…For IRONMAN AUSTRALIA!

ironmanlogo-16040155

Holy crap.  Oh yes.  This is really and truly happening.

 

Last week, I got a last-minute invite to race in Ironman AustraliaThe event is on May 4, 2014.  So yes – that means that I have a month to prepare to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a marathon, but I think I can do it if I really buckle down.

 

Established in 1985, TOYOTA IRONMAN Australia remains an iconic global event – taking place in Port Macquarie, New South Wales – four hours north of Sydney. From the swim course in Hastings River to the bike course along the Pacific Ocean and run course in the heart of Port Macquarie, the event is an race that competitors come back to year after year.

 

Granted, I just struggled to finish an Ironman over the entire MONTH of March.  So I know this race will be a challenge.  But 75% of triathlons are mental, and I’ve got a killer, jam-packed four week plan to ensure that I can quickly get up to speed.

2014-03-31_0948

I did my first 20 mile run yesterday and felt pretty good.  Henry sat in the jogging stroller the entire time – guess he knows it’s crunch time, too!   I’m a wee sore now, though.

 

I really and truly never thought that I could do the Half Ironman that I completed in October.  I figure that if I can do that, I can definitely do this.  After all, it’s only twice as far.  That’s not toooo bad!  Right?  Right.

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I’m most excited for the swim and most concerned about the bike.  Although – trust me – that 26.2 mile marathon isn’t going to be chump change, either.  But check out the swim course… SO beautiful.

 

WAHOO.  So excited.  Stay away, sharks!

 

I know most people set aside months and months to prepare for an Ironman (and I admire your dedication)… but I’m not letting this opportunity pass me up.  Everyone who prepared so thoroughly will BLOW past me on the bike and the run, but that’s fine… I just want to cross the finish line before the cut off.  I can’t wait to wrap one of these medals around my neck.  Even if I have to crawl through the finisher’s chute.

Ironman-Australia-results-2013-finisher-medals

LET’S DO THIS.

 

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? 

{ 85 comments }

 

  • Jill April 1, 2014, 7:21 am

    Happy April Fool’s!

    • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 7:22 am

      Heheh you too. 🙂

  • Katie April 1, 2014, 7:23 am

    April FOOLS!!

  • Marisa April 1, 2014, 7:29 am

    Mmm… I was waiting for this post 🙂 Always makes me laugh. Almost believed you 🙂

  • Kelly April 1, 2014, 7:36 am

    I couldn’t wait to see what it would be this year! Although “Wealthy Tipping Point” might still be my fave – LOL!

    • Chelsea April 1, 2014, 7:42 am

      Haha wealthy tipping point was the best! I always look forward to her april fools posts!

      • Nancy April 1, 2014, 12:44 pm

        I know hey? Ditto, very creative!! That wealthy one was hilarious.

  • Marin April 1, 2014, 7:40 am

    LOL! April Fools!
    I Figured if doing an Iron Man over the course of a MONTH was too much, it’d be basically impossible for you to do a real one any time soon! Almost got me, Katie! Good one 🙂 Happy April

  • Kaila @healthyhelperblog! April 1, 2014, 7:44 am

    😉 Happy April 1st!!!

  • Kinsey April 1, 2014, 7:44 am

    I was wondering what you were going to do for April’s fools day! This is always my fave post of the year!

  • Maria April 1, 2014, 7:47 am

    You completely got me! We celebrate our April’s fool on the 28th of December, día de Todos los Santos, so I did not see that coming 😉

  • Rosey Rebecca April 1, 2014, 7:53 am

    Realized it was April 1 and immediately checked your blog to see what tricks you had up your sleeve this year! Love it. I agree with a previous commenter: wealthy tipping point was the best! Though I do love “stay away, sharks!” Well played!

  • Elizabeth {Positively Healthy} April 1, 2014, 8:03 am

    Happy April Fools! I was waiting all day yesterday for this post! 🙂

  • Chrissy April 1, 2014, 8:08 am

    Ha ha ha! The question is, did you finish your month long iron man?

    • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 8:08 am

      Two more bike rides to go!!! 🙂

      • Chrissy April 1, 2014, 8:50 am

        So close! Go for it!

        • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 8:53 am

          Thanks! Doing the Half Marathon the first week of March really screwed me up with Ironman March becuase it ended up being such a run-heavy week!

  • Angie April 1, 2014, 8:08 am

    Happy April 1st! 🙂

  • Abby April 1, 2014, 8:12 am

    Have to say you had me for 5 seconds until I remembered the date! Awesome Caitlin!

  • Racheal @ Running with Racheal April 1, 2014, 8:21 am

    You just gave me goosebumps! Good for you! Can’t wait to see you rock this race!

    • Racheal @ Running with Racheal April 1, 2014, 8:23 am

      Dang it, you got me! I was even thinking, I can’t let anyone play an April Fool’s joke on me this year! Ha! Good job!

      • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 8:54 am

        Hahah now no one will get you for the rest of the day!

  • Christina April 1, 2014, 8:24 am

    Bah! I was all ready to tell you you shouldn’t do such a long run so close to race day… I always get tricked by these things!

