Boulder days…
It’s been fun to have Heather in town for a few days. She’s been busy preparing to defend her title in Louisville at the end of the month, and she looks as fit as I always see her. The other day she did a hard ride up to Ward (a 20-mile climb); I was glad for this and told her to FRY herself so I could keep up on the easy ride I was planning to do with her the next day. 
I’m allowed to ride for 2-hours, but no more than that…
So, the day after her Ward ride we met up to do an “easy spin” together. We scooped up Amanda Lovato and the three of us rode a great loop through Hygiene. Amanda had ridden with Heather the day before to Ward, so I was relieved the two of them were a bit fried so that I could keep. It was a nice day out, and the girl chit-chat was nice. Normally those two ride like their pants are on fire – so an easy day for them was super for me!
A few nights ago my friend Stoner (Michael Stone) had his group over who are training for Ironman WI. Stoner invited me to do their easy run workout with them, and then stay and be a part of their small group dinner with Chris Legh. Chris was definitely the headliner, of course, but it was really fun to go and help with some questions – and listen to Chris tell funny stories about Ironman, his struggles, and his conquests. If you ever, EVER have a chance to listen to him do any sort of talk (or go to his camps) – GO!! He is HILARIOUS and really has an easy-going way about him.
He retold a GREAT story about a blow-up year in Kona …. it was getting dark out and he was still out there running (walking). As he was in the Energy Lab (the turn-around in Kona where you have about 8-miles to go, a volunteer handed him a glow-stick. In the moment he got really pissed at this and relived it to us telling us he said, “This is BULLSHIT! Do you know who I am?? I can make it home in 35 minutes if I have to…!!” He wasn’t being arrogant, it was funny, and he was expressing the frustration you know he had to feel not having the race he’d expected. He went on to tell us about walking to the finish with the glow-stick (“she was right! I did need it. She knew…”), and all the stupid things he did that day during his race that led to his downfall. He was REALLY funny about it all, and all of his stories. He’s a great speaker.
After the talk with the WI group, he and I stood around Stoner’s kitchen talking about motivation, and the motivation to do triathlon. He asked how my back was doing, but also said, “How’s the head?” (referring to how hard it is to manage an injury mentally), which I thought was really kind of him. Most people just think of the athlete and not the person. “Mate, just have some fun right now. Go kayak. Forget triathlon right now. Just go have fun. Who really gives a shit about triathlon? Your real friends really don’t care what you do in triathlon. The others only like you when you are a success. Go do for yourself.”
I’ve thought a lot about that… the “success” bubble and how worthy people somehow then think you are, and how they disappear when you are off the radar. Interesting when you are still the same person. What changed, other than results on paper?
And so it goes.
Wow… It’s awesome to hear Chris (I’m a big fan)….say that about triathlon and people in triathlon, but it is so true. Sometimes we have to go through very rough times to find out who our real friends are.I really hope that you are having a good time in Boulder and I also hope that the “head” is doing ok.We miss you in ATL, but we really want your happiness where ever it is.XO.