Ok, so here’s a bit of a rant. I am tired of being disrespected because I got a lottery spot to Kona and am a slow athlete. The truth is that I can go all day long at anything where lots of other people can’t. If something happens and they can’t “place” in a race or win, they give up. Not me. I don’t care what happens, I am finishing no matter what. I would like to see the fast athletes have to work as hard as I do to try and get faster and then have to constantly face disrespect, snickering (how can she actually swim that slow?) and come back to train every day. And train alone, I might add. Or better yet, how would they feel if when they got to T1 all the other bikes were gone except for theirs or coming in dead last in a race when they are literally pulling up the timing mats. To make a joke of it but feel so inadequate inside and ask yourself if it’s worth continuing. The stronger more courageous people do continue.
God put this dream on my heart. He also put my name on that lottery list and has given me the faith and wherewithal to build the endurance and knowledge to complete the race and fulfill the dream and learn and grow from it enormously. Isn’t that what the Human Experience is all about? Isn’t that worth more than another “placement” from a fast finisher that they do routinely? I’m not discounting the work a fast athlete does to get this placement and they get duly rewarded for it. I know, I know, the race is supposed to be the best in the world since it’s a World Championship. However, with so few fast athletes, who do you think funds all of the Ironman Races to pay for the prize money and support at each race? Yep, it’s us slow peeps. And, who is it that everyone waits to see at the finish line at Kona after the pros come through? Yep, it’s the slow peeps that have sacrificed and toiled so much just to finish. So next time you see someone really slow but that won’t give up, why not give them a smile and encouragement instead of a snicker or looking away. Isn’t that the true spirit of the Ironman? |