KONA IS SATURDAY OCTOBER 12th. Read more about the event here: https://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/world-championship.aspx

You can track Hanna here: https://www.ironman.com/triathlon/coverage/athlete-tracker.aspx

FROM HANNA

I was chatting with a friend of mine a couple weeks back about my nerves leading into Kona. As a coach, he offered some invaluable advice--"Why don't you write yourself a letter?" He suggested I start to question what I would tell myself to do when negative thoughts start to intrude (cause they almost always do for everyone), and how I would coach myself to respond. In thinking of myself as the athlete I was coaching, rather than just the voice inside my own mind, I became more compassionate, calm and clear, giving me the peace and reassurance I know I needed. 

Dear Hanna, 

You've made it! It's the Ironman World Championships. An event you have looked forward to for over an entire year. That's a long time to be focused on something. I know you're nervous. How could you not be for something you have put so much of your time, energy and resources into? I also know you are worried. You are anxious. You are worried about feeling dizzy (sometimes this has happened to you and we haven't figured out why). You are worried about getting body slammed in the swim and losing your focus. You are worried about mechanical issues and wind on the bike, and finally, you are worried about staying focused and consistent (and not fading too badly) on the run, or even not finishing for that matter. With a 9 and a half hour day in front of you, these concerns are valid, but giving them weight and energy doesn't help you either. 

One of your favorite athletes, Courtney Dauwalter, has this awesome saying she repeats, when she feels good or bad, "I'm fine." You will do that during your race too. When you feel good and you want to push harder, you will say, "I'm fine." When you feel horrible and question why you are doing this...begging your body to stop, to concede, you will push on. You will tell yourself "I'm fine," because you are. There is nothing you cannot do, if you will yourself strong enough to do it. And you've proven that to yourself time and time again. How many times during workouts this past summer did you want to stop? I would say that happened a lot. But you focused on the next 5 minutes, on the music you were listening to, on the idea that your coach would be looking at your numbers, and you kept on. And it wasn't so bad. Nothing really has ever been as bad as you think it might be in the moment. 

On another note--don't get emotional. For pete's sake--stay cool. If you get to the point that you want to cry--you need to drink, you need to eat. And you need to smile. You need to remember your family who is here supporting you, and all the people following along and cheering you on back home. Don't let this make you nervous. No one really gives a shit anyway---they just want to be able to say they knew some chick who did Kona and lived to tell the tale.

You have big goals for this race. And you know you will need to have luck and your best day to make those dreams come true. But Hanna, why not you? You have never allowed your brain to let you get there...to blow you own gol dang mind. 

Go impress yourself Hanna. And if you don't smile and show gratitude along the way, you've done it wrong. But I am so confident you will. You've never been better.

You're fine. 

Hanna