IMCHOO Training Wk 8/22 - 8/28
Hey folks....
A little low key this week as far as focus but I really want to make sure you are working on your mental game. This weekend I had the honor to sherpa Kori at IMCDA and I was reminded that mental toughness can quite literally be the reason you cross the finish line. Her story is so motivating and I know we can all benefit from each others stories.
So.....
Lets hear it, mental toughness stories. How you got "here" - your journey etc. Lets flex that muscle so that when you need it on race day (WHICH YOU WILL) its strong, powerful and ready to shot gun you across the finish line.
0
Comments
For me IM is about the journey and all the amazing friends I meet along the way!
2012 IM Florida – 17:06 managed to get lost on the run and add an extra mile 9(had a police escort the last 4 miles) , although, they kept the clock running and gave me a metal.
2014 IM Florida- DNF Swim was canceled, crashed my new bike at 56 miles- duct tape the body and bike I rode to mile 100 – derailleur fell off –ran with my bike to mile 104 then the race was over for me.
2015 IM Choo – Celebrating Life! With a DNF missed the 13 mile run cutoff by 15 minutes. I was emotionally and physically drained before the race started. With my husbands bone marrow transplant then the night of the race I received a phone call that my 92-year-old father was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.
My husband Mike had been struggling with Aplastic Anemia. In January before IMChoo 2015 he relapsed and on June 10th2015 he received a bone marrow transplant. He always said “this is not happening to me it is happening to us” … so true.
My training journey to IMChoo became my foundation to survive watching my husband go through a horrific disease /procedure and being his caregiver for the last two years. Feeling blessed that a 23-year-old from Europe with a 10/10 match was willing to donate his marrow. Mike is post-transplant 14 plus months. Only to find a tumor in his bile duct of the pancreas. So on March 30 2016 he underwent a “Whipple Procedure” and is recovering and doing well.
2016 IM Choo….only time will tell!
I pray to the Iron-Gods daily for a finish at 2016 IMChoo!
http://members.endurancenation.us/F...fault.aspx
http://members.endurancenation.us/F...fault.aspx
Tag you are it!
Someone just posted this on Facebook. This will be us at IMChoo....
I keep a list of these. Have not pulled them out since IM Boulder in 2014. Thanks for reminding me...
Second Place and Take The Shot!
Another Underdog
It's 2AM and I have been awake most of the night. I guess it is time for me to face reality. Back in May, eight months into the training process, I crashed on a training ride. Although I thought it was only going to mean a little down time and getting a new bike, in the escalation phase of training I have begun to have lots of pain in my hip. Met with the Ortho doc and he knew something was going on. MRI was scheduled and cancelled due to insurance stating it was "not medically necessary" and failing to authorize it. PT said there is a general weakness on left side, Workouts have been non-existant for almost 2 weeks.
With a month to go, the reality is that I need to fix this somehow and IRONMAN does not seem to be part of the fix.
What is the take way? I am seeing an EN ChooCrew really sounding positive. Struggles have been there but have been overcome. I hear the encouragement being shared between teammates, the video clips and positive quotes. I have received and seen others give and receive positive notes. Believe me when I say that I will miss being part of the group, meeting you at the Grill for the team dinner. Although it is very hard for me to give in at this point, I think that it is as hard in another way for my wife. She has invested time, effort and lots of support. We will be here in Pennsylvania sending the most positive vibes we can, cheering for you from 650 miles away. Someday I will try again. Someday I will see the finish line and hear that phrase called out, "You are an ............."
I had hoped to have some inspiring quote to leave you to give you all focus and strength to do this thing in a few weeks, but my mind is blank. You really don't need one from me. You have taken the steps forward, worked and soon you will take to the river and roads around Chattanooga and become IRON. Time to do it! Peace to you all.
You have just faced the hardest decision that any of us could face. Truth be told, every one of us has a dark place within us where that fear lurks, where we face the same hardship and decisions. I will tell you that you will be stronger for it, but you know that, and it won't assuage any of the emotions you now face.
