My Road to Ironman Begins Here. Now.

Follow along this journey with me, as I prepare physically and mentally for an expedition unlike any other I have attempted. 140.6 miles of swimming, biking, and running through the Adirondacks of Lake Placid, NY. I hear it's hilly there, but I've been unable to confirm.

A little about this blog and how I chose the name, but first, thanks for being here! Power. Performance. Possibilities. will chronicle my journey as an ordinary person tackling the extraordinary. The destination is Ironman Lake Placid (IMLP), but this blog and that destination are simply the vehicle on the road to self-discovery, growth, and my quest to conquer anything and everything I put my mind to.

After sorting out some things in my life, a topic worthy of its very own blog entry, I did my first triathlon in July 2011. (Read my detailed race report here: I survived the swim and therefore finished the race. The end.) In August 2011, I bought a tri-specific bike. An aerodynamic race machine. White lightning. Enter the love of my life! 

A Cervelo P3 I purchased at Placid Planet Bicycles in Lake Placid, NY. P3…Lake Placid… I went to Placid Planet on the recommendation of a friend. After spending three hours getting fit for the right bike, I was on my way home grinning like a child on Christmas morning. Lake Placid is the home of athletic prowess. With the town being built around the Olympic Village and the presence of the second oldest Ironman in history, I swear that place breeds athletes! There is a buzz in Lake Placid; an energy that is palpable. And the eye candy is sweeeeet, but I digress… The idea of racing Ironman (in Lake Placid or any location) had never crossed my mind, but I hoped the things it took to be an Ironman or an Olympian were somehow bottled up in that bike. My bike….the P3, which I quickly named LP…the same bike that inspired three “P” words which have stuck with me and gotten me through some rough patches in my training and racing.

Power. Performance. Possibilities.

Sure, these words conjure up images of athletes, sweat, competition, success, winning….but whether you are an athlete or not, these words can be anchors. Let me explain.

Power…Be strong. Strength of mind, strength of body, strength of spirit.

Performance…Commit yourself to an idea and give it your all. Do the very best you can at whatever you do. Every day.

Possibilities…You are capable of more than you think and you can do anything you set your mind to. Our limits are not where we think they are.

Little did I know how significant the purchase of that bike in that town would be in shaping not only my race plans, but me. While I will be chronicling my journey to Ironman in this blog, my hope is that you will find inspiration in my musings. Apply the thoughts and ideas to your life while chasing your hopes and dreams. You do have dreams, right? Maybe you’ll discover something about yourself. Maybe you’ll make a positive change in your life. Maybe you’ll do something you’ve never done before. Maybe you’ll say no. Hell, I’ll be happy if I can simply make you laugh. But what I really want to do is inspire you…some of you…even just one of you. Create your day.

Come back again and someday I’ll give you a download on my racing over the past two seasons, the people who have helped get me there, and some insights into who I am and why I do what I do.  My closing thought for today….a mantra I have adopted in preparing for this journey.

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”

The words are not my own, but they have helped bring focus and clarity to my life…and they certainly help drive priorities. And yes…I'm scared to death! Sure, I want to eat ice cream and do social things, but really what I want to do is reach the start line of Ironman Lake Placid 2013 in top form. It’s about having a dream and the willingness to make sacrifices to achieve it. Choices. Simple choices. Makes sense to me…