IRONMAN and Sacrifice?

Recently I read this blog post from Jennie Hansen and comparing IM to intoxication.  Jennie clearly states her dislike for alcohol in general.  This got me to thinking about what are you willing to sacrifice to reach your ultimate goals?  I say this because I do enjoy a nice craft beer once in a while.  In fact, about twice a month, Steve and I would take Sam to an open field on a Friday after work after stopping at Bert's to pick up a couple of adult beverages.  We would let Sam run around like the crazy little boy he is, while we sat on a blanket and soaked in the afternoon Spring/Summer/Fall sun.  Once we started with QT2, that all changed.  Does this get me all upset?  No, in fact the opposite, we look forward to training and racing more than ever.  We do splurge the night of a race we just finished and get some bad food and beer.  Last year on our birthday's we couldn't even eat a piece of cake due to the impending races we had.  On both of our birthdays we had a race in 48 hours!  This might not seem like a big deal to some, but I LOVE my birthday and I LOVE ice cream cake.  It's so delicious.  Everything about it. 

I've sacrificed  made choices while training for IM.  My diet, which I don't consider to be a sacrifice anymore, since I feel so much better when I'm eating in the core.  Friends birthdays due to training time.  In my family, the majority of the birthdays fall between June and August, Steve and I missed quite a bit of those summer BBQ birthday celebrations due to long rides on Saturdays and long runs on Sundays.  One thing we like to do on Sundays is wake up super early, get out trainer ride in, then hit the beach to do our run before it gets super hot and all the people are out.  How many of you wake up at 6 AM on a Sunday to do that?  Sacrifice sleeping in until noon on Sundays.  I used to do this pretty much every week.  I've had my fair share of fun times, I wouldn't trade them for anything.  That's what our college years are for.  I've met alot of great people, went on a cruise with 7 girls (midnight Mex buffet, still the greatest meal of all time), got to go to Vegas and sit front row to DMB, went to D.C. to see D&T perform and Jane Goodall came out on stage - again, Jane Goodall.  Post show got in a party bus and got an amazing picture outside the Washington Monument late at night.  Was handed something called "blended wine" when Erin and I asked for a glass of red wine (we're pretty sure it was a bunch of red wines just mixed together).  Spent way too much money on a bottle of wine at a restaurant, that we later googled and saw it was only $7.99 (or something insane like that).  Witnessed Erin recite Warren G to a Warren G look a like at the Bat Hotel (she's a 5 foot tall Irish dancer mind you).  Had many Sunday Funday's, some wore shirts so everyone would know. 

While watching football on Sundays we now eat some sort of healty, core friendly soup.  No nachos, buff wings, beer etc.  However, when we wake up on Monday's to hit the pool, we don't feel sluggish (unless the Pats throw away the AFC Championship).  Which is why I can honestly say I love Monday's and it's ZR swim day where my legs usually need it.  Ultimately, this is about sacrifice, but also about choice.  I've made life choices the past four years that have brought me to a different path, and I am more happy now than I ever have been.  I hear people talk about how much they sacrifice for whatever it is they're doing.  Yes, it's sacrifice, but ultimately it's your choice.  So if you're choosing to do IRONMAN instead of going out to eat, going to the movies, drinking a glass of wine with your girlfriends, it's a choice, not a sacrifice.  I'm choosing to do the best that I absolutely can and making changes to get to that goal.  I don't like the word sacrifice, it sounds more negative than choice. 

What do you choose for your life?

Also, if you're looking to do Tough Mudder Boston and want to join a team, join this one to help my good good friend Tim!