So here is my ask of you...
Continue to be our teammate, our friend, our cheerleader. Who knows more where we are at just four weeks out, and all the demons we face every day.
And as you go through the next chapter you face, one to recovery and the road back to long course triathlon, we will be your friend, your teammates and your cheerleader. Mark, stay in contact!
Thank You. Now, don't you have a 90 minute swim to get done!
Sue, that is mine as well!!
@Mark, HUGS!!!!
Here is one of my favorite all time motivation clips! Miracle on Ice Speech. ... it gets me everytime!
You were born to be an Ironman. Everyone of you!
A quick update on my training week. Monday was a complete rest day...loved it and needed it after Saturday and Sunday's workouts. Wednesday FTP workout went surprisingly well. I was ready to call it quits after my warm up because my legs felt fatigued, but after I started it wasn't too bad. Thanks to lower temps and humidity, Thursday's long run was bearable. Today I plan to run and do Saturday's long swim. Saturday I'm out of town and Sunday will be the 5 hr ride and run.
Happy training everyone!
I will be at Chattanooga this weekend doing the organized swim and then out on the course for the scheduled bike and run if anyone going out there wants to ride together! I might be slower than you though
Hey, who plans on wearing a wetsuit in this race? I still haven't decided. I have raced for 12 years in a wetsuit coming from MN but here no one seems to wear one and I have kinda liked the freedom to breathe but will miss the buoyancy.
Kim - I thought the water was too warm for a wetsuit. One guy I was with did wear and he said he became hot and uncomfortable. Enjoy Chattanooga. On the bike pay attention to the turn onto Hog Jowl Road. Nice slow incline all the way.
Hi Mark,
I keep hearing you can wear one but you will be in the last wave and can't win age group awards (not gonna happen anyways). Good reminder on getting too hot. I have overheated in MN and it is the worst in a wetsuit. Ok, decision made I think. Thanks for heads up on Hog Jowl Road..
@Kim, Don and I will be there tomorrow in Chatt for the swim. The plan is to ride and possibly run after, though it's going to be terribly hot. I will be in my EN top. Look for me on the boat. I plan to drive to the top of the loop and bike from there after the swim. That way I can refuel. You are welcome to ride with me, though I am not fast. I will average 16ish, especially in this heat. Don is faster, so you can hang with him if you need to go harder.
As it relates to the wet suit, you won't want it tomorrow. I wore it for the race in 2014 because I'm a slower swimmer and I like the security of it but I'm going to try tomorrow without it (just going to wear a skin suit) to see what the time difference equates to. It'll be a game day decision for what to wear for the race.
Hi Amy,
I will look for you. I am about same bike speed as you and I am not looking to go any faster. I am a very conservative racer. I think I will have a black (i know not the color to wear) top and my tri shorts on for tomorrows swim. I have been in clothing delimas since I am a brand ambassador so I will be switching out for my run on the race but i just decided I cannot wear the brand for the bike. pulls too much on the neck. Anyways, I may change my mind last minute but i am 5'2 and wearing a black top/bottom. i plan on testing the swim with no wetsuit but i was fine at my HIM in June without it (first race ever without it) so I would rather be slower too than get hot on race day. Testing tomorrow.
I know nothing about the course but will be figuring it out on the ride up tonight to chattagnooga. we are getting in town late but the hubs is driving me out to the swim and i hope to bike with you after. I just need to make sure i can refuel as well.. but gotta make sure i know my where abouts, etc. I have had a hard last few long rides where my phone doesnt have connection and I need to make sure i have a plan with him so i am not stranded with no refueling as he will be off at some cave with my daughter while i am biking.
Josh,
This is from a post that Coach Rich made recently. Let me know if it doesn't work. I found the process really simple:
The best way to sign up is to register for Ironman’s newsletter. Don’t worry, you can un-check all the boxes you don’t want, but this is how it works: