My Friend Ian Made Me Do It.

140.6 Reasons to do an Ironman

001. Makes everything else seem so SHORT.
002. The 3 week taper before the race.
003. The 4 week recovery after the race.
004. I’ve done one, so now I have to do it faster the next time.
005. As much Pizza as you can eat.
006. So that when the car runs out of gas, I can still get away from the Police under my own power.
007. Beats watching the Biggest Looser, a movie, or anything else on TV.
008. For all the times you heard someone say “I’d do one of those … I just can’t swim.”
009. Craving the finish line for an entire year
010. Floating in the cold water waiting for the gun to go off
011. Mike Reilly’s hoarse voice still bringing people home at 11:30pm
012. The Massage Tent - anywhere.
013. My kids waiting for me at the finish line.
014. So is my wife…
015. The many dreams I’ve had about that moment.
016. Chalk on the road.
017. Easy rides and runs the week before.
018. Finishing your last workout and smiling because you know “I’m SO ready.”
019. For everyone who has ever asked you “Why?”
020. For the teachers in school who told you you’d amount to nothing.
021. To silence the one voice inside your head that still believes that bonking is possible.
022. You want to test the endurance limits of the music collection in your head.
023. The “Bier Mile” at IM-Europe
024. Spectators looking up your name and cheering as you plod past at sunset.
025. Where else can someone ripping off your clothes in public be considered a benefit of a big race? (Wetsuit Strip)
026. Miles in the Run
027. Want to see the world and eat the food in each country, guilt free.
028. So you can answer “One.” When people ask “How many days does that take?”
029. To wave at the scuba divers.
030. To backstroke at the TV helicopter.
031. Cards in your special needs bags.
032. Cards in your T1 and T2 bags.
033. CHICKEN SOUP!
034. CHICKEN SOUP AGAIN! (Yes - it’s worth 2 by itself)
035. The speed going down Bee Line Hwy.
036. The view from Mill Ave Bridge.
037.  The jitters the week before the race
038. The unexplainable calmness on race day
039. Driving the bike course in a caravan of friends.
040. Valet Parking and Catering … all day long.
041. You might get on TV
042. I want to laugh at the former cool (now fat) kids at my 20th High School Reunion.
043. The choppers flying a couple of hundred feet above you on the bike course.
044. Takes as long as having a baby, nearly as satisfying, only without the morning sickness and the 21 years of bills that follow.
045. Flying with a bike case makes business trips seem EASY.
046. Sharing a smile with people wearing the finishers T-shirt the next day.
047. Knowing that as you jump into the water on race day - YOU MADE IT THIS FAR! Now just get home.
048. How many people can say they did anything for 12,13, 14, 15, 16…hours?
049. The welcome dinner
050. The wristband that somehow becomes your favorite fashion accessory.
051. So that when you tell your grandchildren stories about what you did when you were young…yours will be true.
052. Rio Salado Parkway in Ironman Arizona
053. High fives from people you don’t know.
054. The Sponge as a fashion statement
055. Coke and Chicken soup - the ultimate power cocktail
056. Knowing that after the gun goes off, you don’t have to worry anymore.
057. First Place and Last Place get the same amount of cheers.
058. Walking to the start with the pros…
059. Getting lapped by the pros…
060. Getting lapped again on the run by the pros…
061. Making the turn for home.
062. Because MolybdenumMan doesn’t trip off the tongue in quite the same way
063. If Judy Molnar can, damn it, so can you.
064. You might get to run with Alexandra Paul!
065. High fiving Daryl Haley, and going backwards 5 feet.
066. Sunset over Tempe Town Lake on the run.
067. If Randy Caddell can do it with just his arms, you can certainly do it with your legs.
068. Easier than Eco-Challenge.
069. Got rejected from the astronaut corps.
070. Got rejected by the Marines.
071. Crashed out of the Blue Angels.
072. Makes US Navy SEAL training seem like a good idea.
073. You enjoy the smell of chlorine in the morning.
074. You’ve had enough with your current social life.
075. For the love of Haagen Daas Ice Cream!
076. Your friends are watching on the web.
077. You need to prove to your mom that even if you get on the bike right after you swim…you won’t catch a cold.
078. Helicopters over Tempe Town Lake.
079. Roadies think you’re nuts.
080. Masters swimmers think you’re nuts.
081. Your running club KNOWS you’re nuts.
082. So that you can master the bottle grab (at 30 mph).
083. Morning swims
084. 3 hour breakfasts after the morning swims
085. The Underpants Run
086. Laughing at people in the Underpants Run.
087. The swim practices the days prior.
088. Glowsticks
089. Cowman A-Moo-HA!
090. Because Winston Churchill said I can’t ever give up.
091. The 12-step program to make me stop hasn’t been invented yet.
092. Any National Anthem, before the start, anywhere.
093. Knowing that when you wake up at 4:00am, the next time you go to bed you will be VERY different person.
094. 6 miles after the climb on Curry Rd..
095. Two loops around Papago Park, one to go.
096. Because you’ve always wanted to see how much sweat will be on the towels after riding the Cycleops for four hours
097. Makes your next marathon just a nice morning run.
098. To make your Boss jealous because YOU have a life that doesn’t involve the office.
099. Because the longer you’re out there, the less per hour it really costs!
100. Being there is way better than watching on Pay-Per-View
101. Finding yourself in the middle of your doubts … finding a new meaning of being scared.
102. Finding out that you’re far stronger than those doubts a few miles later.
103. Falling in step on the run and making a friend to the end, without having to say a word.
104. A fried breakfast the day after.
105. Watching people headed home while you’re headed out, thinking “I’ll be there soon …” and they cheer for you.
106. Understanding why that is as your cheering for people headed out when you’re finally headed home.
107. That feeling of ice cubes in your hat on a hot run never getting too cold.
108. Telling folks with flat tires “It’s a long day - hang in there!” and seeing them breathe and smile for a moment.
109. Hearing people cheer you up while your changing a damn flat tire.
110. Rolling into T2 knowing that no matter what - you can’t have a flat sneaker from here on in.
111. Having someone catch you, and hold you up when you can’t do it anymore.
112. Miles in the Bike.
113. The IV’s feel SO good the next day.
114. To see if it really feels as good to do as it does to dream.
115. To see if it really feels as good the second time.
116. And a third…
117. And a fourth…
118. To try and finish in daylight.
119. To try and finish before midnight.
120. To try and NOT get stung by that (#*@! bee this time.
121. Your kids already think you’re a hero - prove them right.
122. Your wife doesn’t…but you might prove it to her, too.
123. An M-Dot Tattoo would look swanky on your ankle.
124. 3000 Volunteers - all for you.
125. Hearing them say “You’re almost there!” all day long.
126. Being nearly almost there - for real.
127. CHICKEN SOUP! (It’s been awhile)
128. Quiet hugs before the start and the prayers for a safe day
129. Kissing her goodbye, and promising “I’ll be back later…”
130. The first time you think “Holy crap - I’m doing an Ironman!”
131. Beating back the voices that say “Holy crap - you can’t do an Ironman!”
132. Mile 26, where you get strengths out of nowhere to run a 7’20” Min/mile when you’re beyond the point of exhaustion
133. That moment when you KNOW you’re going to make it for the first time all day.
134. Entering the chute with tears of joy
135. Running down Lakeshore Drive.
136. The dream of running down Ali’i Drive.
137. The Finish Line
138. The first step after you cross the line and think “Oh, My….God….!”
139. The Medal, the finisher’s cap and t-shirt
139.6 Because they said I can’t
140.6 Because I say I can.