IMFL - 10 weeks til show time
Just checking in! I finished up recovery week and am now officially with you on the plan. Yikes! Excited and nervous, but eager to get going.
After Timberman I took my bike to the LBS for a tuneup (knowing I'd be spending a lot of time on it in the months to come) and they found a crack in the frame. Not catastrophic, but not fixable. The mechanic suggested I mark it, watch it, and start shopping... I linked up with todd at TTbikefit, sent him my measurements and a video of me on my current ride... and he thinks he's got a bike for me. I should have it by the end of the week... in time for me to head out of town. Ugh. And next weekend I'll be in WI... ugh! At least that will give me some quality drainer time during the week to nail the fit, with Todd's help... and I'll get it out for long rides the weekend before our RR... crazy... as if I weren't anxious enough dealing with first time jitters...
anyway, hope everyone is doing well and feeling good!
Comments
How is everyone else doing?
Hard to believe there are only 10 weeks to go! Seems like I've been thinking about this forever....actually it's only been about a year and a half, but anyway! I'm also using HR for the bike BUT I'm using the pace at zone 1/2 based on testing not my HR alone. I'll watch it, but am focusing on the pace. It's SOOOO blasted hot here that my HR is really elevated. I've done the pace thing instead of HR on the run too and it seems to work out fine. I plan to do my RR on Sunday and the forecast is the same as it has been....too hot! Last RR it was over 100. We did have a small reprieve in temps last Thursday and I noticed on my long run that my HR was a full 10 beats lower per zone. There's hope!!!
This past weekend I did a cycling event(not on the plan), but mentally I felt it would be good for me. You've probably heard of it....Hotter Than Hell 100 in Wichita Falls? Anyway, I tacked on an extra 12 miles to make it my first ever 112 mile ride. Then of course the short but extra hot run. I felt really good...rode faster than I plan to do for IM by 1.5mph over all. I was thankful the brick was short....no way I am ready to go the distance....YET!!! I'm super nervous about this IM, but I can definitely tell the EN training plan works for me. Just the right mix of intensity/endurance.
Hope all is going well for you. I look forward to meeting you in FL and hearing how RR#2 goes for you.
Cheers, Lynda Stewart
Hi Lynda! Thanks for checking in. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only HR athlete doing IMFL - we'll be able to compare notes! I know what you mean... this has been a long time coming.... and it's a bit scary to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!
I did the long day today... and programmed my watch for a Z1/2 warmup and a Z2 to low Z3 for the work segments... I held that fine for the 2.5 hours (after the 30 min WU), but had trouble negative splitting the last hour per the directions (it was hot, it was a short and very boring loop, and my mind was starting to wander - at least I added a few mental toughness points)...
I did the swim no problem (I like doing ladders, it broke it up nicely... 3000m total in 1 hour including the rest). On the bike l I logged about 70.2 in 4 hours. Doing HR, this was definitely good for me to try to dial in what zone I want to be in for FL... but I definitely hear you about the heat and how it wreaks havoc on our zones! I picked a flat and windy spot to do the ride today knowing that's what FL is likely to be like... and there wasn't much shade... temos hit 90+. The last hour was just brutal. I was ready to be done! I simply melted on the run, I managed to do the first 30' in Z1 and did negative split, but wasn't close to Z2 for the last 30'. 5.97 miles total (walking every mile to drink).
Glad it's done and glad I get a recovery day tomorrow, although I might pick up a swim I missed earlier in the week.. if I do, I'll bring the buoy to be sure my legs get the rest they need.
Good luck with your long days, everyone! Let me know how you do! Nat, how was yours yesterday?
@Becky sounds like you had a great big day too !! Good for you ! Thank you for keeping the ball rolling on our training too ! It's nice to hear what everybody else is doing.
@Lynda. Wow, sounds llike you are doing awesome ! No worries about the IM. I think you will do great !
Nathalie
Thanks for sharing the RR#2 report! It really helps hearing how everyone is doing. We actually had reasonable temps this time but way high on the humidity. I had a little anxiety about how the day would go because I didn't get enough sleep....someone told me no one ever fell asleep during an event so I tried to stay positive about it! I did an open water swim and reached 1.75 in the hour...felt good. Made 73 miles on the bike, but didn't really feel all that great. I was a little off on the nutrition, mental note to set a timer for when to eat! I was thinking I'd pay for this on the run but managed a negative split. Overall felt good about the day. Did a 1.5 hour recovery ride today in fear of that second day soreness!
Question:
Are the 4 hours supposed to be total time or bike time? I did bike time but wasn't sure. I know I spent too much time refilling and by that I mean procrastinating!
Hope you all have a great week! 9 more weeks and counting~
Cheers,
Lynda