ONE. WEEK.
One week!
The bikes are packed and en route to Whistler (the living room looks really bare!), my parents left on Friday and we fly out this Thursday. Now it’s real… and, I couldn’t be more excited!
In other news, week one of taper went well. Other than being a bit antsy to bike on Saturday afternoon (so much free time!), I haven’t had the taper crazies. It’s been nice to relax a bit, read for a couple hours straight (Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox is a must-read), clean the house, have a glass of wine (holy lightweight) and watch a movie without falling asleep 17 minutes in. You know, normal things. That said, I know post IM is going to be tough, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
So, week one of taper…
Monday
What a haaaaa-uuuuuuge confidence boosting swim! Nick and I headed to Gunther’s tonight for one more long open water swim. It couldn’t have been any more perfect for it. The water was calm, and even better, so was I (for the most part). On the third swim across, I got a tiny bit panicky, but then there was Nick. I repeated beluga (my new swimming mantra) and kept up with him, stroke for stroke, until we got to the beach. Boom… 3,854 yards in 1:03.
Tuesday
Just an easy five-miler bright and early this morning. After work, Nick and I headed out for 30 on the bike. I did about 45 minutes at race pace, pulling him around for once 🙂
Wednesday
Rest day, which meant catching up over dinner with a few of my best girl friends, Nanette, Sarah and Suraya. All are seasoned IMers and had lots of great advice 🙂
Thursday
My last track workout before race day consisted of a two-mile warm-up, 10 x 400 at 1:45 pace and a two-mile cool down. Love the quiet of the track at 6a… although I was tempted to join a vinyasa yoga class taking place as I ran repeats.
After work I hopped on the trainer for an hour spin, including a 20-minute power test. My average: 184 watts. Definitely wasn’t swearing at the end, so I know I could have pushed much harder. Still LOTS to learn about power!
Friday
I didn’t realize how much I missed morning swims until today. Just an easy 1,700 yards, and I was ready for the day.
Saturday
My last long-ish run (10.53 miles at 8:39 pace) before Canada! Johnny and I ran together for the first five or so and discussed race strategy. I am ready!
Sunday
Another fantastic morning 2,500-yard swim. Nothing fancy, just some long 500s.
I biked out to Afton for more climbing (about 2,500 feet in 50 miles)… and, some cyclocross? I didn’t realize there was road construction about 20 miles in, and I wasn’t about to turn around directly into the wind, so I stopped and carried my bike about a quarter-mile until the road started again. The cross wind on Military back to Saint Paul was brutal; I felt like I was all over the road. But, all in all, a great last long-ish ride until race day!
In non-training news…
My massage therapist is magic. And, buddhas are everywhere at her studio, sending positive energy and light, exactly what I needed this week.
I have some pretty thoughtful friends who know me well. Thank you, Celeste!
Friday night fun at the Bod Pod… and, then promptly ate my body weight in chips and salsa. More on my results in an upcoming post…
We cheered on friends Sarah and Suraya, who rocked Sunday’s YWCA MPLS women’s triathlon. Congrats on your awesome finishes!
Weekly stats
11 hours, 6 minutes
Swim: 8.054 yards, 2:18:36
Bike: 970.3 miles, 5:43:19
Run: 22.11 miles, 3:04:46
This week: It’s race week! Eeeeeeeeek!
Happy swimbikerunning, friends!
21 Comments
Good Morning. I just found your blog recently and wanted to wish you good luck at IMC. I’m leaving later this week to volunteer and do race support for a friend doing Challenge Penticton. I hope both of the new races (Whistler and Pen) go smoothly for the athletes!
Hi, Amy! Thanks so much! Have so much fun at Challenge Penticton! I’ve heard good things about Challenge races!
Happy Race Week!!!
So proud of you already and so excited! I canNOT believe you already leave on Thursday.
Great week of workouts — glad you’re embracing the taper as much as you can 🙂
Thank you so very much, friend! I cannot believe it’s almost here, too… it’s surreal, really 🙂 xo.
Yippyyyyyy!!! Happy Race Week, like Hyedi said! So so so excited for you and to see you power through the race you’ve been training so hard for! You’re going to ROCK IT. Finley can’t wait to cheer you on too! 🙂 xoxoxo.
Thank ya, Sista! I am thrilled THRILLED you and Finley will be there to cheer me on! It means so much, and seeing you two will be such a pick-me-up! Can’t wait for some post-race relaxation, too 🙂 xoxoxo.
Good luck at Ironman Canada! Looking forward to reading the recap.
I’m also interested in your thoughts on the BodPod. I had a BodPod test done a few years back, and was surprised at the difference between those results and what my cheap bathroom scale said my body fat was (I think there was a difference of about 9% body fat between the two).
Thank you, Jesse! I’ll be writing a bit more about the bodpod after the race, so stay tuned! I’ve never tried a bathroom scale with that calculation, but I would imagine the bodpod is a bit more accurate 🙂
I’m so excited for you for this weekend… you are going to KILL IT! 🙂
Thanks so much, erin! It’s gonna be a GREAT day, and I am beyond excited! 🙂
So excited for you, can’t wait to see everything in in Whistler. I loved my time post Ironman for about a week (it helped that I had already signed up for IM #2) but I hated it when I couldn’t run normally for about two months. I think you are more prepared than I was so recovery will probably be easier =)
I’ve heard it takes 6-8 weeks to fully recover from your first IM… but, I hope they’re wrong! The thought of not running normally for that long makes me sad! Already scheming for IM #2 🙂
Thanks much, Beth! Whistler pics to come!
I have a love/hate relationship with that BodPod… but WHERE did you get that water bottle?! Love it.
Do you have any race plans after IM?
Ha! I was on the love side of the bodpod this time around… the last time, not so much 🙂
The water bottle is from lululemon 🙂
Upcoming race plans… a few actually! The lululemon RUN: twin K 13K and the TC 10 Mile. Thoughts of a December marathon. And, perhaps another IM next year!
I am so excited for you!! You are so ready and it is going to be the BEST day!!! Can’t wait to read all about it!!
Thanks so much, Corey! I’m so excited, too!
So happy for you and all your awesome swims!!!!!!! And Swimming Across Antarctica is one of my favorite books. I highly recommend one of her other books, a short delightful tale about a gray whale she befriends swimming in California, full of swim whimsy! It is called Grayson. Will be thinking of you so much!! You are such a bod pod dork! Love it!!
Thank you, Kerstin! I really want to work on my swim in the off season… can you give me some lessons + pointers? 🙂
Ooo… I will definitely read Grayson… thanks for the recommendation!
Yeeee! Big week for you! Aren’t mantras great? So key when you need that little extra umph. It looks like you had a great week. Enjoy the journey 🙂
They ARE, Candice! So helpful and powerful.
Thank you, dear! Catch up soon 🙂
I love that picture of you carrying your bike. You look bad ass! thinking about you this weekend. Hope all goes smoothly and that you enjoy every mile!