never seen you bike in the hellish heat like we have, and obviously never seen you run like the gazelle that all of Kona calls you. Let them waist their energy on trying to beat you...and if they do, No whoopy right,you will be hard to beat so they will hurt to do it, but I (along with all your supporters have our $$ on you). No pressure... only cause you are the Hawaii girl we love...and if you end up walking we still LOVE ya...
Do you even know how the Kona-vote went this year? They had Chrissie in the top-ten men! ha ha,I can see it. And you in the top 10 pro women. I said you have an "amateur course record" in you! And I believe it...
Happy taper, see you soon! PLEASE let me know if you or any of the Oahuians need anything when you get to Kona!
Happy taper...
You know what the best part of race day is gonna be for me? NOT having to do an Ironman! What, were you expecting me to say something about you? :P
ReplyDeleteYou're gonna rock it out there! Even if you finish in 15 hours I will be screaming for Jerky!
Way to keep it real RR. Basing your race performance off of someone else's results is downright silly. The good news is that you're way above them - :) I'll be sending you tons and tons of good vibes, knowing full well that you have the talent, the passion, and the drive to accomplish anything that you believe. :) And then chocolate and beer at the finish! Hooray!!
ReplyDeleteRR,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I hear similar banter (in the short course world),and as Marit says, it's just downright silly! You can only control YOUR performance and give it all you have on that day. NO Defense in Triathlon :-)
With your attitude you WILL have a Super day-I can't wait to watch you fly ou there!
I am rooting for you and we're in the same AG. I, like you, just want to race my own race and have fun! So if you see me (or pass me going the other way because you're faster than me) in the energy lab please chat, wave, say hi! - it makes it oh so much fun! :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you - math IS hard.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that someone looks to you as a benchmark is a huge compliment.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck to all in the quest to beat the RR of '07!
As You Walk and Eat and Travel,
ReplyDeleteBe Wherever You Are,
Otherwise You will Miss the Most of Your Life"
-Buddha
Stay in the moment and enjoy every ounce of it!
i can never quite manage to be as zen as you. it's difficult not to pay attention to the competition or the math. but i'm pretty sure you'll do better than ever. i've never gotten into this whole kona thing before, now I feel like i have to watch or follow it on the computer or whatever it is you people do
ReplyDeleteI like the goals of don't die and beat your own time.
ReplyDeleteThat is really all this is about. Results will take care of themselves.
In HS, I set a goal to beat the state champion in 100 breaststroke...I did...so did 2 other guys...who beat me. What sucked is that it wasn't even my best time.
Do YOUR best. Good luck
You're gonna do awesome!! I just hope I can chat with you on the run. Because it will mean I'm doing good and still alive!
ReplyDeleteI love it, this is perfect. No really, I think you have it spot on and I keep saying, the only person I have control over is "me" so don't worry about anyone else or anything else.. just focus on you RR, your race, what YOU can do! If you do that and have a ton of fun like usual, then you will be great I am sure. I am also going with the "do not die" goal. Count me in... that's one my Mom would like!
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteYou are hilarious! Your blog is totally entertaining, and a perfect way to waste time at work.. I am right there with you with a) the boredom/chattiness in the energy lab. I distinctly remember last year chatting up the photographers, and b) math in the marathon NEVER adds up! I hope you beat yourself, live, and smile the entire race! I'll be pulling for you.
You will have a great day because you have the right attitude. And I am the opposite of you, when the going gets tough I become a math junkie. With every step I figure out what percentage of the run I have completed and what percentage I have to go. I just do fractions over, and over, and over...
ReplyDelete...Simply can't WAIT to hear how it goes! You've overcome a lot of obstacles and put in the work....now, whatever happens, you will surely give it everything you have, and that's all you can do! Still, our bets are on you to rip it up out there... :)
ReplyDeleteI hate being the 24th commenter because I have nothing original to say. So instead I"ll say "what they all said."
ReplyDeleteI think they're great goals. I realized when I finally stopped caring about everybody else and just raced ME I had such a better time.
Go Rachel!
I'll pull out the pom poms and cheer you on from Michigan. Go Rachel!!
ReplyDeleteRach your head and heart is in the right place...Race your own race and have FUN that is the whole point of racing is to have FUN with what you enjoy doing!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe other yahoos that are aiming for the secret attack...let them beat themselves up....you stay within yourself..... the awesome you:)
Oh, who can do math by the time you get to the run? I've tried and it doesn't work. Regarding the smack talking race chicks-- no accounting for what makes other people tick. Whatever. Just don't space out and forget to smile through the whole race (not just the run). It's fun, right?
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love this post. Take hold of what you can control... and as we all know in Ironman that is limited. My mantra during Ironman (or any triathlon for that matter) is always to do my best in THAT moment. Sometimes my best is kicking ass, and sometimes it's holding my shit together so I don't sit on the side of the road and cry.
ReplyDeleteIf you give it your all and live in the moment you'll look back on the race with pride. No regrets.
Kick ass, girl. We're cheering you on and proud of you for being there...it's been a tough season and you've been through hell and back to get to that starting line.
When you're there floating in the water before the cannon goes off, think about your 'journey' this year and know that you've already won. You're there.