Pre-Ironman thoughts and Thank you!

Tonight while watching the Olympics and thinking about my 4th Ironman, I decided to write my thoughts down before the race. This year is different than any other year I have done an Ironman. I am excited. I am ready. I am the smallest and strongest I have ever been before an Ironman. I don't feel mentally exhausted and worried like I have for the other 3 that I have done. I have chosen to let my coach think for me and just follow the plan. I honestly think it has made me a much better athlete. I haven't told many about my goals and I will still keep them to myself but I will tell you that I will be an Ironman again on Aug 21 and that makes me extremely happy. This year I feel like I have a lot of people to thank for my success. My coach who has absolute faith in my abilities and is one of the few people who I will allow to tell me to "shut up and train" when I talk about listening to my brain and thinking I can't do something or having doubts in my ability. He pushed me harder this year "without me realizing what was happening". FYI - I knew it was happening but I let you think for me and I just executed it! If Jamie told me I could do it, I did it even when I was convinced he was trying to kill me. I promise to stay within myself, follow my nutrition plan, and not think too much during the race. My teammates, the funny, dysfunctional group that we are, who supported and cheered me on every step of the way. Steve who made me feel badly when I was considering not doing a workout and thus made me decide it must be done! I really love that you did that for me! Ashlea, Kerrianne, and Wes who trained with me and made training fun whether it be in the lake, on Adirondack hills, or just running around in search of all of the Albany hills. Dave, Mary, Darci, Billy, Colleen, Loring, and Tim who encouraged me to come out for group rides when I was anxious about doing so. Those rides were their easy days and my hard days but yet they encouraged me and included me all the way. Our families who heard the words "we can't" or "we have a long ride/run that day" and just continued to support us - I know that we miss things and you still support us all the way to the finish. We appreciate you and you being supportive of our goals. Lonnie who became my sounding board and would understand what I was going through during training. Lonnie was amazing even after she was injured and couldn't do her own race. She continued to be one of my biggest cheerleaders. I appreciate this more than she will ever know. She helped keep me calm more often than she even knows. And, of course, my #1 fan, my husband, Joe. You are incredible. You have more faith in me than I have in myself most days. You give me tough love and tell me to get out the door and do my workout even when I don't want to. You love my dedication and support me all of the time. You allow me to be crazy and ridiculous all of the time and this makes me happy. I am so excited for what is to come and I can't wait for my 4th Ironman. I plan to enjoy all of the chaos and excitement that it will bring. I promise to give everything I have and make you all proud. Ironman may be an individual sport but it takes a village to get an individual to the start line and through the race. Thank you for all you have done to make this an incredible journey.