June 26th, 2008
Hi Gang,
The Bird and I will leave Tokyo tonight and get back to Melbourne in the morning. In the meantime, I have an admission to make. I have been so starved of coffee that Starbucks tastes good to me…I’m truly disgusted that my standards could have slipped so far, so quickly. I don’t know how, but it just seemed to happen- Goto is not espresso mecca by any stretch so that certainly didn’t help!
Thanks to Hajime and Tomoko Nakiyama who showed us around yesterday in Tokyo. They took us up and down the waterways, through a famous temple and dined with us at some traditional eateries. The tempura prawns were perfect, but the traditional foods we had last night were just amazing. Hajime has been working 15 hours a day, so we were glad he had the energy to take us on some excellent adventures through his home town. (Dazz and Bird on the train in Tokyo)
I want to thank those who’ve taken the time to email me with encouragement and support for me and the result in Japan. I’m certainly happy to be consistently hitting the podium, it’s just I’m in the sport to try and win at every outing! I know that a podium is ceratinly a win of sorts, and putting in strong performances are what being professional is about. Keep presenting and the opportunity will arrive to take the win. I especially want to thank Michael Scragg who sent me a great reality check email, which I have pasted below. I hope he doesn’t mind.
We’re off to Daylesford for my Mum’s 60th Birthday this Friday afternoon, so will see you on the road next weekend.
Mitch
Mitch,
Congratulations for the result in Japan and completing 20 ironmans and Bridie for lasting through yet another ironman.
To be honest I don’t see what the problem with coming second is. Granted you probably had higher hopes in relation to this race but what I think you need is a little reality check or some perspective on the situation. I offer this to you as an athlete at the higher end you probably only hang around other athletes of a similar calaber, look at your partner Bridie. Only a breath away from olympic selction.
Let me paint the picture for you. This year at Port Mac it was my first ironman. Was feeling OK til you came flying past me to lap me on the bike, that’s always going boost a person confidence. So there you are fast enough on the bike to lap people! Next I had been out on the run for about 15min before I hear in the distance over the speakers that you had crossed the line, I only had 40 more k’s to cover before i could do the same. So while you where showering and enjoying a nice meal I was walking, yeas walking. My legs left me with 25k to cover to get home. So 14:48 and change after starting the day I crossed the line in 1303. So what is the moral of the story? Second isn’t so bad. I would give an arm and a leg to be able to even come close to finishing an ironman in the time you can. Granted I have not being training as long as you but still.
Second can’t really be that bad considering that you could have come last or not finished. Look at the big picture. I do I finished ahead of 130 odd people and many millions of others who never even started.
I hope this helped your view of second.
Happy training
Cheers