How did I do this last year??

I really don't know how I did all of this training, worked, kept my house semi clean, and made us dinner on a nightly basis last year. Come to think of it, I don't think I kept the house clean or made dinner 1/2 as much as I should have last year either. How did I have time to do all of the training last year? The thing is, I exceeded my training time and miles in May of this year as compared to last year and am on my way in June to do the same thing. Last year I was sick every 3 weeks and this year I am not so I am taking that as a sign that I am training smarter than I did last year (boy I hope that is what is going on). I am craving the end of the school year just so I can get some much needed sleep which I hope will improve my recovery time - there is nothing like having a normal breakfast in the morning, going for a workout, eating lunch, taking a nap and then doing another workout, eating dinner, sitting with your legs up reading a book and then going to bed at 10 so you can get up at 8 the next morning - this is the situation where Ironman training becomes easier!

My body is suffering. It is supposed to be now that I have 2 weeks left of hard training before my taper. I am having a calf problem on the bike that is slowing me down in the later miles of the ride. My bike times on the course keep getting slower - I am hoping that the taper will help that. I keep saying that the Lake Placid bike course is inviting me in, chewing me up, then spitting me up and laughing at me saying "No, you are not conquering me today". This weekend on my 100 mile bike I passed a woman who was crying her eyes out as she road and knew exactly how she felt but at least I was able to continue on and not lose it. My swim is still off balance but is going well. My running is getting so much better but not after the bike - my knees actually hurt when I am running after getting off of the bike and running. My body is tired but it should be at this point in training. My dad told me last year that I trained correctly if I felt like I was beaten up right before taper. I am well on my way to that feeling.

Mentally Ironman is kicking my ass. I need a sports psychologist. I am really excited to take next year off from racing as I am exhausted from all of the self doubt that Ironman training allows me to feel. I have my positive mantras that I keep saying to myself "I am MORE than capable", "I am strong", and "I feel no pain". I have to do an open water swim this weekend at Tupper Lake Tinman and have started to visualize the situations which I could be in to help me cope with the terror of flailing arms and legs and I will start with Ironman visualizations after Tupper is over to help mentally prepare myself for what is to come. I can do this! I just need to trust in my training.

Only two weeks of training to go - long run tomorrow, Tupper Lake Tinman this weekend, another 100 mile ride 4th of July weekend, with my last long run that weekend as well, then I taper. Taper is looking really good right now although I keep wondering if 3 weeks is too long to taper (I always question this but last year 2 1/2 weeks wasn't enough time). I am hopeful that my bike times will come back to where they are supposed to be (this will be my downfall on Ironman day if they do not). I am trying to rehab the legs a little as we go over the next 5 weeks and hope for the best. At least I keep getting on the bike or going for a swim or run and not just giving up, which has been really tempting some days. I have to keep remembering that last year at this time I was in a mental state where I thought I couldn't finish Ironman and was scared to death that I wouldn't be able to do it. This year I can feel the finish line and know I can do it, my bike practices just need to show me that it is possible again. I know it will soon. I have faith in my abilities and my training.



May Stats (a little late but still good)
Swim 7.13 miles
Swim time 4 hrs 48 min
Bike 291.67 miles
Bike time 21 hrs 43 min
Run 71.86 miles
Run time 13 hrs 28 min
Total mileage 370.66 miles
Total time 39 hrs 59 min