Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Ironman Training Week #14

Are we done yet?

I am told it is normal to hit this point in Ironman training (being just a few weeks out) and to start fading. It’s not just the physical aspect, but mentally I am losing it. Wearing slippers around town is not just for teenagers anymore.

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Tired or not, this was another solid week of training.

Swim: 7,700 yards (~4.4 miles)
Bike: 73.7 miles
Run: 33.1 miles

Total Miles: 112.2
Total Workouts: 8
Total Time: 13 hours, 2 minutes

I got a message from Sharpie about what’s coming up this week:

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My “last long ride” is today for 6 hours (100 miles or so). Yesterday, I had a brick (34 mile ride followed by a 6 mile run), so I will be going into today’s ride a bit fatigued, which is probably a good thing. You know what they say, “7 days of tired legs makes one weak.” Get it? Week/weak? TAPER is right around the corner and I can’t wait.

Here are 9 things I learned this week:

1. Wearing this bracelet makes me feel more confident. Emma got one too. We made a promise to not take it off until after the race, or maybe never. Bet you can’t tell which is the 12 year old hand and which is the 46 year old hand – what IS that huge bump on my wrist called anyway?  (btw, these bracelets were only $3.00 on Etsy – actually I just found them cheaper .99!).

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2. I can no longer go without shoe covers on the bike (I did order these shoe covers today). I cannot keep stopping and putting my feet in people’s armpits (this is a re-enactment, but I have had to do this the past two weekends with Ken and Julie):

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3. GUs give me gas (but what doesn’t, right?) – sorry, no picture.

4. It takes a fair amount of coordination to eat oatmeal while driving with slippers on (I like my oats with a scoop of peanut butter and a cut up banana).

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5. If you hear the song Work B*tch enough by Brittany Spears you start to like it. Weird.

6. Most of you like running in cemeteries.

7. The new Runner’s World Cookbook is really good (review coming on Friday).

8. You can make your eyes uneven

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9. It is possible to scare your 15 year old by putting this in his bed early in the night and waiting for him to go in his room. It is also fun to drive with this baby in the passenger seat and to pretend you are nursing it.

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Ken and I are going to Virginia tomorrow to visit our amazing alma mater, JMU. I might love Colorado, but I will always have a special place in my heart for the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. See you Monday!

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What’s one thing you learned this week?

If you could live anywhere else than where you do now, where would it be? I love Colorado, but I could see myself in northern California or overseas somewhere.

SUAR

52 comments:

  1. I learned that tapering sucks and Vegas is still awesome!
    If I could live anywhere with my entire family, it would be Boston. Love that city.
    I can't believe you're getting down to taper time!! You're such a beast!!! Is the IM Florida going to be televised?

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  2. your are such my inspiration (is that grammer even close to correct). And I'm even inspired to get that disgustingly scary creepy baby to scare my own boy with!! Your gonna kill the IM.

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  3. I learned that cheering for a race, instead of running it, can also be fun. Oh, and that some marathoners will in fact take a free twinkie at mile 24.

    http://shinianen.blogspot.com/2013/10/spectating-2013-tc-10-mile-marathon.html

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  4. That would be the head of your ulnar bone. You're welcome!

    I'm ready to taper for you! Just reading your training schedule makes me tired....

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  5. My boyfriend died on Friday, I learned I would give anything to smell his stinky armpits again.

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  6. OMG I have the same zombie baby! You just gave me some ideas. Bwahahahaha.

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  7. I learned that my 14+ hour training weeks for a 70.3 should have me prepared for an IM...(nope I don't think so!)

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    Replies
    1. I've also learned that thelongrun likes to come here and leave condescending and snarky comments...but I've know that for quite some time.

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  8. I was about to complain about my marathon being canceled last Sunday, but the reply above makes me realize that I have so much to be thankful for and to stop whining already about having to run a different marathon.

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  9. I have discovered trail running this week and that it becomes a measure of time versus distance at this point. I was sore all over again!

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  10. I've learned that I'm much tougher than I give myself credit for. If I could live anywhere else, it would either be somewhere in Europe (France or Italy) or somewhere in California.

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  11. I would live in either the San Francisco bay area or the Portland, Ore. area. I love both so much!
    This week I learned that starting a long run with a 5K sprint (even if it ends in a PR) is a really, really, really bad idea.

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  12. Oh no, I can't believe IM training is almost done! I don't think I can allow this to happen ... reading your training posts for this event have been the most inspiring thing ever!

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  13. I cannot believe I've never thought about putting peanut butter in my oatmeal. You are a genius! Thanks for that.

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  14. What is the Etsy shop for those bracelets!??!?!? Please link them somehow in next post?!?!?

