Wow.  What can I say?  I’m on the flight back from Kona, Hawaii, and am amazed at the experience I just had over the past week.  Andi and I decided to stay right downtown in Kona to get the “full” experience for my first Ironman World Championship.  It was the best choice we could have made! 

While I knew that I had to get ready for the race (easy swimming, biking, running, eating right, etc) on the days leading up to the race, I really focused on being “in the moment”.  I couldn’t see, smell and hear enough of everything going on around me: the energy of the athletes, the changing landscape as race-day grew closer and the sheer beauty of the ocean and the Big Island were magical.  I took it all in.  I never took for granted a minute.  I was very appreciative of just being there. 

On race-day, I made it a point to do the same thing.  I know the power of focusing your mind.  And I know during a long endurance event how hard it is to do that.  And throughout the day, as often as it seemed Madame Pele was throwing me curve balls, I constantly worked on being “in the moment”.  I was racing with the best Triathlon professionals and amateurs in the world on a course I watched on TV for 20 years.  It was a dream - and I was living it.  Even now, three full days after the race, I can remember every detail - the wind, the sun, the lava, the tattoo on the athlete I just passed.  I remember it all. 

The entire trip was such a rich experience!  It made me feel completely alive.  I lived it “in the moment”...