The Stern Opportunity

Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: Voices

Ok, I'm no longer a Sternie in Shanghai. But in February, this Sternie went back to Asia to race her 12th Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run), this one in Malaysia. The choice of Malaysia as my qualifying race (for the Ironman World Championship) was strategic. After being away from NYU for the fall semester, I had missed my classmates and also resolved to be more social, instead of spending 30+ hours/week on swimming, cycling, running, yoga, massage and lifting weights. Racing on Feb 28th would mean that I would only have to sacrifice my personal life for 5 weeks early in the semester. Also, in the winter, training is more productive and efficient because it is done indoors (I can read cases and textbooks while riding my stationary bike and my training isn't impacted by traffic, daylight or weather conditions). Lastly, I raced the ironman in Malaysia in Feb 2006, so I already knew the course, the weather conditions (105 F heat, near 95% humidity, strong winds) and the logistics involved with racing in Malaysia (four flights each way, kamikaze moneys and boars on the bike course, iodine pills in our water bottles, lack of western food). In most Ironman races, there is only one slot for our age group to qualify for the world championship in Kona and usually the winner takes it, it's rarely rolled down to the second place finisher.

I left Professor Galloway's Monday night Brand Strategy class early to catch my flight to Malaysia. I had been in the school mentality, but as soon as I stepped foot on the A train to JFK, I started to feel my nerves. This was a stark contrast from the prior four weeks of training when I felt energized, healthy and excited to compete again. But nerves are healthy, they let me know that I still have passion for what I do and that I'm deeply emotionally vested in my results. My mom met me at the airport with my bike box and gear bag (and a protein smoothie and veggies for the flight, I love my mom!)

Langkawi, where the race is held, is comprised of 99 islands, each a small or larger bump coming up from under the water. It's a stunning view. My favorite activity there is island hopping, which I did not get to do because of my short stay there and too many assignments due the following week. I opted to stay at the hotel to read cases and study for the corporate finance exam. Then, I had to deal with some bike issues, which took away some time, energy and focus.

Continued...

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