2 Weeks to IMWI!
Wanted to start the thread with a nice convo I had with my husband last night:
Me: I wish I could have a do-over on this training, this time without the thyroid meltdown and your face smash.
Him: What I see is someone who picked up the pieces and made lemonade.
The mixed metaphors made me laugh. 
But I thought it was a nice sentiment that made me feel good. Sigh. This really has been quite a roller coaster.
Not sure what I'm doing today. Sitting here dressed to run, but totally pooped and a little headache-y. EZ and short, or day off? Think I'll start out and see how I feel. I'd like to swim some later, b/c I always enjoy it.
Happy Monday everyone. IMLou and IMC could not have come at a better time, huh? So invigorating!
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I am +/- on taking a rest day. May do a run later today, depends on how work goes. Good news is I am finally sleeping well. Interesting observation, that it took TSB getting into the -15ish range for me to begin getting solid sleep.
Have a good day everybody!!
FWIW, G, I'm going out for 30' EZ and will hit the swim later and take that down too. Just something to keep me moving.\
Ditto on the sleep--once the TSB hits the teens, I start sleeping much better. Last two night have been really good, and I need it.
I got the run and swim done this morning. I like those 100s as 50fast/50EZ sets so I was actually kinda looking forward to it this morning!
Fiona is packed and ready to be dropped off at FedEx on Wednesday. I have several little errands to run (realized in packing up Fiona yesterday that I am suddenly totally out of Gu Packs!! How did that happen?) and I need to get all my ducks in a row ASAP. If we have to evacuate for Earle I wanna have all my race stuff ready to go.
I find it a little ominous that the next tropical storm is going to be Fiona if it turns into a hurricane. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
I'm running and swimming today. Taper seems strange after completely so much work week after week.
Nemo-I hope the storm misses you guys. There seems to be enough to deal with without extra things right now.
I agree with everyone on the sleep.
Have a great day!
To catch up:
Friday - AWESOME RR - see separate thread
Saturday - I felt awesome the day after my RR, but decided it was best to only go for an easy runfor about an hour in the sun at noon. No goal just ran by feel.
Sunday - swim started slow as my back was sore, but finished with great. Decided to build some SAUs and went for a bike ride with Theresa. That may have backfired as I've gotten stronger and she hasn't riden much for a year and a half because of Abigail. Eitherway the first hour was enjoyable for both of us but she wasn't so thrilled with the last 40 minutes. After that I ran 9 miles in just under an hour, while it was 95 and direct sun. To make the most of it I ran back and forth on the side of a frontage road so I had nothing but a white line to look at and had to deal with the heat reflecting off the road. I was able to take in 16 oz of water right before walking out the door and another 32 oz during the run, which is a huge improvement for me.
Monday - WU felt off, but felt good after a few strides. Ended up feeling great for 3 x 1mi and came in a 5:37, 5:32, 5:24 almost went for another one and decided to back off instead.
Matt, thanks for checking in as always. I'm sure I speak for everyone else when I say that I appreciate you spending the time to share with us as well as actually read all of our posts and offer feedback and support for a race that you're not even doing this year. On a related note, I read your Kona RR report and as always all I could think is wow, definite mental and physical toughness there. You definitely work hard for your success. One day, I hope I can have it in me too.
@Everyone else, are you guys saying that your TSB is just now getting into the -15 TSB range with the rest from taper? As in your TSB was say -30 before, but after last week you are up to -15?
My TSB has been pretty high this whole past week, I'm sure I dipped into the -15 range or so this weekend from the rides but all and all it's been much higher than it has all the rest of the season. I popped into the positive's for sure last week at one point. Conversely, my ATL has been pretty low, yet I'm often still feeling just as beat or tired as I was back when my TSB was much lower. I suppose the good news is that my CTL was at it's highest point for this entire year right at the start of taper and it has so far been holding ok while my ATL drops and TSB rises, which is the whole point I think. In general though, I've been a lot more restless too. I slept better much night after the weekend rides than I do after a light day of training.
