Can a mere mortal attain extreme success in this sport?

I wonder how many triathletes out there are mere mortals like myself searching for success among the ranks of Ironman triathletes. My first Ironman was in 2008 when I was 23. It was a hilly, hot course and I finished with a 12:39. My second was in 2011, Ironman Couer D'Alene, this one is rolling with often frigid water temperatures, I finished in 12:16. In May 2012, I did IM St. George which did have horrible conditions but did not stop many from still achieving respectable times, I finished in 13:10. I started to wonder, is this just not my distance? Or perhaps, is this just not my sport? As every time I crossed the finish line I felt a huge sense of success and excitement, but it still was not what I dreamed of achieving. After three Ironmans with similar results in 4 years, somehow I did not stop believing in myself. I felt deep inside that my potential was way higher than I allowed myself to dream. This brings to mind a favorite quote of mine, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"-Nelson Mandela (1994 inaugural speech). Thank goodness I kept believing. I just did IM Western Australia, a very different course with pretty good conditions, in 10:34. So all conditions and hills and water temperatures/ choppiness aside- how did I finally achieve such a huge personal best? I think I finally put all the pieces together with the help of fantastic coaches along the way and my current, incredible coach. I want to share my keys to success because I have wanted someone with a story just like mine to do the same. I just found out that I have this story last Sunday. So here we go... I am going to take you along on my past journey and my present journey, my new goal: to break 10 hours even as a mere mortal with a day job.

This is what it's all about...