For those of you not familiar with the registration process for Ironman Wisconsin it goes something like this: Saturday prior to race-day Sunday all Ironman participants for this year’s race can register for next year's. Sunday the race takes place: 7 am – 12 am. Monday at 9 am the doors open for all volunteers to stand in line and register for next year’s race. Another line forms for those who weren’t volunteers but hope to register for next year’s race. Assuming there are places left after those three registration types, online registration for anyone else becomes available.
I decided I would register for 2012 Ironman last week. I volunteered Sunday on the bike portion of the race that went through Verona, worked about 5 hours setting up and passing out water bottles to competitors as they raced through town. Monday I dropped Mason off at school and drove down town to stand in line at the Monona Terrace in hopes that there’d be a spot for me. I got in, I registered. Then I waited. . .
Working at a running store provides you the opportunity to meet various people. One person in particular caught my interest. She works with the local branch of Achilles International. They have a great mission statement: “Our mission is to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics in order to promote personal achievement, enhance self esteem, and lower barriers to living a fulfilling life.” In conversation with this individual I started to inquire about how I could help. I was given an email for a local woman who likes to run; I’ll call her “Katie”. Katie’s run 5k’s, half-marathons and triathlons. Katie is blind, so for any triathlon, half-marathon or jog around the block she needs a guide. There are things in life I’ve taken for granted and there are things I’ve never considered; being a visually impaired or blind person and loving running is a situation that never crossed my mind. I’ve had injuries that prevented me from training, cold mornings where I didn’t want to get out of bed, but never had I considered needing someone else to be there if I wanted to go run a couple miles. Through corresponding with Katie we discussed a friend of hers that I saw at the Door County Half Iron, who’s blind. On Friday night of last week Katie gave me his phone number.
Saturday I had my first conversation with “Rob”, who wants to do Ironman. Monday Rob’s daughter was waiting for 12:00 to try and register her dad for Ironman. 12:30 my phone rang, it was Rob, minutes later I’m emailing the coordinators of Ironman to open up my confirmed reserved spot so I could be Rob’s guide.
My point isn’t to brag, or say that what I’m doing is great or better than doing the race alone, it’s because it made sense. To me races aren’t about the hard-ware you get for finishing or the goody-bag you get when you register, it’s about the feelings you have when you see the finish line coming, to know that you will finish, the thoughts that rush to your mind, the memories, the people, everything in to a few great moments and then that feeling of finishing. You can’t lose those feelings like a tee shirt, those moments don’t ever get scuffed or broken like a medal. I feel that crossing the line with Rob will have a bigger impact on me than crossing it by myself; that’s something that can’t be lost or taken, that’s what I’m dedicating the next 12 months to.
Dedicate yourself to something where the only gain you have is in your mind and in your heart.
I decided I would register for 2012 Ironman last week. I volunteered Sunday on the bike portion of the race that went through Verona, worked about 5 hours setting up and passing out water bottles to competitors as they raced through town. Monday I dropped Mason off at school and drove down town to stand in line at the Monona Terrace in hopes that there’d be a spot for me. I got in, I registered. Then I waited. . .
Working at a running store provides you the opportunity to meet various people. One person in particular caught my interest. She works with the local branch of Achilles International. They have a great mission statement: “Our mission is to enable people with all types of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics in order to promote personal achievement, enhance self esteem, and lower barriers to living a fulfilling life.” In conversation with this individual I started to inquire about how I could help. I was given an email for a local woman who likes to run; I’ll call her “Katie”. Katie’s run 5k’s, half-marathons and triathlons. Katie is blind, so for any triathlon, half-marathon or jog around the block she needs a guide. There are things in life I’ve taken for granted and there are things I’ve never considered; being a visually impaired or blind person and loving running is a situation that never crossed my mind. I’ve had injuries that prevented me from training, cold mornings where I didn’t want to get out of bed, but never had I considered needing someone else to be there if I wanted to go run a couple miles. Through corresponding with Katie we discussed a friend of hers that I saw at the Door County Half Iron, who’s blind. On Friday night of last week Katie gave me his phone number.
Saturday I had my first conversation with “Rob”, who wants to do Ironman. Monday Rob’s daughter was waiting for 12:00 to try and register her dad for Ironman. 12:30 my phone rang, it was Rob, minutes later I’m emailing the coordinators of Ironman to open up my confirmed reserved spot so I could be Rob’s guide.
My point isn’t to brag, or say that what I’m doing is great or better than doing the race alone, it’s because it made sense. To me races aren’t about the hard-ware you get for finishing or the goody-bag you get when you register, it’s about the feelings you have when you see the finish line coming, to know that you will finish, the thoughts that rush to your mind, the memories, the people, everything in to a few great moments and then that feeling of finishing. You can’t lose those feelings like a tee shirt, those moments don’t ever get scuffed or broken like a medal. I feel that crossing the line with Rob will have a bigger impact on me than crossing it by myself; that’s something that can’t be lost or taken, that’s what I’m dedicating the next 12 months to.
Dedicate yourself to something where the only gain you have is in your mind and in your heart.
love you buddy. warms my heart to know that we will always be more than "best men" to each other.
ReplyDeleteKelly, I can't wait to see you and Rob (and Michael) cross the finish line next year. I love that you are doing this! Love Pionne
ReplyDeleteOh, Kelly! I read about blind people running with guides not too long ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I don't know what I'm waiting for to volunteer (perhaps being able to sustain a steady pace and schedule) but I greatly admire that you're going to be a guide.
ReplyDeleteYou are good people.