Looking ahead to this week looks like it will be a much bigger test for me than last week, most of the workouts last week still seemed to offer opportunity to go pretty hard at a decent enough volume. This week is where I really want to be smart, it would be way, way too easy to try and sneak in bonus intensity or volume. Just need to keep telling myself, barn doors are closed.
Yesterday, a 3.5 hour ride with lots of noodling and just enough work. Then, I took a serious couch day. I just watched a lot of Nip/Tuck
Today, I think the taper monster hit. I woke up, worrying about not being ready to race. Am I ready to run a marathon? Has my body gone back to the mode where it likes to read the New York Times in bed on Sunday morning instead of riding my bike? So, I started to make the list of all the things I have to get me through the day. The list is getting long. I think the new project to get through taper is to work on this list.
I almost hate weekends because I stay up too late (max is a night owl). Then Monday mornings are hard to get going.
It's pretty dark still at 5:30 when I head out to run. I drive to the beach and run from the parking lot. The first thing I do is run through a cemetery, which I always think should creep me out, but is quite peaceful. The run was good. I did not want to do the sprint swimming. Not sure what my problem is, but I prefer the longer sets. I felt fine, but today was truly hateful on the swim. But I did it all because last week I cut it short one day and skipped another. Probably miss 1 swim this week too due to weather. I don't think I can swim if Earle is lashing the coast of MA.
@Trevor- I popped up into the positive TSB as well. Not sure where it is now, but I think I was -20s with w/e rides.
I spent a lot of time making lists. Every time I thought I was done, something else popped to mind. If I don't have 200 lbs, I'd be surprised ( a slight over statement, but you know what I mean).
My masters group is taking their summer break and my back up pool is closed for a week. I am having to create a trial membership at a local gym to get in my pool swims this week.
I got my bike tuned this weekend - I dropped it off at the shop for the recent purchase (Jan of this year!) tune up. We replaced the chain, tightened up the brakes and drained 6 - 8 oz of water from inside my frame! Yikes! I did a RR in the rain a few weeks back and apparently took on some water. I also put on my new race tires. ooh, it rides nice. I cannot wait until race day!
Day by day we're getting closer but now that we have our bib numbers and Lou and Canada are completed it feels close. There is nothing else between us and Madison.
Happy Monday afternoon everybody!! Like you David dropped off bike at GearWest this am for final inspection. Guess I needed new rear brake cable housing...knew I needed tires, tube and aero pads. I am also giving the wheel cover one more shot and if they can't make it work, then I just won't be using it. I have seriously had so much trouble with it, that I kind of feel like just throwing it away...but, would like to use it if possible, so we shall see what magic gw can produce. I'm glad I only paid $100 for it....I know it has worked slick for others, but for me not so much. It will be fun to get the bike back with new tires and all spiffed up and READY TO ROCK MADISON!!! I am feeling sooo ready....I can already feel the adrenline rushing...wow guys this is going to be something else....I know you all can relate to my feelings..fun knowing we are all in it together
Got the workouts done this morning. Shortened them so I could do some core. It is all good.
Oh and jumped on the scale at the gym.....I hesitate to post this, cuz not braggin on my weight or anything even clos to that nature....but 109 pounds made me do a double take. I haven't been under 110 since prolly high school. Anyone else putting pins in their shorts these days??? Yikes!!
In case you didn't see Pam's post on the Dashboard. The Athlete Guide is now up on the IMWI website! Nothing in there we don't already know, but I always like to review it just to remind myself of all the details and rules.
When my 5'10", 122# partner says, "uhm, babe you look too thin", IT'S TIME FOR IRONMAN!!
I too was around -15 this weekend and today -20. CTL also highest of the season. I have not been + since Keith's accident. I have got to take it down. At this juncture mo' rest -= mo' better, but I can be my own worst enemy.
