Fake Tapering

This week started the taper for Ironman. I have called it a "fake" taper all week. Our weekly totals were...swimming 4 miles, biking over 100 miles and running 14 miles. Does that seem like a taper to you? I have been reminded that as a distance swimmer, I kept my totals up until almost the end. And I was told that one of the mistakes newbie Ironman make is cutting out too much too fast. SO.. this all is coming together.. so to speak.

Today.. Rhonda, Legs and I rode the hills of Barrington again. It was very reminiscent for me. We went on the roads that I used to run on this winter, and the hills we've ridden training this year. There was no pushing or hammering, just enjoying. This downhill slope towards Ironman seems to have mellowed us out. We chatted about everything and just enjoyed each others company. At the end of the short four hour ride, we had a thirty minute run. We did it on the track. I ran 11 minute miles again today which seems to be the pace I'll be doing at Ironman. This pace is pushing but something I feel like I can do forever. So... I'm off to enjoy the rest of my afternoon and tomorrow's day off! Rumor has it that next week is even lighter! I'll love it!

BTW.... DT races IMLOU tomorrow! It looks like a perfect day for him! I'll be cheering for him!

17 Day Countdown

It's time.. we're getting very close now! I have been assigned some lists to create in the next couple days and some letters to be sent to some very important people. During Tuesday bike class, we went through the step by step Ironman Wisconsin guide. It is all becoming very real now!

Our teammate and my swimming buddy, DT will be racing in IMLOU this weekend. We will be cheering him on as he starts his LAST dance!

Epic Saturday

This Saturday we did "Epic Saturday". On paper it looked like something that might kill me. BUT I knew that if I did this well, Ironman would be better. The plan was a 1.6 mile swim, 92 mile bike and a 4 mile run. This took us almost all day! We started at 7:45am and finished it at 3:15pm. WOW!! I know Ironman day will be even further, but muscle memory is important. I want my body to know I am going to keep on going and going! I followed the Bus into T1. He is a great guy to draft off of. I HOPE to find him at Ironman. It would make my day!! Then I rode all 92 miles with McD. We started by going the wrong way.. cue sheet was incorrect. And finished the ride by going our "own way". Some of the roads on the planned route ended up getting so busy we were worried about getting hurt. The route had less steep hills then the Ironman course, but we had a BIG swirly wind which gave it the "hard" factor. We rolled into T2. I told McD to go on his way. I would be running on my own. I changed clothes (just like the Ironman plan) and was off. The run was not super FAST, but it was something I felt like I could do forever. This day was enjoyable to me! I talked to coach today and he said, " This is it! You know now that you will do it. BRING IT!". We are off to taper..... Good things to come!

BTW... when I finished yesterday.. Coach gave me a NUT PIN! Nothing could be more fitting. I'm totally excited that the BIG NUT is so close now.

I forgot to write my favorite quote from yesterday... "Your good friends will go out and have a beer with you but your best friends will be sitting in the cell next to you saying... that was fucking awesome!" THANKS AGAIN MCD!

New Treatments

This week I did my long run as a sandwich run between Tuesday and Wednesday. This would be my last long run before Ironman. It was mostly successful. Incredibly, the run on Wednesday felt better then Tuesday. I was lucky enough to do both runs with Tom at Busse Woods. Shortly there after, my body started telling me something. STOP! I was starting to have the "classic" symptoms of overtraining. Coach requested that I take some time off and go back to the Chinese medicine folks. I love them! It was great. They did acupuncture on my ears. It is called Auriculotherapy. It seeks to restore a sense of well-being, reduce anxiety and promote detoxification. When I left the office, they added Ear Seeds. They do essentially the same thing, but stay in my ears for the next few days. SO far, it appears that this is working. I'm glad! We won't know for sure until tomorrow when I do my last LONG brick workout. BUT..I'm confident.

Four Year Anniversary of the Sport

My first ever Triathlon was the Waupaca Long Sprint Tri. It all started with some running friends in Chicago when I lived here before. Tom has a cabin nearby and it was set. I trained all summer to get ready for this little race.. It's a 1/2 mile swim, 20 mile bike, and 5K run. And when I finished in 2 1/2 hours I jumped up and down like a little kid becuase I was so excited! And my friends, bless their hearts were cheering me on all the way. This is how it all started!! Over the next two years, I flew in from Phoenix to do the race. And there was the year I had the wrong cleats for the pedals and the year I got a flat tire. No matter what the circumstances, it was always a RACE to see who bought breakfast! And... until this year.. I usually did!

