Road to Ironman with DEREK GARCIA Jan . 18, 2013
In the months leading up to the 11th running of Ironman Coeur d'Alene, 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.
Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it is done."
The people who make impossible things happen believe that the only difference between possible and impossible is time. It is easy when you look at successful people in sports, business, etc., to believe that they always had success.
It is almost as if they were lucky, or so overly talented that it was just inevitable. If this were true, wouldn't we hear more about lottery winners turning their "luck" into sustained income by investing correctly or building a business with the money that put them ahead?
THE IMPOSSIBLE is achieved not by luck, nor inevitable talent, but an unrelenting will to succeed. The most successful often have an "at all costs" attitude.
Talent helps, and I believe optimistic, hard-working people often are lucky because they believe that good things can randomly happen to them. They actually expect good things to happen. In turn they direct themselves into situations where "luck" finds them. But I want to focus more on the "will" in this case.
Men and women throughout our county are beginning to grind away in their training toward Ironman glory. Some wish to finish just under the midnight cutoff and others dream of finishing at the top of their class.
Obstacles wait for each of these people as they prepare for the race. Some will get injured, others will get burned out, life circumstances will take over at times, and through it all just making it to the start line is an accomplishment.
WHAT WILL these people likely have in common? Belief in themselves and the will to succeed. Belief they can finish, belief they can lose the weight, belief that they can overcome whatever it is that gets in their way.
Combine this with the dedication to succeed and many of these people will be accomplishing something that once was thought impossible. Coworkers, spouses, parents and friends can all call into question whether these athletes have what it takes.
Doubters wonder if these future Ironmen and women are crazy when they set their alarms for 4 a.m. These spandex-clad individuals will illicit unnecessary honks from oncoming vehicles; they will be playfully harassed at work parties when they pass on the pie.
Going to bed before 9 p.m. will become a routine and compression socks, protein shakes, and carbon fiber will become familiar vocabulary.
The Ironman rookies may wonder if it is worth it. It may, at times, feel impossible. If they truly are committed I would remind them that the only difference between a rookie and a veteran is a matter of time.
Derek Garcia is a husband, father of three boys, cancer survivor, professional triathlete and coach. Derek has coached hundreds of triathletes to successful Ironman finishes. This year he will race Coeur d’Alene Ironman as a professional for the first time. Contact Derek at dg@derekgarcia.com