…wait, what? Do you think I am crazy?
[Don’t answer that].
So ever since returning from Ironman Couer d’Alene, I have had a bad case of RRCD—-Race Registration Compulsion Disorder.
I have written about RRCD before.
RRCD is a serious, dream-like condition. You may easily contract RRCD from rubbing up against a spin class full of triathletes, going to a sprint tri and crossing that finish line for the first time, or watching the Ironman World Championships on NBC. RRCD has been known to appear in mild cases after participation in a first 5k or 10k. RRCD, once contracted, may be spread to family members, peers or innocent co-workers. RRCD may cause you to register, zombie-like, for races completely out of your so-called league, giving you feelings of greatness, coupled with a meth-like rush. Contain your RRCD to home, as RRCD is dangerous and slow on the iPhone.
My RRCD has been especially bad lately. So bad, that I actually tried to sign up for Ironman Louisville a few days after CDA…. an Ironman which was 8 weeks away. After CDA. Seriously. Not well.
It would have been okay and I might have overcome the RRCD…
…but the Expert has been feeding the RRCD beast lately.
“You should do another one in 2014,” he texted me.
“Another what?”
“Ironman, he said. [BTW – he has his eyes set on his Ironman in 2015. He wants to do two half irons next year, make sure his knee holds up, etc. So before some of you start saying, ‘this was his time you horrible wife woman’…. hold your horses…]
Instead, I signed us both up for Ironman 70.3 Florida on April 13, 2014. And the Rock ‘N Roll Savannah Marathon in November of this year. That RRCD seemed reasonable. Sort of.
That should be enough, right? Right? Right?
Well, it is.
My name is Meredith and I am not letting my RRCD win.
I am not doing an Ironman in 2014. Or 2015.
[Or possibly ever again!]
I need to focus on finding some balance in my life. Especially with all the horrendous stuff going on. Triathlon is an amazing balance when it’s used correctly. But I feel like I am trying to take triathlon and turn him into some evil, crazy clown on my nutcase train of life.
Dimity from Another Mother Runner and I had a nice tweet-fest, where she reminded me what fun 70.3 races can be… how her family (and body and mind) would never survive another Ironman (for at least 5 years)… and how I should take a step back and breathe. (BTW – She wrote a great article on Ironman.com about CDA, here.)
When I emailed the Expert and told him I had decided. No Ironman for me, he called me back all panicky, “Why? Why no Ironman?”
[Clearly the Expert has his own disorder going on… Talk Wife Into Crazy Things That Will Make Both Husband and Wife Crazier (TWICTTWMBHWC Disorder, clearly. It’s textbook. Heh.)]
“Because.” That was all I could say. But I know why.
Many of the reasons why I signed up for Ironman Coeur d’Alene were very valid at the time. And I am so glad I did the race, didn’t give up, kept moving forward and all those shenanigans.
But when I hold those reasons up—to compare them to any reasons I might have for signing up for a new Ironman—it’s not the same. It doesn’t fit. Not for my kiddos. For my marriage. For my folks. For my job. Or for me, really. (I mean, my hips hurt all the time. Hello.)
And… seriously, look at my poor family after the race last month…
I can’t do that to them again anytime soon. 🙂
SO there you have it. [It’s okay, Mom. You can now breathe a huge sigh of relief…oh, and you too, Coach Monster.]
Onward to the year of the 70.3!
@SwimBikeMom LOVE! Cheers to the year of 70.3! #stillquitealongrace http://t.co/3MQDp9Cgsd
Well said….and totally understandable.
Go Swim Bike Mom 70.3! I’m getting ready to start training for my first HALF MARATHON (Philly Marathon Weekend) Nov 2013. Oh and the hips, yeah, I broke one (femoral neck) last year. women’s hips SUCK! I will read your blog even if you are running around the block as your writing skills are that good. Cheers to you!
Makes sense. Altho you do appear to be rather spontaneous do I wont take this completely seriously :-). Perhaps your focus should be on encouraging and training the rest of us, which you are so good at. Give seminars, etc. just a thought. Just keep blogging for sure!
I know the feeling. I completed my 70.3 last October and have no desire to compete. Triathlons served it’s purpose in my life and I am grateful for the role triathlons played in my life. Now it’s just for the simple pleasure of working that I do any of the disciplines. Life is good
Yep… I’m a sufferer! I did an indoor tri and then promptly signed up for 3 tri events, including an oly. I had to call the race company and move my registration to a sprint after I hurt myself. I don’t know what came over me to think that I was prepare for all that- and I wasn’t even looking at 70.3 or 140.6!
Wise decision.
Don’t be jaded against races less than Ironman! They all have merit and are worthy of your time and effort, even if they are easy for you and require less training because you have come so far. Respect the sport and seize the opportunity to make every tri important and special. I’m all signed up for my first IM Galveston 70.3 next April. I’m so jazzed!
Oh and 70.3 “easy” for me? Hardly. 🙂
Seriously, that last photo of your folks with the kids and Starbuck’s cups on the coffee table is the greatest Ironman photo ev-uh!
So I am fairly certain I want to do a full IM. IDK when but I want to. Im 29 and I’ve had and continue to have my fair share, or unfair share, of injuries. I have 2 bad disks in my back so running is a challenge, but I love it none the less. I’ve done quite a few sprints, an Oly, and doing my first 1/2 IM (which I am incredibly underprepared for) Aug 18th. I wanted next year to be my year for IM but I think in order for me to do one healthily I need to take a few years to organize my life (going through a divorce now), get injury free and stronger, and figure out how to train for one as a single mom (needless to say my 9 yr old daughter is on heck of a coach). I’m impatient and want to do it all now, suffering from RRCD myself-but I must wait. So keep posting away, keep inspiring me (and others) and hopefully, maybe, one day, I’ll see ya out there on an IM course. (if you figure out how to manage it all can you pass along some pointers to me, PLEASE!!) You rock!
🙂 whew….pressure is off.
Good job! I understand about needing some balance in life. So glad to be in this crazy stuff with you friend!!
Thanks for explaining the disease to me.. I signed up for my first sprint Tri for August 31st and then less than a month later I am going on a 30mile bike ride quest…
I have had RRCD one too many times. No bueno. I plan on sighing up for Florida as well. ..my first 70.3! Eek!
Uh huh. Sure. I believe you. Let me know when and where, so I can book my ticket to come join you or cheer you on. Seriously, sometimes you just make me laugh so hard when you pretend you aren’t going to do something, AND we ALL know you are! Nice try! I’ll give you and A+ for denial effort, you keep telling yourself you aren’t going to do an Ironman and then make sure and start training, maybe even tomorrow. Haha thanks for the laugh.
When you’re the Mom or Dad, there can’t be triathlon without balance. You are a wise one, Girlie. 🙂
Hey SBM…you are so logical and it all makes sense. Ironman is an enormous undertaking (no, I’ve never done one) and appears to be able to completely upend a life. You’re right to get the balance in order first. Feels like the right decision (for you)…if you don’t mind me saying so. I agree. No more Ironman for at least a couple of years…go for another 70.3 or two or three….have balance in your life.
RRCD caused me to sign up for Chicago 26.2, the anticipation, the waiting, the lottery….so now I have to run it! RRCD made me sign up for my first sprint tri this year. Now I am seconds away from signing up for my first Oly…..Eek. Maybe I will see you next year for a 70.3, only time and training will tell. Thank you for sharing your stories and experiences, I love your book (drained my Kindle battery a few times reading it <3) and now I follow your blog, it helps to know I am not alone in my crazy 😉