As the big day(s) approach:
I just censOred myself… that doesn’t happen too often…
I think you meant *censored. *Not censured.
**
In any event, thanks, I think…
nice pic. What’s the article about again? 
Seriously, good column and on the money. I’ve eaten the elephant twice myself and you captured the mental challenge well. Miles 90-112 on the bike were very tough for me both times…
Sarah loves elephants. That one seemed to like her too.
Tom,
a few feet away from where I am sitting right now are 3 pictures taken at last years race. One is on my bike in the rain, right before the first of the 3 “big” climbs in the last section on the loop and I am looking determined. The second is taken inside Camp Randall stadium on the first loop of the run and I am looking beat. The third is the finish…after a long, dark, cold evening doing the run/jog/walk thing. I’m soaked, the volunteers are soaked, and it’s, ahhh, past 10 o’clock. But it’s a great picture.
Don’t be scared of a bad day or whatever. Pretty soon you’ll have that picture.
Best,
Mark
Thanks man. I appreciate that.
Nice writing Tom, I’m going to try to go with the “stay in the moment” mantra this weekend at IMLou.
ps. another very nice pic of Sarah.
Good luck there. We’ll be watching and sending good energy for favorable weather. Have a great race!
5.5 tons**/elephant x 2,000 lbs/ton x 16 oz/lb x Bento Box/**8 oz …,
That’s a lot of Bento Boxes!!!
I love it. And I love that the fear of the elephant is still there after five IMs for you. Personally, I’ve only eaten the elephant once, but I already know I’ll be back next year. I love that it takes as much if not more mental toughness to finish the damn thing. I have always felt that what I lack in athletic ability in this sport I make up for in “balls”, heart, passion and mental strength. The fear will never go away because we never know what will happen on game day, the big dance. Which one of us will show up? The one that floated and flew at a time when everything ‘clicked’ or the one that whined and felt sorry for herself when it was a tough day, or even just not the right day. I hate when my wussy alter ego is the one that decides to show up! I hate her!
great article, interesting perspective.
Elephants are frickin HOT!
That chick (Tom’s wife?) is totally covering the best part – the dorsal spinal ledge – of that gorgeous pacadermy.
Sarah loves elephants. That one seemed to like her too.
I am speechless…
Well, I dunno.
I guess this is just another plug for Rich Strauss’ coaching and powermeters.
I did my race rehearsal for IMFL06 sticking rigidly to his power guidlines.
I felt somewhat tired @ 90 miles and the 60’ run afterwards was eerily non distressing.
In the race I did exactly the same, with the same result. The bike was a bit boring but science often is.
If you KNOW that you’re not overstepping it on the bike, it’s surprising how easy it can feel, even after 90 miles, and the psychological advantage of repeating the race rehearsal is priceless.
Well written.
Part of the fear for me is knowing what those last few hours feel like. That is a tough place to go back to…
Compare it to something else. It is not a tough place to go back to when you think about some other tough places to be are. For instance, your tough place is nothing when compared to the tough place the soldiers in the Middle East are in every day. it is nothing in comparison to the African family who walks 40k each day to get clean water.
That is my new way of looking at my “tough” times. I will never go through anything in my life that will ever compare to the real perils and tough times other people really have.
That chick (Tom’s wife?) is totally covering the best part – the dorsal spinal ledge – of that gorgeous pacadermy.
What elephant?
“your tough place is nothing when compared to the tough place the soldiers in the Middle East are in every day. it is nothing in comparison to the African family who walks 40k each day to get clean water.”
And that, My Friend, is one of the reasons I decided to tell all and write what I did- so good fellows like yourself could snap me back. These are the thoughts many of us will carry with us in the tough parts of the race, and I appreciate it.
Thank you Sir.
i try very hard to think about that sort of stuff at least once a day. here is a great story for you to read and will give you some perspective:
Well written…September 9th will be my first IM…I waffle between excited and overwelmed…