Ironman Wisconsin : Official Thread (Page 19)

I very much understand what you are saying.  I have a couple more high volume weeks but it has been a mental challenge for a while now.  I am not use to such a long training season.  But I am sooo excited!!  And I can't wait.    This few weeks will be a mental mind game... but what else would IM be without it!

I am totally up for a Guiness after the race. There is a pub right on the course across from the courthouse that I plan on hitting after I get a massage and shower. Then it's over to the finish line to cheer in the 15-17 hr finishers!! I am psyched!!

As for training ......... well. It's going to be what it's going to be. I was hoping to get a century in on Saturday but just found out I am going to have to cut that short unless I can avg 25 mph! Heading on vacation next week to the beach so hope to get some great training in there. Then a couple more build weeks and 3 or 4 days of taper before the race.

I am planning on the Friday and Sat morning Gatorade swims (8am?) then a little 20 mi ride on Friday and jog on Saturday. This is going to be a BT fest!!!

Please save a beer for me.  I will more than likely be in that 15 hour mark...

Yes,  those of us planning on using as many minutes as possible of the race will appreciate the cheering!   It is going to be a very long day   But a great day..... "I Got a Feeling".....

Mmmmm..... Beeeeeeer.......

I'm basically dry right now, so that first beer post-race will probably knock me out.  But it's going to taste sooo goood. 

Racing an Oly this weekend ( Pleasant Prairie ).  Then Schmize and I are riding home from the race, because an Oly is just too short of a training day. 

A bit of a recovery week next week, then a big Race Sim day next weekend ( 4km swim, 5 hour bike, 2:10 run ).  That will be the last biggest day for me before the race.

Taper for me is probably going to see bike and swim volume stay about where it is now, with the run tapering off.  Might get one more 20 miler after the race sim day, but may not.  We'll see what the coach gives me.

I'm feeling good and staying healthy, despite throwing down some solid training months in June and July.

Looking forward to the race!

We'll definetly have to figure out a meeting place for after the race.  I'm hoping to go catch a shower and come cheer in the final finishers also. (Hoping things go well enough I will have time)  Closer to the date we'll have to figure out a midnight meeting area for those up for it.  Gatorade swims are also a great place to meet up.  I'm with Bob for 8:00 a.m. swim on Friday.

LazyMarathoner - 2009-08-13 1:39 PM

crea0029 - 2009-08-13 10:56 AM

I very much understand what you are saying.  I have a couple more high volume weeks but it has been a mental challenge for a while now.  I am not use to such a long training season.  But I am sooo excited!!  And I can't wait.    This few weeks will be a mental mind game... but what else would IM be without it!

My mental setbacks haven't been about doing the training, in some sick way I'm enjoying the bigger volume more than the weeks before. My setbacks are over every missed opportunity and I had one after another - lightning storm cut a long ride in half, 6 flats ended my next long ride, fell while running and had to take a couple rest days to recover and missed a whole weekend, ended up hurting my calf last week trying to make up for the 6 flats day... that sort of thing. Every time it happens I freak out about what it's doing to my race. Is anyone else feeling that way or am I just neurotic?

I guess suddenly I feel like every moment and every thing I do counts and I don't want to screw it up after such a long journey.

Everything does count, but it doesn't mean you should try to cram in more.

What you describe is pretty common from what I've seen.  I have to remind myself to not fall into that trap too. 

In reality, at this point in the training, the hay is in the barn ( Moooooo! ).  Hit your key/big workouts, but don't alter your plan to try to "make up" missed workouts.  You can't make them up, and you risk doing more harm than good.  You're probably not going to make yourself any faster by cramming, and if you injure yourself, you could end up going a lot slower! 

So... relax.  Breathe.  Stick with your plan.  Hit your last key workouts.  And make sure you make it to the start line on the 13th healthy and ready to enjoy the day.

Excellent advice Chris and I could not agree more! Another thing that I have experienced is that if it looks like you're going to miss a workout don't be afraid to shorten it to get something in. If your plan has a 90 min ride with a power set and you have a crazy day, "cut the ingredients" in 1/2 and get a 45 min workout in. You WILL still see the benefit of the power set. Adding a missed 90 min workout to the next day's training is a recipe for disaster.

All this talk about recipe's and ingredients must mean that it's time for a snack!

Whizzzzz - 2009-08-13 9:54 PM As you all may or may not be aware, I broke my Godforsaken pinkie toe last Saturday night, while walking to the bathroom in the dark, in the middle of the night. So much for staying properly hydrated.

I'm not able to run right now... I missed my long run last weekend... this was a recovery week, and I've tossed aside all of my runs this week as well. I'm supplementing my training with a couple of extra bike rides and some aquajogging. I need to be strong enough on the bike to be able to WALK the whole marathon, if need be. I'll keep trying to run to see if I can do it pain free... but so far, notsomuch.

So... my plan is to see how I feel on race day. Then handle myself accordingly. If I absolutely cannot run, I will push the swim and the bike and walk the marathon. If the toe cooperates, I'll pace myself on the bike for a marathon run.

At least I'll get my money's worth. (!!) I will eat $500 worth of Coke, Chicken broth, cookies and Gatorade. Watch me.

OUCH!!! What were you thinking? There's plenty of time for your toe to heal and if you can still bike your run fitness will still be there. You have the right attitude for the race, you WILL have a blast and I can't wait to see you out there!!

Yep. Gatorade sponsors a swim on Thur, Fri and Sat mornings usually at 7:00 - 10:00 am. During those times there will be people watching over your belongings. It is also where you can get the cool green Gatorade Endurance bottles which is the only reason that I do Ironman races. I will plan on being at the Fri and Sat swims at 8:00 but will most likely get a loop in and play in the water closer to 7:00 too. (Weather permitting) In 2007 there was white caps on the lake for the Friday and Sat swims. It was awesome!!