Breakdown - mental and bicycle

I went for my 2nd ever 112 mile bike ride on Saturday with Melinda (the last one was last July 26th when I became an Ironman). It was a really tough day but I did it. It was sooooo hot out - the air temp was in the high 80's, the headwind was hot and uncomfortable, and it was humid. It was such a hot day and we saw tubers in the river and contemplated taking their tubes and leaving them with our bikes. We also contemplated drinking margaritas since the Cliff Blocks flavor that I saw at the store was Margarita! The first loop was rough. The second loop my calf started to hurt. I knew it was my last long ride so I was taking in fluids like my life depended on it to see what I thought I would need on race day but all I wanted was water and I ran out of water and it was sooo hot out that all of my other fluids were extremely warm and I just wanted off of the bike so I stopped drinking appropriately which wasn't a good idea. The ride took 15 min too long for me and I am expecting that on race day I will be better since I will have water being handed to me on the course, oranges and bananas all the time on the bike, and maybe, just maybe, it will be a little less hot and humid out. Good news, I completed the 112 miles, I rode with my new bike shorts which were fabulous, and I felt like I could go out for a run after! Bad news - my bike seat was definetly shot, my time wasn't what it needs to be, and I need to rehab my calf badly before the race.

Since that ride, I have bought a new bike seat, tried it out on a 45 mile bike ride (was supposed to be 55 mile bike ride), and felt like someone was stabbing me in my sits-bones - on the positive side, during yoga I have trouble finding my sits-bones and now have figured out where they are. I have broken my speedometer/odometer and am waiting for another one. On the same ride where I felt like I was being stabbed by my bike seat, I broke my aero bars (luckily I didn't fall of the bike when I did this). So, this means that 2 weeks and 2 days from Ironman I have a brand new Fizik Vitesse Tri saddle which I am breaking in, have had to reposition my bike to accomodate said bike seat and new (almost exactly the same aero bars), and have no idea how far I am riding because my GPS refuses to keep a signal when leaving from Keene Valley to go for a bike ride. On the positive side, my calf hasn't hurt at all this week during the bike or run - Yippie! The weather on the other hand isn't very nice out. The heat is unbelieveable. We set a record high this week. I don't remember the last time it was like this in the Adirondacks. I go out for a run and get only a few miles before I am completely dripping in sweat and dieing for a drink. On the bike yesterday, at least the bugs couldn't land on me because I was soo sweaty that they were just sliding off (again the positives of the day). On the positive side, we live next to the river so when you are done running or biking, you jump in the cold river and feel fabulous for about an hour before you want to go back in again. AND, because it is so hot outside, the swim has been wonderful - except when you are putting on your wetsuit in the 90 degree heat and sweating like crazy but once you are in, you don't want to get out.

Today, I went for a short, hot run then went to try out the bike seat with Joe in tow in order to put my bike seat in the correct place. In the 20 miles I ended up doing, it was a little sore sometimes and I think it will take some getting used to and breaking in. I hope the breaking in session will not be too long as the other option of going back to the old seat is so terrifying that I can't image doing that. My old seat hurts me so much that I hurt to wear underware and pants/shorts after I am done riding - this is not what I feel like with the new saddle. I feel almost exactly as I did last year at this time - tired, sore, excited, and antsy. My strategy for the next few weeks is to think positively (had a little breakdown this morning in that positive thinking - took it out on my wonderful, supportive husband who bought a new bike seat and moved on with his life easily). I will look for the positives in the taper that I have left and know that I can become and Ironman again. That there is something wonderful and amazing about hearing the words "Kelly Sullivan you are an Ironman!" I am in love with this sport which likes to kick my ass but I will kick back don't you worry!