But I still have 94 monkeys to go

Last night I went to see this badass, 4-time Ironman World Champion victor Chrissie Wellington, talk briefly about her career as a triathlete. I didn’t know that much about her going in, so I was sorry she didn’t speak longer since it was an event about her new book, A Life Without Limits.

One cool fact I did learn, though, was that Wellington by her own admission never set out to become a professional athlete. She took up running because after traveling the world after college, she found she was “a little fluffy” and wanted a cheap way to lose weight. Once, she had to be rescued from the start of a triathlon because her wetsuit was too big. Last year, she fell off her bike two weeks before the Ironman. She’s incredible, but she wasn’t born like that.

Wellington is taking a year off to promote her book and the sport, and said she hopes A Life Without Limits will reach not only triathletes, but all athletes down to “training for their first 5K” caliber. (Also, she has a coffee sponsor which is a killer move.)

A needed reminder of the necessary work.

Photos: Zimbio.com via wayofdaze