Amy Williams, an amazing member of our Store Support Centre here in Melbourne will be competing in her first ever Ironman competition this Sunday. She has shared her inspiring story with us on how she came to be an Ironwoman.
‘Triathlon’ and ‘triathlete’ used to be very, very scary words to me. In my mind, triathlon meant - elite, hard core, skinny, pain, fear, endurance, fast, fiercely fit, and skinny-wheeled bikes. I used to think, ‘I could never be a triathlete’. The whole concept was completely unknown and intimidating, yet I was still intrigued. So, one day I just ‘tri’-ed it.
Where did I start? My boyfriend was a triathlete (a good one at that) and did them all the time. He always had fun and made them look easy, so my friend and I decided to just give it a go. We bought matching swim suits and made our boyfriends ride alongside us in the run leg, just in case we collapsed. Collapse?? Schollapse!! Not only did we finish, we didn't need our boyfriends to ride alongside us at all (they just got in the way!) and we had a blast doing it! That was my biggest win ever. Still is to this date.
A huge shift occurred. In my mind, triathlon came to mean - fun, adrenaline, sense of accomplishment, drive, passion, goal setting and achieving, physical pain (good pain), making new friends, speed, success, failure, holiday destinations – it was about a journey, my journey.
I did a few more, branched out and did a duathlon, a sprint tri (which was/is still the most painful thing I have ever done and also when I discovered I’m an endurance kinda gal), a long distance tri, a half ironman, etc. I travelled and raced in different countries and cities, met some amazing people, made lifelong friends and had some of the most fantastic experiences, which 15 years later, has definitely contributed to and shaped my life and where I am today.
This brings me to Ironman. I am one week out to one of the biggest physical and mental challenges I've taken on and I can honestly say I am feeling somewhat calm and excited.
Why Ironman you ask? Call me crazy, and maybe I am but for me it’s the next anticipated challenge of mental stamina and physical endurance and grit. I love the training, the commitment, meeting my friends at stupid o’clock in the morning (5am) before work for a ride or swim, and seeing my hard work pay off. The feeling of total exhaustion at the end of a workout and seeing the physical progress and improvement is what keeps me going. And yes, it is addictive.
I've found a new inner strength and belief within. From the gruelling hot 6+ hour days in the saddle (bike), to when you think your legs will just not make one more hill, to the blisters and sores from the long runs, to the physical and mental exhaustion that finds your breaking point – this is where the discovery and journey really lies. An unexpected new relationship of inner calm, confidence and trust developed between my brain and my body.
So see you out there on Sunday 24th. Barrack and cheer for anyone and everyone. Trust me, we appreciate it.
