Catching Up... T Minus 32 days to IMCdA

[colby]

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.

I have to mix up the protein drink the night before and let the foam reduce. The amount that is generated after that is pretty negligible, but I do have to mix and let it sit for about an hour. It's annoying. I do well with protein on the ride, even if I start out on a relatively empty stomach, but I do alternate every 15 minutes between just gels and drink with protein. I believe I was underfueled on my HIM anyway, and that will make a HUGE difference come the run on race day this time.

So far I can tolerate all gels I've tried (my stomach can, even if they taste terrible - curse you orange creamsicle flavor!!), and all sports drinks I've tried (though I am not a huge fan of lemon lime gatorade!), along with the protein on the ride... I just can't do solids. Maybe I'll pick some up and try them this weekend/next week and make a decision... I swear I'm making it all 26.2 gosh darn miles either way, and I can always go with my tried and true Hammer raspberry-banana. What's 5 more hours of raspberry-banana?

Weather looks nice today (today's run was in actual tri shorts and actual sleeveless shirt), but... WINDY. We can't win!

Yesterday I did get confirmation they are expecting the water to be sub-60 degrees, are requiring wetsuits, recommending neoprene caps, and allowing booties. I haven't swam with booties before... anyone have thoughts on that? I will definitely score a couple neoprene caps before I go out swimming this weekend (I WILL swim in open water this weekend).

[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.

[colby]

I'm using the breathing techniques a pregnant friend of mine is learning in her child birthing classes to get through the week.

Swam in the lake (not the same lake as the IM, we had technical difficulties locating and affixing our kayak rack and opted to stay local). Yeah, it was cold. My fingers and toes were a little chilly in the deeper water. I did not wear a neoprene cap, but will be buying one to wear for sure next weekend - I think that would help with the extremities. Not sure on the booties. Maybe I'll order some up to have just in case, and try swimming with to see the difference. Once I start swimming I can't really pee in my suit to warm up, though I imagine if I stopped after a hard effort I could. Something in my body turns off that reflex once we're moving...

I wore my heart monitor for some objective information. When I first got in, OMG cold, and swam some breaststroke and tried to switch, it was in the 140s. After I was comfortable swimming and would stop to talk to my husband, in the 120s. That "expose yourself to the shock before you start swimming" technique has a measurable difference. For my first OWS (yeah yeah, I know it's close to d-day, but everything was so cold), it felt really good. The wetsuit sure is a pain in the rear to put on, and take off, next step practice removing top while still wearing watch and running out of water.

Wetsuit lesson learned: bodyglide the poop out of the back of my neck (and wrists, and ankles). I learned this lesson last year, and forgot. My neck looks like it has hickies all over the back because of the chafing in my hairline. Ow ow ow... using some Burt's Bees magic to help me get over that ASAP so I can slap the suit back on. I will wait until it's healed (can't afford to make it worse and be MORE uncomfortable) - should be fine tomorrow.

Yesterday's brick felt good! 2 hrs bike, 30 min run (then an hour or so of swimming... too bad it wasn't in the right order, it would have been between a sprint and oly!). Riding Lucy sure does benefit my legs on the run, they feel tired (relative to starting a run fresh), but not stumpy. That or my brain has also adjusted to the concept, and that's just what we do, run after we bike. Who doesn't do that?

Lucy needs to go to the bike shop for some tuning in her "standing while climbing a short climb or riding into terrible wind" gears, not the super granny but the set right above. One or two of them want to slip if you apply too much pressure, which doesn't really help in either of the above situations, it's hard to get rhythm. We'll be going in tomorrow, worst case have to leave her overnight. Thank heaven for small (good) shops.

We saw an IM commercial on TV last night. Signs everywhere now. At lunch, we went to our local sandwich shop, who also know about my IM... love them to death, but "so are you excited about Sunday?" sure is a loaded question to be asking at t-minus 6 days!

