Random thoughts four days out . . .
I'm suprised this board is so quiet. Here's what's going through my head:
* I can't believe I'm doing this. I've run two marathons, in 2001 and 2003. The 2003 marathon was 40 minutes slower than the first one. I was so miserable at the end that I jokingly told people I'm never doing this again unless I swim 2.4 and bike 112 miles first. At that time, I'd never swam more than 50 yards or biked more than 40 miles. I didn't actually start doing triathlons until last year. Here I am.
* I've become a much better runner. The triathlon training last year and then EN training this year has lowered my HM PR from 1:40 to 1:32, and my 10K from 45 to 39:18. I'm 36 and in the best shape of my life.
* I"ve been able to train with minimal impact on my family time. I'm up at 5 or 5:30 and get in my weekday workouts before anyone else even wakes up. I take the occasional lunch break for a swim or a run. When I've had a day off, I make sure to make strawberry crepes or pancakes the way I used to on weekend mornings. I took vacation days from work for the race rehearsals. Otherwise, I've been home by 10:30 every Saturday morning and have been up to do whatever the rest of the family wants to do, whether it's hiking, going to the beach, or just hanging around. I told everyone that I wouldn't say, "I'm too tired to do that" or "I hurt too much to do that" or "doing that will screw up my training," and I've kept my word.
* I'm amazed I haven't gotten injured. My PF in my left foot is gone, and everything else works great. I expected to be crippled by this point.
* I love swimming. I'm not really into long pool sets, but I love short sprints in the pool and long swims in open water. Every summer, my family goes to a resort on a lake in northern Minnesota. The lake is 3/4 mile across. As a kid, I heard that someone swam across and I was incredulous. This summer, I went across and back, then another mile or so along the shore, then hopped otu and went for a run. There's nothing better than swimming at sunrise in a clear, cool lake. My dad rowed across with me just in case, and he had a blast, too. This fall, I want to learn butterfly and flip turns.
* I'm glad to be doing Lake Placid. I signed up on a whim when it went to online registration. I didn't know much about the various races, but in retrospect I prefer hills to flats, and because I like to train early in the morning, I don't see how I could have done a fall race anyway.
* I just looked at the LP webcam, and the oval is almost ready! for 3000 bikes!
http://www.whiteface.com/facilities/cams.php
* I can't handle the EN intensity all the time. I hope I haven't compromised things too much by doing lower volume and lower intensity some of the time.
* I'm looking foward to ditching gels/Infinit/Ensure/Gatorade for a while.
* I may try something totally new on race day. I've never used salt supplements because I haven't needed them. But I've never gone beyond 7.5 hours either, and that was on a cool day. So I've got Salt Sticks just in case.
* Body Glide is my friend, though I wish I could run without a top during the race.
* Next year, I won't do an Ironman, but I do want to do Alcatraz, Savageman, and Survival of the Shawangunks. I may even do Savageman this year.
* I can't wait to get back on my road bike and just take off without a training plan taped to the handlebars.
That's it for now. Back to work, or whatever work I can do during taper week.
Comments
Priceless
Best of luck Keith! Sounds like you are ready. I did that race back in 2000 and it was terrific. I did a photobook about the race on shutterfly. Here is a link in case you are interested in looking at it. I did the race with a friend and there was a LOT of trash talking but i was all in good fun. He beat me so he had the last laugh! Good luck!
The aerial shots of the swim are amazing!
Mine that I would add:
*can't wait to eat french fries!
*can't wait to see my family and friends in the "team" shirts!
*I have done the training, I AM ready! (this is what I have to keep telling my self, like, every 5 minutes!)
*Can't WAIT for EN dinner to see all the EN family and peeps racing and all those red shirts!
Back to packing!
See you up there, everybody!
I think I have reached a place of calm excitement (if that is possible). Sunday will come and Sunday will go. I know that I will finish (barring injury) and it is only a matter of how long it will take.
Looking forward to:
-drinking beer without that little voice in my ear
-being able to race a race instead of surviving an ironman
Really looking forward to saying, "Been there, done that!"
See you all in a couple of days!
Great post!
For me, the best part of the race, of all of Ironman, for that matter, is about 30 minutes into the bike. In your case, I'd say after you get down the downhill into Keene and turn left along the river. The swim is done, you've got your legs back, you're settled into the bars. All the thinking, worrying, shouldacouldawouldaing is done and it's time to just get it DONE. Your life is no more complicated than "what do I need right now to set me up for the next 30 minutes." Nothing else matters
Thanks for starting this, Keith. Great stuff. Looking forward to meeting you and everyone else on Thursday.
My life has been so hectic of late, I have had little time to be nervous about the race, but I wrapped up work today and as I was driving home, I felt a sense of relief and excitement.
Then I got home to the chaos of a remodeling project where we no longer have any furniture in our downstairs. Our makeshift kitchen that was in the living room is now gone and our entire first floor is in the garage. I went for a nice 3.5 mile run and all was good. Can't wait to pack everything up and head up tomorrow.
Dave
looking forward to meeting the team on Thursday.
looking forward to meeting the team on Thursday.
Can't wait to cheer you and Team EN on this weekend!
I'll be there just to cheer my lungs out for my EN family. Can't wait for Sunday, I'm jealous of all of you that get to compete in this awesome race, enjoy every minute of it !!
I'll see you all for beers at the brewery late night.
Loved the post . All of sudden with so many hours in a day to myself during taper I felt my head was going to explode. Calmed down after making about 14pages of lists , boiling each day down to what I need to do (yes I am anal) .
Now I just want to race. In a way I want it today! I want it done.
Things I am thinking about
- going for a long bike ride without having to think about speed, watts, hr or anything . just biking
- racking up sau's by doing some hikes with her.
- replacing infinit with a margaritas
- replacing gels with ice cream
- sleeping in to skip morning swims
Keith, I don't know you nor have we crossed paths. I am a new member this past 7 months and reading your post just put a huge smile on my face and gave me chills! Best of luck to you, wish you all the best, enjoy every moment and can't wait to read your race report!
...to have all my EN peeps here ready to race.
...to see you all racing with smiles on your face.
...to meet your families / support crews.
...to see you at mile 18 (you will be running, right?)
...to hear your post race stories of drama.
...to help you re-integrate to a "normal life"
Coach P
Golden thoughts. Best of luck to you!!