No one would willingly sign up for a 116 mile bike followed immediately by a 26.2 mile run. It sounds stupid because it is. Yet here we are. About to go do  this. 

I’m not sure why adding a swim to the start of the above activity makes it any better. Most would argue it makes it more stupider, but for whatever reason a triathlon sounds like a blast. A long brick sounds like what it is. A poor life choice. 

Yet here we are. 

This all sounds like I’m being a big baby and really. I’m not. I’ve seen the river. It’s gnarly and dangerous, especially for the voluminous number of “triathlete swimmers” who on a good day look like like they are executing a controlled drowning. I also realize the duplicity of my argument. A ride and run after a swim is smart. A ride and run alone is dumb. Sure, whatever. 

Maybe it’s because I have an Achilles’ tendon that feels like an unraveling piece of piano wire. Or maybe it’s because after 18 years in this sport, running still isn’t my strong suit. Either way. Here we are. 

And to be here means we finish what we started. Someone said that “how you do anything is how you do everything.” As a coach and a parent and a person who talks too much about goals and pushing oneself, this is the crux of all the things I do. So I’ll get out there and go as hard as I can for as long as I can. No matter how dumb.

The reality is I get to carry out this adventure with my mom and my friends. Who gets to say and do that?  Not many.  So we will drink more coffee and set about to a beautiful day of riding and (hopefully) running. 

I’ll be laughing at myself for the next 10 hours or so. If you care to watch this debacle in real time. Download the Ironman app and track 2040 for me and 1274 for my mom.