We're not having another baby, that's for sure. But this is one of those turning points for me, right now. This is where the rubber meets the road. Not only is there the mental countdown of seeing the counter drop to double digit days, but my training plan is making a shift as well. This is week 22 that I've been on this training plan. I have missed my share of workouts, don't get me wrong. The plan calls the first 22 weeks Orientation or Preseason, kind of like a base plan for getting used to the workouts and the rhythm of the schedule.
Next week starts what they call the "Competitive" season, which is really a build phase for 12 weeks. Then it's a 2 week taper and time for the big race. So I've got 22 weeks down, 14 to go.
The base phase has certainly been challenging. I've gained a lot of speed, aerobic capacity, endurance capacity, and learned a lot about time management, scheduling multiple workouts, running off of the bike. I haven't lost any more weight, but I have had a lot of fun. I ran a lot of races. I got stronger. I can totally see the Ironman as an accomplishment that is within my grasp now; that wasn't the case when I started.
The build phase will bring a new level of challenges. Mentally I have to be ready to grow again. Physically I know I'm going to be challenged like never before. This is when it starts to get long. I've got to have the whole family on board. It's one thing to be working monday through friday for at least 8 hours a day. Throw in 7 hours of training on saturday and 5 hours on sunday and it's a whole new ballgame. And it is growing into 12 hour weekends. It starts getting into "Saturday Triples" doing all 3 sports on saturday, then only two sports on sunday. It's making my head spin. I bet there's going to be plenty of this:
Bigun is reading me a story and I fell asleep! I'm totally gone too. Slumped over on the couch after a hard day at work but before dinner or the evening workout. Wow, totally gone. Too funny.
9 comments:
usually the dad tells the night-time story to the kid, not the other way around! too funny
hahaha! what a sweetheart! (bigun, not you ha!) I see many more days like this in your future. But its true. The final 12 weeks or is where all the important stuff happens. If you have a good base, you are well on your way. You've been doing some great things. I have confidence you are where you need to be!
Whoa that 100 days is going to FLY by! Good luck in this next phase of training, it'll be hard but you can do it. It's so great you have such strong family support behind you and that photo is hilarious!
That picture is going on the wall for sure! Love ya babe!!
Niiice... Way to go "Bigun"... you must have read well to put Daddy out. :) The last 9 weeks of prep for ANY endurance race are the most specific... nutrition, and practicing nutrition on your long training days are what really prime you. And Amber's right... they are gonna FLY!!!!
so amazing that you're doing this. kick ass! good luck with the next 14 weeks, at least your daughter kept ready, what a sweet girl :)
Having the family on board is key to crazy training. I know you're going to kick booty!
You'll have to feed us aspiring ironman's tips along the way =).
Aww! that is such a sweet photo. I love it when kids can read to us. Now they can read us to sleep for a change instead of vice versa. ;)
YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
Of course the competitive build is hardest, but also the most rewarding.
99% chance that I'll be at IMFL this year, volunteering at some point. If so, we'll have to meet up! :)
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