Body & Mind

WHY SIMONE WANTS TO CRAWL OVER THE FINISH LINE OF IRON MAN ONCE

Last Sunday it happened. The day that men and women have fought for a year, the day that many marriages have almost crashed and quite a few social contacts have fallen by the wayside. Iron Man 2017 in my hometown. A classic long-distance triathlon where 3.86 kilometers are swum through the icy Maas water, 180.2 kilometers are cycled, and last but not least, a marathon is run afterwards. Some call it madness, others call it inhumane. I call it a heroic deed. My heart skipped a thousand beats on Sunday seeing all those people together with one and the same sports goal: to reach that finish. And I hope to do that someday too. Why? Well...

  1. To find out how much your body can handle.
  2. So that I never have to explain again why I exercise six days a week.
  3. And also never have to explain again why I don't weekly a bottle of wine tap backwards.
  4. Because I can walk around in my favorite outfit even more often for a year.
  5. Because it's a good excuse to buy a new beautiful racing bike.
  6. And a bunch of new running shoes.
  7. And a mountain of new sportswear.
  8. Because I can spend even more time with my favorite: the washing machine, for a year.
  9. Because after thirty-one years it's about time I can properly do a front crawl.
  10. So that I can go to bed even earlier at night because rest is key. Yes friends, sleep is besides sports a big hobby of mine.
  11. Because Iron Man is held in MY city, MY Maastricht. How beautiful is it to leave your blood, sweat, and tears there in this way?
  12. Because you get three times as tanned in one day than when you spend a day at the beach. Sorry not sorry, I remain a vain woman.
  13. To feel the kick (and emotion) when all your loved ones are standing by the sidelines to support YOU.
  14. Because you can just let that extra spoon pasta fall on your plate in the evening without feeling guilty. You burn it off again the next morning.
  15. Because I'm already used to standing next to my bed at six o'clock for a workout.
  16. Because I promised it. To someone. And yes, a promise is a debt...
  17. Because as a sports enthusiast, you should have done a triathlon at least once in your life, if you ask me.
  18. That feeling at the finish line after you've spent thirteen, fourteen, fifteen hours and you hear that one sentence through the speakers: YOU ARE AN IRON MAN