Remember way back when I used to stalk an Iron(wo)man at my old law firm? If not, here’s the short: I saw a car in the parking lot with the M-dot on the hitch. This was right after my first Olympic distance race in 2011, and naturally, I was hooked. So I decided that I would become best friends with this person. Even though I only saw his or her car every day. Then I finally saw HER, and she looked awesome.
But I was too scared to say “hi” – so instead I just took a picture of her (totally creep, I know). And I proceeded to have all sort of fantasies (ah-hem, triathlon fantasies…like riding a tandem bike) about her… even after I broke my foot and I was in a boot. I was still on the bike with her.
…to the point where my pal at TRIing to Be Athletic made me a drawing for my obsession (boot included).
Anyway, I never met her. I changed law firms, and that was that. (You were probably hoping that I ran into her… and that we really ARE best friends. No, sorry.)
So anyway, I feel like I had MY very own Ironman stalker today. As in, I was the one being stalked! Wahhooooo! My very own stalker!!! So exciting.
Okay. SO I am exaggerating. [Like, a lot.]
But there is a point, I promise.
So I’m walking to the elevator and someone says, “Which Ironman did you do?”
And I turn around, and I feel like a complete fraud. I guess he saw my tattoo. Or maybe my car in the parking deck, which I had just exited.
“Oh, uh…. Coeur d’Alene.”
And I felt my face get really red. Why?
Because I had just finished doing an Ironman of bad food choices on my lunch break… really did my emotional eating addiction some serious justice. Felt like I was wearing the cheeseburger and ice cream ON MY FACE when he asked me.
Ironman Fraud. Ironman Fraud. I wanted to scream. I am a an Ironman Fraud who just ate Wendy’s AND Ice Cream and I LIKED IT!!!!!!
So we chatted, and he was super nice. Turns out he’s not an Ironman stalker, but rather an Ironman himself—-and he was coming in from his lunch-time workout. Stud.
But I tell you, I was so embarrassed for what I had just eaten. I might as well have been standing there buck naked to show the man the exact fat cells created from my lunch. Yes, Coeur d’Alene was very hilly, but check out this new stretch mark! Whooooooooohoooooo!
So, the purpose of the Ironman tattoo and 140.6 sticker on the car has been realized. I cannot get as big as boat and give up on triathlon dreams… or I will be feeling like this forever. (At the Waffle House, talking about the days when I did something great, per the Expert.)
Yes, I have to slow down and go easier. But in my quest for relaxation and all things zen (I went to Hot Yoga this morning, for Pete’s sake!)… I need to not sabotage myself. (E.g., I did yoga instead of running. I want to make sure that I am completely unprepared for Augusta 70.3).
I have no idea how to make myself right… the right way. No idea at all.
But it was nice to have a fellow Ironman around… at just the right time… to point out something… that he didn’t even know I needed.
Progress not perfection. Repeat after me…
I needed this today! I received an email from my coach “Having a bad week?” (aka – ok slackass, why don’t I have workout detail for the past three days?) and I’m obviously ignoring it. Why am I skipping? Because life is hard, work is hard and I want to eat bowls of pasta.
All of that to say, feel ya, sorry and it sucks! Progress not perfection.
I get it. It is about ME being accountable to ME and about ME not letting myself down. I let myself down when I lose control, but I try to always think that while I may not always be training for something, I want to always be ready to start training at any time.
By the way, I am speaking about myself here because your revelation rings true for me too 🙂
That’s funny you should post this as just yesterday I got an invite to a special event at which our state attorney general is going to be (he’s an IM Wisconsin finisher) a presenter. I was WAY excited he was going to be there! I am PRETTY sure it’s a bit risky to stalk the attorney general and get all “Ironmany” to him, but, well, I just signed up for IMWI (my first) and I am hoping to talk “shop”! So, hopefully he will find the stalking flattering and not at all feel the need to have me escorted out of the building! HA! Got a good laugh out of your post! Gina 🙂
The great thing about triathletes is we love to talk about it. We have this common bond. We love to talk about races, gear, training, nutrition. I just finished IMWI and in the recovery phase and loving it, hopefully not too mcuh. I don’t think I’ll do another Ironman because I discovered swimming over 1.2 miles, biking over 56 and running anything over 13 miles just takes the fun out of it. I love Wisconsin but probably “One and done”. Nothing wrong with half Ironman’s. Be proud of whatever you do.
I’m feeling like a fraud myself today, actually. Having just signed up for IM Chattanoogo (Chat? Nooga? not sure of the accepted abbreviation yet), I decided to head up a Wellness Challenge here in my office of about 10 people. Everyone was looking at me like I was a shoo-in to win this thing. I told them I’d take myself out of the running if they wanted me to. Anyhoo, I’m also on a roll of eating just about whatever I feel like eating. Whenever I feel like eating it. I’m still going to CrossFit twice a week, running and biking, but the eating thing is out of control. However, I leave for Cabo next Saturday for a week and I have a pre-pre season training plan set for the Monday after we return home. That is when I will kick it back into gear. Without fail. And without cookies, cupcakes and whatever else I feel like I want to stuff in my face. There, I said it here, on your page, for everyone to see. Maybe I’ll post to Eight to Great, too. 🙂 You’re an inspiration, Meredith!! Keep up the amazing work. Glad you are feeling better!
I totally relate after my inhalation of BBQ Lays Potato chips & enough dark chocolate to kill a horse this afternoon! And the weird thing is I don’t remember the flavor after the first bites of both! You may not realize that your post just impacted me as that one question from Mr. Ironman-workout-guru-of-the-year did for you! Progress not perfection! Love it!
IM Madison 2014 will be my first 140.6 too! Excited and scared all round into one!
Augusta….my stomping grounds……an adult milkshake at farmhaus would be so cool to be shared with you……PM me if you come in early enough…..would love to meet you face to face…And will be doing the 70.3 – You have seriously been an inspiration for me….trials and all – parallel worlds although I will never make it to 140.6 – my hero.
I’m sorry you’re going through a rough patch. I have to thank you, though, for the PMP acronym (pile my plate) and for the link to the stress addict articles, which I have just read. I don’t believe I’ve ever met the author before, but that person certainly has me pegged. Not that I need to add more to my already heaping plate, but I think I’m going to need to take a good look at this. Someone just asked me to go for coffee and I can’t even find time to do that, and that’s not good.
I think you should always be proud of your accomplishment – doing an ironman is no joke and most people will forever be in awe that you were able to accomplish that. And trust me in that no one cares what you ate for lunch except you.
I agree with Lori. And by the way you look really good in that picture! ; and I’m pointing that out in case you didn’t notice 😉
And thanks for the encouragement you sent me the other day 🙂 ….I’m training twice a week in the pool now!
My sister did this to me (on accident)! I met up with her and a bunch of her friends, and they were all like “You do marathons! Wow!” And I’m thinking, “well, one. Last year. And yesterday I ate a marathon’s worth of junk food…” But it can be an effective motivational tool 🙂
Also, my daughter has an even scarier baby named “LuAnne” that makes noises (despite the lack of batteries or electronics of any kind). I wish I had a photo like that, but I was scared to touch her.
So, all in all I loved this post.