Thursday, July 29, 2010

Beginning the journey...

I start my journey with my favorite Joseph Campbell quotation from The Hero With a Thousand Faces: "...we have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have one before us, the labyrinth is fully known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world."

I'm starting an adventure.  Two years ago, I started the adventure of my first Olympic triathlon at Wildflower, one of the most challenging International distance courses in the States.  Last March, I braved my first long course, the Ironman 70.3 at Oceanside.  This weekend, I'm repeating the challenge up during Vineman, doing half the course with a bunch of breast cancer fighting ladies.  And I'm hoping in a year to come back and take on the FULL IRONMAN.  (Ohhhh boy!)

Is it crazy?  Sure!  Can I do it?  I think so.  But not if I half ass it, and not without the help of many and a whole lot of discipline and determination.  Many have done it before me.  Some are my friends.  Many had more time or more money.  But there's only one Nikki.  And she wants to become IronNik.  So, let's see if I can venture forth and get close to realizing this crazy dream of mine.  Many walls will be broken down.  Time to slay myself.