Gotta admit, it took me some time before I even wanted to write about this years race. I knew how to start it, that’s easy. It’s the ending. It took awhile to really get my head around it. I’m ready now, lets do this. In order to keep you interested, this first post is going to be interspersed with Undie Run photos. Enjoy! Oh and what are Michelle and I this year??? Why…Partners In Crime of Course!!
I looked at the results for the first time yesterday. I finished 19th in my age group, I went 10:51 and on paper, it looks like the wheels fell off. I knew that looking at the numbers I would see the potential and the opportunities that were squandered. Looking at those results were tough, I’m not going to lie there, but before I get too much ahead of myself, let’s get this show on the road.
My post-race thoughts have been more philosophical than anything. And here’s what I have come up with. If someone had a crystal ball, and they were able to tell me how I was going to race at Hawaii and they said to me….
Sonja, you will give up on yourself, you will lose your fight, you will have your slowest time, and when you cross the line you will think you have had your worst race ever.
…then would I still have raced? That’s what I’ve been thinking about for days. And I keep coming back to the same answer…definitely. Yes, even if I had known the outcome before I stepped on the line, I still would have done it. And you wanna know why? Because Ali’i drive is amazing, because the finisher medals are a freaking work of art, because people would gladly donate a limb to race this race, and because failing doesn’t mean I’m a failure, it just means I had the strength to try.
So, there’s that!
Before I get started I want to give thanks. To say this is a selfish sport is totally cliche…but it is. To think that there are people in my life that help me out, that call to check on me, and that are there for me through thick and thin, well, it’s pretty awesome for me.
My family is awesome. Troy and Annie are great at helping me out day in and day out, and both my parents and Troys parents support my racing through and through. My uncle Norm has been to every one of my Konas and perhaps the biggest complement he has given me was to get the triathlon bug himself. He races Honu 70.3 next year!
My sponsors this year have been awesome. The longer I am in the sport the more I realize that some relationships just stick. The guys at QR, the guys at KE, and Ron with Punk rock Racing have been with me through this entire crazy year. Not only do they support me with products, but they really truly believe that I can be successful. The products are awesome, but belief is a priceless gift.
Coach Dirk did his best to get me on the start line in the best shape of my life. My numbers leading up were solid and he gave me a plan the week of the race to go for it. My swimming is getting much better with the help of coach Nick and Karlyn, and I also had lots of diet help from Dina, she’s been awesome to work with.
I also have to give thanks to all the amazing athletes that have been there for me on the pool deck, on my bike, and running with me side by side. These are my people, folks that get it, because we all share triathlon DNA. Michelle, my PIC, she is a sister to me. Not even “like” a sister, but actually blood to me. Beth, Terry, Scott, Wayde, Grant, Kendra, Katy, Jen, Audra, Jocelyn, Jeremy, Laura, Nick, Scotty P, you all have touched me this year.
And lastly, my athletes. They are an extension of my support system and a girl couldn’t ask for better cheerleaders. I hope I continue to set a good example for you (said as she posts photos of her in her underwear).
Thank you for all the support this year. I can’t tell you much about the future, but I can say that a brutal kicking doesn’t take me down. Adversity is only fuel for my belly. There are changes that I need to make and some of them are going to be difficult. Adversity is a given in this sport, and I’ve been lucky to nail many races in past years. In the words of a wise, yet cocky one:
Reassess
Rebuild
Try Again
—Macca
Tomorrow I’ll talk swim and bike.
I hope to draw on your strength this weekend. Just know that you are awesome and a time on a clock defines nothing about you, 8 hours or 10 hours…
can’t wait to get the full report on your adventure!
I feel your pain FPC. No need to rush through processing the race, although I do find writing race reports to be helpful in finding positive parts about the day. And a little fire in the belly never hurt anyone
. Cheers on an excellent season!
You still did AWESOME Sonja. And as I told Michelle, an absolutely DISASTROUS 2010 season is what put the fire in my belly for the last two seasons of successful racing. I can only hope that this race does the same for you. I’ve grown to think that the bad races are almost more important than the good races.
Sonja- more than you know I draw strength from you, you you you are the voice in my head and the fire in my heart. You have taught me lessons ever since we meet years ago that I will carry with me forever. I love you.
Sonja, you are smoking hot!! Am I allowed to say that?!?
I look up to you when you are victorious, yes, because you so often are and that is insiring. But your real strength shows when you work to overcome, when you stumble and process and grow.
Love you! Lots!!
I should probably wait for the whole report before commenting, but I think I know how it’s going to go. The results don’t tell the story and you fought bravely throughout – not every day can be your day and you have far bigger ones to come. But be patient and don’t rush the next steps, you have plenty of time to figure things out.