  • Abi@AbsofSteel April 1, 2014, 8:31 am

    April Fool’s?!?!! Well played 😉

  • Sara April 1, 2014, 8:39 am

    April Fool’s! I only look forward to this day so that I can read your post. HA HA! (You fooled me a few years, but not this year! Ha!)

  • Kate April 1, 2014, 8:40 am

    As a newbie reader, I was completely shocked and afraid for you! Haha, good one!

  • Elise @ Expeditions of Elise April 1, 2014, 8:58 am

    So yeah, definitely read this and thought “Wow, this is a really dumb idea!”

    30 minutes later, here I am, realizing this is an April Fools joke. Last year you got me with that horse. And you got me again this year. You’re good. You’re very very good.

    • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 9:04 am

      Personally, I thought the horse was the best one. LOL

      • Alexandra April 1, 2014, 12:42 pm

        Horse one got me last year. Good job 😉 Happy April Fools

  • Nicole April 1, 2014, 9:08 am

    April fools!

  • Brandi H April 1, 2014, 9:19 am

    Love it! Happy April Fools day!

  • Amber April 1, 2014, 9:38 am

    I’ve read your blog long enough that I specifically came here this morning to see what your joke was! Wealthy Tipping Point is still my favourite with the horse one a very close second. I just admire how much work it must have been to do that horse post! Lol

  • A April 1, 2014, 9:39 am

    What a fun prank! Haha.

  • Jacquelynn April 1, 2014, 9:40 am

    Haha, you got me 🙂

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats April 1, 2014, 9:42 am

    Very funny.

  • Katie April 1, 2014, 9:47 am

    WOAH!!! Congratulations!!! I cannot wait to hear how it goes, and hopefully you’ll do a post or two about your training.

    • Katielookingforward April 1, 2014, 11:09 am

      You got me. I didn’t figure it out until I saw your instagram.

  • Ali April 1, 2014, 9:49 am

    You totally got me! That would be awesome to do Ironman Australia however.

  • Lan April 1, 2014, 9:50 am

    You can do it, Caitlin! We’ll be cheering you on throughout this month and during the race.

  • Lan April 1, 2014, 9:52 am

    hahaha You got me! (I knew I should’ve read the other comments first. ;))

  • Laura April 1, 2014, 10:01 am

    I always look forward to your April Fools posts!

  • Rebecca@RunningFoodBaby April 1, 2014, 10:02 am

    You almost had me! lol

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More April 1, 2014, 10:06 am

    I should admit…I totally fell for it. 😉

  • Aishah @ Coffee, Love, Health April 1, 2014, 10:11 am

    Last night I literally went to bed thinking, “I wonder what Caitlin is going to fool everyone with tomorrow.” Last year, YOU GOT ME SO GOOD with the pony!!!! I remember thinking, oh my gosh, this woman really brought a horse into her family after recently having a baby… wow. LOL you are the best. I think all your readers are prepared for your April fools after getting us so good so many times, especially with the horse! Pictures in the house and everything LOL

  • MomHTP April 1, 2014, 10:19 am

    After watching the swim video—well, I’ m out of breath and all I did was WATCH!

  • Stella April 1, 2014, 10:26 am

    ha! I really, really fell for this one. Hard. Even though I have been a long-time reader. I even wrote a long comment congratulating you and questioning whether running 26 miles right before the race was such a good idea. Excellent prank!

  • Kaci April 1, 2014, 10:30 am

    How exciting! Best of luck!

    • Kaci April 1, 2014, 10:32 am

      Oh dang it…I forgot what day it is.

  • Janine April 1, 2014, 10:43 am

    20 miles with the jogging stroller tipped me off. That would be the hardest thing EVER! Ha horse was my fave but you do great April fools posts.

  • Maitlin April 1, 2014, 10:48 am

    Ha! I’ve been trying to figure out what you would come up with ALL. NIGHT!
    I thought maybe you’d pull a reverse psychology move on us, with the curry “food poisoning” and the nap alluding to HTP baby 2.0., which you’d announce today.
    But then come back tomorrow and “clarify” that it WASN’T an April Fool’s joke and that you ARE actually pregnant.
    I overthink these things, I know.

    In any event, happy April Fool’s day 🙂

    • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 11:34 am

      Oooh you are tricky! LOL

  • Alex @ Kenzie Life April 1, 2014, 11:00 am

    April Fools 🙂 I was looking forward to seeing what you’d write 🙂

  • pamc April 1, 2014, 11:13 am

    APRIL FOOLS..

  • Erin April 1, 2014, 11:15 am

    You need to go more subtle next year…everyone knows your tricks now!

  • Laura April 1, 2014, 11:17 am

    I was ready for this one. Last year, I totally thought you bought a horse. Ha.

  • Anne April 1, 2014, 11:33 am

    You had me for about 5 seconds. Then I remembered how long it took Meghan to train for the Ironman, and I remembered what day it was. SHENANIGANS!

  • Cecily April 1, 2014, 11:34 am

    One of my favorite April Fool’s yet! Perfect!

