Seeing all the inspiring posts and photos on Facebook about the just concluded Time Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya today, I really feel motivated and encouraged.
They were all such wonderful athletes with brave souls - enduring such long hours to complete 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike ride and 21.1 km run under scorching hot sun exceeding 40 degree celsius.
They all have earned my utmost respect for their such strong determination and endurance power!
It never crossed my mind that one day I would want to be a Half Ironman! Crazy!
70.3 miles (113.0 km) in total distance, consisting of a 1.2 mile (1.9 km) swim, a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and a 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run.
I must be out of my mind!!
With my first taste of triathlon sprint distance (750 m swim, 20 km bike ride, and 5 km run) at last year's Port Dickson International Triathlon 2015 (check out the race report by clicking here ) which I had a horrible cycling experience, I tought I should try Olympic distance (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride, 10 km run) this year. And may be I shall continue to participate in 1 triathlon Olympic distance event every year.
Olympic distance shall be my limit!
But sometimes, things don't seem to go along our ways all the time! We can plan all we could, but there are things beyond our control!
I already set my 2016 target to participate in Olympic distance at Port Dickson International Triathlon 2016. Unfortunately the dates released recently are August 20-21, 2016 - which are 1 week after Kuching Marathon 2016 (August 14), and 2 weeks after Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur 2016 (August 7).
Back-to-back full marathon will be my first ever experience!
And I'm sure I will be very very tired after 2 full marathons in 2 consecutive weeks. There won't be anymore energy left to do a triathlon Olympic distance the following week. I might end up in an ambulance to hospital! haha!
Therefore, I sadly need to skip Port Dickson International Triathlon this year.
August 7 : Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon (SCKLM) 2016
August 14 : Kuching Marathon 2016
It's only then that it got me thinking on how to fulfill my target of participating in 1 triathlon event Olympic Distance this year.
Then my friend mentioned about 113 Triathlon at Bukit Merah, which will be held on 3-4 September 2016, 3 weeks after Kuching Marathon.
I haven't been to Bukit Merah and it's 3 weeks after Kuchin Marathon. So I thought, "Hey! Why don't I give it a try?"
So I quickly went to register.
On the Race Categories, I only saw 113 Mini, 113 Sprint and 113 Triathlon.
And with my innocent mind, I thought the 113 Triathlon would be same league as Port Dickson International Triathon - which also has 3 race categories: Fun (Mini), Sprint and Olympic.
And since I have tried Sprint distance last year at PDIT, I thought I would try to register for the next race category - assuming it is Olympic Distance!
Boy! Was I wrong!!
It turned out that I accidentally registered for Half Ironman Distance thinking it's Olympic Distance!!!
And in fact, it's the most expensive registration fee i have ever paid RM 406!! It's rediculously expensive!!
(But i heard the Ironman 70.3 Putrajaya is even more expensive charged with US Dollars!)
I scolded myself, "What have I done to myself? Why I made such stupid mistakes?"
I even went to check on the rules to see if I could have refund or down grade. Refund is a no no, but down grade is possible but no refund of the balance of money I have paid.
Then after much dilemma and constant flipping back and forth of my mind and decisions. I finally decided to stick to the Triathlon (Half Ironman) distance!!
Anyway, I told myself that life is short!
I should be more edventurous and more couragous to try it at least once since I have accidentally registered already!! It's just that it comes a bit too soon when I'm not prepared!
Instead of regretting and looking back, I might as well look forward to the challenge!
But then something else worries me!
Can I finish within cut-off times?
1 hour 10 min for swim, 4 hours 30 min for cycle and 3 hours for 21 km run?
And mind you - I don't even have a bicycle to begin with! That means I need to buy a road bike!
Can I have enough training and preparation for it as my focus would be more on running the full marathon?
I told myself I shouldn't think too much. I just want to complete.
What's the worst that could happen?
DNF!! (and I can try again next year! )
What's the best that could happen?
becoming HALF HUMAN, HALF IRONMAN!
No guts, no glory!!
No pain, no gain!
And i remember reading an inspirational quote posted by a runner friend Farah Mahdzan on her Facebook, "
"If your dreams do not scare you,
they are not big enough."
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf -
With that - I will move forward to see if I can fulfill this scary dream of becoming a half ironman in September or not!! We shall see! Either way - doing the half ironman distance or DNF (did not finish) would be my first ever experience! And I still can write about it either way! lol!! (Consoling myself on a challenging journey!)
As for now - I gotta start allocating some time for swimming and cycling. And yes, I need to buy a road bike. Any sponsors? lol!! (to release my tension!)
The truth will reveal in September. :) Gan cheong! (Nervous!)
