I got a text from my BFF yesterday that just said "call me when you get a chance". I called right away hoping everything was alright. She answered in her always chipper voice and said "I was talking about you today. A lady in my office is starting to train for an Ironman and I told her that I had lost my best friend until November 7th". :( My heart sank a little.
I know that Ironman training is a huge commitment. I knew that when I signed up for my first and even more so when I signed up for my second. I can't count the number of things we missed last year because of it and the list this year is growing and growing. You know it's bad when friends go to plan something and say "what day CAN the Kingery's make it?". From now until November 7th, we have 11 weekends. I have something 4 of the weekends, Tom's gone another 5 of them! :( As a tandem, we only have 2 weekends with nothing. Of course that doesn't take into account the hellishly long workouts that cut our Friday nights and Saturday nights short.
But I guess that's the price that I am willing to pay to do what I love to do. It's hard. It makes me sad a lot. And there are many time when I know my friends are out and about that I'm wishing I was with them instead of carb loading and hitting the pillow early, but I'm grateful that they are so supportive and I know that when I go to bed on November 7th, the sacrifices will have turned into great reward and gratification.
Until then... I hope my friends can "find" me here or there - it might be a week night dinner, or maybe a lunch. It might just be through facebook and email for a while.
And you can bet your ass that I'll have lots of weekends free once Ironman is over - :)
6 comments:
Yes, I guess that is the price one has to pay in order to train and be prepared for such a race. I am sure your friends understand, or try to understand! That's all that matters.
(((hugs))). It's tough to be pulled in so many directions. In the end, it's all about doing what you love and what makes you happy. Not that being with friends don't do that too, but this is sorta like your "job" that makes you a better person and provides more opportunities in your life.
Just think, if you didn't train as hard as you do, you wouldn't be in the greatest shape that you're in. Your health depends on doing things like this. And if your health fails, you fail and we all fail. No health=No Colleen. And then we'd be screwed all to hell. :)
MWWWWWWAH!
You know you love training for your IM... even when you hate it. And when the big day comes... you'll be so glad you had all those big weekends and weekdays to get it all in!
Colleen, oh my gosh now I feel bad. I never wanted to make your heart sink. :( I hope you know now and always that I have a high level of respect and admiration for what you and Tom do. I am envious sometimes that I don't have the constant motivation and drive that you and Tom have on a daily basis. I am and always have been proud to call you my best friend, and I talk about your accomplishments daily. I hope you know that it's okay that you will be MIA until November because it's what you do, and it doesn't make me love you any less. Of course I miss you but I know how important it is to you and what makes you happy, makes me happy! :)
Hugs! I'm so proud of you and Tom. You two are amazing. I'm with Rhiannon...I too wish I had the strength and motivation you both have.
Miss you lots!
hahahaha that's what i tell my friends too! it's really hard to balance everything - but your true friends will always understand!
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