ironman canada // week 26

Top takeaways this week, three weeks out from Ironman Canada (how is that possible?!):

Sleep. I had some incredibly early mornings (3:30a… whaaa?!), which are not conducive to training. They also don’t help my mood. Holy crabby pants last week. Lesson learned: GET MORE SLEEP.

Stress. Stress does really mean things to your body. It makes your hair fall out and your GI system wonky. Working on making some much needed changes to reduce that stress because it cannot and will not continue.

Enough. I repeatedly asked Nick this past week if I was doing enough… if I was running enough, if I was biking enough, if I was eating enough (the latter, no, especially considering I saw 120 on the scale for the first time in at least 10 years). Swim bike run, yes, I’m doing enough. He even pulled out his Ironman Florida training from last year to reassure me, and three weeks out, he had 13 hours; I had 15 and a half this week. A-OK. It’s enough! (And, STOP COMPARING!)

With that, my week…

Monday

A nice rest day today, as I went to Michigan for work (again).

Tuesday

After a 3:30a wake-up call today and a ridiculously long day of work and travel, I was thrilled to get home. En route from the airport, we stopped at Grand Performance to pick up my bike. I have POWER! The data means nothing to me (so far), but I’m excited to ride more with it and figure it out. Tonight’s work out: A 30-mile bike ride + a four-mile transition run. Solid, despite being exhausted.

WEDNESDAY

Another long day of travel to Duluth, but I hit Lake Nokomis for an open water swim when I got home. It was fantastic until the sun dipped below the trees, and the water went black. There’s something about being farther out – alone – that freaks me out, and darker water didn’t help. Between deep breaths and positive self-talk, I quickly swam to the string of buoys closer to shore. I managed to get in another 400 yards or so here before it felt like I kicked something. That’s all it took, and I was done.

But, the Roka Sports wetsuit still rocks!

Thursday

Days are better when they start out on the bike. Nick and I were up with the sun for a quick, 18-mile Ford-Franklin bridge loop.

And, I ended the day with this tempo run: two-mile warm-up / 30 minutes (four miles) at 7:18-7:33 pace / one-mile cool down.

Friday

Despite some frustration sobbing tears in the middle of my Ohio hill repeats, being on my bike is my happy place (to clarify, the tears weren’t because of training). After an uplifting pep talk from Johnny, I biked home easy and relaxed the rest of the night.

Saturday

I just felt off for most of my 14-mile run today. It wasn’t terrible, just a bit of an unsettled stomach (that’s what happens when dinner’s at 10p + there’s too much stress). But, one foot in front of the other, I finished and promptly put on compression and my legs up the wall.

Sunday

Today was GOOD. If I feel this good on August 25, it’s gonna be one fantastic day. A solid 114-mile ride through Afton, Stillwater and Marine on St. Croix followed by a great six-mile run! I cannot wait for race day!

Bike nutrition: Osmo Nutrition preload hydration (about 30 minutes prior to biking), two PB+J Bonk Breakers, Honey Stinger energy chews, one chocolate outrage GU, one mocha Clif shot energy gel, two bottles Skratch Labs (double servings in each), one bottle water, two bottles strawberry lemonade nuun and a Jarritos mexican orange soda (at the halfway mark). Coach Johnny said nutrition was exactly on. Must have been because there was no bonking on the run!

In non-training news…

Coming home to fresh flowers on the table is such a pick-me-up.

Getting random pics of my favorite little lady from my bestest sista. Finley is the cutest!

And, recovering with watermelon. I’m not kidding when I say I could eat an entire melon after a long day on the bike.

Weekly stats

15 hours, 31 minutes.

Swim: 2,100 yards, 43:22
Bike: 184.28 miles, 10:22:23
Run: 31.44 miles, 4:25:25

This week: A bike power test, more running and more swimming! Ironman Canada is right around the corner!

Happy swimbikerunning, friends!