RAISING THE FUCKING BAR

A few weeks ago I was invited to accept a slot in the IRONMAN World Championship race.  For those that don’t follow the sport, to race in an IRONMAN World Championship race is the ultimate Holy Grail for all triathletes! 

Each year 80,000+ triathletes world-wide race in IRONMAN distance races to get 1 out of 2,000 slots to line up at the IRONMAN World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii, each October.  

The IRONMAN distance race is 140.6 miles:  2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run.  To get a slot you have to win your age group.  That means you have to be 1st in your age group and sometimes 2nd depending on the number of competitors in each group. 

Due to the global pandemic of 2020 and 2021, the IRONMAN World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii has been canceled.  For the first time in history there will be 2 IRONMAN World Championships in one year.  Kona October 2022 and the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship race was deferred to Utah this May.  This is also history, as for the first time ever, the IRONMAN World Championship race will take place outside of Hawaii. 

Since I am a Silver All World Athlete, meaning I am top 5% in my age group, I have been invited to take part in history this May in the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship in Utah.  I am very much aware this might be my only chance in ever getting a slot to IRONMAN World Championship BUT I had to decline out of my own moral and core value beliefs. 

 Did I earn a slot?  Yes, via my Silver All World Athlete statues.  But this slot was “offered”, not earned. That is why I declined the slot. If I accept it, I am lowering the bar of what racing in an IRONMAN World Championship truly means.  It means the top 1% athletes from all over the world racing in one race. 

I was raised to work hard for what I want.  I was raised knowing that winning feels good but there is much wisdom in losing too.  You get up and you keep fighting.  Never give up and always keep raising the bar for yourself and others.

I am a firm believer if I deserve to be there, I need to earn the slot the traditional way.  There are no shortcuts fuckers.  No excuses. 

 This year, I am actually racing in my 4th IRONMAN.  My goal is to qualify for IRONMAN World Championship.  The past 3 IRONMAN races had different race goals.  My 1st IM was in Los Cabos, Mexico in 2016.  The goal was simply to finish!  My 2nd IM was in Lake Placid, USA in 2018 and the goal was support and friendship.  My best friend had asked her closest friends to race with her in her first IM.  My 3rd IRONMAN was in Cozumel, Mexico in 2020.  The goal for that race was never giving up on dreams, not even during a global pandemic. 

 This is my first IRONMAN that I am training and racing for a slot.  It might take me a few races to get it right, but that is part of the process of progression.  I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Hard work.  Perseverance.  Respect for the sport. 

Keep raising the fucking bar my friends!