Holy moley. I went cycle equipment shopping today. I’m overwhelmed about these little CO2 canisters and tubes I have (good gravy, how does that work?) and about how I spent over $300 and didn’t even get everything on my list!! And I’m not going with the high-end options, I’m going with the good-enough options.
I came home and started tallying it up for my husband… “You know how much it costs to do an Ironman?? Get me a calculator. I’ll tell you…”
Then I went off, my voice getting louder and louder as I outlined it all.
“Let’s just estimate. What? $736 to register. $90 for insurance. $200 for the photo option and for USAT day memberships. Something like $250 to register for Racine Half Ironman. $900 in hotel reservations. Go up and bike with Madison VQ a few times, that’s $70, I think. Register for Capital View Triathlon, $69, I’m estimating. Bought a bike this year, that was $2,000. Bought 2 pairs of swim goggles = $40. I still need a trainer, that’s $160. I still need a snack pouch, let’s say $24. I’ll need a wetsuit, no idea. $200? I just bought 2 new pairs of running shoes (got a great deal on these, they had just gotten in the newer versions). $150. I had been feeling some twinges in my knee, what if they come back I want to get them checked out at the chiropractor? That’s $55 to start. I’ll want some more cycling clothes and a more sporty swimsuit. Let’s budget $250. I want new pedals for my bike. We’ll go with $40. I’ll need some more swim lessons, let’s say $150. Do I need to pay extra to attend masters swim classes? At some point, God willing, I’ll be ready for those. I’m not sure…$30 a month for 4 months? $120. I might want some adhoc coaching sessions with a coach that’s done Ironman Wisconsin. At least $75.” I was punching away on the calculator, watching the numbers add up.
“That’s over $5,500!!”
Over $5,500!! I’m freaking out. Now, of course, I’m already in this – so I’ll just be throwing…what? Good money after good money. But, goodness gracious!!
Some of my estimates are horribly off, I’m sure. But, I’m thinking a number of them are probably horribly off on the low end. Yikes.
I’m suffering from post-shopping stress syndrome.
This is me commenting on my own post. I was going to add to the post itself, but this came to me later, so I’m putting it here…
I was thinking that yesterday was going to feel like a great big check mark of an accomplishment. Instead I walked away feeling like there was even more to do. As I took care of this, I became more aware of what was next.
I keep thinking: Why wasn’t I more aware that would happen? I knew I was going to buy a toolkit that I didn’t yet know how to use. Why does it all of a sudden feel like MORE? Where does the strong emotional reaction come from when we know in our heads it’s a step-by-step process?
And this is always what I want to know… How do you celebrate and relish in the accomplishment before you move into planning for (and feeling overwhelmed about) what’s next?
I don’t know the answers. For now, I’m laughing at myself, allowing myself to feel overwhelmed, and giving myself a “pause” on the shopping front!!