I know I’m only in my third week of Ironman Florida training, but I keep having to remind myself to relax, not take myself so seriously and to not get hung up on perfectionism.
I’m also having to be more vulnerable and ask for help, which is a bit out of my comfort zone. You see, I had no clue I was going to be doing the Ironman until a month ago, and I have not much time to train, so things went from zero to one hundred in about a millisecond.
And, we are just getting started.
This past week was only 12+ hours hours of training (as if 12 hours is measly or something) – but the BULK of it was done over the weekend, leaving me fried. Coach Sharpie told me if I wasn’t using the “F” word every time I spoke her name (F$cking Sharpie!) then she was doing something wrong. You can see why we are a good match.
Sunday was the first day that I was on the bike muttering “F$cking Sharpie and her f$cking workouts.” I had done a 60 mile ride and 6 mile run Saturday, then bright and early Sunday it was back on the bike for 4 1/2 more hours, which included major climbing and intervals.
From the minute I got on the bike, my legs were heavy and I just didn’t want to be doing it. I was alone and in a bad ass mood. I wanted to join Ken on a trail run or to sit on the couch with the paper and coffee. Boo hoo – First World Problems. Not even my Honey Stinger waffles made me smile. Then I somehow lost my $10 bill and ran out of water and food and thought I would have to rob a 7-11, but I didn’t. I can’t do the Ironman if I am incarcerated.
I kept reminding myself, this is what it is all about. You are going to have many times when you don’t want to do it. Shut up. Do it. Power through. And the goofiest thing was that in my head I would chant “Beth Risdon, you are an Ironman!” (with a vagina). That might seem totally asinine, but keeping my eye on the goal is the point, right? On November 2, I want to feel how I did in this picture (70.3 Boulder):
So, in all I did another 63 miles of hills, wind and intervals.
Here’s how the week shook out:
Total time = 12 hours, 18 minutes.
You can see it was predominantly time spent on the bike. Not every week will be that bike heavy – lots of times I will have long runs instead. (Oh, running, I miss you! But, there will be lots of running this week as I have the EPIC Relay this weekend).
For the week:
Bike total miles: 133
Run total miles: 12
Swim total yards: 4,300 yards
ALL of my workouts are aerobic and done at very low heart rates. This is because the Ironman will be all about endurance and being in an aerobic zone. If I don’t do that and fuel properly, I will die.
I did have a miniature breakdown on Sunday. I was tired and questioning if I could really do this thing. Ken and Sharpie pep-talked me back on track. Sharpie said, “That’s mine to worry about. You just do what I say and you will finish.”
Then I got this today and my faith was restored in how cool this whole thing is (it’s hard to read the fine print, but it basically is a press release about this cool team I am on). I do feel truly honored and lucky to be part of this.
If you want to read more about my exceptional team mates and who makes up our X2PERFORMANCE Ironman Team, go HERE. Yes, we have our own website!! Too good to be true, really.
Would you ever consider doing an Ironman? Why or why not?
What is your next big race goal? Are you scared/excited/anxious – all of the above?
SUAR
