The Countdown: 2 Weeks to CDA

tuckerm

13 days!

Nice swim today followed by one of my last runs with my daughter pre-race.  Kind of sad in a way and fun in others.  Best was when she would put her hand out of the stroller for me to hold while running.  I'm sure she will love you all when she meets you at the dinner.

sleighcastle

Can't wait to meet your daughter, Tucker! Hopefully I will no longer be contagious from this NASTY respiratory virus I seem to have gotten from MY daughter. So sweet. I am freaking out a bit but she assured me that all she has now (2 weeks from her onset) is "a little bit of a cough, so you'll be fine racing, mom." She then started a hacking fit.

J.T. Thompson

@ Tucker - Been a long time since my kids wanted to hold my hand...now it's only to grab if I have money... It will be fun hanging with Chelsea and her big smile...(of course Meridith too)

@Shannon - Look at it this way - better to be sick this week than next week - and isn't that what kids are all about...

I'm taking today off - the legs need a break so I'm doing what I think I should be in the taper.... hitting the foam roller and doing a bunch of stretching and mobility exercises from Leigh web-site. I think I'll also even have a little ice cream!!

Happy Tapering Folks....!!

kurshing

Tucker...I know what you mean. 20 weeks is a long time and I feel like a book, not a chapter, is closing soon. I am excited but certainly anxious too.

thugbuster

Did a nice 55 minute ride on my favorite quick 18 mile loop. Then headed out with my girls (6 and 8 yrs old). Them on their bikes and me in my running shoes for a nice/easy 25 minute run. They even dropped their bikes and did their very first brick workout. IronKids here they come!!! I love the taper!

alleneskelin

Skipped today's swim since I did the OWS yesterday with Michael and Al but I managed to get a mile run in tonight at Z2. The workout called for Z4 but I'm sticking to Z1 and Z2 on the runs to ensure my knees are 100% on race day.

scottwstewart

@ JT, I took the day off yesterday as well. There was something bugging my knee just a little yesterday, but when I ran this morning it felt fine. I'm trying to be cautious these final two weeks while still getting in most of the workouts. At this point, there's no fitness to be gained.

@ Stephen, I completely agree. It seems like race day is really the final chapter in this great book... then it's off to start the next book.

pgiesin

Morning gang! Struggling with these "last day" activities. Last night I started packing up the bike for drop off at TBT today. Finally received the back ordered race tires and decided to swap them out last night. Plan was to get up an ride this morning to test them out quick. However, laid awake all night thinking about whether changing the tires at this point was a good idea, and other stupid stuff. Got up at 5am to ride and simply bailed after 10 minutes. May be lack of sleep or still some residual fatigue from Ragnar but taking another day off.

tuckerm

Since my bike is already safely with TBT I decided to do my hour towing my girls to school. Dropped off my Meredith and me and Chelsea rode home. Then we did some errands. Funny how much you can get done when you aren't spending multiple hours a day training. Even got in a 20 minute nap at threshold. Feeling good about this.

autospa1

Anyone else feeling the itch? Not training as much makes me cranky!

sleighcastle

Funny how much you can get done when you aren't spending multiple hours a day training. Even got in a 20 minute nap at threshold

Love it!!!!

I am feeling better, was recovered enough today from my bug to do a shorter version of the bike+run. Legs feel super sluggish.

My bike is going up to CDA with a friend so I have to get it all set.. and I realized today that I haven't been in my wetsuit for MONTHS so I should try it out, I guess.

Almost there, guys! (and gals!)

alleneskelin

Easy bike workout on the trainer tonight while watching the 2010 Ironman 70.3 World Championship on DVR. Can't wait for IMCDA.

Bruce Thompson

Good work everyone.  The pent up energy is building.

I had a AWESOME swim this am.  I'm at Lake Geneva, WI for some business meetings and swam in the Lake Geneva, which is about 7 miles long and 1 mile wide.  Conditions:  Air temp 58, water temp 67, wind 18 mph ESE, waves 1-2 feet, rain come down almost sideways.  Purpose: test equipment in these conditions, practice stroke, sighting, and breathing.  I swam parallel to the shore for 45 minutes just going from boat buoy to buoy.  Stayed within 50 yds of the shore. Worm my neoprene cap under a bright yellow race cap: comfortable and no problems.  Goggles: good.  Wetsuit: good and no chafing. Practiced bi-lateral breathing with sometimes breathing on  the side from which the waves were coming and then sometimes to the non-wave side. Practiced using a shorter, quicker stroke.  I have no clue how far or how fast I swam but it doesn't matter.  Today was all about feeling confident in these conditions.  Check. 

ghernand

@bruce: true grit.

looks like everyone is getting ready.

haircut for me today.  also need to get a screw from the hardware because my bike cleat is missing one.  race wheels go on sunday for sunday and tuesday rides.  

otherwise just trying to get as much done at work/school so i can have things brewing while i'm gone so as not to fall behind.  balance in one's life is not condoned at my work, so i train and race secretly, like a superhero!!!

gh

 

J.T. Thompson

@BT - Hey Bro - sounds like you had a great swim this morning - you are really ready to go....

