Ironman is in the air

Driving home from Endurance Rehab this morning, I passed by Tempe lake. Glancing to my right, I saw the tents set up in Tempe Beach Park and a line of porta potties a half mile long. Ironman is here.

The road closure signs have been up for a month. My training schedule is particularly sparse on workouts. My body is ready to run. Ironman is here.

Tomorrow I work. Thursday I will do the Gatorade practice swim and then go through the athlete registration process. Friday I will lay low. I am hydrating. I am eating well. I am ready. Saturday I will check in my bike and gear bags and go to bed early. Ironman is here.

Race morning will come early after fitfull sleep. It will be chilly. We will be anxious for the start as we tread water in the sixty degree lake. The sun will rise over calm waters. The cannon will sound the start of Ironman Arizona 2009. The swim will be over before we know it. On to the bike ride. Three loops of the beeline highway. Three opportunities to feel the love of the spectators lining the roads of downtown Tempe. Three chances to show what we're made of. Like the swim, the bike ride will end and we'll wonder where the time has gone. We'll slip on our running shoes and hit the path for the last few hours of our endevour. The course will be packed with family and friends. All cheering us on. Handing us water, Gatorade, food, cola, ice. The sun will begin to set. We'll hear the sounds of the finish line at the end of each loop. The pros will be done before some of us even begin to run. We'll savor the moments. Running. Walking. Limping. Crawling. We will get to that finish line come hell or high water. Ironman is now.

Live in the moment. Be an Ironman in the water, and on the bike, and during the run. Show your strength. Your courage. Your joy. Share the moment with everyone watching. Be inspired. Be inspiring.

The day will end before we realize it. Our names will be called as we cross the finish line. RunnerChick! You are an Ironman. We might laugh. We might cry. We might collapse. We might hurt. We will finish. We will savor the moment. We will celebrate.

Ironman is here.