4 Weeks Out

I am almost 4 weeks out from Ironman Louisville. I have never looked forward to the word taper, but BRING IT ON! I will be racing Mideast Regionals this Sunday and I am excited to get back in touch with whatever speed i have left over from earlier in the summer. In the event that my speed does not pay me a visit on Sunday, I will have to deal with it. I might have to even go back to emails fromt his winter where I told coach that my only (A) race is Ironman Louisville.

I had my first rude awakening this past sunday at the Monrovia Time Trial. I was scheduled to do a 2 hour and 45 minute run on Saturday and then lay it all out in a 40k time trial on Sunday. No biggie, my eyes are always bigger than my legs. I got to the TT late so i didn't have any time to warm up and i just went for it. I was the last person to go and that officially "sucked". I passed two people, one of which was this man named Patrick. He would not let me drop him. Every time I passed him, he would pass me right back. It was so cute! I am not sure how old he was, but he was old enough that it was cute. I wanted to average 23mph, but i think I ended up around 22 exactly. I was pretty bummed and I had those naughty little feelings of doubt and frustration in my fitness, but I should be tired. I'm training for an Ironman damn it!

So, after a few encouraging words from my coach and Guy (thank you so much), I am back in business. I sometimes have to look back at all of the breakthrough workouts and races i have done this year to remind myself that I have not been sitting on my ass all summer. So, with a few more long workouts left on the schedule, I will embrace them and love them for what they will give me in 4 weeks.

Come to find out the man that I passed in the time trial, Patrick, is coached by my coach. Patrick is also doing Louisville (he qualified for Hawaii at Louisville last year). We are now friends and are going to do our last long ride together on the Ironman course.

Thank you to all of those poor souls who have had to deal with me this week. I have been a little on the irritable side trying to fit everything in. Fortunately I have some great friends who have the ability to listen and not judge:) Also, good luck to all my friends who will be racing at Steelhead this weekend. I am jealous, but I am no position to be racing a 1/2 ironman right now. LOL