Iron Strong Part 82: Friends who Stick by you During Ironman Training are your Friends for Life...
Friends who Stick by you During Ironman Training are your Friends for Life...
In 2012 I journaled daily through my divorce, leaving the Mormon Religion, being a Single Mom, becoming a Marathoner and eventually an Ironman Athlete. This story will be delivered in parts and not really edited down from the original writings in my journal (including some typos and grammar misalignment). I do this to uphold the integrity of the Woman I was when I wrote these, long before I knew this would end up as a full book and even though my writing has evolved in the decade since I wrote these pieces. They read in present day time from a decade ago. These are stories of hope, miracles and never giving up on your dreams. It is a heroine’s journey of shame, secrets and ultimate seclusion to the Finish Line of Ironman Arizona....and then beyond. An Outward Journey to an Inward Destination of Freedom and Liberation, Iron Strong.
Friends who Stick by you During Ironman Training are your Friends for Life...
Ironman training is hard!
It takes up a lot of time mentally, physically and spiritually. You have to have a patient tribe surrounding you and you have to make special attention to keep their needs in the forefront of your mind too.
Schedule date nights with your lover, children and friends as religiously as you schedule in a 5am swim.
As you continue to support them they will see that they are your priority and rightfully should be.
My friends who stood by my side and never wavered during Ironman training are precious to me. They understood.
I tried my hardest to make them feel loved but came up short many times and they loved me anyways.
They allowed me the space to grow and take my time and were there with a soft hand to hold when I needed encouragement.
Or simply to give me an “out” or laugh at me and tell me I have lost my damn mind and we could both laugh at that point and agree!
Keep your circle small.
Ironman training will naturally thin your circle because you don’t have energy to spare on anyone who doesn’t matter or sucks the life out of you.
Your tribe…your inner circle…will love you through your craziest adventures as you show them LOVE in return.
The ones who don’t…well they don’t matter anyways…let them go with grace. You can not live a big life without disappointing some people. And that is ok.
The ones who are root for your rise are going to be excited for you when you talk about your big goals and dreams. The ones who are disappointed or aren’t supportive, you don’t want close because they have their own agenda.
Seek out those rooting for your rise!