JOURNEY TO IRONMAN: Home stretch!
Hi there! I know it’s been weeks since I’ve updated you! And needless to say, I’ve been waist deep in Ironman training. We’re in the home stretch- only 26 days left! Here’s what I’ve been up to since my last blog entry:
Wildflower- Dubbed as the Woodstock of all triathlons and considered one of the more challenging courses. This was officially my first triathlon. The drive down there was absolutely GORGEOUS and incredibly picturesque. If only I was able to enjoy it more…I was a bundle of nerves because this time, I knew the swim would not be cancelled.
On race day, my wonderful friends walked me down to the transition area to wish me luck and assured me they’d be perched at the top of Lynch Hill waiting for me. I spent the next hour double and triple checking all my things and when I finally ran out of things to do, I immediately started tearing up. ☹ I don’t think I’ve EVER reacted this way before a race so this feeling was completely new to me. I sent a mass panicked text, and within minutes my friend sneaks into the transition area to ease my fears. I also received a slew of encouraging texts from a ton of people! I honestly have THE BEST support system. ☺
The swim took an hour and I was practically the last person out BUT, I didn’t care! I was just happy to finish and make the cut off! That mile felt like an eternity! I ran out of the water and into a deserted transition area- all the triathletes had left with their bikes already, and some were even running! But I kept trucking along and as promised, my friends were there cheering me on at the top of the hill. Other than it being hotter than hell, the worst part was over. I ran past the finish line at 4.5 hours feeling, relieved, accomplished, and a new sense o f confidence that I was going to ROCK Ironman!
This past weekend, I had my last BIG training weekend. On Saturday, I headed out to the San Francisco Bay for an open water swim in 54 degree water. Eek! No sense avoiding it…word on the street is that Lake Coeur d’Alene will be around the 50s anyway. Armed with a wetsuit, booties, and a thermal cap, I walked nervously into the water… but before I knew it, I was swimming from buoy to buoy followed by a run along the water. The next day I completed my first century ride- 100 miles!
Wildflower- Dubbed as the Woodstock of all triathlons and considered one of the more challenging courses. This was officially my first triathlon. The drive down there was absolutely GORGEOUS and incredibly picturesque. If only I was able to enjoy it more…I was a bundle of nerves because this time, I knew the swim would not be cancelled.
On race day, my wonderful friends walked me down to the transition area to wish me luck and assured me they’d be perched at the top of Lynch Hill waiting for me. I spent the next hour double and triple checking all my things and when I finally ran out of things to do, I immediately started tearing up. ☹ I don’t think I’ve EVER reacted this way before a race so this feeling was completely new to me. I sent a mass panicked text, and within minutes my friend sneaks into the transition area to ease my fears. I also received a slew of encouraging texts from a ton of people! I honestly have THE BEST support system. ☺
The swim took an hour and I was practically the last person out BUT, I didn’t care! I was just happy to finish and make the cut off! That mile felt like an eternity! I ran out of the water and into a deserted transition area- all the triathletes had left with their bikes already, and some were even running! But I kept trucking along and as promised, my friends were there cheering me on at the top of the hill. Other than it being hotter than hell, the worst part was over. I ran past the finish line at 4.5 hours feeling, relieved, accomplished, and a new sense o f confidence that I was going to ROCK Ironman!
This past weekend, I had my last BIG training weekend. On Saturday, I headed out to the San Francisco Bay for an open water swim in 54 degree water. Eek! No sense avoiding it…word on the street is that Lake Coeur d’Alene will be around the 50s anyway. Armed with a wetsuit, booties, and a thermal cap, I walked nervously into the water… but before I knew it, I was swimming from buoy to buoy followed by a run along the water. The next day I completed my first century ride- 100 miles!
GymPact Stats: Had an 8-Hour workout day two weeks in a row!
It’s been a long weekend. Time to rest up and do it all over again. T-Minus 21 days!
