Catching Up... T Minus 32 days to IMCdA

[colby]

This last week was pretty good for me. I missed a swim workout last week (I think I mentioned, our anniversary) and didn't get in any open water like I wanted to -- need to get moving on that (I wish my work schedule was more open to it). The weather sucked and I don't have a swimming buddy so it would mean dragging my husband out on his kayak in the rain... yeah. Next week he won't be so lucky.

Saturday, 5 hours of riding, over 75 miles. Rode the course. Did NOT feel adequately fueled - I had to get my hair cut (hard to get appointment) at 11:15 and could not bear to get up at 4:00 to get my 5 hour ride in beforehand (maybe that would have been good training? ), which led to not having eaten enough calories before starting the ride - had my hair cut with a friend, and it took a good 2 hours, then we ate, changed clothes, add it all up... 3pm before I left. I felt way better on the second loop (how messed up is that) after I got a good couple hours of solid calories consistently in me. That first loop... OMG. I knew I couldn't ride two full loops in that amount of time anyway, so I started from a friend's house, which is basically where the hills start. If you want to pay for being under-fueled, start out riding hills. Bad Colby, bad. Core muscles, shoulder, and hip are crying today. Note to self if there is a next time: base must include more core work.

Sunday, 3 hours of running, I didn't measure the distance. This was a very "I don't really care, I'm putting the time in MY WAY" kind of day. I took my dog with me, it was raining, we took a couple pictures of the flooding on the trail we run/ride, I let her take it easy in some places (she's not very well acclimated to running yet). Those core muscles? Yeah, you use them when you run. Felt like a side stitch until the muscles warmed up.

Now it's more serious taper time (this week was just a small dropoff)... 3 weeks to go. My taper is still more activity than most humans get in a week, but whatever, it's all relative.

This week, it's supposed to be more 20-40% chance of rain and crap, probably windy, blah blah. If the skies don't part by June 22nd, I'll be well prepared for clouds and wind with sprinkles. I want to get in some open water, but the water temps are all still mid-50s if you're lucky.

I am at the "so close but so far away" point, torn between "will it just get here already?" and "am I actually ready? Will I make it? What if what if what if?"

Thanks for listening...

[Pika]

Wow Colby sounds like you are going to do great- I met a guy at our HIM who was going to do the Coeur d'Alene (sp?) IM in three weeks- he said with their late spring etc he had a hard time getting in his long bike rides/swimming .
It is nice that you have been able to ride the course so there won't be any suprises.
After my 1/2 I am even more impressed( if that is possible because I was pretty impressed to start with) with all of you that commit to doing an IM-

So good on you!
Good luck and I look forward to hearing how it goes for you!

[KSH]

Ah... almost taper time! WOW! Can you believe it! You are so very close to the end of your journey. You should pull up your first thread you made when you signed up... for a walk down memory lane.

Are you ready? Well, what has all your training been for lady? An Ironman or a sprint? If you answere Ironman... then you are ready.

I can't wait till the day you race as we sit by making updates on your progress.

[colby]

Ah... almost taper time! WOW! Can you believe it! You are so very close to the end of your journey. You should pull up your first thread you made when you signed up... for a walk down memory lane.

Are you ready? Well, what has all your training been for lady? An Ironman or a sprint? If you answere Ironman... then you are ready.

I can't wait till the day you race as we sit by making updates on your progress.

I think about the journey a lot now that I'm coming to the end. Debating signing up... and taking the plunge. Committing to a training plan that started right after a marathon. Riding 3-4 hour rides on a trainer because it's still snowing. Giving in and running 2 hours on a treadmill because it's 2 degrees, icy, and snowing (just 2 degrees and snow isn't enough). That first ride outdoors... only to have to ride the trainer the next day because it was... snowing. Watching the miles increase... the times decrease. Doing my first HIM on the way to IM (homegrown, since it was so early in the season). I can't say it wasn't hard, and I can certainly say that I learned a lot about myself and what "limits" actually are.

