PID

Life after an ironman is always interesting. We train day (and what seems like nights because of the ridiculously early wake up calls) after day, week after week, month after month, and some will argue year after year to lay it all on the line for one day. Grated, it's often one long day (especially if your ironman of choice takes place in Kona, HI), but really all that hard work is displayed in one quick shining moment.
Post ironman brought an array of emotions and stresses to the forefront of my life. Thank goodness I didn't experience the ridiculous PID (post ironman depression) brought on by Ironman Arizona 2006. Oh yes, that was the last hurrah before I'd sit to take the wonderful CA Bar Exam. Coach called me because she heard I was very upset. I was distraught and kept saying "my life is going to end, I'll never be able to workout again." Well....my life didn't end. Instead life took me to the Big Island (twice!). And for that I continue to be thankful!
But still life comes at us with a vengeance after an Ironman. Instead of selfishly consuming every spare minute with swim, bike, run we have to actually deal with life. It's inevitable! It's nothing too crazy. It's the same stresses that were there before Hawaii, but now my coping mechanism seems to have disappeared. This is largely what's driven me to get back out there and train again. Nothing long, but just enough to enable my mind to keep up with all God's thrown at me. He will never give me more than I can handle, so....onward and upward!

I threw around a few options after Hawaii. Quickly the options dwindled and only one appeared realistic: Ironman Arizona. Ok, ok, "realistic" can be a relative term! The final decision will be made later this week. But, from the looks of the start list it appears IMAz should be renamed "Kona, Take II." I can't believe how many people (even those who had amazingly great races in Kona) are doing Arizona. It's another chance to use our amazing fitness before turning it in for the winter (again, winter is a very relative term when you live in San Diego!)
If I give it a go in 2.5 weeks I will be doing so to smash my run time from 2006....and Kona 2009.

For now, it's just one sweet day at a time!
Mom, I'm expecting your call and the "what are you thinking?" question anytime now. Mwah!