For the ladies who have trained for and completed an Ironman

[Running Mommy]

yOUR GETTING slower??!! put on the brakes!!! NOW!!
Ok, if you want to enjoy that half IM then you need to step it back NOW! If you don't want to deal with the coachs ego right now, then just tell him you did the distance or whatever. I dunno?? I hate to advocate lying. But if you don't want the stress at this moment, just do what ya gotta do!
Yes the heat will slow you A BIT. But I'm training in Phoenix Monsoon season, and my average hasn't dropped like that.
You are breaking down your muscle fibers without giving them a chance to heal and get stronger. As said, you will eventually get sick and or injured. And my guess is it will happen sooner than later if you don't rest. For the next couple of weeks I'd actually schedule TWO off days just to get your body healed. But you always need at least one. AT LEAST one!
Get those vitamins in too! Your body needs them right now.

[KSH]

Thanks Emily, Tri Girl and RM! You ladies are "pros" in my book, so I really appreciate the feedback!

Well, it's obvious that I have gotten slower on the bike. Heat ususally doesn't affect me that much on the bike.

Do I have to do all the workouts he gives me... well, no. And honestly, I usually skip the Friday swim he gives me. But I'm paying him and I figure he has this "master plan" for where he needs me to be by October 7th. So, I think if I skip a workout this puts me further behind my goals.

He and I communicate mostly via e-mail, but I think sometimes he doesn't really listen. I did tell him how fatigued I was feeling about a month back... and he told me to cut down some of the intensity. So, I did. It helped some, but I haven't really bounced back to where I was a couple of months back.

I am taking 2 days off this week... and tonight I'm going to get a 1.5 hour massage. Time for me to unwind mentally and physically. I'm also taking Friday off and then I'll do a long ride on Sat. and long run on Sun.

Thanks for all the input ladies. I really do appreciate it.