My next scheduled event after IM is a sprint (7 weeks from IM, lots of time). It's going to be a little strange trying to regroup and train for such a short distance after those 100 mile weekly rides. Not having to do the second loop... ahhh, that'll feel nice! I'll probably suck it up and schedule a late season HIM that's my real goal, depending on how I feel.

Some days I don't feel crazy. Mostly Mondays, which are my days off and I "pretend" to be a normal person (with insane hunger and ginormous thighs). Or, when I come here, or go to the bike shop.

[KSH]

I think about the journey a lot now that I'm coming to the end. Debating signing up... and taking the plunge. Committing to a training plan that started right after a marathon. Riding 3-4 hour rides on a trainer because it's still snowing. Giving in and running 2 hours on a treadmill because it's 2 degrees, icy, and snowing (just 2 degrees and snow isn't enough). That first ride outdoors... only to have to ride the trainer the next day because it was... snowing. Watching the miles increase... the times decrease. Doing my first HIM on the way to IM (homegrown, since it was so early in the season). I can't say it wasn't hard, and I can certainly say that I learned a lot about myself and what "limits" actually are.

My next scheduled event after IM is a sprint (7 weeks from IM, lots of time). It's going to be a little strange trying to regroup and train for such a short distance after those 100 mile weekly rides. Not having to do the second loop... ahhh, that'll feel nice! I'll probably suck it up and schedule a late season HIM that's my real goal, depending on how I feel.

Some days I don't feel crazy. Mostly Mondays, which are my days off and I "pretend" to be a normal person (with insane hunger and ginormous thighs). Or, when I come here, or go to the bike shop.

WOW Colby! Really great reflections there. A lot of rung true with me... and the journey I have had.

Back in Jan/Feb/March I was doing 3-4 hour trainer rides... thanks to rain. Not to mention, I'm a cold weather whimp. If it was 40 degrees with 20 mph winds, I rode inside. Yep, did the 2-2.5 hour treadmill runs due to bad weather.

It is going to be weird to get on a bike to only ride 2-3 hours. Or less? HA!

Normal... yea... when I get ready at home versus the gym it just feels WEIRD. What? Shower at my house and eat breakfast at home? What?

I'm sure the other IM ladies who have finished or are training for one can relate!

[colby]

It is going to be weird to get on a bike to only ride 2-3 hours. Or less? HA!

Normal... yea... when I get ready at home versus the gym it just feels WEIRD. What? Shower at my house and eat breakfast at home? What?

I'm sure the other IM ladies who have finished or are training for one can relate!

I'm looking forward to being able to tell people what I'm doing on the weekends again without "the look." I learned that only two activities are allowed, and only a maximum of two hours of riding, one hour of swimming, and/or one hour of running are the limit before someone gives you the "you are crazy and I am lazy" rather than the "you are healthy and I am not as healthy but that is ok" look.

The first time:
Unassuming person: What are you doing this weekend?
Colby: riding 100 miles, running a few hours, swimming drills for a couple hours
Unassuming person: ...
Colby: what are you doing this weekend?
Unassuming person (in that "you are crazy and I am lazy" tone): uh... yard work...

The second time:
Unassuming person: What are you doing this weekend?
Colby: Uh... probably ride my bike, maybe go swimming, take my dog for a jog so she can get some exercise. Depends on the weather.
Unassuming person: Oh, that sounds fun!
Colby: So what are you doing this weekend?
Unassuming person: hoping to catch up on (insert TV show) and hang out with the family

Less specific = less crazy!

My favorite experience (I may have said this) was going to the chiropractor first thing on a Monday morning after a good weekend of riding nearly two full loops and running 3 hours, then swimming 3500 yards.

Chiro Receptionist: Hey Colby, how are you today?
Colby (failing at signing in, talking, and standing at the same time): Doing okay. Wow, I think I just misspelled my own name. And checked the wrong box. Sorry about that.
Chiro Receptionist: Yeah, you look kind of tired.
Colby: Yeah, that's pretty accurate.
Chiro Receptionist: That's what too much tequila on weekends will do to you!
Colby: Oh... I guess.

