Sometimes I see my life in movie clips; the ending scene where the anthem music builds in the background as I walk from a swim, hair still damp, to my car in the misty, rain-soaked parking lot. Victorious.

I haven't been able to sleep much the past few days. There's not really one thing on my mind. It's really bizarre. I just try to sleep, and before I know it, it's 1:17am. Not fun.

Ran this morning. Forty-five minutes. According to the weather site, it was a ripe 1 degrees (or I guess degree) when I got home. It was cold for sure, but I didn't think it was that cold. If I had checked before the run I probably would have skipped it and missed a cool and unique experience.

The training season doesn't start with a whimper or a grumble. It doesn't even start with a shriek, shout or caterwaul. It just starts.

Chapter Two.

"You got five miles in you today?"And he stops his playful panting as he looks at me while I sit at my desk, chair turned towards him, and he pauses mid-breath, tongue still sticking out of his goofy face, head cocked. I repeat myself, "You got five miles in you today?" Then a challenge: "Cuz I do."

The best advice I ever got for Ironman was to stay in the moment.See, for those of you who have done one, you can relate to this probably quite a bit. For those who will do one soon, take note: Stay in the moment.You have to. You really do. I am 110% convinced of this.