Well, the day has arrived…Ironman is tomorrow! Months of training, discipline and hard work will come to bear on one of the most physically challenging athletic competitions on the planet.
As often happens, sometimes life will through you a curve ball or two. Ten days ago, Tucker came down with a very bad cold including a fever, aches & upset stomach. The Doctor diagnosed his issue as a virus that needed to run it’s course. So, he has been slowly nursing himself back to health. Today was his first day feeling well again. This severely cut into his ability to train and taper his workouts…bummer!
Jordan had his own issues, he tweaked his neck, and could barely turn his head. He nursed it with patches, massage & rest. He is also feeling pretty good heading into tomorrow.
Race day waits for no one. The alarm will sound at 3:30 am and no matter how they slept or how they are feeling, they will rise and face the giant they have been training to slay. Even if they feel they only have a slingshot and a few small stones to do it with.
It takes a man of great character and strength to face his giant against all odds. The words of The Quitter by Robert Service seem appropriate on a night like tonight.
When you are lost in the wild and scared as a child,
and death looks you long in the eye,
and your sore as a boil, it’s according to Hoyle
to cock your revolver and…die.
But the code of a man says: “Fight all you can,”
and self dissolution is barred.
In hunger and woe, oh, it’s easy to blow…
It’s the hell-served-for-breakfast that’s hard.
“Your sick of the game, well that’s a shame.
Your young and your brave and your bright.
“You’ve had a raw deal!” I know–but don’t squeal,
Back up, do your damnedest, and fight.
It’s the plugging away that will win you the day,
So don’t be a piker, old pard!
Just draw on you grit; it’s so easy to quit:
It’s the keeping-your-chin-up that is hard.
It’s easy to cry that you are beaten–and die;
It’s easy to crawfish and crawl;
But to fight and to fight when hope is out of sight–
Why that’s the best game of them all!
And though you come out of each grueling bout,
All broken and beaten and scarred,
Just have one more try–it’s easy to die,
It’s the keeping-on-living that is hard.
Our hopes and prayers will be with you tomorrow and throughout your day you will spot me here and there along the way. See you at the finish line!
rickallendunn 
