Warning: Mind Games: Ass-holes ahead

Earlier today I had a great candid chat with my head coach. It went something along the lines of: there will be all kinds of nay-sayers, doubters, haters, players, wayne kerrs, envious clowns and ass-holes around, getting all up in your face about your Ironman journey from here on in, banging on about how you'll never do it (or just giving you the "You? An Ironman? Get Real fatty!" looks), so be ready for it - and "we've got your back no matter what".

Hell, I've had all these people in my face giving me their two cents worth and dumb looks for the past two years. My response is usually something along the lines of:

1. "here's 50 cents, go call someone who gives a damn"
2. "Whatever"
3. "why don't YOU get off YOUR ass and complete a triathlon, then come back and talk to me?"
4. "I already have a head coach, main coach, NLP practitioner, massage therapist, acupuncturist, physio, bike mechanic, swim coach, running coach, triathlon stores, supplement supplier, protein supplier, podiatrist, doctor, pharmacist, personal trainer and nutritionist, but thanks for the ideas (then I refer them to numbers 1, 2 and 3 above if they've really gotten all up in my face)"
5. "If I wanted to play mind games, I'd go see Eddy McGuire / my ex-boyfriend / the bitches who bullied me in high school / etc"
6. "Yes, I eat carbs. Guess what? They are converted to glycogen and used as a primary source of fuel by my muscles and help power my enormous brain. NOW GET LOST!"
7. "Hello Doubting Thomas - have you made another Jesus-like comeback from the dead?"

Basically, my line of thinking is as follows: If you don't like me, that's your problem, not mine. If you don't want to support me, that's just dandy. If you don't think I can finish Ironman, that's awesome - I'll happily prove you wrong in 346 days. But please bugger off and go tell someone who gives a damn, because I've got 346 days of training to go and I don't have time to listen to your crap!

I've always been a "If you double-cross me, I'll never speak to you again" person. I have no problem telling people to get lost. I don't need an entourage - never have, never will. Basically, I'm going to ignore anyone and everyone who tries to question my ability to do IMNZ. If you're not supporting me, you're against me - and you'll be de-friended / ex-communicated / etc. I know who my true friends and supporters are, and I have no time for doubters or haters. At the end of the day, the most important opinion in this equation is my own (followed by my coaches). 

I know I CAN do it. And that's all that matters.