April 12, 2012

2012: The Year of 0.0

You know those people with the 140.6 or 26.2 stickers on their cars? Maybe some of us are those people because we're proud of the distances we work so tirelessly to complete. But I find myself in a unique position this season, covering a new distance. As it turns out, 2012 will be the year of 0.0.

Racing long course this year was always a lofty goal at best. I tried to suppress the idea that I'd be in London working 24/7 at the Olympics for three weeks prior to my Ironman race day. Then a series of unfortunate events in my personal life left me buried with obligations and the one thing I do because I truly love it had become a source of guilt. This sport is overwhelming and if you're not careful you can burn out so badly that there is no coming back. I was fried at the end of the 2011 season after completing four Ironmans in 24 months. I thought I was good after an extended break but when life threw me a curveball, I realized I wasn't as good as I thought.

A decision had to be made and I decided to take this season off. I need to focus on the changes in my life, my work at the Olympics, and rediscovering the passion that drives me to do this. I love this sport. I love the people I've met, the challenges I have overcome, the feeling that I can literally do anything. But in order to keep loving it, I have to love how it fits into my life and it seems 2012 is not an ideal fit.

So I won't be toeing the line at Ironman Mont Tremblant on August 19 and I'm definitely sad about this. But I'm also looking forward to having a different focus this year, and hopefully coming back next year better than ever. I'm looking forward to new adventures and challenges. As Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." And nothing is never going to be good enough for me.

9 comments:

  1. Heh. I support his 200%. We should form a club. xxoo

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  2. I support this 200%. We should start a club. :)

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  3. Did I post the same thing 2x? Now a third comment from me??? ;)

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  4. Sorry we will miss you @ IMMT! Come up anyways and spectate!

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  5. Oh my gosh Kristin... we are in the SAME place. And it's hard to accept, but you are totally doing the right thing. Take this year for you, refresh, enjoy the adventures that will come your way and remember that triathlon isn't a dying sport! :)

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  6. You are not alone. When we are training long like this it becomes so normal and I think we forget how much time it actually takes until other priorities come up. It can't fit in every year....that's ok becuase it will be around when you're ready to come back and you're already and Ironman and that can never change.

    If it makes you feel better I'm taking 2 weeks off from my IMAZ training to attend the Olympics too :) So far we're seeing canoe slalom and "ping pong". Any idea if there is another stash of tix to be released before the games???

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    1. Thanks for the kind words! I think life forced a decision I really needed to make regardless. How exciting you are going to the Olympics! I'll be working and not attending events, but if London is anything like Vancouver, tickets were available during the Games at select competitions. There was also a legal "black market" so you could buy the tickets from resellers who had secured them in the lottery releases. You may not always get the best price, but it at least allowed access to events. Good luck!

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  7. it sounds like you are making the wise, if very difficult, choice here. triathlon isn't going anywhere, after all. hang in there!

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  8. well your sticker will be grander than anyone doing IM's. You could tally all of your trans-Atlantic miles and do a custom sticker at the end of the year? I'd take summer Olympics in the UK over IM any day / every day - congrats on your decision and direction, you seem to have a great handle on it...

    D

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