Ironman Arizona : Official Thread (Page 39)

Because of the family schedule this weekend I did 5 hours on the trainer this morning, I started at 12:30am Looking at my HR I'm not sure I did the best job but I was very happy to be done   Little sleepy now....

I think I did my last long run before the race today, 18 in 3:06.  I was planning on running 15-16 next weekend as well, then the weekend after that I'm doing a fun half marathon.  However we're taking the kids away for the weekend coming up, and as it turns out there's a half marathon in town there that I might do.  It's a Honky Tonk Marathon/Half Marathon and my medal would be a belt buckle, how can I pass that up?

So, like alot of others have asked, should today's 18 be enough, and I'll 13 the next two weekends then taper?

As with everyone else, it all depends on a number of things:

1. How is your current level of fitness?
2. What are you goals for Ironman?
3. Are you a natural runner, or is it a limiter for you?
4. Do you have the time in your schedule to keep a longer training regimen going?
5. If you continue to run long, will it limit your training on other disciplines?
6. How do YOU feel about your run readiness?

Could you do the HM next week then just keep running for 3 more miles?  You'd have to be disciplined to not race the HM so that you could keep running, but I think you should be doing that anyway.

I am considering a "fun" Half IM distance race on 11/4.  This would be my last long effort.  Is this insane or would it be ok?   I am feeling strong but want to mix it up in a good open water swim and could use another strong 56 on the bike.  I have thought about bailing after the bike but just can't seem to bring myself to plan on that.  I have been injured with broken foot and hand this season.  Kept training as best I could through it all.  Feel strong now but have not had much race practice.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this.  Thanks!

I had a pretty good weekend...Saturday I rode 95 miles and followed it up with a quick 4 mile run and today I did a 4k OWS race and finished in 1:15:50. Considering I would have loved to just break 1:20:00 I was really happy. My long run was not so great. It was hot and I didn't plan my nutrition very well...set out to do 18 miles in 2:40, ended up doing 17 miles in 2:45.

I have a HIM next week (which means rest week this week!!) and I'm going to follow it with another long week before I start tapering. Probably won't run much longer than 18, but I'd like to be a little more comfortable...

There is a HIM in AZ (SOMA) next weekend (4wks before IM AZ) that is always the talk of debate for IM AZers.  Do I or do I not race a month prior?  I did not last year, and was fine in IM AZ.  I know people of similar fitness who did race SOMA, and they were fine in IM AZ.  Again, if your fitness level is up to it, there is nothing to say it will kill you.  My only advice would be to make sure you play it safe - injury from pushing at race speed would be damaging to IM AZ potential.

The Scottsdale Rd bridge uses both sides for the IM race.  That being said, I do not recall them "closing" it down to other pedestrian traffic.  I could be wrong, though.  As long as your family is careful and stays out of the way of the athletes, they likely would be ignored going over the bridge.  The lakeside paths have plenty of room for spectators and athletes alike.

A HM on Sunday the 4th is consistent with my taper, but you have to be careful not to push too hard, I think.  To answer your other question, for me, the taper starts earlier for the run, last long run will be last weekend in Oct., then moving down from there.  Last long ride will be first weekend in November, and I'll keep swimming long until the week before.

If your schedule allows it, we've got a couple real nice days heading your way, maybe later this week you could get your long ride in.  Last I checked it's going to be great here tomorrow for a long ride, maybe you'll get that weather by Thursday or Friday?

And thanks everyone for the long run analysis, I think I'll probably try and figure out a way to turn this coming weekend's half marathon into 16-17 miles plus some good mileage during the midweek runs.  Maybe I can try and squeeze in a long run about 2.5 weeks out as well, a 14 or 15 miler.

This is the best news I've heard as well.  My 100 miler this weekend (an organized century ride) was on horrible chip seal roads and about 1 mile of gravel road.  Not fun at all.  Hearing "smooth roads" is like music to my ears.

Decent weekend, but my 18 miler HURT.  It was my 2nd 18 miler...the first time wasn't so bad.  Didn't start to hurt until 16, then it wasn't so bad.  Last night it started hurting at 14, and when I hit 18 and stopped running, it actually hurt way worse to walk.  Not real sure of the difference, other than less sleep 2 nights before.

First attempt, I rode 70 miles saturday and swam 2.4 Sunday morning before my afternoon run.

This attempt, I rode 100 saturday and swam only 2 miles in the morning.  Run was very late as I waited out predicted storms.

Thoughts?  Sleep?  I do think I consumed one less GU.

Expect it to be anywhere from mildly gusty to brutal wind out on the Beeline, depending on the day we get.  A lot of times it seems to blow across the road, but a headwind is not unheard of.