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    Replies
    1. Here you go, Junie! I just ordered one, myself! http://www.etsy.com/listing/129711181/dream-bracelet-hope-bracelet-love?ref=shop_home_active

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  15. Those bracelets are very cool. I just ordered 2, one for myself and one for my partner in training for IM Chattanooga 2014. I love following your blog. Keep up the amazing work!!! And GOOD LUCK at IMFL!!!

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  16. Great training!
    Very cute bracelets.
    One thing I learned..... uh......"be cautious when drinking another persons 'home brew'... ya never know what you're gonna get..."

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  17. that everyone reads your blog. I mentioned that I was reading Resolve in a comment on your blog and the author emailed me.

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  18. I have been lucky enough to live in many great places, specifically, in chronological order, Philadelphia, Avignon, London, Chicago, Boston, St. Petersburg, and San Francisco. All were life-enriching experiences, but if you can deal with the high cost of living and horrible traffic, the Bay Area is hard to beat.

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    Replies
    1. I live in Sonoma County, and work in Marin County. The bay area is such an awesome place to live, and conducive to exercise .. I can do it outside most times all year. But, you are SO RIGHT with the cost of living and traffic. It makes me insane what I go through to live here sometimes. :-)

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  19. I learned that my friends truly are amazing- okay I already knew this...but the support I got from them at the marathon over the weekend was incredible...tears to my eyes.

    I'm an upstate NY girl, but I think I could easily adapt to NorCal or the Carolinas would also be nice

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  20. Question for you: Of the three (swim, bike, run)-which event leaves you the most spent? I think of you when I feel like I just can't run another mile...thanks for being such a badass.

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    Replies
    1. Probably the run - not sure if that is b/c it is at the end or b/c I just find running to be the toughest of the three for me, overall...

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  21. I learned that even though Salted Caramel GU tasted great to me in training, it made me ungodly nauseous during my actual marathon. I need to figure out some sort of alternative fueling strategy because I will never, ever consume GU of any flavor again. Just the thought of it makes me dry heave a little.

    Good luck powering through the rest of your training - you've got this!!

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  22. I live overseas at the moment in Sydney, Australia, but I could totally see myself living in California or Colorado! All excellent choices for triathletes, for sure. I do love Sydney, but my partner's contract ends in a few years, so we've been scoping out new haunts in the U.S.

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  23. Go Dukes!! Tie one on at JM's while you are there.

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  24. Your training is INSANE. And that was an awesome prank on Sam! :)

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  25. Glad to hear you are visiting our great state again. I'm in Lynchburg VA! Who doesn't love our Blue Ridge Mountains. Unfortunately the leaves are not at their peak just yet, but getting there. Enjoy your visit and hopefully you will get to go see a JMU football game. Lisa

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  26. Why do our hands have to take on such a scary look as we age. Mine are so veiny and bony. If I flex and un-flex my hand they actually gets worse and bulge. I am only 52 can't wait to see what they look like in 15-20 years.They are the only part of my body with low body fat.

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  27. I knew I liked you! Fellow Duke alum! Have fun there and if you have the time, the riding out in the Valley is AWESOME! Hang on tight with training!

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  28. Whoa! You went to JMU?! I went to EMU, right across town. Small world.

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  29. I love that area of the country. Enjoy your trip!

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  30. Go DUKES!!! Enjoy your time in the 'burg :)

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  31. NO WAY!!!
    I've been following your blog for over a year now, I stumbled upon it when I was training for my first half-marathon and kept going because you're hilarious.
    And, I'm a senior at JMU :D
    Small world!

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  32. I must have one of those babies. With four kids the possibilities are nearly endless....

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  33. If you are going to wear your slippers around town are you wearing 'sleeping pants' with them? I wear that high fashion to work everyday, but since I work from home, that's just me being lazy.

    This week I relearned about perseverance. I've had a really tough week with rehab and sulked all Tuesday wondering if I will ever be fully functional again; will I run, bike, swim, hike or even drive again. Will I ever be without pain. Then somehow yesterday I got a second wind and I do believe I will move beyond this and that I will heal. Deb

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  34. Madison, James Madison, We are the Dukes of JMU....

    cannot BELIEVE you are a Duke. I knew I liked you and your blog for good reasons. Please sing the fight song loudly for me as you enter Harrisonburg. (I may or may not have been in the Marching Royal Dukes. Ok, I was.)

    Also, I am in awe of your triathalon training. Just reading about it makes me tired.

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  35. WHA? I've been reading your blog for years, and now learn that you are a JMU grad! I grew up in the 'burg and married a JMU grad!

    I'm currently training for my 5th marathon, and love reading your blog for inspiration. Thanks, and I hope you have/had fun in Harrisonburg!

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  36. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganglion_cyst...

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  37. I always read your blog, but never post (I'm lame that way). I saw above that you eat PB and banana in your oatmeal. I was curious so tried it. It's like magic!! Sooo good! I added a 1/2 tea spoon of brown sugar and a splash of milk. It's the perfect pre-workout meal. Love it!

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