The Road to the Ironman – Jim Ristow You Are An Ironman! – The final recap

How does one recap something that was such a huge part of one’s life for a long time?

Looking up at the clock and I see it is 10:15 pm, that would mean in twenty short minutes a week ago I became an Ironman. So that would place me somewhere near the 25 mile mark, I can still feel the cool night air, the excitement of the growing crowd, the pain in the hamstrings as I am prepared for that final push…

It was about a year ago that I signed up for this race, but the dream of doing an Ironman happened long before, the Ironman itself was a closing chapter on a journey that has seen many challenges and changes in my life.

10:17 on the clock…

If you would have known me 4 or 5 years ago I was a sad and lost person. I might have not shown it on the outside too much (perhaps I did, I am not sure), but I was stuck at a fork in the road. I had a comfortable job, comfortable life so why was I so unhappy? I was scare to go past the fork in the road and life was passing me by. What started the change? Kim and I were a vacation and I took a picture of the both of us in a hammock, as I looked at the picture I had a hard time recognizing the person in that hammock next to my wife. The third chin freaked me out, but I looked into his eyes and they were sad. Enough was enough, I didn’t like the person that I became. Kim loved him, but you can’t truly be happy until you are in love with yourself.

10:20 on the clock…

So I started on a new journey. I learned to exercise properly, learned to eat right and the weight loss journey started, 18 months later I was 70lbs. lighter. I noticed something that I had been missing, a smile. My confidence grew, people marveled at the physical changes and I was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Still there was something missing, inside I still lacked direction on where this journey was taking me. It was great that physically I had changed, but inside there still was work to be done. The new direction was staring me right in the face, fitness and health. Something new was happening, people were actually being inspired by me and the journey I was on. I found that I was not the only one lost and searching for what was next or some better direction. They connected to my journey…

10:22 on the clock…

I simply called it a mid-life crisis.

Finding triathlon, was like finding my fountain of youth. It allowed me to push myself, to see if I could get better, go farther and be a part of a wonderful family. This family is happy, looks to the future, says nothing is impossible and is healthy and fit. I was welcomed with open arms!

10:25 on the clock…

This leads me to the date of signing up for the Ironman. Oh how that date has changed me. I walked in thinking that the most important part of the Ironman was to finish, but walked away with so much more. Lessons learned:

1. Swim 2.4 miles, bike 12 miles, run 26.2 miles, brag for the rest of your life.
2. Stop letting life pass you by, what is the worse that can happen? You fail? OK pick yourself up dust yourself off and move on.
3. There will always be people trying to hold you back. Why? They are just as lost as you were once upon a time.
4. Stay in the moment. Training for an Ironman (especially your 1st) is 80% mental and 20% physical.
5. The journey never ends. Just because this Ironman is over does not mean stop, there are more challenges ahead to tackle.
6. Smile, wave and say hello.

10:30 on the clock…

I believe this journey up to the Ironman has happened for a reason and the reason will continue well past this Ironman. It is not a coincidence that I have more friends today compared to when this journey began. It is not a coincidence that I am closer to my family compared to when this journey began. It is not a coincidence that my outlook on life is much better compared to when this journey began. I am simply a better person now!

10:35 on the clock… One week ago I became an Ironman!

I have to thank a lot of people that helped in my Ironman experience.

Kim, my partner through 18 years of marriage and my Ironman widow of this last year. She has stood at my side through all of this and I hope I continue to help her reach for her dreams. Plus she made for a great head Sherpa during race weekend.

My in-laws, My mother in-law Kristine, brother-in-law and family Dan, Julie and the two little rug rats all made great Sherpas and volunteers for the weekend. Plus I guess in someway I had a hand in moving Dan’s life forward and I beam with pride knowing that he takes his health and fitness more seriously. You have turned into a good brother and friend.

My side of the family, Tim, Sue and the rest of the gang coming down to Madison after your big move to the great white north your visit was unexpected. I enjoyed having dinner with you the night before and seeing you at the swim start and out in Verona on the bike. Seeing all of you on the bike portion really helped make a long ride a bit better.

My iamtri friends, even though all of you are faster and better than me in this you make me feel like a worthy competitor. Being so spread out throughout the country allows for a different perspective I might have not known, if we did not have this website. Now that I can put faces to names makes it feel much more like a family. Your insight and knowledge really helped throughout the past year.

The tri-girls, Dar, Kerri and Jamie. Getting to know you guys over that past months has been great. I love how you have each others back in good and bad times and friends like that are hard to find. Seeing you at the bike start, throughout the marathon and at the finish is something I will never forget. Plus when you see me at the gym treating me like a rock star ain’t to bad either. I am humbled to be a part of your Ironman memories.

Chris and Tiffany Cress: Totally unexpected to see you in Madison, so a really big thanks for taking your day to see me. Seeing you around mile 12 and then again around mile 14 on the run provided me with the needed encouragement to push through the marathon. Good luck on your upcoming event, running the Chicago Marathon (oh isn’t that so cute running a marathon, sorry I couldn’t resist.)

Now my message turns to all those who followed me on Ironman.com or through the Facebook messages. WOW there were a lot of you! I am humbled that my journey has touched so many. I thank you for spending your time to watch me during that day. The cards, gifts and dinners were unexpected but it shows me how many people I have touched over the past year.

So this brings me to the end of all of these Road to the Ironman posts. It is sad in a way, but I now have a written account of my experiences in the past year, so in a way I am happy. Yes I am an Ironman. Yes IMWI2010 is over, but the word probably used most often in these posts is JOURNEY is never ending.

If you find yourself needing some inspiration you have a friend in me to turn too.

Until I start up a new Road to the NEXT Ironman I am signing off…

One last time on these post… please say it with me…

JIM RISTOW YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

One last word to sum up my Ironman experience… PERFECT!

FINAL TOTALS:

Running Miles: 826.2

Number of Hours: 130:25

New shoes: 265.00 miles (for my record keeping)

Newest New shoes: 49.7 miles

Biking Miles: 1,955.00

Number of Hours: 116:05

Swimming Miles: 81.95 miles or 144,232 yards

Number of Hours: 36:00

Swimming laps (25 yard pool): 5,579 lengths or 2,790 laps

Weightlifting hours: 26:00

Stairs in Cancun: 1:05

1 pathetic game of volleyball: 1 hour

TOTAL HOURS – 321 hours and 50 minutes