I'm an ADDICT...

::from addiction.com or something like that::

Addiction Definition:
Addiction can be simply described as a compulsive or obsessive relationship to a substance or behavior. If you feel a "need" for something all the time or at specific times, you may be an addict. This could be a chemical (like drugs, alcohol, or tobacco), another substance (like food or even water), or a behavior (like viewing pictures).

Addiction Symptoms:
It's pretty easy to spot the symptoms of addiction by asking yourself some specific questions: Do I think a lot about the subject (substance or behavior)? Do I frequently use the subject? Do I hide my use of the subject from people I care about? Do I lie to myself or others about my use of the subject? Do I suspect the subject is becoming a problem for me? Are there specific times or circumstances that seem to trigger my use of the subject? Am I doing subject more often than before? Am I doing more of the subject than before? Am I sacrificing people or things I value to do subject? If you said yes to any of these questions, you may have an addiction.

uuuhhhh.....oooooh.

there could be worse things to be addicted to i'm sure......

my addiction is ironman.

since ironman coeur d'alene in 2007 i've wanted to race that beautiful race again.......but, i couldn't wait for june 2009 to roll around, so i signed up for ironman arizona, just so i could race in '08.

a few hours after that finish.....i was revving myself up for coeur d'alene 2010.

and then what did ironman do.....??

they decided to create a NEW RACE! Ironman St. George in St. George, Utah.

a measly 8 hours away.......
in a beautiful place......

now, my heart did start a'pumping as soon as i heard about this lovely addition to the ironman family. my thoughts were racing with possibilities, checking dates to see when peak training would be. checking my calendar to see if i had anything else going on. checking my finances to see if it was feasible. wondering if my friends and family would find it deep inside to support me through more ironman training.

and then.

my fellow addicts (maybe not to ironman, yet) but the addicts who on any given day would run 20 miles with me (for fun), or who scoff at me for being tired during my evening lake swim because i "only" rode my bike 70 miles that day. these are the people that for some reason........(addiction to the pain of endurance training and racing, maybe?) have signed up for this FANTASTIC NEW IRONMAN basically in our backyard! GAH!

I WANT TO DO IT!! i'm trying VERY hard not to make any rash decisions here. i know that probably some people are feeling very uneasy about this as i have had some struggles with injuries......but i wouldn't have to get "serious" about training until OCTOBER! so i still can relax and recover for a few months.

well, i will keep everyone posted........

i'm so excited.