    Good luck! 😉

  • jen April 1, 2014, 11:54 am

    love your april fools! my all time fave was wealthy tipping point! 🙂

  • Liana@RunToMunch April 1, 2014, 11:58 am

    THis looks so amazing! I’m completely jealous and in awe!

    Good luck!!! Enjoy every second of the trip!

  • Diana April 1, 2014, 12:01 pm

    haha the training plan is the best. Four 20-22 mile runs followed by a 50-60 mile bike? And then a 17 mile run later that week. Seems reasonable 🙂 Always love your April Fools Jokes!

  • Jasmine April 1, 2014, 12:02 pm

    I got out of bed and HTP was my first stop. lol. I always look forward to this. xoxo

  • Alina April 1, 2014, 12:20 pm

    I almost started crying looking at your training plan until I realized it was April 1st. APRIL FOOLS!

  • jen April 1, 2014, 12:24 pm

    not this year Caitlin! for the first time in all my years of reading your blog, I remembered your favorite day and came on just to see it..first year I wasn’t fooled hahah

  • Cassie April 1, 2014, 12:29 pm

    I actually thought to myself, “That’s cool…but where is the April Fool’s post?”

    • Caitlin April 1, 2014, 12:30 pm

      LOL!

  • Kristin April 1, 2014, 12:39 pm

    I almost believed you too and then I remembered you always do an epic April Fools joke! LOL

  • nancy April 1, 2014, 12:43 pm

    I so look forward to your April 1st post 🙂 I think Wealthy Tipping Point is still my favorite though. 🙂

  • Faith April 1, 2014, 12:51 pm

    You had me going for about 20 seconds. 🙂 Love your AF posts!

  • Tricia April 1, 2014, 12:56 pm

    Love Thursdays in the training plan – “Pray really hard” – LOL! Happy April Fool’s Day! Love these posts.

  • Peggi April 1, 2014, 1:11 pm

    OMG I am so excited for you!!!!!! I agree, DO NOT pass up this opportunity. I am going to do my first tri in October – it is just a Sprint Tri – 300 m. pool swim, 10 mile bike and 3.2 mile run! I am excited since I have always been just a runner. I ran my first Full Marathon in January at the Chevron Houston Marathon and it was AWESOME! This came after training for 2 years – because I was diagnosed in Sept 2012 with Lupus in the middle of training and had to start all over again….so the completion of the marathon here in Houston in 4:33:10 was a moment I nor my family will never forget 🙂 Sniff! xoxox

  • Julie April 1, 2014, 1:15 pm

    OMG I fall for it every year! I was like “she’s crazy!!” But you totally got me. Went to the comments to see if anyone had anything to say about your “short” bike plans. #sucker

  • Adrienne April 1, 2014, 1:31 pm

    How cool would it be to do an Ironman in Australia though?! I have friends there. Hmmmm. Good jokes as always. 🙂

  • Lauren April 1, 2014, 1:34 pm

    Congrats!!!! And good luck! You are an inspiration!!!

    It is amazing what the body can accomplish when your head is all in!

    xo, Lauren
    http://alovelysideproject.wordpress.com

  • Jessica April 1, 2014, 1:41 pm

    Happy April fools.

  • Marie April 1, 2014, 1:49 pm

    You got me. Nice! Happy April 1st!

  • Breanne April 1, 2014, 1:49 pm

    OMG you are definitely nuts – and I LOVE it! I wouldn’t let that opportunity pass me by either. GOOD LUCK! Cannot wait for training updates! 🙂

    Craziest thing I’ve done? Probably deciding to do an Olympic distance tri as the first race of my life (yeah TNT!). 🙂

  • Breanne April 1, 2014, 1:51 pm

    Oh man! I TOTALLY got fooled!!! Hahahaha. 🙂

  • Anne April 1, 2014, 1:57 pm

    I waited an entire year for this April Fools prank! You got me good in 2012 and 2013 so i was looking for it this time! Good one though!

  • Suzy April 1, 2014, 2:13 pm

    Bwa ha ha!! You got me! I swear it took about an hour for me to figure it out;D

    I don’t think you’ll ever beat the pony post, THAT was brilliant!

  • Amanda K. April 1, 2014, 2:44 pm

    especially the part about a toddler sitting through a 20-mile run…

  • Becca April 1, 2014, 3:44 pm

    Loved it! My skepticism came from the idea that Henry sat through 20 miles in the BOB – you had me fooled prior to that:)

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs April 1, 2014, 3:53 pm

    Happy April 1st 🙂

  • Charline April 1, 2014, 3:54 pm

    Happy April Fools!!!! Although that would be awesome!

  • Sara April 1, 2014, 3:56 pm

    I came to your website specifically to see your April Fool’s post. You didn’t let me down! haha!

  • Jennifer April 1, 2014, 9:29 pm

    Ha ha ha! I am racing IM Australia for the second time this year – I’d highly recommend it – the best IM race in Australia 🙂 but for anyone who thinks a half might be more manageable Challenge Bateman’s Bay is also one of my favourite races!

Healthy Tipping Point