You didn’t sign up for easy. You didn’t sign up for smooth sailing. You didn’t sign up because everyone was doing it. You didn’t sign up because it was the cool thing to do. You didn’t sign up just for the Hawaiian vacation.

You signed up because it is a challenge. You signed up to push and overcome your limits. You signed up because deep down in your soul you need to unleash your greatness. You signed up because you need it to feel alive. You signed up because you have proven to yourself once before that there are NO LIMITS TO YOUR GREATNESS.

You also signed up for the pain, the hard, the sweat, the tears, the solitude, and the adversity. When YOU signed up YOU accepted the challenge of the unknown.  You ACCEPTED the opportunity to dive into that water and fight it out to the end with your body and mind. When you signed up you KNEW that there is NOTHING EASY about IRONMAN.  So stop mentally trying to find the “easy way” around the day. Stop right now and let go of any ego, resistance, and anxiety.

Stop and REMIND yourself that YOU SIGNED up for this. YOU earned this opportunity. YOU qualified for this…and YOU WILL DO THIS. No one no knows what it took to get you toe the line, only you. Remind yourself that on race day you are your own expert.

“I used to fight the pain, but recently this became clear to me: pain is not my enemy; it is my call to greatness.” -Henry Rollins.

To cap this off here is a great picture from today at 2013 Kona Underpants Run taken by Triathlete Magazine!