18/09/2023
with .repost
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"How bad do you want it?"
Five weeks before the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France, I sustained a major shoulder injury that required surgery. This was tough for me. I mean, I wasn't even a strong swimmer to begin with, and now I had to swim with just one arm? Are you kidding me? I'll admit, I questioned whether I could even finish the 3.8km swim.
Those five weeks leading up to the race were incredibly tough, and the anxiety took a toll on my mental health. There were moments when I thought of throwing in the towel and focusing on recovery. But then I reminded myself that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and so many people believed in me. I couldn't let this chance slip away. So, I pushed through, made every preparation possible to swim with one arm, and kept my eyes on the prize.
Come race day, I kept repeating to myself, "Once the swim is done, the race is over." I was confident that I could finish the bike and run. My goal was to complete the swim within the cutoff time, and I did it! I may have been the last in my age group, but that didn't matter.
The bike course was brutal! If that's not enough, I also got 2 flat tires. The run course was no walk in the park either. Hot and rolling. But I finished the race, not in the ideal position I had hoped for, but considering the injury, it was a victory in itself. Plus, I surprised myself with my fastest off-the-bike marathon, clocking in at 3:31! To be continued in the comments section..
