I am thrilled to announce Peak Week is coming to an End. I will kick off my taper with a rest day and tire changing practice.
Mission Accomplished this week including 19 mile long run, 5000 yd long swim, and 108 mile bike ride (6:20). Let's just say they were all hard earned, none came too easy. I incorporated more hills to prep for the IM course on the run and had to run/walk the last 2 miles. Track work seems to be paying off with the start/stop for run/walk and a slight improvement in speed. I did the long swim in a pool and played brain games making rhymes every time I swam across the pool to help me keep count. I stayed local for my longest bike ride and accomplished my time goal with an overall ave of 17 mph. My cadence was good and I was able to work at the top of my power zone 2/bottom of zone 3 longer, but I still slowed down at the end. It was a hot day despite starting at 4 am. I stopped every loop to refuel and pour ice down my jersey. The last 8 miles my feet were on fire and although I was overheated, I still went out for a short run after the ride. I decided I did not need to push in a few extra minutes or miles as I could save "enduring more pain" for race day!
It was not an easy week, but I was motivated to get the work done so I can begin the home stretch. Taper is not as easy as it sounds. It is a gradual process of strategically maintaining fitness and giving your body a rest in order to reach peak performance on race day. The upcoming week will include a 15 mile run, 5 hour bike ride/1 hour brick run and a 3000 yd open water swim. One more busy week, but relief is on the way!
The heated debates and discussions about the Inaugural Ironman in Chattanooga are cooling down and people are coming together supporting one another on how to overcome the additional constraints of a late start and long bike course. Locals are reaching out and providing information about the town for us triathletes who are coming from out of town.
It is time to focus on the little details like equipment, nutrition, what to pack and how to pack it. My bike will have a tune up this week and I will start to work on race strategy for the swim, bike and run. There has been a lot of sharing of information by the local about the course that has been helpful to know more what to expect. The thought of being in a new place and having no idea where I am in the middle of a river or riding and running through strange rural towns could add a new element of excitement, exhilaration or just plain old fear.
It is hard not to compare your performance and fitness level from previous races. I feel that I have gained some strength and fitness over the past month, but how it will all come together on race day is a bit much to comprehend. I do remember my first Ironman when I started the swim, finally believing that I could DO this and hopefully that same feeling will return when the cannon goes off on September 28th and the current sweeps me down the Tennessee River.
I am still battling some very stubborn Achilles pain and my massage therapist is pulling out all his tricks to help release the restrictions in my soft tissues. I can't say it is a pleasant experience, but hopefully I can get to the start with less pain.
It is very difficult to turn the mind off right now and get some very needed sleep. Intense training really plays tricks on your body and mind. I am so HAPPY and RELIEVED to get to this point. I want to say it is all down hill now, but the truth is there will be a lot more hills! HERE WE GO...entering home stretch....3 weeks to go until RACE TIME! LET's CHOO IT!
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