A note of thanks...

A letter I sent out today to close friends and family...

Hi Friends and Family,

As most of you know by now, I'm racing in this Sunday's Ironman Arizona. I'm already here in Tempe, and it's so exciting! The Ironman tent village is up, super-duper sleek and shiny bikes are everywhere, and no one is without a water bottle. It's sunny, warm, and dry, but the weather is beautiful.

Mike gets in tonight, and my parents are joining me tomorrow, along with some incredible friends who made the journey out here: Meredith, Dave (and baby Soren!), and Jackie and Matt. I'm so touched and psyched to have their support, because I'm going to need it!

I'd also like to give a shout-out to Carrie, Karen, and Gigi, who managed to smuggle a bouquet of flowers to my room! Thanks, ladies!! And thanks, Jenn, and also Tom and Lisa, for the awesome cards!

So the reason I'm sending this email to all of you is that for the last year (plus!), you have all gone out of the way to encourage in my training, whether be just be asking about it and letting me vent, or going on rides or runs with me, or just by continuing to provide me with so much encouragement along the way. This has been a journey, and although a for most of it I've trained solo, I've never felt alone. Thank you for all your encouragement!

They say that triathlon is "the 'selfish' sport," but I'm going to reclaim that word, because it's really about pushing yourself. I really feel like I'm doing this because I'm doing this; I have no natural calling in any of these three sports. I like and strive to be active, but any of the past races I've completed were all about picking milestones to train for and goals to accomplish. So for me this distance was a test, a dare, to see if I could do this, but for most others that "pushing yourself" test may not be doing an Ironman; it may be (and probably is) very different. I said on a few different occasions that my number 1 goal is to survive (no worries here!), number 2 is to finish (feeling good about that, no matter what the time!), and my number 3 is to get someone else to sign up for an Ironman. I'd like to make a friendly amendment to number 3: fill in the blank. If there's something you're too nervous or scared of to do, but you've been wondering, "can I do this?" go for it: put yourself out there; it's the best freakin' feeling!!! Win or fail, finish or not.

140.6 miles is a long way to travel using your own muscles, and in some ways an even longer way to travel with your own thoughts. In light of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, which deserves more reflection than I often give it, when I'm out there on Sunday, I'm going to spend the time (in between hydrating, looking at my heart rate monitor, and sucking down carbohydrates), I'm going to think about each one of you, and all of the countless ways I am thankful for you being in my life. And I'll give a special shout-out to Reid Oliver Bardin, my new nephew (born November 17, 2009)!

Much Love,
Erin