Road to Ironman with DEREK GARCIA March 11, 2011

In the months leading up to the ninth running of Ironman Coeur d'Alene on June 26, 2011, Derek Garcia will be writing a monthly column keeping the community updated on his journey as well as what the hundreds of athletes from the Inland Northwest are doing in preparation for the race.

I remember before my first son was born I was in a developmental psychology class in college that spent a good deal of the semester on the importance of the first 5 years of life.

I recall the textbook saying that children's moral and ethical values are 80 percent solidified by the time they reach formal schooling.

Without going into further detail, I was hugely taken back by this, and it really made me more aware when my wife and I began to raise our children. The funny thing is, now I look back on that class and it is hard for me to distinguish between what I learned in the class and what I feel like I have always known about raising children.

SO HERE I am in March, trying to evaluate how my training is progressing. I looked at my training log from years past to see where I have made progress, and to my surprise things are going well.

It is interesting because without being able to look back on past years' training results, times, etc. ... I think I would have felt a little behind with my fitness at this point in the year. I looked back to my first year where through the summer I tried to ride 60 miles a week.

The first time I rode my bike over 18 miles I was extremely proud of how far I had gone, and then I didn't do anything for two days because my neck was so sore I could hardly move. These were huge milestones that led to ultimately competing in my first Ironman.

Now I feel as though unless I ride my bike at least 20 miles it probably isn't worth putting on spandex. I realized that I was making the mistake of feeling like I have always known what I know today.

I feel like I have always been this fit and it really isn’t a big deal that going for a 10-mile run doesn’t completely kill my legs like it did when I first started.

MANY ATHLETES have been training for the 2011 Ironman for at least 2-3 months at this point, and it is easy to feel like there hasn’t been a lot of progress. That is why I am constantly reminding athletes of how far they have come and the importance of keeping a journal or training log.

The moral boost that comes from realizing what one has actually accomplished is well worth the hassle of writing things down. Often times it is the only way to objectively look at progress.

Going back to raising my children, it has been an absolutely humbling process learning how to become a parent. I would be lying if I didn’t realize that I have a long way to go as both an athlete and a parent.

However, not looking back on what I have learned along the way would be a disservice to myself. Reflecting on the journey and growth in both arenas can supply a tremendous amount of motivation going forward.

Part of the process of becoming an Ironman is enjoying the daily adventure. The training can’t just be a means to an end, or it will quickly become unworthy of the sacrifice.

If I was only focused on the day my children moved out as well-rounded adults I would miss so much of the amazing privilege it is to be a parent and watching them grow.

MARCH IS the meat and potatoes of training. It is the grind. It is like the homework assignment in math class. It isn’t easy, but it is the hard work and dedication right now that will pay off later.

It is a tough time to get through, however it is a period of time that completely shapes what the race will look like. It is still a long ways from race day, but it has also been a long time since day one of training.

That is why it is so important for athletes to look back to see how far they have come. If the hard work is put in now, then things really become enjoyable as the race gets closer.

So I will end with this thought. One of my mentors used to tell me that if I wasn’t growing I was dying. He always encouraged me to challenge myself to reach new heights, but without knowing my past I would never known how much I had truly grown. It also would have been easy to let complacency set in.

Whether in triathlon training or another aspect of life, I suggest taking a short time each day to evaluate whether or not growth is taking place. By evaluating the past, and being aware of the present, one can make the necessary changes to meet the goals of the future.

Then you will see that you haven’t always known what you know today.

Derek Garcia is a multisport coach at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, owns his own personal coaching business, Derek Garcia Multisports, and will also be on the start line at this year’s Ironman event. Contact Derek at dg@derekgarcia.com.