My name is Jolene and this is the
day I became an IRONMAN, just after crossing the finish line with my 5X IRONMAN
husband (aka “BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!”). When Noah asked if he could share my
story, I thought “OMG, why? Who cares about my silly little story? Do I even have a story?” I’m so inspired daily by
so many other people that have suffered, endured and overcome much more than I
feel I have. But the lesson in that I guess is that we ALL motivate/inspire
somebody in our own ways, sometimes without even knowing it. So, what I will
say is that I have struggled with my weight/self-worth/body image my entire life. I
have also secretly battled with social anxiety for as long as I can remember.
It sounds like a silly thing, but it’s ruled my life for more years than I care
to admit. When my husband Lou turned 50, he decided to become an IRONMAN and
it’s been a journey that I have loved and enjoyed following him on. I am his
BIGGEST fan. I found myself spending my Saturday’s couped up inside, tracking
Lou online during his 100 mile rides and not really being able to wrap my head
around what he endures out there. So, after some health issues in 2012 (chronic
anemia, blood transfusions, surgery, etc.) and an upcoming 40th
birthday, something in me just start visualizing that finish line I’ve watched
so many times, thinking… “I want that too”... I thought it would bring us closer
as well since, well, IM training is very time consuming and with full time jobs
there isn’t time for much else. I didn’t
want to be left behind and I wanted to start my new life post health issues to
be amazing. And what better way to celebrate 40, right? So that was it – I was
going to be an IRONMAN. Arizona
would be the place, 2014.
Post-surgery, I was cleared to
resume exercise August 2012. I signed up for swimming lessons (because I only
had a ‘dog paddle with life vest’ stroke and an incredible fear of having my
face in the water) and completed my first EVER triathlon that October (Olympic
distance). By March, I had done my first ever Half-Ironman and my IRONMAN
training season officially started. What a journey. Ups, downs, highs, lows,
gains, losses but most of all: FUN.
Nothing can ever replace being able to share that journey with my husband.
TRULY. AMAZING. I will treasure it always. IRONMAN Arizona was everything I
dreamed of and more. From meeting so many friends online during training
(something I NEVER would have done before this journey), only to actually meet
them in person in Arizona and still call them friends to this day (and forever)…
to having your husband surprise you 0.1 miles from the finish line (he waited
almost three hours for me to get there) so that we could cross that finish line
together. Start together, finish together. I am a changed person because of
this experience. I am finally comfortable in my own skin (thanks to 7 months of
spandex) and, although I still struggle with anxiety, I have really learned to
open up more and am feeling so fulfilled as a result. IRONMAN Boulder is next
for us both and we CAN’T WAIT! I’m going to enjoy this ride for as long as God
allows.
If you take anything from this,
just let it be this: Life is scary and things get in the way but if you are
willing to take a leap of faith and put in the work, there is something AMAZING
waiting for you on the other side. You are capable of ANYTHING you put your
mind to. It’s life changing, I promise.
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