Exactly a year ago I signed up for the Ironman Canada after a good friend convinced me to enter the race. I have always been interested in completing a full ironman event but the expense, time away and frequent sell outs have been limiting factors. In 2011 I did two half's a week apart while visiting family and completed both in 5hrs even. Of course I was expecting to do around a 10:30 or thereof... seemed reasonable- I actually felt fitter than a few years ago and LW has helped me incredibly the past couple of ITI races.
Well, after this years ITI my body was trashed and had to recover for a month before I started swimming in the pool. Almost exclusively I swam building to 9-10km a week in the pool and finally felt good swimming-- till our pool closed in early June. Then I switched back to training on the bike for a month and even completed the training "ride" across the seward peninsula as well as lots of biking in Maui. I had been running a little bit interspersed but not a lot, albeit the foreshadowing to my downfall. I completed runs but overall felt lethargic- not sure if left over from ITI. In either case I managed a 20 miler two weeks before the Ironman in about 3 hours very casually and slowly. I felt like I could "easily" do at least 3:45 or 4:00. Yep not so much.
Kirk and me-- I should probably wear a hat these days... |
Was I nervous about not making the race and not having a bike? Eh not really it just seems so me and worse case I don't race and lose an AK miles ticket. Typical. Amazingly, at 5 days pre race departure I rec'd my passport! Whew! Then.... two days before departure I received the balance of my bike parts.... I frantically put it together and hoped for the best.
That's a LOT of expensive bikes! |
Race day: Next Post.... if I get around to writing again!
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