2012...... will be a journey!

2012....I am excited about!!

Gosh how different the start of this year feels to the start of last year... There are numerous reasons for this... namely I feel way more settled and sure that the UK is where I want to be and I love Windsor being my home, so much so that I bought a home... and as I sit here writing this in front of my open fire in my cosy lounge I feel really at home!  The friends I have here are brilliant and we had some really fun times in Windsor and far away too! The friends I have from days gone by are close enough to see whenever I want too which is wonderful!  Life is good and although there are days when I don't feel that and I want other things in my life (gorgeous man and kids - just in case you were wondering!!) I am truely blessed to be living the life I live....!!

So 2012..... well as I found out with Jo and Amy on NYE I have a few New Year's resolutions.... but the biggest is to not let Ironman Austria take over my life!! 

Ironman Austria.... Yikes!!! July 1st 2012... Klagenfurt, Austria!!

Back in July a few of us did something amazing/foolish/exciting.... (insert words as you feel fit!!) we signed up for an IronMan..... for the record this is a long distance triathlon..... and will see me swimming 2.4 miles in open water, cycling 112miles and then running a marathon.....

To date I have completed 5 sprint triathlons, 3 olympics and 1 half ironman.... and I have been doing this for only 18months.... however I love it!! I love being part of a club (Evolution) I love all the friends I have made through this club and I also love being fit and healthy and of course the endorphins are pretty cool too!

Having seen my wonderfully amazing and inspirational friend Sophie complete her Ironman in Mexico (well I wasn't there but I wish I had been!) the seed was well and truely planted and I knew (just as I knew after my first half marathon that I would run a marathon...) that I would be signing up to do an Ironman.... so which one.... clearly it has to involve travelling somewhere because its got to have some benefits!!

IM Austria (IMA) is a really popular event and relatively close, flat (ish!) and has an incredible atmosphere.... so that is the race of choice...... July 1st 2012 I hope to hear the words "Joanne Shearsmith.... you are an IRONMAN!!" Having seen the footage of the World Champs in Kona this year and getting goosebumps I feeling the fear, the excitement, the pain of this statement....

One thing I am very concious of is that IMA doesn't take over my life.... I know it will... but I want to still socialise and be there for friends and family as needed to chat with, laugh with, cry with and of course and eat and drink with.... probably a glass vs bottle this year though, explore parts of the UK and the world that I haven't seen yet and generally have fun and not just become totally one dimensional!!  So dearly amazing friends and family.... I am asking for your support.... you are hereby entitled to get me talking about interesting things that have nothing to do with IMA, I would love to hear the words, can I come round for dinner and a catch up or even better - let me cook you dinner tonight Jo :)

As we all know.... life is a journey... its a roller coaster....  we have to enjoy the ups and downs.... and I know that the next 7 months will hold lots of ups and downs as I journey across the miles of training in the pools and lakes and on the roads and I am excited about it but I am also excited about all the other things that are going to happen this year and I can't wait to find out what they are...!!

So wonderful supporters.... I know you all think I am mad but actually you thought that before I signed up for IMA!!  Thank you in advance for your support.... its going to be fun!! And on that note... I am off for a run!!

TONS of love xxxx