On October the 22nd I experienced my first Ironman 70.3 and it was AMAZING.
The Preface,
The entire experience began just over 16 weeks prior when I read a facebook post from Goggins. I had just seen the interview with Goggins and Bilyeu and was very much imprinted on how weak, Goggins words, we are living as a normal. Then some of the comments made me realize it on a personal level.
Having wanted to do this for over 10 years I right away knew what was calling. I pulled up the Ironman site and saw that I had roughly 16 weeks to train, called my wife and she only supported me. Less than 24 hours later I signed up and committed.
Now I had never done a race before that with the exception of a 5k foot race about 10 years earlier. I was barely out of the “contractor belly” condition that I had allowed myself to reach. I also knew that I could easily train up to the Olympic size (1600 yard swim / 25-mile bike / 6-mile run) size so I did not see that as a proper challenge. The half Ironman (1.2-mile swim / 56-mile bike / 13.1-mile run) was going to be a challenge that did not allow much room for error so that was it.
Now my intention behind the entire experience was to believe in me more. It was not about the race but rather in whom I would become by completing the overall challenge.
The overall experience went way further in reward then I had even dreamt about. The power of belief!
The Training Experience,
I had 16 weeks to prepare. I started by running 2-3 times per week, doing weight work 3-4 times per week and biking 1-2 times. Then as soon as I got a membership at a club I started swimming. Having never done laps before that was fun learning the very basics. Like step one, two and three. Breathing out underwater took weeks of learning before I stopped getting painfully bloated.
All of this was just fun training that provided me the opportunity to push myself as I desired during each training segment. Sprints are a great example of the push. I was doing 30 seconds on with 90 seconds off for 8+ rounds. Now the 1st three rounds are easy but then you want to quit and that is where the commitment comes in as well as all the self-talk. I don’t like this – This fucking hurts – why the fuck am I doing this – and then your only 2 rounds from the finish and you start feeling the joy of accomplishment knowing you went thru your wall of comfort. Breaking thru that barrier is such an amazing place. A place where your body and mind eliminate everything else but what you’ve committed to do. So sweet, and painful approaching… Let’s get real. It fucking hurts getting there.
This was how I chose to enter the entire experience though. I knew I would become more of ME. But, I had to do the work.
I hired a nutritionist to help with the fueling and that brought an entirely different level of commitment. He also became my running coach and offered me great assistance with my mind game. I have such deep appreciation towards him. We entered our agreement knowing that I was not going to be using Force for the experience but rather Power.
Shortly after that, I hired a swim coach and man, I thought I knew how to push in the water. There were times that I was pushing with absolutely everything I could find and literally yelling underwater yet somehow always found a little bit more in the tank. The power of a correct coach is impressive.
Now during all of this training, I took a week off for the Ayahuasca experience, which resulted in two additional weeks where training was only about 50% as I was getting adjusted to life after that experience, as well as 3 weeks of training suffering due to a gut issue. Needless to say the Universe provided the resistance I needed to overcome.
Anyways, on to race day,
I was confident in my training, my results proved I would be more than capable of handling each leg of the race. I got up around 430 and grabbed my fuel (bulletproof and avocado) and jumped in the loaded truck and headed that way. As soon as I was on the road I remembered I needed to grab my Gym Boss timer for the run intervals. I couldn’t find it anywhere in the truck. SHIT – now what. (inner voice) It’s ok, I will swing by the office and pick one up from there. But that will take time! But I have time. The self-talk was strong as the resistance was trying to get me to conform to the normal setting of FORCE and push myself thru the race. I didn’t accept. Rather I know that I wanted the timer and that I could easily afford the time as the universe spins in my favor. The stop off the highway only took me 4 minutes! See – check Universe!
Then pulling into Tempe I realized roads were closed for the event so I went a strange route. Hit a wall of race traffic brake lights for what seemed like miles. Almost started freaking out until I realized once again that the universe spins in my favor. No worries. I’ve nothing to hid and nothing to prove. I will enjoy the morning while waiting to park the truck in all the traffic. At peace.
The energy of everyone before the race started was wild. I could feel the excitement as well as the nervousness. We gathered for our wave’s start by the water’s edge and overlooking the swim it had the capability of being terrifying. 1.2 miles of water is a long ass way!
I was strangely calm. Never experienced anything like this and was just enjoying all of it. Nerves were lit but I recognized them as excitement vs fear.
The race started and I was in the water swimming with one of the largest waves. Good gosh it was just as described, a washing machine. The first 400 yards or so was complete chaos. No rhythm or pattern, having to stop all the time because everyone was hitting everyone else. None of it was violent around me but you here the stories. This is the point when I was feeling winded by not swimming with any pace and the self-talk hit me again. Really? You agreed to this? Holy Hell Jarred, this is way worse than you thought. You are in for a world of pain bro! Then I took control and knew I was prepared. I put my head down and started swimming and quickly found my pace. All of sudden I woke up and it was the halfway turn. Then I hit the really impressive part of the entire experience. FLOW state big time. Anyone that has done an open water swim with me knows that I pull to the right way more than a bit. But not today. With my head in the water, I had this very clear “compass” directing me. I knew exactly which direction to go. And it was always a straight line. Every now and again I would feel the notice to swerve and when I would check it was always because I had caught up with another swimmer and was about to connect. I ended the swim portion in 47 minutes, which is pretty impressive for me. I should’ve been at the front of my group.
After the water was the transition to the bike. No easy task trying to put socks and shoes on when you’ve just walked across the dried grass. I didn’t want grass in my feet bothering me later.
Hopped on the bike and felt really good. I followed my feelings thruout the bike until I started getting worried about sweating. Then I kept drinking water to the point I was getting bloated. Finished the bike in normal time so I felt great about that. Started the run and immediately felt the legs cramping up. Painful cramps. Not ever having them before I didn’t even know how to handle it. I walked for about half a mile and then was able to increase to a run. Made it to mile 9 before they became a big factor again. This was not going to be easy. On the run, it is so easy to walk that it can be a challenge to get to that sacred mental place. I started losing the battle. I knew I would finish, that was never a question, but the how was in jeopardy. I was walking with pain and fighting the self-talk when I hear people hollering what sounds like JARRED. I look around don’t see anything but here it again. Then I look up and I see complete joy and happiness. Chels had ended up gathering a dozen or so friends who all came to support me and they were holding signs, and children, offering exactly the needed cheer. An impressive feeling. I felt such love and happiness. Writing about that portion brings tears to my eyes. The love was impressive.
To keep this from getting so long I will say I ended the race with 4+ miles of walking. I found a way to run thru the last portion and into the finish and it was all done with a smile. At no point during any of this did feel anything but a smile. I offered support and kind words to everyone that would talk, be surprised how many did, and my spirits were only lifted and the event transpired.
The feelings I am left with is the power of belief. The power that we are and the power that we have access to. We can do so much more than our current level. THere is so much more available, we just have to choose to believe that we can.
I am overwhelmed with amazement as well as humility reflecting on who we are. Everything is possible. The amount of greatness that my life has had in the past 6 months is mind-blowing, and it is all because I BELIEVED more.
One’s inner self-talk has a vital role in the leading of one’s life. I believe I can / I believe I can’t. Both are true. Whichever you choose.