Easy week this week, I am adjusting my sleep schedule earlier so the 4-5am start on Sunday doesn't seem so rough (you know it's going to anyway, but I'm going to TRY). I don't think too much about what's coming or I get the butterflies. Stick with the plan! As I told my husband, this is first-timer's syndrome that I have right now, I've felt it before. Everything is so unknown... after I get through it, the next time (if there is a next time) won't be like this.

Hanging in there... I think?

[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.

[teigyr]

SO exciting. Do you have your number yet? I'm sorry...have been on vacation and am just now catching up.

Let's hope for good weather!!! I'm sure you will do great and imagine just how wonderful you'll feel crossing the finish line.

[KSH]

SO exciting. Do you have your number yet? I'm sorry...have been on vacation and am just now catching up.

Let's hope for good weather!!! I'm sure you will do great and imagine just how wonderful you'll feel crossing the finish line.

1828 ... it's a good number!

[colby]

Thanks so much.

I didn't get to do any Iron Things today, other than a very enjoyable bike ride. It felt nice. We went to lunch and spotted many Iron Persons, and I saw a bunch on my ride. The dude at the bike shop took Lucy for a test ride to make sure her gears were not slipping, and also cleaned and tried to get her seat post from creaking... yeah, she's creaking already. Stubborn!!

Tomorrow, I will check in and get my stuff, and go to the meeting at 7:30. A friend of mine's baby shower is at 6, though, with a lot of our co-workers... I'll have to make a slippery escape.

Wardrobe... I was riding my long rides in an extra pair of shorts, but I don't move on the seat as much when I stick with the tri shorts. I do get a little extra chafing without the extra pair. I don't really care about the chamois, but... Bah! Choices. I like the idea of not having to add things in transition, but I don't like the idea of hours of chafing.

I suck at getting sunblock on my shoulders and tested running in my bike jersey (short sleeves, no elastic, with a collar to protect the back of my neck, loose fitting) with gels in the pockets, felt fine. It's more important for me to NOT get sunburned for 12+ hours than to look like a super spiffy triathlete as I roll across that finish line.

Water... 54 degrees at 07:00 today. We might get lucky and get close to 57 or 58, but it's looking chilly. I forgot to pick up a neoprene cap at the shop, but will be doing so just in case. Hoping to swim in the lake tomorrow or Saturday.

Brain... what brain? Grab phone, place in pocket. Forget bag. Come downstairs. Dear, where's my bag? Oh... forgot that upstairs. Sherpa retrieves bag. Dear, where's my phone? Oh... probably upstairs. Sherpa goes upstairs. Phone not there. Phone in pocket. Nice. Go to pick up bike... start heading toward work instead. Jeepers. I call it "Iron Brain" -- the weird thing is it's not really a conscious distraction, I'm not really thinking "dang, I have so much to do this weekend," but my brain is apparently doing too many things in the background. Breathe.. relax..

Probably going to stay with my friend on Saturday night and have someone drop me off in the morning instead of leaving my car and having to get out of there. Thinking will probably not be my strong suit at that point anyway.

So... stick with the plan.

PS: 2 days, 9 hours.

[salsabike]

Go Colby! Our massed mental power will be with you.

[nonsmoker3]

I don't post much, but have been following your training and will follow you during your race. You will kick a$$!!!!

Thanks for your posts. You, Wahine, and KSH have been motivating for me, reading about your training and dedication.

You are an inspiration to us wannabees. I am doing my first tri tomorrow and feel a bit calmer about it because of your positive and insightful posts!

You just never know who you touch, inspire, or motivate!

Good vibes for tomorrow! I can't wait for the RR.

[Wahine]

Wooooooo hoooooooooo!!!!! Have a great race!!

[spindizzy]

Go Colby! I have butterflies in my stomach; you've done a fantastic job of sharing your journey with us!

[HillSlugger]

I'm looking forward to your race report!

[Running Mommy]

So out of the loop lately that I TOTALLY forgot that cda was today! DOH!
Turning on IMlive right now!