IMTX 2024 Recap

Ironman races are hard, but that is part of the beauty of the journey. The journey, in my experience, is training as well as racing.

Few of you have seen this side of me…but I LOVE to dance. Country dancing, hip hop or just being goofy. Before having our kids, Mike and I would go country dancing and I never wanted to get off the dance floor. This past weekend at IMTX I danced and cheered for athletes on the run course for about SEVEN HOURS straight! Mike and I decided to take our portable speaker on the run course, and I can’t count the number of smiles and “thank you’s” we got from athletes. Each one was in pain. Mental pain. Physical pain. Emotional pain. Ironman races are hard. Nothing can truly prepare you for the day, especially the first one, because you never know what is going to happen on race day. You can do all the training, hit your targets and sometimes the day still does not go as planned. That is why Mike and I ran the run course and found a tough spot for the racers. It was a zig zag through a parking lot. Zig zag’s and short out-and-backs are killers when I am racing. When racing, I like to feel as though I am making forward progress. This parking lot was a perfect place for us to be, where we were able to pass on joy, hope and encouragement to all the racers at IMTX. We know each athlete was fighting their own personal battle along the way. We’ve been there! We know!

Here are a few of the things racers told Mike and I when we were cheering on the run course…

“I am so board! “

“Thank you! “

“You’re still here! “

“Tell Lexa I don’t like her! “

“You’re with Paragon! I use your training plans! “

“What time is it? “

“I need your energy! “

When racing an Ironman, it’s not about IF it will hurt, but rather WHEN. Then, when the pain hits a new high, it is all about how you respond? What will you do with that pain? Sit in misery or embrace it and turn the pain into motivation. I learned a lot about myself training for IMTX and IMCHOO! That was one of the things I loved about training. Opening my mind, growing personally, mentally, spiritually and becoming a better version of myself each time I trained for a full. My training took me on different journey’s, and I actually miss those journeys. Deep down I am excited to train for a full again, but that is not where I am in life right now. I know what I would have to sacrifice and I’m not willing to give up my time with my boys right now. Selfishly, I want to sign up for a full Ironman, but in my heart I know it’s not the right time.

Ironman training and racing is an amazing journey if you allow yourself to embrace it each step along the way. To all the athletes who completed IMTX and to those who started but did not finish, I hope you can take some time this week and process your race. What did you learn, how did you grow and what will you do with this unique journey?