Can you win and loose in the same race…?
I think so.
I planned to come to Kona, and race for the win.
I have moved agegroup (because…..to win 45-49 when you are 48-49 years old…..is just far out)
so I am 50 years now, and racing in 50-54
and I hit my quali spot already in november last year
and …. and…
BUT THERE IS ONE THING, THAT I HAVE AS ONE OF MY MOST IMPORTANT RULES
“get to the race, without injuries og sickness the last 12 weeks before the race”
and I didn’t make it. I had my share of problemes, and the weeks up to the race, I could not ride or run without pain….
but !!!!!!!!!! it is just a part of the game of Ironman = when you push hard to get better, sometimes you push to far, or…..
sometimes you just are unlucky. But to be a real champ, you need to stay free of this, and this times I did not make it…
so, my point is:
2 months ago, I was ready to go for 1st place 2 days ago I was afraid that I would not get to the finishline
and in this light……I won and lost in the same race
I lost the chance to reach for the top spot, and I won my selfrespect, for going out there anyway, and putting it all out there.
I race with what I have. I have made it myself, and so was the day.
Hard. So many moments of being happy to race again in Kona, so many moments of pain and suffer.
I dont know why I do it, but I know that I love and hate it, and I know, that Kona 2013 is now a part of me, for always.
Thank you for the race and the volunters, and a congrat to all DK in the race, was great to see you out there……just great.
My race…?
I made it just over 11 hours. An ok swim, a bikeride that I was ok with, and a run that was just under 4 hours, and that left me 10 sek short of ex-pro Fernanda Keller, who was in my group, and has raced top 10 here as pro, it gave me a 7th place in my group, and I was 2 min from a 5 place:
But thinking of it, i didn’t have the day, and still put a solid race together, and so I walk away proud.
I have raced Kona 3 times, and every time been in my top 10, and 2 times on stage for awards.
This time I came short of my goal, but when you dare to dream big enough, you must accept that it is hard to reach and fullfill the dream. That I felt today.
So I am tired, proud and a little disappointed as I go to rest…
See you out there on the road, but not in the coming days….;-)