For me, the Ironman journey started, unbeknownst to me, over 2 years ago when I decided to train for my first marathon. It had been on my bucketlist for ages and, having had some serious upheaval in my personal life, I needed something to keep me focused (READ: 'sane'). I began training for my first marathon in Kawaihae, Hawai'i. My daily runs were through native koa forests or on paths along cliffs abutting the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Often I would run on the beautiful white sands of Hapuna Beach and go swimming, surfing or stand-up surfing afterwards to refresh myself. After 2 months of training in Hawai'i I moved to Bogota, Colombia where my training continued. From the idyllic tropical training background I was thrown into doing mile long laps in a busy park crossing several major raods in the third highest city in South America. I had worked my way up to 12/13milers in Hawi'i but my first attempt to run in Bogota left me out of breath at under 1 mile!
Once I had mastered the altitude, the holding my breath for buses to pass, and the curious gazes from Colombians, I ran and finished my first marathon on May, 2009 in Medellin, Colombia with my running partner and dear friend Kelby. Cheering me at mile 20 and at the finish line were my dear friends Rafael, Arley and Carlos as well as my most dedicated cheerleader and sister, Jennie, who had all travelled from Bogota to support me. Truley a memorable event but, as I told Kelby at the finish line when he asked me about future marathon plans I felt, "NO desire to ever do that again!"
Now, I plan (almost exactly 2 years from the date of that marathon in Medellin) to perform in an Ironman in Switzerland. I guess what I said to Kelby was partially true; I'm not running (just) a marathon again!
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