Athena/Clydesdales and Ironman

"F" them!

Do your thing!  Run your race!

You aren't racing in an attempt to get approval from them, are you?  Or from your trainer?  Or husband? This about you and the challenge.

Forget the rest of your post!

You have come so far, don't let anyone determine your own self worth.  Your weight should also not determine your self worth.  You've been training!  You can do this!

Trihard

I will be volunteering at IMFL this year so I can bee there to sign up for next years race if I still have the courage.  You are one of the people I was hoping to have the opportunity to meet in person.  I have read many of your posts and I am impressed and inspired by you and your story.  I understand the body image issue you feel but remember; the you that will finish that race is not found in the mirror.  The you that will cross the finish line is in your heart and in your soul.  She is a woman infused with courage, will and determination and she is an IronWoman race or no race.  I hope I will get to meet you in person before tho race but if not I will be thinking about you and rooting for you from start to finish.

Kate 

I suffer from the same thing - I'm not nearly as acomplished as you but I'm working on.  In my last Tri, I talked myself out of really competing.  I mean, I was there, I did the swim/bike/run but in my head, I had such a negative self talk that I had no chance of doing well.  I convinced myself I didn't belong there, that I wasn't ready, who was I gooling.  I realize that this is more extreme than what you're going through but with only 2 races under my belt, I still don't really believe I'm a triathlete.  My family supports me 100% and I try to let them pump me up.  But I still come up against what you're talking about.  At the last tri, I was there the day before to pick up my packet and I wasn't sure where the transition area was.  So I approached a volunteer and asked.  Her reply? "only athletes are allowed in the transition area - are you here with an athlete?"  I've read a dozen different smart responses to this and I still was taken aback and managed to stutter that I WAS an athlete and I needed to know where to go.  That didn't help my already negative point of view (and in her defense, she may have phrased it differently but that was what I heard, it WAS along those lines). 

I say, like everyone else, screw them.  You ARE an athlete capable of more than most athletes out there.  I know you probably finished far ahead of many athletes who weigh less than you and you (and all athenas/clydes) are proof that your SIZE does not determine your ability. 

Sigh.  I'll be intereseted in reading more answers.  I know I will be trying more positive slef talk before racing in the spring.  Tell the voices to shut up - especially the ones in your head - they're the loudest.

PS.  I'm also post-gastric bypass - 7 years this November.  I spent the majority of my life NOT an athlete and not liking what I see in the mirror but not changing it.  I definately still have body image issues and I haven't discovered yet to what extent that affect my thoughts as a triathlete.

I am proud of this girl I know.  Why?  because she knew that going into the IM she was going to get pulled off the Bike.  She has yet to do a sub 4 hour Oly and never done a HIM or Marathon. 

She did not get into the shape she needed fto finish the IM and definately did not have the body for it but I am proud she trained and she tried. 

 No matter if you DNF or DFL either way you went out there and your tried.  You gave it your all and you can be proud of that.  You did not back down.  If you do not finish so what.  Alot of people do not finish.  Its the freaking Ironman. 

I was thinking of something else after my brief post but...

There are very few people in this world who have successfully lost weight and kept it off.  I've struggled with my weight for years, I was a 300lb teenager and tried to be active but was never athletic.  It was always 'you have to be thin' in order to be athletic.  At the age of 29 and in the high 300s, I had enough struggling and started losing weight, although slowly. 

 4 years later, I'm hovering above 200 lbs but I still see myself as the girl that was headed toward 400 lbs at one point in her life.  I struggle with the idea of doing athletic things but don't ever think I will feel I'm an athlete of any type.   I don't even think I would try at all if it wasn't for other people like yourself doing it.  I also not sure if I could've seen myself losing weight if it wasn't for finding that others have successfully lost 100 lbs or more. Trust me, losing more than 100 lbs and keeping it off is a huge accomplishment that not many people can say they've done.

Lastly, those people that give you 'the look', I'm betting they are the same people that also could not do an IM.  You can.

I'd be willing to bet that for every person that gives you "the look" there are a bunch more people who genuinely think it's awesome that you are doing an IM.  I'd also be willing to bet that the people who are giving you "the look" are not the kind of people who understand what it's like to seek out challenges and test their own limits.

You have a lot to be proud of and I wish you luck in your quest to become an Ironman.

I've gotten the look too and the you know what?   SCREW that in more ways than one.   You are doing the same distance as everyone else.  THE SAME.  So what if you aren't a rubberband?  You'll do great and I can't wait to read the report....Have fun and enjoy your day. You've come a long way, don't let someone's BS get you down.

I love the "look." I feed off of it. It makes the finish line that much sweeter...especially when you know that you have dashed their expectations. Even better when they see you relaxing with a Gatorade before they have finished.

As a previous poster said, F them...Ironman is for YOU. Not for them.

Good luck and TEAR IT UP!

ajax1868 - 2008-10-18 9:15 PM I will be working at the Newton running booth, come by and say hi. I am the CLydesdale and screw the skiiny people.

Tell them we need netwons in 16 wides.  or atleast 15 wides

What do you do about 'the look'?  Invite them to come along on that last long run.  Or on any of your other runs, or how about on a brick workout?

You are awesome!  Best of luck at the IM - enjoy every minute of it.

Oh yeah, for those of us out on the course for a long time?  We're just getting our full money's worth!!!

I will be there supporting both you and Rhonda.

I struggle with fitting in and feeling the part of triathlete. I was aware that when I got to Lake Placid I might feel out of place and intimidated by al the super fit athletes. For me it was in my head not what people said or did to me. Turns out I felt comfortable and excited in my few days in Lake Placid before my first IM.

Someone shared this with me about a week before my first IM. It really help me change from fear of not belonging to knowing I've done the work and now let's go enjoy the race.

At LP just remember to keep pushing forward and to enjoy every aspect of the journey be it during the week to the hours of the race; every person you meet, every step you take, to the athletes meeting. Just take it all in and remember every piece.   You are about to enter a realm that most cannot even fathom.    Almost a week from now you will become a minority by pushing yourself to the limits that you have dreamed of yet to a level that the vast majority cannot comprehend.   This is what excites me – to have the courage to start down the path.  Just enjoy it all. Don’t get sucked into all the training you’ll see going on at LP next week.  You are ready for the race.  Keep to your plan.  Remember, the race doesn’t start until you begin the 2^nd bike loop.  You’ll see plenty of Athletes who get sucked  in and burn themselves on the first loop of the bike.  Just have a grand time. 

You two have done the work. The journey for me started years before I toed the line at my first IM. I think for you it has too. You had surgery that was fatalfor more than 75% of the folks that did it. You have lost 200 pounds, trained hard, been dedicated to doing an IM for a few years and are ready.

This is your journey, your experience, your race, if others add to that experience soak it up. If others detract from it blow it off. Cool thing at IM there are many folks at every pace so being BOP you will have buddies. BOPers are wonderful, kind and will be your coracers at IMFL. They understand, they will support you as will their fans, friends and family. You will feel like a super star on race day. The vibe and the crowd will be willing you forward to get you to the finish line.

Soak it up...your day will soon be here...you are trained...enjoy....it is a magical place...Ironman.

My husband and I will be screaming and yelling & pulling for both of you

Look at your life 10 years ago, you have traveled much farther and more difficult journey than 140.6 miles....you are already a 1 in a million.