What is ‘it’ to me? In relation to triathlon, my ‘it’ has been being a runner. Running is the background sport that helped me to find triathlon. We all have one, that one sport that we used to do exclusively before we dove into the multi-sport arena. Running has always been my fallback, my strength, my time to make up ground and to shine – until last weekend that is. Racing the Ironman San Juan 70.3, I made the mistake of taking my ‘it’ for granted. Oh I had been running plenty leading up to the race. I had even PR’d both a 10K and 13.1 in the month before the 70.3, but it was not enough. In fact, having a few great road races led me into a false sense of confidence with regards to my running ability in San Juan. I knew the course was hilly, I knew it would be hot – but I am a runner, so it would be no problem. Being from Florida, I train in the heat all of the time. But this early on in the year we have not had much warm weather and certainly no long periods of hot weather. And as for hills, if you live in Florida I needn’t say more than – there are none! So I prepped the best I could, or so I thought. I got in my long bricks, a few hill repeats and treadmill hill sessions and again I took my ‘it’ for granted. It became very clear about 4 miles into the run leg of the race that this was going to be a serious battle; and one I was not prepared for. My pace steadily declined, the hills and the heat were getting the best of me – and then it happened around mile 9. I stopped to walk. Three weeks before this day I had run the fastest 13.1 miles of my life and now I am walking! This cannot be happening. What is going on? I took my ‘it’ for granted and it cost me. The next 4 miles were a mental and physical back and forth battle as I wrestled with my disappointment and my physical exhaustion. I finished, but much slower than I had expected to and in much worse shape than I had planned as well. But I will not let this get me down, I will take from it the positives and learn from my mistakes. I will train smarter and harder and will not take my ‘it’ for granted again. I am sure that we have all had a similar situation occur, in our sporting life or another area. The question is how do you respond to it? Accept it, get over it, learn from it and get better from it – that is the only way. The other option will eat you alive…

Coach Jon