We spend our whole time here trying to make things work, trying for more time, more money, more satisfaction. We wish that today, tomorrow next week would hurry up and be over, we wait anxiously and excitedly for things we are working towards, all the while Life is ticking by and we are missing out on the now!
Having just recently had someone close to us diagnosed with depression it makes you appreciate that life no matter how long, and how great doesn't get any better than we believe it is today! We may get another chance tomorrow- and we may not, so why risk it! Why keep going to get something we may never get and forgo what we already have!
I know onlookers have always thought of our family choices as one sided, as Pauls decisions as being selfish, but after seeing the effects of a life that is now so fragile and dependant I know that what we do every day is what is right for us...It certainly does not pay the bills, and with overgrown lawns, half finished renovations and a dying car it is definitely not a help around the house, BUT it makes all 4 of us happy, It gives Paul a form of therapy, a hobby and a true passion out side of work and us, It gives me the opportunity to learn new things, to find new ways to stretch the family budget to get another pair of running shoes, to meet amazing people. It has given Keegz the desire to want to compete, to be the best he can be and to collect medals(very important not only at 11 but also at 38 aye hon?), and Cameron has grown up watching women do ANYTHING, meeting some of those fabulous athletes that she now aspires to be and truly believing that if she wants to race Kona or be a silver Fern, she will be!
We have been warned that it is hard to do Ironman "with" a family, but I truly believe it is easy to do Ironman "as" a family, I admit I get over it and the long sessions can seem very very long, but as with all good things it is what makes our today worth getting out of bed for.
As the trainings are starting to become more regular, the coach is starting to become an accountable reality, and the standard of Ironman Race we want to achieve is becoming higher I can sense the excitement, House renovations are being rushed to finish in the next few weeks so Ironman can become our all, dates for Keegz swim meets are being scrutinized as to not mess with the plan! and we are all pumped about what IMNZ 2012 will bring.
Paul has manage to convince a really great group of mates to tag along, Shaneo was a top (like national level) cyclist 20 odd years ago and is just resharpening his skills (Wife, Carmen is a beautician and appears very handy for the waxing duties!), Booda and Muffin (a couple) are both Redheads, both a little mad, have done a zillion open water swims, ultra marathons,he has done Ironman and Coast to Coast but she is one of our first timers! Paulie is returning to IMNZ (with Carmen, Carla and Lukey in tow)after an impressive first time last year - apparently the runner in the group, Richards is the other new comer, father of 4(Maddie, Baxter, Ruby and Pippa), husband to the best cook in the world(Mel), business owner and always busy, no one really knows where IMNZ will fit in but if you know Richards you just know it will! And finally Macca, decided against doing IMNZ as he didnt have the time(what with Kathy, Cole and Reid, Fishing, Hunting etc etc).....and yet has been doing ALL the training with the team, go figure Macca maybe you could have done it after all! As you can see a great group of mates and there families have joined in on our Ironman journey, it is going to be a blast and is truly going to make every moment we are here, there and everywhere totally worth being aware of! Hey would we want it any other way?x
