Yes. I have 26.2 on the back of my car, for the Marathon I worked my ass off to run (okay run/walk) last spring. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, I trained for years for it, it was a complete out of body/spiritual experience, my friends and family supported me unconditionally throughout all of it and I am really gosh darn proud that I completed it.
So hells yeah I am going to stick some 26.2 bling on the back of my car.
We all have our opinions about these numbers. There are some angry non-athletes who are somehow offended by the fact that I like to celebrate my accomplishments (remember
this bitter article from the WSJ?) on the back of my car. And to this I say simply, get over it. Seriously. Go get angry over a real issue... or, I don't know, perhaps try something to relieve some of your built up stress (running anyone??).
When I go to a team event for my triathlon team, the parking lot is FULL of intimidating stickers everywhere:
- 13.1 - Half Marathon (I have done this, but don't have a sticker; was saving myself for 26.2)
- 26.2 - Marathon. Hells yeah I have this one. In full on rhinestones of course.
- 4.4 - This is the Bay Swim. That's a 4.4 mile open water swim. With current/waves. Haven't conquered that one yet!
- 39.3 - This is the Goofy -- means you did the Disney half marathon one day and then the full marathon the next day.
- 70.3 - Half Iron distance triathlon. Lots of these in the parking lot. I am chasing this one currently.
- And, of course, the ultimate prize --- 140.6. And no matter who on facebook complains, and no matter who in the WSJ is having a bad ego day, every single person who has earned this sticker is allowed to be as proud as she wants to be. Because that's a freakin' Ironman.. 2.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run.
I cannot tell you how sad I was when I got out of the water at
Musselman, my
second failed attempt at half iron distance, because I had worked so hard and I knew it meant I could not yet get my 70.3 for my car. All throughout training, some people envision the medal at the end of the race to keep going. I envision the sticker for my car.
As a half joke and half motivational reminder, I added this sticker last week:
Yep, that's a proud DNF right under my USA Triathlon Proud Member sticker. I had torn feelings about it. Part of me wanted to just curl up and pretend it didn't exist. But another part of me said ,"F*** yeah I DNFed... so what? I still trained and there are other races and I learned a lot so shut up you crazy egotistical triathlete who is judging me now!"
When I placed the sticker on my car I became very, very aware of how much space remained on my bumper. A nice clear space on the left for 70.3 and a nice clear spot on the right for 140.6.
And my DNF did not, in any way, interfere with my plans to add those two sticker when I have earned them.
Metaphor anyone???
Labels: 140.6, 70.3, DNF, stickers
