2013 was a pretty huge year for my “Bucket List”, even if I didn’t know I had a Bucket List. Looking back, I knocked out quite a few “once in a lifetime”, or at least “big ticket” things in very short succession. It’s actually hard to believe it all happened last year.
We’ve made it to the final installment. Don’t miss the story getting there, the swim recap, or the bike report though!
The Run – 26.2 Miles
Finally! Time to show this race who’s boss. Almost. Within the first 20 steps I realized that every muscle in my core was shot. I guess remaining tense and hunched for six hours takes more energy than I thought. Even still, my first couple of miles were right around my goal 8 minute pace. I saw Ev, Travis, and the rest of my support crew at Mile 4 and gave a big smile, though I wasn’t feeling terrific.
Don’t miss the journey to the start or the swim leg of the race!
The Bike – 112 Miles
Pulling through the starting chute I saw Ev and Travis there cheering me on for a long day of pedaling.
That’s me on the left!
The course rides out 18.7 miles, turns around to the start, and then repeats that two more times for three total out-and-back loops – aka, a mental nightmare. The way out is slightly uphill most of the way, with a pretty noticeable incline just as you approach the turnaround point. I will say, the road conditions were incredible, and for that I am thankful.
Wait! Don’t miss Part 1: Getting to the Start
Race morning came around after only 2 hours of sleep. I left Ev in the room to get a little extra sleep while I went down to prep my bike. I got body marked, loaded up my bike with most of the food I’d be eating that day, and made one last bathroom stop before meeting up with Ev.
The calm before the storm.
She snapped one last picture before I suited up and got take on the Ironman.
from Ev’s perspective
When training takes almost a year, and the race itself takes nearly half a day, the recap is sure to be wordy. To spare you, I’ve broken it up into more reasonable pieces. Without further ado…
Taking on an Ironman requires an inordinate amount of preparation and planning. Simply getting to the starting line is a small miracle, but thanks to my great support crew, I made it with shockingly few hiccups along the way. Sure, those 36 weeks of training were critical, but so, too, were the 1,100 miles between Austin and Tempe. On the Thursday before the race, Evelyn, Travis, and I loaded up the car and set off to Arizona.
IT’S HAPPENING! The journey started 36 weeks ago when I completed my first workout of my Ironman training plan. Since then I’ve done (approximately) 368 workouts. 104 dips in the pool, 130 rides on the bike, 134 times lacing up my shoes. 418 hours worth of pushing myself forward. And now, when it felt like it would never get here, it’s time for Ironman Arizona!
On Sunday, all of the work done to this point will be put to the test. Mentally, I’m ready. I was ready months ago, mainly wishing to be done with training. Physically, I don’t think I’ll ever say “I’m ready”, but I’m ready enough.
It’s been awhile since we last spoke. I’ve had a bit of blogger’s block. Things at work have picked up, not to mention all that extra time put into training. But Ironman Arizona is getting close, so something had to give. A few weeks ago I mentioned training is ramping up (oh, and that I was going to give up reduce gratuitous, out-of-control face-stuffing. More on that in another post). For four weeks the training plan resembles a light form of torture, throwing everything at me to get me prepared for the Ironman. Here’s where things stand halfway through
brush alcaco.com cost of cialis going out and.
those four weeks.
Seeing how I’m drowning in numbers from all this training, I thought one more couldn’t hurt. And this one is pretty important. As of posting this, we’re just inside 87 days until the big day. That’s also 148 more workouts (yes,
I counted). That sounds so much worse. For comparison’s sake, I’ve already done 229 workouts. Actually, that just makes me tired.
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p>I’ve also added it to the sidebar so that it’s always ticking… ticking… ticking… … So keep checking back to see how much longer until the Facebook posts stop race day! And in case you missed it, here’s a look at my training calendar.
Today my Ironman training gets serious. I know, I’m thinking the same thing too: “What have you been doing for the last 5 months?” That training was all well and good (and hard), but that was all considered “base building”. Now is when the real fun begins. For the next three months I’m going to be pushed farther than anyone should be. There will be quite a few “triple” days, a couple 5+ hour days, and a handful weeks that resemble a part-time job of exercise.
Ironman Arizona is so close I can taste it! Kinda. I mean, I’ve been busting my butt for 18 weeks, with no fewer than 10 workouts a week, mostly two-a-day workouts, all while the temperature in Central Texas found its triple-digit groove. So we must be getting close, right? Well… no. With Week 18 in the books, it marks the HALFWAY point of my 36-week training plan. I’m not sure why it sounded like a good idea to take on such a long, demanding regimen*, but it sure feels like the race should be coming up. For perspective, my go-to advanced marathon training plans are 18 weeks long. My body is ready to race! And yet we’re still in the “base building” phase of this thing.
*Oh, right, because it’s an Ironman…
Week 18 was a bit of a relief in training. Most of the workouts were relatively gentle, especially compared to the brutal week before. I know I”m making progress though when five hours of workouts on the weekend is “gentle”. These next 18 weeks are going to really push me to the limit. And I can’t wait.
Eighteen weeks down, eighteen weeks to go!
