Well the race itself may be "easier" (did I just use the term easy in reference to an IM??) but I suspect the training will be harder. With the first one everything is new. It's exciting- uncharted territory.. Dragging your butt out the door for your umpteenth 100/10 mile brick is going to be a BIG mental game!!
I'm hoping this doesn't happen, but it did w/ my 2nd mary, so I suspect this will be no different. Of course I also KNOW that IM is a distance you can't cheat in training. You either put in the miles, or you didn't. And if you didn't it will be either a really LOONNGG day, or a really short day- as in DNF. And since I didn't leave much room to give in the first race, I need to be looking for a big time PR!
I'm just hoping I can keep the motivation up. Ever since the race I've been super motivated to eat better and work on my fitness. I'm looking for a swim coach, been working on my bike, cutting out certain foods that I KNOW I shouldn't eat etc... I just need to keep this up!
sigh.. I wish they had a pill for motivation! ha ha