Catching Up... T Minus 32 days to IMCdA

[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]

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)

56 isn't too insane... that might just be "crazy, but I know it's crazy"

538 miles with 40,000 feet of climbing.... that's "I'm so crazy I don't know I'm crazy anymore"

The one thing I've learned is to not underestimate what you can teach your body to do. I was looking at pictures of the Giro d'Italia (a local cyclist is doing it as an amateur) and thinking "well, if you trained for it... I guess it would be possible." Other people think "HOLY CRAP that's nuts."

It's all relative, right?

Maybe after I've gone through this once, I'll enjoy the shock factor next time (if there is a next time ). Sometimes when we eat dinner out on Sundays and I order something huge and then finish it all with dessert while my husband gets a to go box, I get "the look"... I look forward to touring all those places with a big freaking "IRON COLBY" sign after it's over.

[KSH]

I actually bask in the glory of the "You are absolutely effing insane" look.

HA! Yea, I gotta agree. Although at times I feel like I'm bragging because it's so outside the realm of reality for a lot of people.

But hey, we don't do an IM because we don't want a little bit of bragging rights...

[Wahine]

Hell no!! We do Ironman so that when we're 100 years old and living a a nursing home and the attendant comes in griping about their sore feet we can start in with the "Listen here young lady/man... you don't know what sore feet are!! When I was your age......" You get the idea. I'm gonna be one big bragging crotchety old chick!!

[colby]

This week, I chose a new theme song for IM. She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain. -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She'll_...d_the_Mountain

Six white horses is a great visual for the bike. And I certainly will be saying hallelujah when I get there, and there will be lots of people out to greet me. Not so sure about the chicken and dumplings.

15 days, 12 hours.

This weekend, shorter ride, shorter run. Supposed to be a 40-50% chance of rain Saturday (my bike day) and a 10-20% chance of rain Sunday (my run day). I'll probably swap them and try to swim Saturday or Sunday afternoon depending (dragging husband out on kayak in rain not likely to be enjoyable and I can't swim alone).

I am almost disturbed by the amount I look forward to conquering the course and putting my own doubts permanently behind me. I dream of conquering the hills -- twice. I dream of running 26.2 scenic miles. What happened to me?

My biggest concern at this point is the cold swim, so I'm going to work on conquering that. Next week's weather is supposed to be similar to this week, damp and dreary, upper 50s to mid 60s. It's supposed to clear up by the end of next week to 70s, but that will only leave one week for the water temp to increase significantly. I would also hate a wet 112 mile bike ride, but that's really less of a concern (been there, done the wet hilly ride). You can always pack an extra pair of socks and take it easy on the turns.

Bib numbers on Monday....

[Wahine]

Wooooooooo Hooooooo!! It's getting so close. I wish I was doing it with you!!!

ETA: Chicken soup on the run is actually really yummy. I think I'd stay away from the dumplings tho.

[colby]

10 days, 11 hours

It's officially official... I'm number 1828.

Sunday, I rode an easier/shorter ride, only about 4 hours, 65-70 miles, with some stopping (stupid lights that aren't on timers!!) it was probably about 17mph average actually riding. You don't get anything for free here, so one direction was into the wind, the other gradually uphill. I felt much better than the weekend before, which I started underfueled and straight into hills. Because it wasn't as rolling, I was able to keep my HR very well in line, which was my goal - not too stressful, but got miles in.

Saturday, shorter run, about 12 miles, in the freaking rain. It was cold, but my dog is getting faster, and sticking with me much better. I like having my running buddy again without being frustrated that she can't run for 2 hours straight without dawdling. It still poops her out, she walks funny and can't jump into the car for a little while. Running is uneventful, but apparently my new trick is a low heart rate.

Swam on Sunday after the ride, but not in the lake, didn't have time to pack the kayak and husband into the car. It felt good, even though my hip was a little upset and my legs were tired (good thing it's mostly upper body). I have serious mental problems and enjoyed my drills. I was watching someone else swim with a weird kick pattern... that must be the "two beat kick" that I've read about but could never do, probably because I swam competitively and that's just not how you swim.

I was good about stretching after my ride and run, my chiro and massage dude were very pleased at my hip flexors, less pleased at my quads, especially the one on the outside-top, which is actually harder to stretch anyway. My patella moves very cleanly, my hip flexors do great rotation, but I still have to have regular adjustments/massage to improve my hip function, but I am hoping if I reduce mileage after IM that I can return things to a stable starting point and stay good about keeping them in line.

(My during the week workouts are pretty boring... Monday I pretend I'm human. Tuesday I run. Wednesday a short transition/brick. Thursday I ride. Friday I run. One or two of those days, I swim - usually only one because I'm trying to keep my shoulder safe.)

Wardrobe... I'm not sure my tri top (and requisite sports bra) is supportive enough for a marathon, but not convinced enough that I'm willing to switch to something else. I'm somewhat concerned about the weather possibilities - it could be 55 and wet or 80 and sunny. At this point, the most likely is 65 and sprinkles, but our weather does seem to be opening up (as I write that, mother nature reminds me she's in charge with some thunder). I'm mentally prepared for the possibility that I have to wear long sleeves/arm warmers/knickers... but I don't really want to. I also don't want to freeze in the water.

I am somewhat concerned about not carrying any protein on the run, I felt kind of drained on my HIM - but I had also not consumed as much protein on the ride as I will be now. I suppose I could buy/try accel gels or carry a fuel belt with some protein calories... solid food is a no-no for me running unless I leave time to digest (not happening during a race). Or, just gels. I know I can run a marathon on water and gels alone.. it's the 114 miles before that...

There are two reasons for tapering: the first one is preparing your body physically for the activity ahead. The second is preparing your body mentally by convincing you that you are super awesome because suddenly everything is really easy and you go super fast.

My (7.5 month) pregnant friend is threatening to paint a big m-dot on her belly to cheer me on during the race. I told her she'd probably get on TV if she did... and we'd be famous.

Tomorrow... single digit days remain. This weekend, I will probably take Lucy for a final check up (she has some tendency to slip in a couple of high gears), have a 2 hour ride/30 minute run, a 1 hour run on its own, and I swear I will swim in the lake. I will probably try to swim in the lake a couple of times in the next week, and hit the Gatorade OMG It's So Close swims.

Sorry it's so long, sorry for all the ellipses, and thanks for reading.

[Wahine]

This weather has been really crumby for training. You're almost there.

[Skeezix]

Wow, it's so close!

God, I love tapering.

[KSH]

Nice number Colby!

If you haven't been doing protein in training... I would say you might not want to try it on race day. Nothing new on race day.

I know for some, protein can upset their tummies.

I have some protein in my Infinit mix that I do, but I have lowered that a lot because I don't like the foam it produces in the drink. I also think it makes the drink taste funny.

Now I do the Accel gels with protein and my tummy does those fine. If you don't have a sensitive stomach you can probably pull those off race day.

But... nothing new race day.

[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.