Tequila? Yeah, right.

[Wahine]

I actually bask in the glory of the "You are absolutely effing insane" look. In fact I called up an ultra endurance cycling friend of mine tonight just so that he could tell me how crazy I am for swimming in a 56 deg river.... now who's crazier me or him? (he's signed up to ride 538 miles with 40000 feet of climbing in under 48 hours)

[colby]

http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8514134

Summary of this week: I have no brain.

[colby]

http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8514134

Summary of this week: I have no brain.

+1

Help, I'm going nuts...

Took my bike for her last checkup...missed the shop closing by 1 minute. Darn!

[KSH]

Thanks for all the updates! HANG IN THERE!

I know what you mean... if you think TOO MUCH about it... it makes you all nervous and worried. If you think, "it's just another day", it's calming.

The night before any race, I lay down in bed and I make myself NOT think about the race. I hope I can do that the night before my IM so I can get some rest.

So we will be tracking you on race day. Stick to the plan. Keep moving forward. Have a positive attitude and don't let little things derail your mind set. Don't eat the paste and remind yourself why you are out there when your mind wants to tell you to stop.

[KSH]

Oh yea, I posted this in my BT Training Log the other day... maybe you can relate?

Ironman Training- The Ultimate Mind F*ck*

What does that mean?

Well, anyone who has trained for or is training for an IM, can possibly understand what this means. Anyone who wants to train for one might want to know what it means.

What a roller coaster of emotions! For a good 8 months! There are days I feel strong and ready to tackle the race. Days where I feel so tired it's all I can do to get out of bed to go train.

I worry about finishing. I run my times for each discipline through my head... while I'm running, riding, swimming. What will my finishing time be? Can I do it? What are the cut off's again?

Then I remind myself that I can do it. I'll be fine. I have been training hard. I CAN DO IT!

I train and start to think about finishing and I get all teary eyed. ME? AN IRONMAN!? I am starting to tear up as I write this. I can't see how I won't be crying the whole race. HA!

I start to think about how long this journey has been and that the race is getting close. How does one hold it together the last couple of weeks, the last day before the race? How does one not just go insane? Then I remind myself that I can hold it together. I just won't think about it. Is that possible?

So yea.... Ironman training is the ultimate mind f*ck. A roller coaster that goes on for months! I'm ready for it to end, but also sad to know it's going to end.

[colby]

Oh yea, I posted this in my BT Training Log the other day... maybe you can relate?

YES. The rollercoaster could in and of itself exist in a 5 minute period. One minute, I'm awesome, the next minute, I'm afraid.

I have managed to get through this week by pretending it's just something normal people do. Thursday or Friday, check in, Saturday, bike check, Sunday, Ironman. What's so abnormal about that? This week, people put up Ironman signs in their shops... I just say "wait, there's an Ironman here?"

"Stick with the plan" is my other coping mechanism. Just keep reading and doing the plan, don't think about the fact that it runs out in 8 days. I've been practicing "stick with the plan" for the last 6+ months, I'm good at that.

If I think about it too much at night, I actually wind myself up so much I can't sleep. Before a lot of my long bike rides, especially after I got my new bike, I was thinking "I really am doing this" and it'd keep me restless for hours with that "pre-race" jitters, even though the race was far away.

I'm not ashamed to admit I got teary exactly like you describe finishing my first marathon (I don't remember any other events quite so significantly). It was such an amazing and grueling experience for me. It makes me teary just thinking about it, and the same for finishing Ironman - watching OTHER people finish anything significant (to them) makes me teary if I put myself in their shoes. I was clear eyed by the time I found my family, but those first few steps in the finish chute after I realized I finished... awesome... in the original sense of the word.

I have just been working on the assumption that I'll finish. If something comes up that prevents it... so be it. There's another one next year. But, if you train for it, it's doable.

8 days, 13 hours.