Iceman: We Can Bring Our Service Dog, Right? Asking For A Friend.

Iceman: We Can Bring Our Service Dog, Right? Asking For a Friend.

You always have a choice

“Has anyone ever peed their pants while racing Iceman? Should I wear a diaper? Did I pack everything that I need or did I forget something while I was rushing to the bathroom for the 87th time? Is there coffee at this race? What about whiskey? How many times can a human go to the bathroom before they die? When should I warm up? Should I warm up? This would be way more fun if I could take my dog. Wait- can I take my dog? Is there a service dog for this kind of event? It looks like there are a million people lined up in the wave carrel, but my wave doesn’t leave for 2 hours, should I go line up anyway? I came by myself but can I just act like I know someone and toss my jacket at them at the start- I’m sure if I yell “thanks bob” someone will respond!? When I see all of the people cheering is that an invite to stop and have a beer with them or should I keep going? People are running around everywhere so I should probably get out of my warm vehicle because I could miss something important. Someone said my bike would be lighter if I just took one water bottle but I feel like I will need 17. Should I bring a flashlight? Is it normal to have a piece of pizza in the back of your jersey even if it isn’t wrapped in anything? If I throw up while I am riding, what is the chance it will only get on me? What if I crash at the finish line and they get it on video? Does anyone know how many layers I should wear? It is snowing in Kalkaska and it is raining in Traverse City- do they have an app to help with that? Am I the only one who feels like throwing up right now even though we are a week out? Is it normal to throw your bike- kind of like golf clubs? If I talk to another rider are they going to think I am weird? Why does everyone look so serious- should I look serious? Why is my heart rate 160 if I am sitting still? Who the hell talked me into this?”

I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m down with taking a dog- could we consider that for next year?

I am the coach who has never been on the podium for Iceman, however, I will NEVER forget my first time out there! 2014- the year it snowed, rained, and sleeted. I did not own a pair of cycling shorts, I wore running shoes, I was on a friends very expensive small framed bike and I showed up in a cotton t-shirt, leggings and some tall socks. Someone tossed a raincoat at me and told me if I wanted to survive I better wear it (thanks Stan). It took me 3 hours and 45 minutes but crossing that finish line was one of the coolest things I have ever done. If you are not an experienced racer and you are heading out to Iceman, my advice remains the same:

Go out and do what you can. This year’s racecourse will be different than previous years, but the principal is the same. You can’t gain any more physical speed or strength between now and then, so it is time to work on your brain. You have two working legs and a pulse, and although your anxiety may cripple you for a few miles or minutes in the start, you will need to find a way to breath through it. You know you can pedal a bike and you know that you can get to the finish, but when you leave the start line on Saturday you are going to learn new things about yourself and how getting from point A to point B may take some new digging tools. Talk to yourself. Talk to the people around you. Take each moment in. Thrive on those moments when your legs feel great. When you can feel your heart in your throat and you feel that anxiety creeping in again, slow down, breath and reset your body. Everyone who shows up to the race on Saturday has the ability to finish- the fact that you are lining up makes you extraordinary- it sets you apart.

You always have a choice, but this Saturday, choose to “finish” as strong as you can. Good luck out there, Athletes!