You Can't Cross the Finish Line Without the Journey
Recently, I visited my parents’ house, and as usual, we were all gathered in their cozy sunroom, talking up a storm. The conversation turned to my Ironman 70.3 training when my dad, with his classic curiosity, asked if I’d thought about how I’d feel on July 14—the day after my race. “Probably sore as hell,” I quipped. He chuckled. “Yeah, I bet you’ll be in some pain. But I meant more… how do you think you’ll feel when it’s all over? You’ve poured so much time and effort into this. In one day, it’ll be done. Sure, you’ll feel accomplished, but what about the day after? Will you keep up with swimming and running? Do you think the satisfaction you’ll get from crossing the finish line will live up to what you’re hoping to achieve?”
His question lingered. I thought I’d be prepared to answer it quicker than I was. I knew from the start this Ironman 70.3 was going to have to be more about the journey than the finish line—as most things should be—but then I really got to thinking about it. Over the last 6 months, I have made leaps and bounds in my swimming and biking. 8 months ago, I was as much of a newbie as you could be. But now, swimming and biking three-plus times a week consistently, I’ve started to see huge improvements.
For me, like I imagine is true for most folks, when I get better at something, I start to love it. I used to dread swimming—I just wasn’t good at it. As I always say, I knew how to swim to not drown, but I couldn’t swim fast or efficiently in any direction. And the breathing part? I never understood it. I knew you turned your head to suck in some air, but, as I suspected, it was way more complicated than that. As my form and breathing improved, I started swimming 500, 1,000, even 2,000 meters unbroken in one session. That’s when I fell in love with swimming. Now my favorite thing on swim workout mornings is to make a big cup of coffee, sip it on the drive to the pool, and feel that first splash zap my body awake.
Biking was a lot like swimming. I grew up on bikes, riding around the neighborhood with friends to explore, but I never biked for distance. I never paid attention to what gear I was in. Hell, I’d never even had cycling shoes that clipped into my pedals before. Now I’m seeing biking in a whole new light. Most of my rides happen in the evening, and with spring in full swing and sunsets not happening until after 8, those rides have become sacred. Feeling the air whip around you at 20 mph, zooming past farmlands, blooming flowers, and restaurants—it’s one of the coolest ways to experience the world around you.
So, back to my dad’s question. How will I feel? Honestly, it’d be nice to have a couple of weeks, maybe even a month, without such an intense workout schedule. I’d still hit the gym five or six times a week and get a few runs in, but now I’ve got these two other disciplines I love. Part of me worries that if I put swimming and biking on the back burner for too long, I might lose the passion I’ve found.
And on top of that, I’ve fallen in love with Hyrox and definitely want to compete in another one of those soon. So, what’s the right answer? In typical Michael fashion, I dodged a direct response by loosely referencing a quote I heard in the audiobook BE 2.0 by Jim Collins and Bill Lazier: “Accomplishments in themselves bring little meaning or lasting satisfaction. But the pursuit of meaningful work and impact can produce tremendous satisfaction.” I told my dad, quite candidly, I have no idea how I’ll feel. I don’t know if I’ll catch the triathlon bug and want to sign up for my next race the very next day, or if I’ll want to hang up my swimsuit and helmet for a while and get back to basics. What I do know is I’m not focused on saying I’m a half-Ironman. Instead, I’m loving every mile biked and every swim lane swum.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m stoked at the thought of telling people I completed an Ironman 70.3. Younger Michael would never have imagined this was possible. But what I think is even more valuable is that I learned to swim 1.2 miles and bike 56 miles in just six months, starting with a foundation as shaky as a house of cards. And I know, at a minimum, as long as I bike and swim a few times each month, those are skills I’ll maintain.
I’m someone who needs to stay active. I love nothing more than looking at my calendar and seeing three workouts lined up for the day. Ironman training has unlocked something in me I never knew was there. I was scared as could be when I bought my race ticket in the fall of 2024, not knowing how I’d be ready in less than a year to compete—especially when I was still in the middle of my first marathon prep. But I trusted future me had it covered. I knew that if I stayed consistent with my training, I’d build the endurance and learn the skills needed to race.
With all that said, I now kinda get why the mama bird nudges the baby bird out of the nest before it knows it can fly. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith and trust in your own ability to figure it out. There’s no shortcut to getting better at endurance sports—you just have to train. And if you’ve got the passion and commit to training consistently, you wouldn’t believe how what once scared you can turn into just another Tuesday workout.
Have a great week
