10 Good Iron Things - Monday Listicles

Link up with Stasha at The good life for Monday Listicles. It's a different topic every week - follow along and join in. Stasha's a great host and always has interesting things for us to make our lists about.

This week's topic is 10 Thanks. But I've been super busy all weekend, didn't have anything started, late getting this post out... and I'm going off topic.

So, you read that title and thought I was going to talk about ironing? Cast iron pans?

Um, no. Domestic goddess I am not.

Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens. That's what I'm talking about. WAIT, no, I didn't race the Ironman 70.3. I did, however, work as part of a treatment team there. On Friday and Saturday there were a group of us that all practice Active Release Techniques that volunteered treating athletes at our booth. (It's a specific muscular therapy treatment - athletes get it quite often) Anyhoo, on race day, we are then put in volunteer positions for the race. In our case, we worked the finish line handing out mylar blankets, as our temperatures plummeted on Sunday leaving the finish cool and windy. Sweaty, exhausted athletes get chilled quickly when they stop moving.

So onto the list. 10 great things about working this race:

1. I already had a ton of respect for these athletes, and I work with both full and half Iron athletes in my practice fairly often. But getting to see them finish first hand? Pure awesome.

2. Working with someone who is having pain and doubts about their ability to get through the race, and then being there to see that athlete finish and have them express their gratitude about how much you helped them - well that's a total confidence boost right there.

3. My respect for Pamela at Road To Joy just went through the roof. She does this stuff. The swimming, cycling, running, that is. She also writes, but that's a whole other line of respect.

4. We were stationed across from the medical tent, and occasionally had to grab an athlete about to fall and guide them over. There was a very cute EMT/paramedic assigned to the race over there. Did I mention he was cute? I was totally entertained during the down times. (Oh come on, I'm married, happily at that, and he had on a ring too, but I'm not DEAD. The boy was damn cute and fun to look at. And his flirty eyes said the down times were just as boring for him.)

5. I got to meet a whole handful of providers I hadn't met before. It really is great to meet people who do what I do. We really aren't that competitive, and it often really helps to have a network of people to both refer to and to learn from.

6. My inspiration bank for running has gotten a refill. In case you aren't familiar with the 70.3 race, they swim 1.2 miles, ride 56 miles, then run a half marathon - that's 13.1 miles. (And really 13.1 shouldn't be called "half" of anything. It's an accomplishment in and of itself.) If they can run that after all the rest, I can surely put a little more effort into my runs.

7. It is absolutely fantastic to see all the different kinds of people that run these races, from the elite pros to the guy or gal running their very first one.

8. A Biggest Loser winner from a few years ago competed in her first 70.3. Along with her film crew. She was treated at our booth by another provider and I wrapped her in the mylar blanket at the end of the race - which she completed! That was pretty entertaining, as she was a really good sport about the whole thing.

9. Did I mention the eye candy across from us at the finish line? Just checking.

10. I sometimes get too comfortable and depressed in my little cocoon of a comfort zone. In doing so, I actually do myself a disservice. I learn so much from being around other athletes, other work providers, other people. Pushing myself to step out of that comfort zone is SO good for me.

***Ally
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