Congratulations, Ironmen!!!

So...how'd the day pan out for everyone?!?

I can't wait to hear your stories and read your race reports!!! :)

Check in when you get a chance.

I found myself at the finish line in a surprising 15:54:51...and heard those four beautiful words...You Are An Ironman!!

Pre-game jitters

I have pre-game jitters, too. And all I really want to do right now is sleep, but I can't!

I'm going crazy!

I'm so doing a number on myself right now. I took off last week because I was so tired and really sore after my very intensive chiro and massage treatment. (walking to work hurt). So Sunday Alex and I get on our cross bikes to do a 15/3 double brick on the road at our cottage. It's very very hilly, twisty and alternates between pavement, gravel and dirt.(we bought the crosses for such places). Well, this is a workout that we've been doing last summer and this and it's tough with the terrain and surface but it felt just not like the breeze I thought it would be. So now I"m freaking out about my fitness, I feel I've lost it all and cutting back on taper workouts was a big mistake.

I'm telling myself that at 45 I need some recovery time, and that last year I ended up having to take 2 full weeks off before Muskoka 70.3 and felt incredible going into the race so, intellectually, I though time off was a good idea.

Now I'm at home with a pain in my gut and aimlessly watching tv trying, I think, to avoid thinking about the race. I've had to start using my asthma inhaler which is weird since my trigger is respiratory infections and second hand smoke. No cold right now and haven't been hanging around smoky bars so I think that stress is triggering some breathing difficulties.

I think I'm also getting crazy with all the extra stuff that I was so excited about. There is a couple of women doing the race with us and their families and friends are coming, I want to have some time to meet you all and it's all so up in the air - gugh, I must be some kind of massive control freak to worry about how it will all work. I'm at the Fairmont, how can it not be perfect.

In which I ponder the meaning of life

9 sleeps out from Ironman and it all just doesn’t feel real yet. I’m trying every day to get back the memory of those long training sessions and the satisfaction I had at that time with my level of fitness. I started out on the taper not feeling at all rested after a full week off for recovery. I found myself shortening workouts to 75% or less of what was scheduled. I was bored, bored, bored and tired, tired, tired. So as not to waste the time I tried to practice being bored. Let’s be honest my 15+ hours of effort will inevitably involve some boredom. Especially on the run. I’m well trained on boredom now.

I’ve now had a week off from anything more strenuous than walking and along with some chiro, massage and a masterful stretch last night with my Pilates instructor, and the result is a happy body. My tight hip flexors and other connective bits were definitely interfering with the inner workings of all those things I have stored in the trunk of my body. I think I was the only athlete going into Ironman feeling her pants getting tighter by the day. But, stretched out with all parts doing their job I’m back to that last hole in the belt.

There is still so much to do, pack for the race, pack for the fun, close the cottage, work. Right now I wish I had access to Bolder’s old blog so I could re-read his pre Iron race epic in which he wrapped his bike in black. Must see if someone can send to me; I need a similar manifesto.

Blogger Meetup?

Hey, when is everyone getting to town for the race (we all HAVE to be there by 3 weeks from today -ack!)? Is there a blogger meetup in the works?

Final Countdown...

Okay folks...

How are we doin'!?! Who all's in taper? Did we all survive the last big build?!? How are we doing mentally? :)

I can't believe we're a month away. WHERE DID THE TIME GO?!?

Are You Training Hard?

I am assuming you are training very hard! You better be cuz I am going to be there and expect you all to kick butt! And I would love the honor of getting to body mark you! And of course, I will cheer you on while I am eating really bad food and drinking lots of alcohol :-)

Get 'er done!