So, I've been working up to doing an Ironman for about 3 years, and the
big day is September 7 at Ironman Wisconsin. My wife's department got
eliminated this summer, and we ended up moving to another state. Bottom
line: I didn't get to do anywhere near as much training as I'd hoped to.
I have, however, been good about getting in my long runs and bikes, even
though a lot of weeks ended up being just 1 or 2 bike workouts and 2 or
3 runs. On the plus side, I have gotten in (dates aprox):
6/7 100 mile ride
6/29 Half-Ironman (finished in about 6:50)
7/6 103-mile ride (with a very hilly 35-mile stretch)
7/12 3 hour run (about 16.5 miles)
7/22 106-mile ride (with a very hilly 55-mile stretch)
8/8 3:20 run (about 17.5 miles)
8/10 3-mile ocean swim
8/11 90-mile ride (completely flat on a rented bike with no aerobars
in strong wind; I was going to go farther but it just really sucked)
My nutrition seems to be my strong point: I can take in a TON of
gatorade and gels on the bike and while running, and I can eat a Clif
bar or two on the bike as well. I've also practiced with electrolyte
capsules (I can't tell if they make a difference, but they sure don't
hurt).
I heard the IM Wisconsin course was really hilly, so I tackled the
toughest hills in the Twin Cities area, and I'm told that they're
tougher than what I'll see in Madison.
I'm kind of slow, and I'm just looking to finish under the cutoff. I'm
figuring that it will take me about 1:15 for the swim, 8 hours for the
bike, and 6 hours or so for the marathon (with about 15 minutes total
for T1 and T2), but I have no idea what it's going to be like on the
Marathon so I can't tell how realistic that 6 hour thought is. I'm
planning to walk all the water stops on the run, and I'll walk more if I
need to.
My taper has been pretty sharp, since moving really sucks. I did get a
60-mile ride and a 9-mile run in this weekend, but there have been a lot
of
I'm sincerely hoping that my low training volume is going to prove to be
a good thing, since I'm sure I'm not overtrained and I'll be making it
to the starting line without any injuries. I'm also encouraged by the
fact that 95% of the people finished last year's race.
So, how does it sound?
--Harold Buck
"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson