Just one more week...and it's me vs. 140.6

[Tri Girl]

It feels like forever since I've been to the boards, because I've been hiding in my training cave for the last few weeks. I'm so excited to be at this point, tho!!! My iron distance race is next Saturday, and I can't wait!!

Ok, so as I'm sitting here gathering my thoughts for the race next week, I thought I'd turn to you ladies for advice/tips/helpful hints for the week to come. Of course, it seems like I've read every book about racing this summer, but books don't make me laugh/give me great advice like you do!

So lay it on me: what are your best tips/advice for this coming week before the race? I know Triflor and RM (and many others) must have some zen-ful words of wisdom. The most important thing that I've told myself is that I'm completing, not competing. I plan on making the day one long victory parade to celebrate the last 9 months of training (a victory parade that will be chasing cut-off times, but a parade nonetheless ).

And when it's all over, I'll be sure to tell you the good, the bad, and the uglies of race day (hopefully more good than bad and uglies)!

[Lise]

No tips to offer, Tri Girl, just my heartfelt congratulations on having made it this far. What race are you doing? I am so looking forward to your report. Have a great last week of tapering! Lise

[btchance]

Good luck, good luck, good luck!!! You're doing Redman, right? Hope the weather improves for next weekend, from what I heard it sucks today. I don't have any tips for you, as the longest I've done is a sprint, but I'm sure you'll do great! Can't wait to hear about it.

[Running Mommy]

Hey! I was just thinking about you this morning while on my ride.
Sounds like you are ready freddy!!!
You are going to have a BLAST! Just take it easy and don't give in to the urge to train!! You actually may feel weak or that you are losing fitness this week, but that is just your body healing up and getting ready to race. It's normal and it's they way you SHOULD feel.
Concentrate on your diet this week. You may be tempted to give in to some "treats" this week, but resist that urge. Save that for AFTER the race! This week is the time to fill your body with all the nutrients it's going to need to get you through the race. CLEAN EATING this week should be your mantra.
Now the only other thing I can say is this... Be prepared to become a mental basket case as the race gets closer. I think it started for me on Wednesday. I seriously thought I needed to go to the mental hospital or something! I was a MESS!!! I'm a VERY strong person and I became a weepy stress ball.
Just know that it's normal, and you WILL FINISH!!!!! Yes indeed, you WILL!!!!

Have fun out there! Remember to eat and drink as planned, but also be prepared to tweak your plan if something goes awry. Keep this in mind if something should not go as planned:
Stop, assess the situation, do not dwell on the negative, figure out what you need to do to overcome it, execute the new plan, and keep moving.
It's a long day out there and as they say... poop happens! adjust, overcome and keep going.

Good luck! I'll be thinking of you!!
Go get em!!!
Denise

Oh and one last thing... If you can do a practice swim in the days before the race at the race site- DO!! It really helps with the nerves race day!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks for the well wishes ladies!
Yup btchance- doing the Redman. Weather today is rainy, but next Sat. looks to be good- cooler than normal and little wind (which sounds good to me, so long as we don't have the 25-30 mph sustained winds like yesterday I'll be happy).

Thanks RM for the tips. I kept my diet pretty clean last week, and plan to really stick to my guns this week (as hard as it is to resist my beloved sweets). Thanks for the reminder, tho! Thanks also for reassuring me it's ok to become a stress/headcase. I'm already there a little. Been riding and running the course all summer, and the lake will be open for swims Thursday and Friday morning (it's not a lake you're allowed to swim in normally). I'm definitely going to practice swim a little. I feel like I know every inch of the course, and that may prove to be good/bad on race day. I'll know exactly where I am and how far I've got to go all day.

Ooooooohhh, I'm getting goosebumps just writing about it. I can't wait for it to be here. I know I'm gonna hurt, and I know it's going to be hard, but as long as my mind stays in a happy place for the most part- it'll all be tolerable.
The best part of this race, is that the course will stay open until the last person finishes their race. Because it's such a small venue (130 full distance participants and 210 half), they will let you finish your race, even if it's after midnight. The last person finished at 2:30 am last year, and the announcer, medical tent, massage tent, all waited on them (husband/wife doing it together). In the back of my mind, I know that if all goes wrong, I can still finish even if it takes me 19-20 hours, I'll still get an official time and finishers medal, and I won't DNF (but dear heavens, I don't want be out there that long).

Thanks again ladies!!! You're the best!

[KSH]

WOW! How awesome!

I wish you the best of luck. You will do it!

Where are you racing? Is it an Ironman sponsored event? Or an Iron distance being put on by someone else? Just curious. I always like to know what races are around the country, to keep the locations in mind for the future.

I heard someone talking this morning at my race, about how amazing the Ironman Canada was.

PLEASE give us a detailed race report when you get back!

Taper... and have faith that you have put in the time/miles to make the distance... no problem.

[Tri Girl]

Thanks KSH. It's an iron distance event (but not a Ford Ironman race). It's called Redman (that's what the word Oklahoma means- from the Choctaw Indian language). (www.redmantriathlon.com) It's in Oklahoma City. It's a big deal around here, as there aren't many iron distance events in this part of our world. So far there are participants from 23 states and 2 countries besides the U.S. We're pretty proud of our little race. But when I finish, I'm still going to call myself an Ironman- because people will just think I'm crazy if I call myself a Redman.

[Lise]

Very cool, Tri Girl! Thanks for the link. Hang in there--before you know it, you'll be zipping up your wetsuit and be off!

[KSH]

Thanks KSH. It's an iron distance event (but not a Ford Ironman race). It's called Redman (that's what the word Oklahoma means- from the Choctaw Indian language). (www.redmantriathlon.com) It's in Oklahoma City. It's a big deal around here, as there aren't many iron distance events in this part of our world. So far there are participants from 23 states and 2 countries besides the U.S. We're pretty proud of our little race. But when I finish, I'm still going to call myself an Ironman- because people will just think I'm crazy if I call myself a Redman.

Got it. Very cool stuff it sounds like!

Hey, it's all about the DISTANCE... right? Screw the "branding". Have a great race, sounds like it will be FUN... or at lease challenging.

[KSH]

I went to the website to check out the details and it looks like a really well put together event.

It's also really nice that back in May you could have paid $250 for entry.

GOOD LUCK!

It looks like a nice race course, you should have a great race.

[colby]

Good luck Tri Girl! Finally, the day you've been training for is almost here. Now your toughest task is not keeping yourself sane until Sunday!

It sounds like a great event, even a little more low key than the official Ford ones. Looking forward to the inevitable race report

[Lise]

And ya know? Who made Ford the "official" Ironman race? Ford did! Why? To sell more Fords! 140.6 is 140.6 is 140.6. You have all my respect. I like it that they honor you as a finisher, no matter how long it takes you to finish. The original guys who did an IM sure as heck didn't have a fancy sponsor. They just went out and did it, to see if they could.

[Running Mommy]

Actually ford is the new guy in town... I believe it's a big conglomerate called the WTC.... But of course some crazy cat's over in Hawaii are the ones who REALLY came up with the moniker "Ironman", and I have the feeling they don't appreciate how commercial it's become. Just a hunch on my part of course...
Iron is Iron is Iron!!!!
Now go out there and do what needs to be done to join the club!!!
I have a spot waiting for you!!!!

[roshelleuop]

I can't take credit for this advice, as it is what my DH said to me right before I did my very first triathlon this year. Plus, I know this is far from your first event, but I think it applies to anything and everyone.

"I'm going to tell you something, you are going to get out there and you may want to quit, you are going to get tired and scared and may just want to stop and call for help, but whatever you do, just keep going, no matter how much it hurts and no matter how scared you are, just keep going, you can do it! you can do this Tri Girl!".

Good luck Tri Girl!!!!! You will do great!!!!! Looking forward to the report!!!

Roshelle from Milwaukee
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[Lise]

That's always good advice right before a race, Roshelle!