PETER SHANKMAN
| POSTED ON November 27th, 2010 | 26 COMMENTS | + ADD YOUR COMMENT |
So this is it.
Six months of training comes down to tomorrow morning.
Six months of going to sleep early.
Six months of swimming.
Of biking.
Of running.
All for this.
It all comes down to this.
It all comes down to tomorrow.
From 7am to midnight.
I have 17 hours to prove myself on my field of battle.
I will endeavor to do so.
And while I am unsure of the outcome, I have never been more sure of one thing as I am of this:
I will not quit. I will not quit. I will not quit. I WILL NOT QUIT.
There are three things that can take me off that course tomorrow.
I will cross the finish line in under 17 hours.
or
I’ll be physically removed from the course after midnight.
or
I’ll be physical removed by medical personnel because something has gone horribly wrong.
Those are the only three ways I’ll leave the course.
It’s going to hurt. There is no doubt. If it didn’t, we’d all do it.
But when it does, I remember that I’m tougher than hurt. I’m tougher than pain. I’m tougher than exhaustion.
When it hurts, I’ll remember that I made a promise to myself that I WILL NOT QUIT.
When I want to quit, I’ll remember the men and women in our armed forces, who are out there on much more important fields of battle right now. They can’t quit when it hurts. They can’t quit when they get tired.
I WLL NOT QUIT.
I will honor my coach, my parents, and my support crew who have flown down here to be by my side by NOT GIVING UP.
I WILL NOT QUIT.
I will honor anyone who doesn’t fit the standard definition of what they’re trying to do, be it physically, mentally, or emotionally, yet they attempt it anyway.
I will do this for anyone who has ever thought “maybe I can.”
I will do this for me.
I WILL NOT QUIT.
I will do this because, as Lance Armstrong said:
“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually, it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
I WILL NOT QUIT.
I may not make it. I may not make my goal of sub-17 hours, and if I don’t, I won’t be called an Ironman.
This time.
And if that were to happen, I’ll dust myself off, and I will try again soon.
“Sometimes, courage doesn’t shout. Sometimes, it’s the quiet voice that says “I will try again tomorrow.”
If I don’t become an Ironman tomorrow, I will try again.
BECAUSE I WILL NOT QUIT.
May G-d protect me and my fellow 2200 athletes in Cozumel, Mexico tomorrow, while we race for our individual goals.
Thank you all for your support, your comments, your Tweets, your good wishes, kind words, and positive energy.
Tomorrow is the payoff of six months of training. It’s time to go out there and make it happen.
And for better or for worse – Whether I cross at 16:59:59, or I surprise myself and do better:
I WILL NOT QUIT.
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Peter, your very large “extended family” is there with you in spirit! We’re pulling for you from all over the world and know you’ll finish well! |
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Perfect attitude to go into this amazing race! My premonition is that you will not quit – and you will make it. How can you not with that gusto! Wishing you well and God speed. |
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Excited for you! Blood sweat and tears it should definitely be quite an experience. |
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You’ve already won with that attitude!! May our cheers reach your ears with every step! |
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Keep visualizing yourself crossing the finish line, Peter. Thousands of us across the globe are. By doing what you’re doing, by getting as far as you have, you are inspiring countless others to do our best in so many areas. That in itself is an accomplishment for which you can be proud, no matter how many Ironman races you enter and/or finish. :) |
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Peter: “Peter Shankman IS Ironman ~ Peter Shankman accomplished Ironman Cozumel November 28, 2010 by CRUSHING it!!” We are all cheering you on Peter from around the globe!! You WILL crush it!!! You have made it this far…you WILL make it in under 17 hours! Rock on!! :) With gratitude to you for including us in your journey…. |
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Peter, I just know you will be calling your self and Ironman this time. I believe that all your hard work will pay off. I am cheering for you! Ardee-ann in Arkansas |
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Heart and Soul – the combination is incredible. May your faith and your training carry you. |
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I’m having a bagel tomorrow. So, we’ll have similar days. Jeff |
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Wow Peter! What a fantastic post! We’re all rooting for you and we all know.. YOU WILL NOT QUIT! |
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Swim, Peter, swim. Bike, Peter, bike. Run, Peter, run. We’re all with you. You’re a good man. You’ll be a good Ironman tomorrow. |
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Hey Peter, If you’re interested, I’d love to interview you via Skype and record it for our health and fitness show, “Fit For Two TV”. Brock Picken |
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You can and will excel tomorrow and it will be the most magical day of your life. Congratulations in advance for your huge success! |
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Congratulations…you’ve already won the race….you decided to show up! You are amazing and have inspired so many….including me. Know that many of us are running the race with you, to inspire you when you waver. You will finish and amaze yourself. Best wishes for a quick recovery to your hamstrings!!! |
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Think of us cheering you from everywhere as you move forward! You can do it. |
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IRONMAN!!!! You did not quit. You finished in under 17 hours, no backs turned on you Mr. IRONMAN. Finihed 15:45:41. Congratulations!!! Inspirational. BIB AGE STATE/COUNTRY PROFESSION SWIM BIKE RUN OVERALL RANK DIV.POS. |
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I’m so glad when I left my earlier comment that I subscribed to this post’s updates . . . thanks to that, I learned from Meagan’s comment that you’d completed the race! (Thanks, Meagan.) Congratulations, Ironman. What an awesome achievement. |
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