First IM, dreading the run.

here's a few things that helped me.  ipod.  doing most of my runs in the early am so i could get it over with.   Buying a pair of trail shoes that are waterproof for when i was running in a couple inches of snow and my feet were getting too wet.  changing my route up (running from home got pretty old quickly).

Seriously finishing an Ironman is simply how bad you want it. That's it.

However my recommendation is on race morning get in the water by 6:40 this will get your anxiety down a bit and calm your nerves.

Hopefully you have money for some aero bars, the desents on the downhill my max speed for the day on My Cervelo P3C with standard wheels and regular helmet I hit 48mph!!! This is your time to recover! Whatever you do don't try to spin out on the downhills to make up for lost time, chances are there is a hill right around the corner, also keep in mind you have to climb up the roundabout  at the parking garage on your way back, so don't exhaust yourself too much your last 5-10 miles. The hills you will definitely question your ability to finish but at the top after you get some easy spinning for a few hundred feet you will feel fine again.

Finally the run, the energy from the crowd is AMAZING!!!! Seriously keep your legs moving, take in the crowds, the signs, the hot college students, and take your mind away from the pain as much as you can. I also broke the run down mile by mile and simply aimed to get to the next mile as quick as possible while maintaining 145bpm heart rate.

Finally nutrition, use whatever your body likes and DO NOT CHANGE IT ON RACE DAY.

Train hard and Sep 12, 2010 will be your day to shine.

I'll add a thought:  trail running.  Have you tried it?  Trail running gave me a whole new perspective on running.

If you have some decent trails near where you live, get out there and give it a go.  You might just like it.

As far as the IM run, I hope to run at lease half of it.

That helps alot, thanks for your time!

Just do it.  I hate swimming, but I did it.

First thing that we do, is rip that negative idea out our heads, fling it around like an All-Star wrestler until it gets dizzy, then smash it down to the ground, and stomp the living shat out of it.  Then, if it tries to revive itself, you pile-drive it senseless.  Get the picture?

Focus on the positive, stay in your plan (if you have one), focus on what needs to get done, enjoy the time you have, and do YOUR best.

With all that positive energy, remember the goal - you will become an Ironman.

Now, get out there, and start training injury-free, 'K?

Good luck to you.

Here are my pointers:

1. Start running more now.  Running takes the longest time to build up a base.  This base will help keep you from getting injured.
2. Vary your routes.
3. Trail run.  When you trail run try and run like a wild animal.  It is a blast to go all out on the trails.
4. Pace correctly on your training runs.  If you go out to fast the second half of the run will suck.  If you pace correctly you will finish strong.
5. Embrace your ipod.  Try different music and audio books.  The first time I trained for a marathon I used audio books on my long runs and it really helped.

I would bet that once you get a strong running base you will start to love running.

That big, gray lump in your head is both your nemesis and your salvation. 

Your first step is to somehow make finishing the ironman next September more important than not running (for any and all reasons).  Is finishing an ironman more important than a lazy Saturday/Sunday morning sleeping in?  Then get up, get dressed, and go for that run so you can finish the ironman!  Is the ironman more important than the discomfort of an ice bath?  Yup, get out there and run-soak-recover. 

If you can change your attitude about running, you'll change your results.  Why do you dread run training?  Are you struggling with over-use injuries that make running painful?  Do you struggle to get out the door for those first 5 minutes?  Are you frustrated that you aren't as fast as you think you should be?  Do you not like being alone?  Pinpoint exactly what it is about running that you dread, and start wrapping that tool inside your head around ways to overcome those dreads. 

Set some goals for the race, NOW, while you have time to make them come true.  (Some of these come back to why you want to do the ironman in the first place. )  You can spend the next 12 months training to accomplish your goals.  It's OK to set some super-secret-wouldn't-it-be-really-great-if-it-happens-this-way goals.  Sure, they may take an unusual alignment of the planets or freak weather pattern and if so, be willing to accept results that don't meet this super-secret goal.  In my case, that goal was <12:00 at IMCdA this year.  That would have required near-perfect training, perfect race conditions, and perfect race-day execution.  I'm happier starting with <12 and accepting 13:38 because training wasn't near-perfect, race-day weather wasn't conducive, and my race-day execution was off.  For me, I didn't want to start with a "realistically, 13-hours" mentality where I could slack on training (good enough for 13-hours) and not be ready to take advantage of perfect race conditions IF THEY OCCURRED.  (This is me, you have to sort out your own goals and motivation. ) 

You can help yourself be ready to run.  Work on some specific run plans.  Find a training partner (in-real-life is best, but virtual partners can help too).  Make some new routes (trail running is a great change-of-pace).  Make some intermediate running goals.  Train by time rather than distance.  Find several training partners (one who is a little faster and will challenge you, and one who is a little slower, so you realize you're not the slug you envision yourself to be.  Plus, your slower friend might be more excited about running and that enthusiasm MIGHT rub off on you. )