Race Prep

It's been an interesting week here preparing for Ironman St. George. A week of uninhibited thought regarding a single day's event. I've noticed the subtle details through the now near effortless visualization of the day...maybe it comes with having experienced one of these things in the past. I go into this race with a now long endurance resume...which wasn't the case at Ironman Arizona in 2007. Before that race I had only completed two races over the 5 hour mark...heading into uncharted territory I knew that I would not only see that 5 hour mark come may way...I knew I'd likely double it, if not triple it!

It's interesting to have experienced the mindset regarding such events...Ironman, 24 solo, 100 milers, Marathons, etc. I remember the day when the thought of completing such events nearly made me sick to my stomach...the thoughts of the pain and agony required to cross the finish line, often dwelling on the negative aspects of the race.

I once heard that man fears what he cannot see and I would have to agree. I would go further to say that man fears what he doesn't know or what he cannot visualize clearly. Not having experienced these things in the past made the thought of ultra-endurance events as a scary endeavor. I could do my best to visualize what was to come through the powers of imagination...but without having experienced the true physical and mental aspects of the day that fear was still present...that visualization was not clear.

It is interesting to look back now. To look back to when I did my first 5k run...or when I did my first mountain bike ride. I remember the intense preparation I put myself through heading into my first spring distance triathlon. To me at the time, that was my Ironman equivalent. So you can see...it's all relative.

In some sense I do miss that nervous anxiety that comes with launching head first into a world of unknown...a world where intense pain is certain. I'm reminded of a quote in the movie Kingdom of Heaven, "but you go to certain death?!", (smiles before responding) "all death is certain." I suppose in a weird sense that is the confidence I now hold regarding the monster that lays ahead. I suppose it all comes with experience. I suppose through this calm visualization of the day ahead I have become surprised with my position...a position I never thought I'd be in...one where I'm actually calm before heading into a race like Ironman. It was then that I knew I should share this.

There will always be longer and tougher races. There will always be immense challenges that will face you in life. But what you must realize is that the fear or inability to visualize what has not happened must not dictate what *can* happen! I was once a person that thought a 13.1 mile run was impossible. I was once a person that thought a Half-Ironman was plain silly! I was once a person that thought riding a mountain bike for 24 hours straight was literally freakin' insane!! ...I was once a person that was afraid....

Set your sights high Team Lucca...and once you get to the top, keep climbing!

-Luke.

Julian Death March - April 10th, 2010