Ironman Kentucky Training- Month 7 of 8

[KSH]

Ironman Kentucky Training Month 7 of 8!

Well, I didn’t think I would do one for July and figured I would combine July and August together. Then I decided that I had better make one for July. As I’m sure you are all tired of reading this stuff, I’m a bit tired of writing it up!

I think the theme for July is: Strong Aversion to 5:30 AM Workouts!

I did pretty much anything I could do to avoid getting up at 5:30 AM. I hate morning workout sessions. It’s the truth. That’s why in past years I never race that much. I hate mornings. I know that’s not very positive of me, but I’m more of a night owl than anything else, so early morning workouts are not my friend.

The Ironsherpa has been hanging strong. Luckily he has his own Half Ironman to train for so that has kept him relatively busy as well. He was very sweet and bought me my plane ticket to Kentucky for my Birthday present! Which was very kind and generous of him! I should be buying his ticket, not the other way around!

Rest days:
July- 10 days off out of 31
June- 6 days off out of 30
May- 4 days off out of 31


Cycling Highlights:
July- 538 miles
June- 525 miles
May – 540 miles

Had another month of solid cycling. Nothing too outstanding or amazing happened. Went to a bike rally one weekend and that was fun. Otherwise, just did some long rides with my cycling club.

I changed my first flat this month! It took about 45 minutes. If I get a flat on race day, I hope it’s a bit faster than that.

My friend Brad really pulled through for me and put some new tires on my bike for me. They are very nice and smooth! He also put on some new pedals for me, which I have been breaking in. My bike is ready for Kentucky !

Running Highlights:
July- 48 miles
June- 65 miles
May- 75 miles

Other than my 25K, my running/walking really lacked luster this month. I did what I was scheduled to do, for the most part. I did miss a long run on 7-5-08 though. I was just being lazy and didn’t feel like waking up at 5:30 AM to go run 14 miles.

Here is a very nice Ironsherpa story for you….

One night after getting off the bike trainer I called Jonny because I thought we would talk before his maintenance for work, but it ended up being a whine fest. Meaning: me complaining about how sick I am of training and I just want this to be over with. I also spoke to the fact that as I see it, the training is done. I've done the work, now it's just me maintaining what I have got. Nothing I do now is going to make me any faster come race day. So after I moaned and groaned I finally got off the phone to go run.

What a miserable run. Yes, my attitude didn't help any. And my blood sugar dropping finished me off. Sometimes my blood sugar drops and I start to get real shaky and I sweat a lot. That happened while I was running. All I could think about was getting home and eating something. Food and sugar helps fix the problem.

So I get inside and I'm eating a Gu... and there's a knock on my door. Who might that be? My night in shining armor... I mean... my Ironsherpa... Jonny!

I guess he knew that I needed something sugary (I didn't say anything on the phone)... so he brought me over a Oreos Cookies and Cream Ice cream bar! It was at just the right moment! Right when I was starting to pour honey into my mouth. So, his coming over was a gift from Heaven! I inhaled it. Felt much better after that!


Swimming Highlights:
July – 21,000 yards
June - 24,000 yards
May – 31,000 yards

I swam. Then I swam some more. But didn’t swim as much as I needed to. It’s so hard to motivate to swim in the mornings when I’m good at swimming.


--------------------------------------------
Finally, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

1) Me changing my first flat tire!
2) I changed the flat tire!
3) My friend Kenny and I after a bike rally. We borrowed a couple of cold beers to hold up to our faces. Then I handed it back and ran 20 minutes in 102 degree heat and after riding 92 miles.
4) My warped back tire. The reason why I needed new ones.

[colby]

Oh boy... I'm right there with you. That last month or so is SUCH a grind. It feels like you're married to your training and this is the "7 year itch" I had to do a lot of talking myself into workouts... the "this workout doesn't matter anyway" feeling is very strong, I was just doing them to get them over with. Mental burnout.

For me, it ended when I really started tapering hard and fast (soon!). Everything FELT so good, I felt fast(er) and strong(er). That last couple of weeks really helped. If I had burnout right up to that day, I probably wouldn't have been able to beat the mental challenge of just one more day - THE day.

T minus 20 days... and counting!! Less than 3 weeks to go.

PS: Give that Ironsherpa a raise! What a guy!!

[jesvetmed]

nothing fixes the attitude like Oreo Ice Cream!
Great work yet again this month. I don't know how you are fitting all of this in, but you are! Can you believe it is almost here? I AM SO PSYCHED FOR YOU!

Hang in there over the last 3 weeks!
You can afford the Oreo calories -- enjoy it!
J

[KSH]

Yep, serious grind these days. I've gotten so lazy I only make one morning swim a week... versus the 3 I was making. I hate 5:30 AM. There I said it. I HATE MORNING WORKOUTS!

I hope the taper makes me feel great. I don't feel great now. I feel slow and sluggish. I only have 2 weeks of taper. Just doesn't seem like enough.

I just hope I finish. If I don't cross that finish line, I have to go through this again... and I really don't want that.

After this is done I'm focusing on any distance up to Half Ironman's.

As of today, I fly out in 2 weeks. I need to make my lists!

Oh boy... I'm right there with you. That last month or so is SUCH a grind. It feels like you're married to your training and this is the "7 year itch" I had to do a lot of talking myself into workouts... the "this workout doesn't matter anyway" feeling is very strong, I was just doing them to get them over with. Mental burnout.

For me, it ended when I really started tapering hard and fast (soon!). Everything FELT so good, I felt fast(er) and strong(er). That last couple of weeks really helped. If I had burnout right up to that day, I probably wouldn't have been able to beat the mental challenge of just one more day - THE day.

T minus 20 days... and counting!! Less than 3 weeks to go.

PS: Give that Ironsherpa a raise! What a guy!!

[Tri Girl]

Hip, hip hooray for you, KSH!!! I'm so excited for you!!!
It's almost done. All the hard work you've put in will pay off on race day. The training right now sucks, and there's nothing else you can say about it. Just mindlessly pump them out and maintain all that you've built up. And NO saying "if I don't cross the finish line." You WILL finish! You're ready, girl. Just try not to lose your mind. I know your pain...

And yeah, I hate morning workouts, too. I used to love them. Now not so much...

[btchance]

Yeah! You're almost there. You've done a great job getting ready, and it's all about to pay off. Just hang in there, and you'll do great!

[Skeezix]

Really, you rock. Tapering is going to be great.

My sister lives along the route and she calls me every time she sees someone out testing/checking it out.

Damnit, now I want Oreo cookies.