In a week’s time it’ll all be over, the ups & downs, the nerves, the sea swim, the 180k bike leg including that mountain they just added (long story) and the marathon to top it all off. I’m 100% confident there will be tears, hopefully not before the end. I’m sure I’ll sit there, at the end, just as I did in Challenge Geraardsbergen 70.3 back in early June thinking to myself “Did I actually just do that”. The finishers medal is the goal, but as I’ve said countless times before it was more about the journey and who was willing to let me take that journey and support & encourage me than the destination itself – Barcelona Ironman 2018.
I could do a “Roll Of Honour” now but the event has not been completed, in fact there’s always that little demon in the back of my head that says I might not complete it due to rough seas, a mechanical or legs folding under me with metres to go so I’ll save that for afterwards. One thing is for sure – there are some amazing people out there who have always chipped in at the precise moment i’ve doubted myself. Some of these people have gone through the Ironman process themselves so speak from experience so it’s been really helpful. For these people I say “thank you” now. Without your message, conversations (however brief) it’s been absorbed – although I must say I do look at times as if i’m not paying any attention to anyone and i’m in a world of my own!
Last week saw me actually complete alot of my training schedules, most of the schedules had a 1-week “buffer” just in case I was ill or had to re-run another week due to injury or bad weather etc. But as it stands I had no major hold-ups so I completed a week early. My bike sessions were on a wind-down and although the intensity was still high the duration was definitely reduced. So much so I was at the end of the session almost feeling I hadn’t done enough and I should do more…..I didn’t though.
The swims were “just” a mile each as I didn’t want to be fatigued going into that 3800m sea swim on Sunday with weary arms & shoulders. When I look back to just a few months ago 1600m was a major goal but now i’m winding down to this distance it seems quite weird.
The runs were ok too, just shorter. The freshness in my legs has showed and i’m running 30 seconds per km faster without even trying. Some of the k’s i’m actually trying to forceably ease off but i’m still faster.
This week finished, not with an event as such but with a club ride with my DAP CC team mates. A post went up on a group facebook thread and not many said they were coming. I was looking for a steady ride as I had done all my training for the week and didn’t really need to go out for a ride anyway. I wanted to as I missed the banter and laughs we have on & off the bike on these rides for most of the summer because of my own dedicated sessions. The trouble riding with others is that the pace is mostly dictated by others and it’s virtually impossible to stick to the plan if you ride in a group.
I showed up in a few extra layers than I first thought I’d need, it’s late September after all realised most f the club had turned up, including the “fast boys” so I knew straight away this was not going to be steady. Within 5 minutes the group was split with the faster riders going off at near-30mph whilst the slower riders were content with a (pretty fast anyway) 25mph. We re-grouped 7-8 miles down the road and started again with asmooth pace but it all got fast again and split up! This was the theme for the whole ride – fast, slow, fast, slow…. A stop at a cafe for coffee & cafe (what else!) and we returned to give it big beans on the way back.
My brain was telling me to stay with the steadier riders but my chimp was putting in some big turns to stay with the fast men and I kinda settled for, at the end, to stay a minute or so behind lead duo who finshed at our starting point for a few drinks before returning to our homes.
I’m glad I did it, although the extra Training Stress for the week hasn’t really helped. The realisation that I can still ride with the faster members of the club has been of great benefit to me. My training has been long & steady whereas this stop/start and surging efforts are quite foreign to me but I could still hold the pace when it went up which proves i’ve still go that top-end going into Sunday’s race. I think if I wasn’t thinking about Sunday I would’ve stayed with the fast lads and hung on in there until I popped.
The week started with a day off on Monday. No issues with that at all.
Tuesday was a double session, a 45-min Wattbike session at 105, 107, 110 & 120% for 7,5,3 & 2 mins respectively. Followed by a 1600m swim, straight out, no rests, just swimming.
Wednesday was a 45-minute run which was pretty uneventful, if not a little too quick because of my fresh legs from the lack of volume yesterday.
Thursday was a brick session, a progressive 1hr session finishing at my FTP for 10 minutes, followed by a 3km run which again was progressively harder. No majors here either.
Friday was an early 1600m swim doing 8x200m before work at “race pace. Again nothing major except losing one of my ear plugs which made me a bit dizzy going to work.
Saturday was a long run before Park Run, not as slong as previous weeks but still 19km in the bag before I finished with my boy to record a PB of 29:44. He was chuffed – although at the time he was complaining about his feet hurting – new trainers on the way me thinks!
Sunday was the DAP CC ride followed by a chilled out afternoon watching Valverde win the World Champs race. Later Suzy & I tried to be “normal” again and went to Wagamamas in Norwich before watching George Michael tribute – “Fast Love” at the theatre royal.
Training Peaks Geeks Section:
Fitness 121. Fatigue 129. Form -3.
Swim 3200m. Bike 210km. Run 32km.
10hrs total time. TSS 730
