June through early September

I know I was HORRIBLE about posting my experiences while training for Ironman Wisconsin after the first part of June.  I want to take some time to update you.  Beware...this could take a while!!

In late June, we went to Madison for what we refer to as the "Epic Weekend."  We trained with other triathletes either doing Ironman Wisconsin, another Ironman distance event, or those who might be considering doing an Ironman distance event in the future.  It was a GREAT weekend filled with like minded individuals to share races, experiences, training and life with.  We had educational sessions as well as LOTS of swimming, biking and running.

In July we competed in the Okoboji Triathlon.  It was a LOT of fun to get the opportunity to go fast and just have fun.  We had been going long and slow for so long that it was fun to get to go short and fast!!  The weekend following Okoboji, we went to Minnesota and competed in the Chisago Lakes 1/2 Iron Distance event.  It was a GREAT race!!  One we will definitely do again!!  I had some obstacles to overcome during this event; UNBELIEVABLE FOG on the swim course, goggles continuously fogging over while swimming, flat tire on the bike and forgot my Garmin on the run to know my pace.  The good news:  I overcame each and everyone of them and still got a PR (personal record) by nearly 15 minutes!!  Two days after competing in Chisago, we rode 121 miles during the week of RAGBRAI in 115 degree F heat.  It was BRUTAL, but definitely helped us get stronger on the bike as well as train us mentally!!

August brought us some LONG training hours!!  There were some workouts where I vividly remember thinking, "I am ready for race day.  I just want this to be over!!"  With the last big week of training came my first week back at school.  What a challenge trying to find time to get my workouts in while starting back up with school.  That was a VERY CRAZY week!!  I'm glad it is behind me!!

Late August and early September brought on the taper...what a relief!!  It was nice and refreshing to have some downtime, but toward the end of the taper, I felt like I was a slacker and needed to get going again.  Just in time for race day!!

Speaking of race day...that is for the next post.

Panic Attack

I just realized I haven't been very good at updating my progress for IM training lately.  I also just counted how many weeks are left before the taper and Ironman Wisconsin...
9 weeks to the taper
12 weeks to Ironman Wisconsin

I think that is enough to make me want to puke!!  No...seriously...I am very excited about race day, but very nervous as well!! 

This coming weekend will be the true test as we will basically be doing nearly the full IM Wisconsin race course over the three day weekend.  How will it go?!?!?!?  I will keep you posted!!

Nerves...the good and the bad

The realization of the feat in front of me is starting to really make me nervous!!  I know I will be prepared come race day, but the thought of what these next 12 weeks before the taper will bring really causes me to shake in my boots!!  I was told tonight by my coach that "these next 12 weeks will be the hardest weeks of your life" but they will also fly by.  I guess if it is going to be tough I want it to fly by, but I am definitely NOT ready for race day yet!!  I can use all of the time I have available.

With 18 weeks of training complete, there is less time to the gun going off for the start of Ironman Moo than the amount of time we have behind us in our training.  That is unfathomable to me!!

Nerves can definitely be a good thing!!  They help us in our training to be more conscience of successfully completing our workouts.  Come race day, they rev our engines as we approach the start of the race.  They can definitely be a huge asset to a competitor if present in the right amount.  My nerves will be an asset and definitely help me successfully finish IM Moo in September!!

Reba MacIntire put it best when she said, "If you didn't want this, you wouldn't be nervous."

Week 18 on the IM Moo Training Train

Very Hard, but Successful Week :)

Monday:
TRX = 45 min

Tuesday:
Run = 65 min

Wednesday:
Swim = 1 hr
Bike = 2 hrs
Women's Bike Clinic in DSM

Thursday:
Brick = 2 hrs 30 min

Friday:
Missed Swim
Had a Massage :)

Saturday:
Run = 1 hr 47 min
Ride = 1 hr

Sunday:
Ride = 5 hrs 23 min

There were some VERY WINDY rides this week.  I am getting tired of always fighting headwind (crosswinds too) on the rides.  I sure hope it isn't like this on race day!!

First Triathlon of the Year...FAIL!!

Who decides to decrease the swim from 1500 meters (approximately 30 minutes) to 500 meters (approximately 8-10 minutes) just because the water temperature is 55 degrees.  That is RIDICULOUS!!  I am so upset that I am not going to participate in the event.  It is not worth my time to put on the wetsuit and tear it off for 8 minutes of swim time.  It will take me longer to get the wetsuit on and off than it will to swim...what is wrong with these people?!?!?!  I realize 55 degrees is cold, but there is a reason we have wetsuits and we all would have been just fine!!  We would have warmed up on the bike and run since the daytime temperature is to be 82 degrees with high humidity.

Instead we are going to ride our bike for about 5 hours (80-90 miles).  This will be a much better workout and more worth our time/efforts.  For of those of you who participate, I hope you have fun and enjoy the race!!

Week 17 on the IM Moo Training Train

Despite having a VERY quiet house, I had a much more successful training week this week.

Monday:
Ride = 1 hour 25 min
TRX = 45 min

Tuesday:
Run = 45 min

Wednesday:
Brick = 2 hours 20 min

Thursday:
Day Off

Friday:
Nothing...was suppose to swim, but was very EXHAUSTED!!

Saturday:
Run = 1 hour 19 min
Swim = 1 hour 10 min

Sunday:
Swim = 1 hour 10 min
Ride = 2 hours

I would say that is a successful week (in comparison to what I have had lately)...I only missed one workout :)

Looking forward to killing it this week!!  First Triathlon of the season is this Sunday...the water should be nice and cold yet...BRRRR!!!

Week 16 on the IM Moo Training Train

Our train was again derailed.  We lost our beloved best friend this week...Marathon Sue went to heaven to chase rabbits with Lucky.  It doesn't seem fair that she was in this world for such a short time.  She will forever be loved and missed.

Monday:
Strength Training = 3 hours

Tuesday:
Run = 27 min

Wednesday:
Core = 45 min
Mara went to heaven today

Thursday:
Strength Training = 2 hours 15 min

Friday:
Massage

Saturday:
Run = 1 hour 53 min

Sunday:
Ride = 3 hours 35 min

I am hoping for a much better week next week!!