@GH - Since you are a Superhero, should we expect to see you in an EN cape at CDA?

Yes - itching to go some on this end. Did an easy 2200m in the pool last night - almost felt wrong to stop as felt pretty good, but told myself to taper... Tonight - did an easy 1 hour ride on the road bike since TBT has my tri bike - wow - after months on the tri bike, the road bike sure felt different....Still dealing with a sore knee, but confident it will be good to go by race day.

Keep up the tapering....!

tuckerm

Thought I posted earlier but guess I didn't hit enter before Chelsea turned my PC off. Did the swim as planned. Was just grooving on those 4 x 600m sets. Found that not thinking about the stroke either makes me go faster or the time go by quicker. Figuratively of course.
After swim picked up some body glide and a set of ear plugs for the cold water of CDA.
Feeling good.

ghernand

JT:  no.  i live the life of a superhero compared to those i work with.  at CdA i will be amongst you guys, who are all superheros...like the justice league of america!!

gh

pgiesin

Getting all of the bad mojo out of the way THIS week. Went out for a quick hour ride this morning and had both a flat and a mechanical. Now that that is out of the way I should have smooth sailing for race day, right? Ended up putting in a 4x6' @ FTP with an easy 10' of WU/CD. Due to the mechanical I lost the low-end (25) on the rear. This made me nervous for the hill climbs but was able to blow through them.

Now just to get this cold to clear up.

arzaske

I am in super-taper mode due to a crescendo of life/work obligations...two unavoidable full days off... will all be done by Sunday... then I'll finally be able to look forward ot the race!

kurshing

Well...my bike is on it's way to CdA via FedEx. The next time I load up on it, I will be on the coarse...scary!

alleneskelin

I'm taking this taper thing seriously too ;-) Skipped yesterday, did an easy 30 minute swim this morning, and will do a mile run tonight. Just enough to keep active but not enough to need any additional recovery.

tuckerm

So is taper supposed to hurt? Run felt like a death march. Legs sore all over and even my shoulders got all sore while running.

Bruce Thompson

@ Tucker - The run taper is always difficult since you legs get beat up from the long runs.  They feel heavy cus they are still recovering.  We're still 10 days out so the legs will have plenty of time to recover, especially for you 30 something guys.  Just take it ez.

My legs felt a little heavy tonight too.  Did 10.3 miles in just under 90 minutes.  Felt better on the Z2 and Z3 intervals.  Only problem - got a small blister on lf big toe.  UHG!!  Still time to heal but it will probably flare up @ the end of the race. 

pgiesin

Headed to upstate NY in order to drop of the kiddos at my parents for the next 2 weeks. Ahh, the joys of summer vacation. Plan on brining the bike so that I can get in the final ride/run of the week. With the recovery from Ragnar, the cold and crazy work this week that will put me at about 50% for the week. I hope this isn't TOO MUCH taper, but it will be what it is.

Really getting excited and looking forward to heading out to Coeur d'Alene in a couple of days. Can't wait too meet the EN Gang. This is gonna be fun.

Have a nice Father's Day to all of the "Dads" out there!

kurshing

I just did Thurs' long run, since I mailed my bike on Thurs and figured I would use my last Sat for a longer workout. Anyways...my legs are still a littl heavy, but, given the schedule over the next few days, I am hoping I start to feel like a pinned up horse...that is, ready to go!

tuckerm

Just got back from a 3 hr ride with JT. That boy is ready to rip up CDA. Brick felt ok, not great. Really feel naked without my power meter.

J.T. Thompson

Great tapor ride with Tucker yesterday....now it's a Sunday and per the plan, taking it totally off....Not sure what to do with all this time???

Getting fired up to meet everyone and have a great race!!

pgiesin

Last long ride before heading out to CdA. It was actually kinda refreshing to ride without power. Beautiful 40 mile, 2:15 ride through the Catskills. There really is some nice riding up there. I may have to use this a bit more often for Mont Tremblant. Oh, and I swear I heard the devil calling my name when I rode by Devil's Kitchen, but that is for a later time.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in a few days. Time to start packing.....