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Super Duper Top Secret IMMooooo entry

Brenda RossBrenda Ross
in General Training Discussions

Hi Team, this is probably not the place to post this, but I was not sure where else to do it, so here goes.  After 8 years of participating in Half Ironman distance duathlons and 3 years of participating in half ironman triathlons I have taken the plunge and signed up for IMWisconsin with my husband Steve and Natalie and Brent Pilon, but here is the issue....I want to keep it secret, so for those of you who are my facebook friends, please try to not mention me and IM in the same breath on FB. 

I am treating this as kind of a social experiment.  I want to see if I can get away with training for an IM without people on FB finding out.  I think it would be super kewl to post on my status the day after IMWisconsin that "I am an Ironman".

My need for secrecy is also partly do to an issue I have with failure. I put alot of pressure on myself when I take on a new goal and I really do not need anymore pressure from outside sources.

I get nothing but support from EN, so I feel safe sharing this goal with you, my team, and sharing my journey, so all entries regarding my IM and the training will only be posted in the team forums.

Thanks Team

 

Comments

  • thekidduxcthekidduxc
    Brenda, best of luck. Look forward to seeing you in Wisconsin for (both our) first IM.
  • ccotstanza12ccotstanza12
    Brenda! I'm right there with you! I signed up for IMLP next year and am a bit freaked out about it with all the possible "what if's" over the next year. Only family knows about the race so far and I plan on keeping it that way! No one needs to know anything until after the fact. Thanks for sharing!
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    I can totally relate! I only told a handful of people about my decision to do an IM while I was training, and I only shared the news with my tri club a few weeks before I was going to race. I agree that external pressure can be stressful. Some people thrive on it, but I personally have a hard time handling too much of it. Best of luck!!
  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    Brenda, you could probably put down your doughnut right now and execute an ironman. You are so ready for this.

    As I'm building up for my second in Florida I'm realizing how much the mental game is part of the preparation. It's not just about being fit, but the confidence to stand on the start line and know that you can do it.

    Your secret is mine...
  • BeckyHBeckyH
    Lovin the secret- I figure you'll get away with it until... 12 weeks before race day or so!! Awesome, way to jump in, I wish I was going to be there with all the EN team, will be living vicariously through you guys. Keep us posted on how the experiment goes!!
  • tim cronktim cronk
    Brenda its about time. Good luck with your secret but I think at this point your odds are zero to none. When Heather signed up for IMFL in 2010 for last year I was the only one who knew and I kept it that way for the entire year. A couple days before the race she posted a picture of her IM wristband on FB and nobody even got it. They were wishing me good luck. In the end family and close friends knew within the last day or so of the race so they could follow her online! Oh and failure is no an option for you! Excited to follow your year!
  • tim cronktim cronk
    Brenda its about time. Good luck with your secret but I think at this point your odds are zero to none. When Heather signed up for IMFL in 2010 for last year I was the only one who knew and I kept it that way for the entire year. A couple days before the race she posted a picture of her IM wristband on FB and nobody even got it. They were wishing me good luck. In the end family and close friends knew within the last day or so of the race so they could follow her online! Oh and failure is no an option for you! Excited to follow your year!
  • cgres123cgres123
    From your lips to Gods ear.... done
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Thanks for the support everyone. I knew I could count on you guys.
  • coop6coop6
    Brenda, good luck with the secret! It's doable, in my experience. I registered for IMFL last year, and never said boo about it on Facebook. It wasn't a secret, I just had a lot going on and didn't feel like talking about something that was a year away. Anyway, recently I've posted a few things about it on Facebook and I got a handful of texts and emails from people 'You're doing IMFL?!'. It was kind of amusing! Best of luck to you in your training!

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    Brenda, you are going to do great in your very first IM! There is no chance of failure in my mind... You have so much good will and karma built up that all of that MoJo will come back to you 10 fold on race day.

    Yeah, and no chance you keep it a secret either... I'm one of the few people in this world that doesn't belong to "The Facebook" so your 'secret' is safe with me...
  • Steven FordSteven Ford

     I have no idea of what your talk about IM whats an IM. 

     

    Secret it safe

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Brenda,
    Your friends won't be looking at the participant list, will they?
  • spabblingtonspabblington
    Congrats, Brenda, on signing up! You will do absolutely fantastic, I am sure! That'll be my 1st IM as well - and other than my training buddy (who also signed up), no one outside if EN knows I signed up either. I look forward to meeting you and the other EN Team next year!!
  • morpheusmorpheus
    Brenda,

    Sorry, can't be done.

    cuz, I'm gonna tell everyone.

    Billboards in Ottawa aren't that pricey, ya know?!
  • Steve WestSteve West
    Yep Brenda, I'm with Chris on this one..... On my way to FB right now to post up the good news..... LOL

    Not really. Mum's the word. We got your back..... You're going to have a blast and do awesome!
  • tgarsontgarson

     I'm sure you'll do fantastic Brenda, but I understand where you are coming from.

    Congrats and best of luck on your journey!

  • sarafrandrupsarafrandrup
    Brenda,
    I know it's probably not an option but I closed my Facebook account in February and haven't reopened it. I did IMWI this weekend and surprised myself with how private I was about my journey. I have friends that post every workout on FB and let you know every little detail but that wasn't the way I wanted it to be for me. A big part because I was also afraid of failure but mostly because I was doing this for me, not for anyone else. The other reason I closed it is because you need to be a good time manager obviously when taking this on and I felt like it was a time sucker. Having the EN website was enough for my tri fix. Good luck in your first IM journey, it is incredible!
  • trigirl1203trigirl1203
    Yey Brenda! So exciting!
  • Jess WithrowJess Withrow
    YEEESSSS!!!!! This is fantastic news!!!!

    I can definitely relate to your need for keeping this quiet - I felt the same and told no one for the longest time. My lips are sealed!!!

    Failure, however, should be the furthest thing from your mind! You are going to do GREAT!!! Looking forward to sharing your journey and cheering you on!!!
  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Brenda,

    Interesting social experiment.  Your secret is safe with me as I go on facebook abour 4X a year and really only when I get a friend request.

    As for the failure part all I can say is that failure also builds up your character as well.  If you put in the effort and don't make it that's okay as well.  I have a couple IM blemishes on my record and the first one was more mental and perhaps even the second one in LP this year was as well. 

    In any event in a previous life time as a figure skater I used to say I've failed more times that I have succeeded.  I don't know how many times I fell on a jump or screwed up some steps but when everything went right it was great.  In an 18 year skating career I only did an absolutely clean program a hanfull of times and there were some epic failures in there. 

    Don't put too much pressure on yourself, enjoy the training and in the end its just a few weeks of longer training in the summer.  You've supported enough these races so you know the gig.

    Gordon

  • thekidduxcthekidduxc
    I am going to say it if no one else will....

    THIS reason 15 of 500 of why I do not use facebook!!!!
  • Woody FreeseWoody Freese
    X2 what David said! had an account > it was hacked into (along w/ my Linked In Account) and I closed it alomst 2 years ago. Have missed it at all -
  • Woody FreeseWoody Freese
    More importantly - CONGRATS for pulling the trigger on the race! You are going to have a GREAT experience!!
  • ebe4zippyebe4zippy
    We are so getting drunk together after this race!!!! Very proud of you...but make sure you tell Lieberman about your "Secrecy" or the whole entire world will know image Can't wait to see you guys next year!
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Ebe - I am not much of a drinker, but I will take you up on that offer for sure. Liebs already knows my friend and he is on board.
  • MikeMcMahonMikeMcMahon
    Nice! Way to go Brenda. You'll do fantastic.
  • dianchadiancha
    Very excited for you!!!!
    Is it allowed to me to volunteer and cheer for you? image

    I totally agree about external pressures, I feel the same!

    I know you'll do awesome image
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Diana, I would love to have you there cheering for me. I look forward to seeing you. It has been over 2 years. Way to long.
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