The End is in Sight

New Orleans. The city that represents any number of things to any number of people, has represented the last four Mondays of training for me. I have spent the last month here, every Monday, slogging on the Courtyard Marriott's treadmill, finishing off the last parts of training for the second of three Iron Distance races I plan on completing in this three year time span.

There is only 10 days until the next race presents itself to me. As I sit here writing about it all, I try to recall my feelings from last year's approach to Nice. I'm sure that those around me will attest that I was less than relaxed. This year is proving a little different. With no one traveling with me on this journey this year, it feels more of a lonesome endeavor, although many have helped me train throughout the year. As a result, there seems to be less tension. Perhaps, knowing what awaits me? Less foreign an event? Confidence in knowing what awaits?

I feel a little pressure knowing that this year I will be racing in front of my close family and friends. A little different dynamic. My parents were there last year in France, yet this year I will have some of the friends I grew up with watching on. Those who have not seen this part of my present personality yet. I'm excited to have their support.

Race weather is looking very nice for the day. Planning on idyllic British September. 70's and sunny. That's the reliability of British weather. When the cricket season is ending, the weather always improves to what you would have liked all season!

The tapering is in to it's second week. I always find this the hardest to keep up with. The training is winding down and the eagerness to get to the start line tends to lead me in to a lethargic approach and a desire to get it over with. That said, I am certainly less willing to get in to a hotel pool right now and tether myself to the steps for an hour of monotony. Perhaps tonight when I get to Kansas.

Napoleon will laugh, but the pack list is taking shape. There is a long list of things that will get packed this weekend. Amongst others, the bike. I remember last year, when the bike was packed up in the basement of Urban Tri, as it will be this year, the realization that the race was indeed happening. I have a suspicion the same will occur this year. Chris at Urban Tri, as reliable as ever, the man who painted my bike box last year for me, will be packing the bike up again. I could do it myself, but there is something about have the reassurance of a professional do it for you. Knowing that you have done all you can to ensure the bike will arrive in as good as shape as ever. Let's hope United treat it with the same kind of respect!!

We take flight this Monday, enroute to Challenge Henley. May the seats be comfy and the food plentiful. (I suspect not organic!) May the Thames be forgiving! I look forward to it all.

Good luck to us all!

3 weeks and the taper begins

The taper begins!

I find myself at a familiar place. The heavy volume begins to subside. The freshness begins to return. The irony of relief that the hard training is ending and the feeling of closeness to race day. Along with that feeling of closeness comes the slow building of excited butterflies for the race. 

Iron distance tapering really doesn't look like much of a taper, with the exception of the bike volume. That discipline tends to back off, but most other areas keep up the pace until about 10 days out. The hard part is reducing the training and the food intake (my favourite part!) to ensure I can minimize the slight loss of fitness that happens with a taper.  

This passed week went well. Some really good sessions, along with a hard long bike. Came in straight from work and headed out for a four hour ride. That was hard to do and very tiring, especially with the 4am wake up at the start of the day. 

Went out on a trail ride, totally free of the roads, which was a liberating experience. Yet, also a lonely one, which was one of the goals, to gain the experience of being out there by yourself for long periods of time, exactly like race day. 

Running seems to be really coming along. The calf problems from before appear to be concluded. Had a great long run up in Northern Wisconsin on the south shore of Lake Superior. First half was completed with my lovely wife and the went on a long straight 45 minute stretch by my lonesome. Good practice. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. 

Now comes the first week of taper. Going to be tough to juggle the training. Busy work week, coupled with family visits. Lots of sneaking out early before everyone wakes up! 

Leave for the UK in two weeks with my support crew of Neal. I suspect he may well be coming for just the pub experience, but having anyone along for support will be invaluable! Can't wait to get over there and settle in. 

Good luck to us all!

Positive improvement

First stretch of the home leg is complete. Calf stood up well with a few runs and good 2 hour run without too much complaining. 

Credit for the resurgence and repair of my calf has to be given to the rest and dynamic stretching routine provided to me by The Fix studio during my fantastic bike fit I received a few weeks ago. I feel that was key to getting back to running so close to race day. 

One more week remains of heavy training and then the taper begins. Planning is already taking shape for packing and race day prep. The bike again will be packed with the help of Urban Tri, ensuring secure arrival in the UK. 

Sunday also proved not only a successful long run, but also nutritionally. There was a concern about providing the nutrition needed for the run portion. Previously, my nutrition bottle had not survived well on the bike with me. Therefore, I needed to come up with a new strategy. As usual, it was the simplest that proved the best. Four fuel belt bottles full of one hour's nutrition each, to remain dry until the run begins and them mixed with water from the first aid station. Worked well Sunday and hopefully the same result will be realized come September 8th. 

Also on Saturday, managed to complete a race day simulation. Felt good, once I had shaken the negativity of being road raged on the way to the lake. Fantastic weather for it. Couldn't have asked for more in that department. Great bike following the swim, with a relaxed transition run after. Lets hope it's a good sign for September. 

As the day gets closer, beginning to build on the excitement of the big race and having the family and friends out there for added motivation. The pain is guaranteed. The support is what dulls the pain and keeps you plodding. It's that feeling that provides me the energy to finish such a long race. 

Good luck to us all!

Longest ride 2013

Last year saw a much higher volume and less frequency in bike training, which led to a resentful feeling towards getting in the saddle. 

This year has seen a different approach,  with more frequency and a few less miles, with my longest ride measuring 85miles so far. That all changed yesterday with a key long bike ride. The longest on the calendar. 100 miles plus 3 miles transition run. 6.5hours of training (swiftly followed by an ice bath)

It was the perfect weather for it. Overcast for the majority of the ride, even too chilly for the first few hours. Like most riders, at the halfway point of a century ride, I felt great. However, as usual miles 60-80 were a slog. Just kept turning the pedals over whilst distracting myself with the beautiful farm country you find in Minnesota. 

I like to describe the mile 80 and on feeling as your legs giving up feeling tired. You don't have a burst of energy, just a "numbness". They don't hurt anymore, but they don't feel either. The discomfort subsides and the spinning plods on to the triple digits you are striving for. 

The last ten miles always seem to drag by. When you are alone out on a bike, there is no one to distract you. Not a sole to cheer you on. A cheer squad is one of the big advantages of a race day.  Therefore, those last ten miles are brutal, in my humble opinion. A Chris Froome or a Richie Porte to draft behind wouldn't be a bad thing. 

Waiting for Napoleon to catch up at mile 50!

Almost there!

I find great relief when I make it back and  get to go for a run. The relief is found in the difference in muscles used and the joy at not pedaling anymore. As long as the nutrition was followed, this is, and was yesterday, the most fun part of the workout. It normally is on race day too, seeing people again, cheering for you, tends to reawaken you for a short while in to the initial parts of the run. My cheer team yesterday consisted of Maggy our black lab/brittnay mix. She is always very excited to go for a short midday run. Tongue flapping to the side by the end, with a flicker in her eye from the fun she is having - mostly from the rabbits as opposed to the running!

The recovery is the next best thing of the day. Time to chow down. Admittedly, I'm a little unorthodox in this area. See picture. Don't worry, there was a bountiful fruit recovery smoothie as a side!

 Don't knock it until you've tried it!

These are the last two "big" weeks before the joyous tapering begins. Which means only 4 weeks to race day. I can already feel the butterflies building. 

Good luck to us all!