Help!

I just got a note from Peggy who's in Kona getting ready for The Big One. Everything she said fueled
my addiction. I went through all the symptoms you describe. I think we need a 12 step program. Once
an Ironman, always an Ironman; the bug just refuses to die.

Ruth K

Old Timer said:

I can feel it. Those of you who have known it will recognize it. The fond longing of entire
weekend days spent training, even knowing full well that you complained about it. The desire to
eat and eat and eat and eat and still lose weight, even though you know the suffering isn't really
worth it. The memory of the glory of those last few miles somehow overpower the pain of the
previous 138. The desire to stand on the shoreline and embark on one of mankind's most challenging
endurance events, again, and again, somehow coupled with a complete lack of memory of the abuse at
the hands (and feet) of fellow swimmers.

Yeah, I'm getting the Ironman bug again, I can feel it. This next year was supposed to be about
Sprint distance racing, it was supposed to be about going to Sprint Nationals, not Ironman. It was
supposed to be about bike rides no longer than 3 hours on Saturday, not 6. Was supposed to be
about leftover time for water skiing, fishing, cutting the lawn, spending time with my spouse.

Why oh why, go away Ironman bug! Go away! hmm...now which races aren't yet full...

"Old Timer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I can feel it. Those of you who have known it will recognize it. The fond longing of entire
weekend days spent training, even knowing full well that you complained about it. The desire to
eat and eat and eat and eat and still lose weight, even though you know the suffering isn't really
worth it. The memory of the glory of those last few miles somehow overpower the pain of the
previous 138. The desire to stand on the shoreline and embark on one of mankind's most challenging
endurance events, again, and again, somehow coupled with a complete lack of memory of the abuse at
the hands (and feet) of fellow swimmers.

Yeah, I'm getting the Ironman bug again, I can feel it. This next year was supposed to be about
Sprint distance racing, it was supposed to be about going to Sprint Nationals, not Ironman. It was
supposed to be about bike rides no longer than 3 hours on Saturday, not 6. Was supposed to be
about leftover time for water skiing, fishing, cutting the lawn, spending time with my spouse.

Why oh why, go away Ironman bug! Go away! hmm...now which races aren't yet full...

Before I even read this posting, I was telling my wife that I have the Ironman Bug. With the
Championships coming up in two days, and having done Ironman Florida the past two years has got me
all pumped up again. I almost signed up to do Ironman Florida again this year. I would be almost at
the peak of training for the race and I wish I was now. I had that feeling inside and the adrenaline
overtook me today when I went on a 5 mile run. I was pumped and could here the music and the see the
lights of the finish. It is an amazing feeling. Once an Ironman, always an Ironman. No one can ever
take that from you. Good luck in training next year.

Jason Watson Macon, GA IMFL 2001, 2002

"Old Timer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I can feel it. Those of you who have known it will recognize it. The fond longing of entire
weekend days spent training, even knowing full well that you complained about it. The desire to
eat and eat and eat and eat and still lose weight, even though you know the suffering isn't really
worth it. The memory of the glory of those last few miles somehow overpower the pain of the
previous 138. The desire to stand on the shoreline and embark on one of mankind's most challenging
endurance events, again, and again, somehow coupled with a complete lack of memory of the abuse at
the hands (and feet) of fellow swimmers.

Yeah, I'm getting the Ironman bug again, I can feel it. This next year was supposed to be about
Sprint distance racing, it was supposed to be about going to Sprint Nationals, not Ironman. It was
supposed to be about bike rides no longer than 3 hours on Saturday, not 6. Was supposed to be
about leftover time for water skiing, fishing, cutting the lawn, spending time with my spouse.

Why oh why, go away Ironman bug! Go away! hmm...now which races aren't yet full...

[email hidden] (Old Timer) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I can feel it. Those of you who have known it will recognize it. The fond longing of entire
weekend days spent training, even knowing full well that you complained about it. The desire to
eat and eat and eat and eat and still lose weight, even though you know the suffering isn't really
worth it. The memory of the glory of those last few miles somehow overpower the pain of the
previous 138. The desire to stand on the shoreline and embark on one of mankind's most challenging
endurance events, again, and again, somehow coupled with a complete lack of memory of the abuse at
the hands (and feet) of fellow swimmers.

Yeah, I'm getting the Ironman bug again, I can feel it. This next year was supposed to be about
Sprint distance racing, it was supposed to be about going to Sprint Nationals, not Ironman. It was
supposed to be about bike rides no longer than 3 hours on Saturday, not 6. Was supposed to be
about leftover time for water skiing, fishing, cutting the lawn, spending time with my spouse.

Why oh why, go away Ironman bug! Go away! hmm...now which races aren't yet full...

See you at IMFL 2004?

Quoted message said:

Before I even read this posting, I was telling my wife that I have the Ironman Bug. With the
Championships coming up in two days, and having done Ironman Florida the past two years has got me
all pumped up again. I almost signed up to do Ironman Florida again this year. I would be almost at
the peak of training for the race and I wish I was now. I had that feeling inside and the
adrenaline overtook me today when I went on a 5 mile run. I was pumped and could here the music and
the see the lights of the finish. It is an amazing feeling. Once an Ironman, always an Ironman. No
one can ever take that from you. Good luck in training next year.

Well, heck! The Great Floridian, which is next Saturday, isn't full yet! Come on down! Give in to
those instincts. <g>

I'm actually feeling guilty because I'm "only" doing the half at GFT this year. I did both Lake
Placid and the full GFT last year, but this year decided to just do LP.

I promised my wife I'd pace her to her goal of a sub-5 marathon this December, and if I did both,
I'm not sure I'd be recovered in time to do what I promised. Which is good, because it's becoming
apparent that the goal is very important to her and she's really wanting to go well under 5 - more
like 4:30. This, from a 56 yr old lady who used to be happy with a 35 minute 5K.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin"