I knew training for an Ironman would be difficult. After all, race day would consist of a 2.4 mile swim, followed by 112 miles on the bike, and finishing with a 26.2 mile run. Balancing training with running a business, being an engaged father and husband, and mixing in time to explore and experience life felt overwhelming.
But this has been a goal of mine for nearly 25 years. Back in my teens, I watched the Ironman Championships on television one weekend morning and I made a pact to myself: I’m going to do one of those one day.
Nevermind I didn’t like biking (at least competitively in any way). Nevermind I had never swam laps before. And while I was used to running to build endurance for sports, I had never experienced anything close to a “runner’s high” some talk about. None of that mattered. I made a decision that day, tucked away the idea far into the back of my mind, and continued moving through life.
In my late 20s, the idea resurfaced. My wife and I, newly married and without kids, began training together. We completed a Sprint triathlon in our hometown, then signed up for an Olympic distance and a half-Ironman the following year. We were making progress, and the full Ironman distance was within reach.
Then, life happened. We got pregnant (well technically, she did. I was there for support, but she did the heavy lifting so to speak). We also moved from IL to TX on a work relocation. With all the changes, we put Ironman training on the backburner. Yet I still committed to completing an Ironman before the age of 40.
Which leads us to now.
I’m 40. My back, legs and knees aren’t getting any stronger. The time had come to make a commitment. January 3rd, I signed up for Florida Ironman in early November 2024.
Something interesting happens when you commit: your start figuring things out. Goals and plans often falter without a firm commitment, which is likely why my journey towards completing this Ironman faltered for years because I never truly committed.
With the race date and payment locked in, I needed a training plan. I called a friend who has completed multiple Ironmans, hoping for a detailed guide and week-to-week calendar for how I should train. Instead, his advice was surprisingly simple:
“Just put miles in whenever you can.”
“How many miles should I run each week? How many days a week should I train?” I asked.
“You simply need to bike, run, and swim. Just increase as your body allows.”
While he gave me more detailed advice on nutrition, his training plan was abnormally straighforward. Bike. Swim. And run. As your body allows.
Reflecting on his advice, I realized we often get stuck or overwhelmed with the enormity of the process. Whether it be massive organizational change initiatives or big personal fitness goals, there is no limit to the amount of planning or prepping we can do. Yet in the end, the only action which will move the needle forward is action itself. It’s taking the step. It’s putting in the first mile, and then the second. And it’s committing to the small wins which will inevitably happen as you take more and more action.
11 weeks out from race day, I have no idea if I’m behind schedule or ahead. I’m merely celebrating the workouts which add another mile (or 10). I’d invite you to do the same in whatever challenges or goals lie ahead for you.
Commit. Truly commit. And take action. I promise you’ll be a lot closer to where you want to be than if you’re still planning to act tomorrow.
