What’s My Goal?
The 2009’s Oklahoma City Red Man “Iron Man” competition! Last year, I tried to get ready for the Redman 2008 competition, but about around April I began getting severe vertigo attacks. Which, after I recovered from, I promptly ignored.
Around August, I had a very severe attack (read scary), so I saw a doctor and the doctor said, “Stop training until you figure out what’s causing this!” An MRI, EKG, many and various other tests later, the official diagnosis is, “well, you get severely dizzy and we don’t know what’s causing it - it’s not (we’re pretty sure) MS, a brain tumor, a benign tumor in your ear, a problem with your heart or the result of bacterial or viral activity.
So they cleared me to start training again.
So here I am, training again for the next year’s Red Man competition. Fortunately, I don’t have to worry about managing much of a social life because TRAINING TAKES THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME AND NOW I HAVE TO DO IT FOR ANOTHER YEAR! AARGH!
Competition, in this case, for me, means getting through the whole race - intact, one piece, no vomiting and able to go to work the following week. I’d like to complete the event in under 13 hours. That seems reasonable = 2.5 hours for the swim, 5.5 hours for the bike portion, and the marathon done in 5 hours. Of course that’s reasonable in terms of endurance athlete - in endurance athlete terms that’s the equivalent for a regularly athletic person of being able to do the Tulsa Run or ride a 60K bike event. Practically a stroll in the park. But, according to my mother - a woman currently battling breast cancer, it’s insane and I should get a life. Love you mom!
So this year’s effort, I dedicate to my mother - battling breast cancer every day just to get out of bed - and I’ll be trying to raise money for the Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation to help fight this insidious cancer.
Be well, give and love generously, and always set goals larger than you think you can be.
Joe.
