Race Week Is Here! Trust In The Process.

"Where is my mind
 Where is my mind
 Where is my mind
 Way out in the water
 See it swimmin' "

Where is my mind? Placebo cover of Pixies

Well, here it is.....5 days until Ironman Lake Placid!

Hay is in the barn!

Taper is in full swing!

And in typical triathlete panic mode thinking.......I look back on my training and think.....

Should I have gone gluten free or even paleo...can't decide!

Should I have given up sweets!

Should I have given up soda!

Should I have given alcohol!

Should I have given up coffee sooner!

OK.......Now you know I was being sarcastic when I mentioned coffee! Plus the "no more alcohol" would have to start after I finish the beer in my hand (original draft written last night!). Plus I am not sure how safe it would be for all I know if I were to cut coffee and beer completely! 

Going into the final 7 days, I feel confident in my training, especially the final 7 weeks of Ironman training. After what I feel was an up and down first 7-8 weeks of 2016, the final 18 weeks of training leading up to Ironman Lake Placid has been my best stretch of training since my return to triathlons 4 years ago. More than ever I followed the mantra of training smarter not harder and many might think I am under-trained or under-raced going into this week.  

My longest workouts in each discipline have been: 3500 yard swim/ 95 mile bikes (22.2mph - 2198 ft of climbing)/ 20 mile run (8:00 per mile). Aside for the swim, I practiced proper nutrition during the the long bike and run as from experience, nutrition is the key at event that will be as long as an Ironman. For example, my 20 mile run was set so I completed 1 loop three times. As I began each successive loop, I would grab a water bottle with a Cliff Gel (course nutrition) taped to it at to ensure my stomach could tolerate the gel while running. While biking, my Garmin is set to beep every 5 miles signaling it is time to consume! 

My biggest weekly totals during training were 7750 yards of swimming, 220 miles of bicycling and 47 miles of running, but not always in the same week. My highest weekly totals in mileage volume & duration were 259 miles and 17 hours and 34 minutes. Having trained and competed in two Hawaii Ironman World Championships (95 & 97), I learned it is train smarter not harder. As a coach myself, I also understand that the endurance from all three is a cumulative effect, thus the no covering race distance in any training session.

Here are my training numbers leading up to Ironman Lake Placid:

18 Weeks of Serious Ironman Training

Bike - 2719 miles/ 133.34 hours/ 20.39 mph

Run - 567 miles/ 75.57 hours/ 8:00 per mile

Swim - 70 miles/ 33.27 hours

Total - 3356 mile/ 242.18 hours

Per Week - 186.44 miles/ 13.45 hours
(Bike - 151 miles/ Run - 31.5 miles/ Swim - 3.89 miles)

Training Totals Since May 30th (6 Weeks Hard & 1 Taper Week before this week) 

Bike - 1253 miles/ 61.99 hours/ 20.21 mph/ 43727ft of climbing (6246.71 per week)

Run - 222 miles/ 29.61 hours/ 8:00 per mile/ 2038ft of climbing

Swim - 28.5 miles/ 13.24 hours

Total - 1503.5 miles/ 104.94 hours

Per Week - 214.79 miles/ 14.99 hours
(Bike - 179 miles/ Run - 31.71 miles/ Swim - 4.07 miles)

My goal is to not just finish this Ironman but to race this Ironman. Not sure if that will be this weekend or if I am still another good year of training away, but my ultimate goal still remains the same ever since I returned to triathlons four years ago......Get back to Kona! Aside from possibly my last trip to Kona in 1997, I just might be in the best triathlon shape of my life (even at my old age)! But as anybody who has competed in an Ironman distance race, so many things can happen in an event that will take as long as this one. One must be ready to mentally adjust goals and aspirations as the day unfolds. But if everything goes perfectly, you never know what the results will bring.......

Whatever the day brings, I am looking forward to hearing that call of "You are an Ironman"

But hopefully at my goal time!