I was back in Kona for the Ironman World Championship this year, and it was pretty cool being around all that energy again.
Watching the athletes, seeing the excitement, the nerves, the preparation. It brought back a lot of memories from the years when I was the one getting ready to race.
A few people asked me the same question while I was there.
Do you miss it?
It's an interesting question because, honestly, I'm not sure I miss racing Ironman all that much anymore.
I spent over 20 years doing it. It was a huge part of my life, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.
But being there reminded me of something I think I actually do miss.
Having a really clear, meaningful goal to chase.
I was talking about this with someone I was staying with in Kona.
One of the things that made Ironman so special for me was that the goal was always pretty clear. First, it was trying to qualify for Kona. Once I accomplished that, it became about showing up and seeing just how well I could race.
There was always something to work toward.
And when you have that kind of goal, so many other things tend to fall into place.
You know why you're getting up early. You know why you're doing that workout when you don't necessarily feel like it. You have a reason to make better decisions about your training, nutrition, recovery, and even how you spend your time.
It gives the process purpose.
And I think that's something we sometimes underestimate.
I actually think goals become MORE important as we get older.
I've always believed that having something to work toward helps keep us young.
Not just physically, but mentally.
It gives us something to look forward to. Something to get excited about. Something that challenges us to keep improving.
I also think it helps us get through some of those days when motivation is low or life just feels a little flat.
There's something really valuable about waking up and knowing you're working toward something that matters to you.
And I think surrounding yourself with other people who are doing the same thing is a big part of that.
Of course, those goals are going to change over time.
What made sense when you were 30 might not make sense when you're 50 or 60. Your family, career, responsibilities, and priorities all change.
That's perfectly fine.
I don't think the goal always needs to be bigger or harder than the last one.
But I do think it needs to mean something to you.
There's also something I call the Ironman hangover.
I've seen this with athletes for years, and I think I've experienced some of it myself.
When you've spent years chasing something as big as Ironman, especially if you've been fortunate enough to race at a pretty high level, it can be hard to get excited about something that feels smaller.
You've experienced the training, the build-up, the race, and everything that comes with it.
So when you step away, what's next?
A 10K? A half marathon? Getting stronger? Trying something completely different?
Those can all be great goals, but sometimes they just don't seem to carry the same weight.
I think that's where people can get stuck.
They start training without much direction. They lose some consistency. Maybe they even start questioning whether they're as motivated as they used to be.
But I wonder if it's really a motivation problem at all.
Maybe they just haven't found something that means enough to them yet.
And I think this is one of the areas where having a coach, or even just someone to help you think through what you're trying to accomplish, can be incredibly valuable.
Sometimes we need help seeing that the next challenge doesn't have to look like the last one.
Finding what's next
I can tell you I've experienced some of this myself.
After spending so many years chasing Ironman goals, it's not always easy to find something that creates that same level of excitement and purpose.
Sure, I could sign up for another Ironman. I know that world, I know the process, and I know how rewarding it can be.
But I also know what comes with it. And at this point in my life, I want to make sure the goals I'm chasing actually fit the life I want to live.
One thing I've learned, both personally and through coaching athletes for so many years, is how important it is to have people around you who are working toward something too.
When you're surrounded by people who have goals, who challenge themselves, and who genuinely enjoy the process of getting better, it's a lot easier to stay motivated and find some clarity around what you want to do next.
And when you don't have that, it can be pretty easy to feel like you're doing it all on your own.
That's one of the things I think people miss most when they step away from a sport like Ironman. It's not always the racing itself. It's the shared experience, the accountability, and being part of something.
And you don't necessarily need a big training group to find that again. Sometimes it's a few friends who share similar goals. Sometimes it's a community. Sometimes it's simply having a coach who helps you find the right challenges and holds you accountable along the way.
The point is, you don't have to figure it all out on your own.
I really believe having something meaningful to work toward becomes even more important as we get older.
It doesn't have to be an Ironman. It doesn't even have to be a race.
But find something that challenges you, gives you a reason to get excited, and keeps you moving forward.
And find some people who want to do the same.
Because I think that's a pretty important part of staying healthy, motivated, and enjoying this whole process for a long time.
Anyway, just some thoughts after spending another week in Kona.
I'm curious... for those of you who've stepped away from Ironman or another big goal, what did you find that gave you that same sense of purpose again?