It's all about the tapering....

Shortly after my last post (the next day I think), when I was worried that I was only "ready-ish" I packed my bags and headed out to Penticton yet again for one last ride of the Ironman bike course. This time was different though. This was not just another training day, this was my LAST big ride.

Do you ever get that feeling at the end of summer when you start running out of weekends to do those things that you said back in March that you wanted to do this summer? It usually starts around the second weekend in August and you try to make plans with a friend that you haven't seen enough of. It goes something like this: you say "Let's get together this weekend!" and they say "Sorry - I have plans. But how about next weekend?" and you say "Sorry - I'm out of town. The weekend after?" and they say "We've got a wedding to go to. Plans for Labor Day?" And just like that it's September and the summer is over.

So there I was on Friday night, stuffing my belly full of garlic bread and lasagna in preparation for the ride and all I can think is "I soooo don't want to do another 6:30 hour ride tomorrow". There's the truth, I am so done with training that I could not get myself excited about another training ride. I would have rathered Ironman be the next morning than go out for another long, lonely, boring, leg burning, mind numbing training ride. I think the worst of it was that I couldn't stand the thought of another day passing by where 80% of my food would come from a processed power bar, gel or be in a liquid form.

But here it is! I'm all out of weekends! There's no time to make this one up, I can't come back and do it another time when I'm more motivated. This is the LAST big ride and then I start my taper for the big day.

So 8am the next day, out I went. Of course, I made sure I had a smile on my face because if this year has taught me anything, it's that a smile is my most important piece of equipment and I never leave it behind (that's by far been the most valuable training I've ever done by-the-way). Without a smile, I just don't feel AWESOME.

Just over 6 hours later I came rolling back in and (you guessed it), was feeling awesome. I was SO GLAD that I went out and did that final ride. The day was really focused around one portion of the course, that 17km section from the end of the out and back to the top of Yellow Lake. This is where last time I almost stopped to cry on the side of the road. Not today. Today everything I had was for that section. It wasn't going to get me this time like it had the last. I stopped at a convenient store just a few miles before so that I could refill my water, have a snack (delicious mini-potatoes covered in butter and salt that I cooked the night before, froze, then had in my bento box on my bike. By the time I needed them they were defrosted but still cool and a yummy treat and much needed boost about 5 hours in) and prepare for the next 20 some kilometres.

With my little carb boost and a smile I hammered up that hill singing and feeling amazing. I rode through a little rain, some headwind and even had to change a flat tire, but I got to the top feeling like an Ironman. From that point on, I sailed home happy and feeling 110% ready. No more of this "ready-ish" garbage. Let's race.

So now I'm two weeks and a day away from Ironman Canada and soaking up my taper. Workout volumes have dropped dramatically to give my mind and body the chance to recover from the last 6 months of hard work (or five years... whatever). My workouts are still everyday, twice a day, but after my 30min swim and 40 min run or a 1:30 bike ride like yesterday, I'll be spending far more time reading my book and napping on the beach.

It's a little hard to believe that it's just a few weeks away. I really don't think I realize that yet. The work is done, and that I'm proud of, so I guess I just sit tight and wait for the big day to arrive.

My summer ritual this year has been to get up and go grab a coffee and enjoy it down at the beach while I read my book. I love mornings and enjoying the quietness, watching the runners and starring out at the ocean is a perfect way to start my day. I haven't been doing that recently because my workouts either start early, or I have to get things done before the workout, or I'm just to tired/crabby to go enjoy my new ritual before my workout. Tapering isn't just a relief from the workouts, it's time back in my day where I can enjoy these types of things. I love you taper.

Coffee's ready...

24 days to go..

24 days to go before Ironman. How am I feeling? Ready. Ok "ready-ish". I've started to question my months of preparation, wondering if I worked hard enough and if I did everything that I could have. I've listened to others stories of training days and weeks gone by and wonder if my days and weeks were comparable. It always sounds like they've worked SO hard with their huge rides and monster runs. I know that I've worked hard, I know that what I've put in is an incredible amount of work - but I think it's human nature to feel like we just don't compare. However, I do get some peace of mind from seasoned Ironmen who assure me that my panic is right on schedule.

The last few weeks have been tough ones. As the amount of hours dedicated to training in a week rose steadily, the decline of everything else in life was just as apparent. Over the years I've gotten use to going to bed early and running out of energy not only by the end of the day, but also by the end of the week. I also learned a valuable lesson last year in what my capacity for training vs. life really is. Last year with a full time job and an intense focus on triathlon, I found that eventually - something had to give. In a job where multi-tasking was as essential as the english language, I was a (single) task oriented zombi. If I wasn't given clear direction on what to do and how to do it, it likely wasn't getting done. And heaven forbid there was a snag in the plan - o boy - my problem solving skills went from a noteworthy asset to not only could I not fix the problem, but I couldn't even figure out who to call who could rescue me from the troubling issue. Thank God this was a short period and my season came to an early end saving not only my passion for triathlon, but also my job.

Thankfully I was prepared enough to take the summer off and enjoy the final preparations for Ironman this year. I may not have a job, but I still notice the changes that training brings. Fortunately I have the time to nap it off, or to change up my training plans to suit my needs for the day/week. Unfortunately, it's my boyfriend that has to deal with my short-comings and zombi-like personality of the last few weeks. Thankfully he's a sharp cookie and has already learned to get me home and in bed no later than 10pm because by 10:15 I WILL fall asleep wherever I am and that includes falling asleep mid sentence even if I am talking to you.

There have been only a few emergency situations that we've found ourselves in where for one reason or another (probably my zombi-quality planning that day) that we are still up or out somewhere come midnight and, my word, let me just say, when my blood sugar is that low and my brain has turned in for the night HOURS ago.... it is not pretty. I've never seen anyone move so quickly to get another adult to bed. Also, he once caught me in the elevator when I fell asleep standing up.

Ok, so it's not always like that. But I must show some appreciation for those that take on Ironman without the luxury of the time off. People do what I'm doing everyday all the while working full time jobs, being husbands or wives, moms and dads. They are incredible. I've taken the easy route.

I think all I'm getting at today is that "IronCrew" - friends, family and supporters of Ironmen in training deserve a helluva thank-you for everything that they put up with. We couldn't do it without you.

Now, I'm packing my bags yet again for one last trip to Penticton to ride the bike course as my very last long training ride. After this, the next time I head to the Okanagan will be to finish the Ironman Canada race.

Hanging in there....

S.