Can I hate all you skinny ladies just a little?. Never did lose those last 3 lbs. Didn't budge. Except for regular fluctuations, it didn't go up, and it didn't come down. Thyroid, I'm sure of it. At least it stablized--when the thyroid was really haywire it was climbing like a pound a week. Think I got off lucky, all things considered.
I like to race at ~122-123 lbs. I'm at ~126. IEven if I can get one off before race day, that should help. You just made me step away fromt he cookies, so thanks for that!
FWIW, the past five days I have bounced between -12 & -5 TSB. I will start going + now!!
All, Finally starting to really get used to the taper. I had a great weekend of workouts that made me feel good. I am getting the final preparations done for next week.
I do have a question for those that have done the race before. I have done this race three times and I remember coming out of transition for the run and making a left to go around the square. It would appear on the course map that we make a right and go around the square. Is this a new change or have I been in an exercise coma the last few times I competed?
As Trevor and my old cross country coach would say, the hay is in the barn,
Gettin' ready to race,
Todd
We keep talking about a "taper," but in the middle of the swim today I was thinking "WHAT TAPER????"
Coach P's words in his "tapering with intent" post were ringing in my head--"resist the urge to train." Well, these workouts might be less, but they sure look/smell/feel like "training" to me. I was really hurtin' in the pool today. I know I have to keep some kind of training stimulus going, but I'm now going into full on LP-tweak mode. Tomorrow on the bike, I'll be doing 6 x 2 (2) and calling it a day on the bike. At this rate, I need a month to get rested.
I did have the "benefit" of having two weeks with little training during my husband's accident crisis. As P told me, even though it was tremendous stress, my body did rest on some level. When I got back on the horse after two weeks, I was feral. I was rested and clear headed. I KNOW what that feels like, b/c I recently experienced it. I need to get there by next Sunday. I'm following the plan into a bit a wall now, and I have to get myself to pull back even more than what's written.
Todd- I did the race in '08 and I could swear we went to the right and around the square.
They named Fiona today.. They all start as a tropical storm!!
Just read an article today talking about taper and that it is about dropping volume not intensity, which is what I see since I get to sleep in longer. But I was done with the swim in 50 minutes vs 75 the past few weeks.
That said, I was shocked to see -32.8 for my TSB. My legs are jumpy. I need MORE sleep.
Couple of questions:
1) Where are run & bike SNBs dropped race morning?
2) Where on course are the bike & run SNB going to be?
And, WHY does my body feel so achy????
1) Right off to the side of Monona Terrace, on the Square, in front of the old building entrance to the Hilton.
2) Bike is right out of Verona, before the underpass. Run is???
Achy - I don't know why, but mine is too. Maybe body is repair mode?
@G--you know I have issues with the EN taper, and you know I have gotten not-so-nice blow back about it. I think one of the stoopidest things I have done was to follow the plan last week to the letter. I was still in "training mindset" when I should have listented to myself more. I am EXHAUSTED, headache-y. I need to get over this fatigue hump, and fast. I'm so mad at myself for not doing it my way from last week on. Day off for me today, then I'm playing it by ear from here on out. Hope it's not too late.... Kicking, kicking, kicking myself!
Friendly service reminder to the stiff and achy from your out of state PT.
Foam roll, stretch and repeat. This is the week it's most valuable to you. You've gotta flush out all the crap now. Use massage/ART/etc to dig out the specific knots and pains, and roll the rest.
In no particular order: CALVES + feet, hammies, hips, and quads. Doesn't have to be an hour sufferfest, but schedule it like part of your workout. I like to do it first and then let the workout boost circulation to get the maximum effect.
Finished brick early due to work. Made slight modifications based on previous years experience. Still feeling good. I am starting to wonder about the weather. I think I am going into this more relaxed than ever. I have not had one sngle dream about the race (good or bad).
In regard to SN bags: This is based on 3+ years ago,
Drop off on the street on way to Monona Terrace. Both sets in rows one after the other.
Bike : In verona, just after you make the left on the first loop. You'll pass by them setting it up for you next lap.
Run: Just after the turn around, around the square.
Staying relaxed, Todd