Tackling your first Ironman is a great springboard to a new and better way of life.

Use the opportunity the Ironman provides to adopt a lifestyle of health and fitness.

Perhaps when you first decided that you really wanted to cross the Ironman finish line, it became your all consuming goal and you've never really thought much about what your objectives will be once you've realized your Ironman dream.

Its such a perfect time to sieze the opportunity and make a committment to a better and more satisfying way of life that will pay you dividends for years to come.

Consider what you will have learned during the time spent preparing for your first Ironman attempt.

Most likely you will have learned all about practicing proper diet. Possibly you also came to realize the value of vitamin supplements, proper hydration, and a variety of other training aids that you never really knew much about until you were bitten by the Ironman bug.

Now you may possibly know about the value of chiropractic treaments, massage therapy, visualization and heart monitors.

It would be wise to try and avoid focusing on that one day when you tackle your first Ironman. It can lead to the "what now" question which in turn can result in bouts of depression that sometimes happen when a long sought after goal is realized.

Regardless of how the race itself turns out, consider that you are probably in the best physical condition of your life--thanks to your Ironman dream.

Seize upon that and make a committment to maintaining your healthy lifestyle for good. It doesn't mean you have to train like an Ironman for your entire life. It means eating right and staying fit regardless if you ever take part in another race or not.

Your physical well-being is probably the best gift you can give to your family and others who care about you.

So consider making the finish line of your first Ironman just the beginning of something very special and not your final destination.