rob balucas

This was the week.

This was the week I was supposed to be filling my Instagram feed with updates as we fly to Hawaii and prepare to race the IRONMAN World Championships (IMWC).

I’ve been so incredibly busy training, preparing, and still working full-time that I haven’t found the time to write an update. And so much drama has ensued since I wrote that I qualified for Kona.

First, it was announced that due to consistently increasing COVID cases on the islands and hospitals reaching capacity, the IMWC would be moved to February. So we scrambled to make new hotel reservations and get re-established.

Though I understood the circumstances and value the people of Hawaii and their health first and foremost, it was frustrating because I would have to train straight through the holidays. I had been looking forward to celebrating the accomplishment and relaxing for the rest of the year.

If there was an upside, it was just a little MORE time to train and get incrementally more prepared.

So great. The table is reset.

And then, a few weeks later, it was announced that the IMWC would be rescheduled AGAIN to NEXT year, October 2022.

Op-Ed Tangent: IM World Championships IS Kona

I want to swim in the Kona water I’ve heard so much about, I want to ride through the lava fields of Havi, and struggle of the Palani Hill on the run.

All due respect to St. George. The modern IMWC are intertwined with Kona.

Similar to what Bob Babbitt wrote for Triathlete magazine, the IMWC not being in Kona is like driving an hour+ outside of San Francisco to go see the San Francisco 49ers play .. what is that ?????

For those of you who are interested in the details, you know we were offered the opportunity to race in St. George, Utah in May or Kona in Oct. Both are considered the IMWC. But I want the Kona experience. 

End Tangent

This one frustrated me a little bit more. (READ: A LOT more)

I was really looking forward to meeting this goal that is a capstone to my recovery/comeback/statement after being paralyzed with a spinal cord injury.

I was looking forward to moving on and reclaiming the time, focus, and sacrifice I’ve put in for 6 years and reinvesting that energy back into my business, home, and relationship.

But, as I’ve learned before and been reminded with this spinal cord injury, life doesn’t always go to plan and sometimes you are powerless to change those facts. 

And while having feelings and being frustrated is perfectly okay, you either dust yourself off and adapt; or waste a lot of energy resisting circumstances.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.

– George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Act II, 1893

We were able to cancel our AirBnb .. and we’re unable to re-book accommodations because the calendar isn’t available with the 2022 dates being MORE than a year away now.

I have to commit for another year of training at an incredibly high bar.

But there’s a little niggle that wants that goal I stated earlier this year to finish a full distance IRONMAN this year.

So I went back to IRONMAN and asked if I could cancel my postponement of IRONMAN California in Sacramento (I has postponed after getting in IMWC).

They were able to make it work.

And so now, I’m racing on Sunday, October 24th.

I’m stoked because it’s the only IRONMAN in California and the inaugural race in Sacramento. I know many of my Bay Area triathlete friends will be there.

BOOM.

The table is again reset.

My training is again re-calibrated. 2021 racing IRONMAN plan, version 4.

Here we go.

—

Last note, THANK YOU

THANK YOU to everyone who supported me financially in the crowdfunding campaign towards Kona. That ‘warchest’ is now set aside for next year’s Kona race, sans some gear and needs for Sacramento. Your support keeps me motivated to make it happen for you and something exponentially larger than just me.

So, scratch that last part in my IM 70.3 Lubbock story

I need to re-write that ending.

I am going to the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

THE. Big. Dance.

You read that right. Here’s what happened:

There was a little bit of confusion at the awards ceremony in Lubbock where it was stated there are 2 Kona spots for the Handcycle Division. Officially, there is one for the men and one for the women. But historically if there are no women, the spot is given to the men. 

The confusion came when they didn’t give that women’s slot to the men this year. Eventually it got cleared up.

Now, we all know I came in 3rd. Here’s what happened: 

The 2nd place finisher decided he didn’t want to go and instead stuck with his IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship spot.

When that happens with IRONMAN World Championship spots, the spot ‘rolls down’ to the next finisher.

And in this case, that’s me.

This is it, my people. My big hairy audacious goal is happening.

I get a shiver through my entire body – including the half I cannot feel – when I think about it. 

You don’t have to be amazing to start,
but you have to start to be amazing.

– Toyota Commercial

While training this weekend, I’ve been watching the Olympics .. and it’s commercials.

There is a Toyota commercial featuring many Olympic and Paralympic Athletes encouraging us to #startyourimpossible because #itcouldbeyou

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LIYLnI5F0s0

When I started this journey, I knew I wasn’t going to ‘win’ many races. 

I’m just not that amazing.

But I believed there was a path for me to possibly qualify for the Handcycle Division at Kona because the number of competitors varies greatly year to year. My only real challenge was to beat the cut off times on the course.

So I set a goal to cross the finish line at the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

The 1st time I tried qualifying in Lubbock, I had to pull out of the race after the swim and bike.

The 2nd time, I actually qualified but my coach and I agreed I wasn’t strong enough yet.

The 3rd time – this year – well … 3rd time’s a charm now isn’t it?

My silver lining to the pandemic is that I had no other options but to stay home and train. I kept my head down and I trained the best Rob Balucas could – quarantine be damned.

I laid down the best race Rob Balucas was capable of.

I didn’t have to be amazing to start.

And neither do you. What seems so big and seems like it has so many obstacles for you to start?

It’s been hard. Make no mistake. I’ve sacrificed a lot of time and focus I might have put in my business and grown it more. I’ve swallowed my pride and asked people to contribute to my race fund. I’ve inherently asked Erika to make the same commitment and sacrifice. I’ve questioned this commitment with regular frequency, doubting this door may never open.

But I set a goal. And I want to be someone who does what they say they’re going to do.

You all have gotten me this far. You’ve supported this crazy journey at every juncture. Thank you, #teambalucas.

On October 9th, we get our chance to finish it.

More training ensues.

And once again, I need support.

But as in prior years, the financial demands are high. I just recently found that my race chair wheels are cracked and bent and need replacement. Those alone are $3,000. And not to mention replacing that stupid paddle and compensator that failed in Lubbock. Then there’s travel, monster entry fees, and so on.

I’ve created a crowdfund again, using PayPal and Venmo, instead of going through the crowdfunding websites that charge in excess of 8% of the funds raised. After all, website design is what I do for a living.

I am also looking for sponsorships, so if you have a business that would benefit from the press and/or would like an inspirational talk – or know of any, please let me know!

How else do I say, ‘I can’t do it without you?’ I hate this process. But it works. And every time this tribe says, ‘It’s okay. We want to support you.’ So here I am again and hopefully the last time.

Can we do this?