Falling Apart!!!

Wow, it's been months since I lasted posted!!!  And now, it's only 6 (closer to 5) days until Ironman!  I can hardly believe it's here, but at the same time it feels like it will never get here.  Since Nathan's Olympic tri, I've also completed the Soma 1/2 Iron (for a 2nd time) and the Women's 1/2 Marathon (for a 3rd time).

Soma 1/2 Iron Tri

The good news is that both races went well.  I felt much better on Soma than I did on either of my two previous 1/2 Irons.  My time was a PR, even though my swim and bike were both slightly slower than the previous 1/2 Irons--my run was just significantly faster.  I have been trying to find a good balance with using salt tabs and eating more.  I still find it a little difficult to get enough to eat during a race.  I really need to stop if I'm going to eat more than a bite of something at a time.  I am hoping that I will just be so hungry during IMAZ that I will have to eat.  On my Soma swim, I felt like I was really moving--I think my overall time was a little slower than last year's for a couple of reasons.  First, I was wearing a wetsuit and that takes longer to get out of (and the timing mat isn't until you are entering transition).  Second, since we were swimming into the sun, I had a bit more difficulty spotting and actually swam 1.4 miles rather than 1.2 according to my Garmin.  I think I veered too far center a couple of times when I was spotting off another swimmer.  Finally, I am trying to walk my transitions in order to avoid getting too amped up and winded when I start the bike.

My ride times have been consistently slower this year.  I am not sure what this is other than I have trained much more for distance than for speed, so I may just not be quite as quick as in previous races.  Also, I did stop for a potty break during the ride, so I am sure that didn't help with the overall time.  By the time I hit the run, I actually felt pretty good.  I followed my walk-run pattern.  I started with a run 5 minutes walk 90 seconds pattern that stretched to a 2 minute walk around mile 10.  But, that's much better than my 2 previous 1/2 irons where I walked more than I ran.   So, after Soma, I was feeling pretty good about the last month before Ironman.  Then, things started to slide a bit...

Women's 1/2 Marathon

First, we took a quick weekend vacation to Rocky Point, Mexico--where I did nothing (no running, biking, or swimming).  Then, I had a conference in Atlanta, followed by an important presentation at work the following week.  Between Atlanta and the presentation, I ran the Women's 1/2 Marathon.  I had a good run, despite not having run anything more than 6 miles since Soma.  It wasn't a PR, but it was an improvement over my previous times for the same race.  Following all of that travel and stress, I had severe back and neck pain (like crying in my bed because I couldn't lift up my head pain).  I have made 3 visits to the chiropractor in the last week and have one more scheduled before IMAZ.  I can finally lift my head, but my range of motion with my neck is still limited.

What's worse is that I've definitely gotten sick.  It started with a cough--this morning I woke up with a throat that felt like it was swallowing glass.  The pain has gotten a little better, but I am just hoping the soreness and congestion ease up before Sunday!!!

As a result, I haven't tapered so much as quit training cold turkey.  I have been doing some strength training (because it doesn't cause huge coughing fits), but little else.  I tried a ride yesterday morning, but the cold, my lack of a spare tube (due to a flat on a training ride a few weeks back and me being too busy to get to the bike shop), and my compromised health resulted in a very short ride on the beeline.  In retrospect, I should have skipped it altogether, because I felt like crap after I got home.

I did get my bike into the shop for some final tweaks.  I replenished my tube and CO2 tank supply.  I got a new back tire (a gator skin--so I better not get a flat!!!) and I had my brakes realigned, so I should be good to go with that.

My plan for the rest of the week is to rest and hydrate.  I am hoping that will be enough to get me through the race--that and my sheer will to complete it!  At this point, the main thing fueling me is the thought of hearing the words "You Are an Ironman!"