This was gonna be a great race! It was the first time I didn't feel nervous before the start. It was just a day of transitions and FUN! The swim was the best I have ever felt at this race! The bike was easier then I remember and I held almost a 20mph pace. My goodness it took me a mile to get my legs under me for the run, but I had a good run too! It was a beautiful day!! AND... no I didn't buy breakfast! This race was more for my head then my body. It was a feel good day where all is well and you feel your strengths. TOTALLY AWESOME!

Time To Chill

Rest week is upon us! In the true spirit of rest week, I am going to wake up to this every morning through Monday. I am racing a little Olympic distance by the lake this weekend as well. This race my first ever triathlon. SO.. I'm back for my fourth year! The lake is one of my favorite places in the World. I'm so lucky to be able to take advantage of it. I have often said that if I ever get too serious about all this Ironman stuff, I must consult Tom. He has "forced" me into this little trip and I am glad. The sounds, smells, and sights of the lake are exactly what I needed right now! Thanks Tom Tom! I am lucky to have you!

Mother Nature gave me a beating!

The one thing you can't control on Ironman Day is the weather. Mother Nature will sometimes bless you and other times challenge you. Craig Alexander calls it "luck". I didn't have the "luck" this weekend. It was the last challenge in a long set of build weeks.

On Saturday, I was set to swim in Lake Monona with other Ironman in the area. But, when I arrived at the dock..it was just me that showed up. It could've been the impeding storm, the fact it was already raining or the swells. I had my wetsuit on already..so I had to try it. IT was ROUGH! I was swallowing water and getting swallowed by the waves. Some fisherman stopped me after five minutes and gave me a talking to. I decided they were right and turned around. And as I got out, there was lightining and thunder. A good decision... thank you to the sweet man and woman who reminded me sometimes Ironman do stupid things.

On Sunday, the weather was set to be the hot and humid conditions that lead to heat warnings. I had already decided that I would start early. I haven't been able to train in the humidity so I knew my body would have a hard time. It was a great challenge. There was also a head wind unmatched by any other time I had been on the course. I got a tail wind.. ONCE for only 3/4 of mile. That's a cruel! It was a workout that was hard, hard, hard! I think it was a combination of weak legs from all the building and heat beating me down. I saw coach after 60 miles, put my hands on my head and said, "I don't think I have another loop in me." It was an honest statement that frustrated me. My nutrition was good, my salt may have been a little low, but it was on target. She said.."You have to go back out there. If you can do this, you can do anything." So... that was that. I made a deal that I would ride 2/3 of the way around the loop and catch my other coach there. I packed myself on ice..literally! Ice sponges on my head and back and a ziploc full of ice in my sports bra and set off. I counted down the time until I saw my coach again. It was most helpful to know the course. On race day, this will help me as well. I was always looking forward to the next spot on the course I remembered. I discovered a big bummer yesterday..they graveled over my favorite road!! And I was lucky too! I rode almost the entire course by myself, but I did get coached on the hills. It was great to learn some new techniques. I will use them on Ironman day too. Lastly, I must note.. I survived. I didn't get hurt, I didn't get in an accident and I will be just fine in a few days. Sometimes, we must really just trust that we can do it. AND then get it done! My last rest week is here. Only 35 more days until the BIG DANCE!

Run Jen Run!

This last week we focused on the run! It was 26+ miles of running in 5 days. As you know, this is my weakest of the three disciplines. It is improving! I went to track workout on Wednesday and ran half milers with Tom. He is such a stinker!! We ran 5 of them together, but on the last one I confessed I didn't have anything left and he TOOK me! Our best split was a 4:30 half miler. SUPER FAST for me! Our worst was still 10 minute miles. It was a good day! Then Tom ran with me again on Friday. It was the most beautiful day here! We ran Busse Woods. It is one of my favorite places to run! And then yesterday, I ran the IMMOO course for the last time before race day! I ran the true course yesterday. I think it helps my muscle memory and my imagery before race day. It was tough, but I made it. Since then, I have been using lots of ice and recovering with cupping (see above).

One more week of build this week... AND the nut this weekend is 120 miles biking. Long range forecast looks like a balmy 90 degrees on Long Bike day.