I pulled the plug on Yeppoon 70.3
I pulled out of Yeppoon Ironman 70.3 last Friday. Not the easiest thing I’ve had to do. I’d been so pumped from the training session the week before, I honestly felt ready, and then it all started crumbling away.
My FELT AR4, fondly known as Ginger needs a new chainstay; a carbon fibre one.
4 weeks to fix, needs to be stripped, sent, ex-rayed, fixed, returned and rebuilt.
On the plus side when she returns it will be like riding a brand new bike… $1500 later (rebuild, labour, new drive train, etc…)
Then I got an infected toe which is still healing.
I pulled the plug.
Cancelled my flights, accommodation and generally didn’t take the news to well.
I took my flight credits and turned them into 10 days in South Australia for the Tour Down Under, not even sure I want to go, but if I keep changing my flights I’ll have less and less credit each time. Perhaps some time in the sun at Kangaroo Island.
Yesterday someone said to me, “what do you mean you find it hard to stay motivated, you make it look so easy…”
I made it look easy? Don’t worry, I’m shocked, I didn’t think I made it look easy. This was never my intention.
This is the hardest physical task I’ve ever attempted, it’s NOT easy. I fight with myself all the time, read self-help books to help me try to figure out where I get my motivation from and I watch YouTube looking for extraordinary people who will inspire me to keep on going. I’m currently reading a book called, “Run Fat Bitch Run,” because I’m lacking the drive and determination to stay focused on what I consume.
I’m not like this because I’m lazy, that’s one thing I’m 100% sure that I am not. I’m like this because I doubt my ability at times, I doubt my ability to achieve things, we all feel it, we’re all human.
I’m human, I’m not extraordinary, I’m just trying to make my future mean something to me.
We keep trying and when we get knocked down we re-evaluate and re-focus and understand that pulling out of an event is NOT FAILURE.
It is okay to say that you can’t do something, as long as you say it for the right reasons, not because you’d rather stay at home and binge in front of the TV.
Mandurah 70.3 is in October, I’ve re-focused my goals to that event and hopefully I’ll stop breaking bikes, Corecarbon still insists that I use their wheels for Mandurah 70.3. Pete Rosser deserves a huge amount of thanks for the supportive words that we exchanged when I broke the news to him as does friend Paul McVey. Mum for being the best mum in the world and for some how always confirming that the decisions I make are right, for making me realise that the last few months have involved a lot of hard work.
I’m not going to thank everyone as it would take hours, but thank you for every encouraging text, email, Tweet and Facebook messages.
Mandurah 70.3 – See you there!
Row, you are very brave for baring your soul like this but I am sure we all connect with what you feel and at some stage have been in some of those places.
The moment is hard but I know it all gets better. I know this because I am Mum.
She says I help her stay motivated by supporting her decisions, you would not believe how she has helped me stay motivated too.
Mum
Yes, you’re Mum and you make it all possible.
xoxo
Row
Sometimes the hardest decisions are the right one! Sorry to hear you had to pull out. Perhaps this was not the right event for you. I am sure Ginger agrees! Enjoy the Tour Downunder – wish I could be there watching with you! Love the rush of excitement as the pack screams by…hope you get some amazing views. And you should go to Kangaroo Island – check out the most adorable Fairy Penguins. They are so cute and spunky!