Ironman Training weeks 29 & 30- it's starting to get real now

Another week has passed and I'm again behind on my blogs. How does this happen? I have such good intentions every week of doing multiple posts and before I know it, it's Monday again. I feel like every day is Monday. Not a good thing.

I don't HATE Mondays, per se...I just wish they would not come so frequently!

Love me some Garfield

 

Anywhoo.... so my training has started to become very real now. It's like MTV's The Real World - "it's time to stop messing around and start getting real." Gosh I used to love that show...before they had like 35 seasons and they all became super predictable.

 

But I digress...

Coach Roman just gave me my schedule for September and I'm already scared. The past 2 weeks have started to test me and it's going to get nothing but more intense.

 

Although I'm only halfway through week 30, here's what my training has looked like in recent days...and I wonder why I'm beyond the point of exhaustion! 

 

Biked: 249.41 miles

Ran: 43.21 miles

Swam: 7.19 miles

Total: 299.81 miles in a span of 12 days. Yowch.

Total hours spent in those 12 days: about 21 hours

 

My biggest challenge thus far was my 4 1/2 hour solo bike ride yesterday. This coming less than 24 hours off my longest run since 2007 - 14 miles. Yes, you read that right. I had not run further than a half marathon since Rob and I ran 2 marathons in the fall of 2007. Wowzers.

 

The run went better than expected - I actually unofficially "PRd" the 13.1 miles within this training run. I was hauling and felt pretty good. I even got some great pictures of the scenery along my route:

 

 

Mt. Rainier through the fog. Picture doesn't do it justice!

 

So Sunday my alarm went off again at 5:30am to get ready and head out on my bike. I was excited to try out my new Cervelo (which I've of course named Sparty...I mean, duh! What other name would it have?!) on the road - I've only ridden it on the trainer so far except for my short sprint tri last weekend.

 

I was nervous to do this ride alone, though. How would I get through 4.5 hours without anyone with me to talk to or help me if I crashed or Sparty got a flat? Luckily I made it unscathed but it was mentally challenging to say the least. 77.51 miles later, I was back at home with some sore legs but feeling good.  

 

My excitement from this ride was short lived, as about 2 hours later I got my September schedule from Coach Roman. I'm convinced he's trying to kill me. Ok, he's not. He's just trying to prep me for 83 days from now.

 

This week, I continue my 4 days of double workouts, one day with 2.5 hours on the bike and then my long workouts: 82 miles on the bike and a 16 mile run. I may have to shift days around this week to fit this in since we're going out of town for Labor Day.

 

Then next weekend comes the true test. Get this... I have to do the following:

1 hour swim

100 mile bike

10 mile run

 

All in one day.

 

By far the hardest thing I will have ever done in my triathlon/running/training career. I'm already terrified of it and it's still 12 days away. But I know this will help prepare me for the actual race and if I get through it, I'm guessing my confidence will spike a bit.

via Google - I need to remember this

 

But in the meantime, I'm continuing to power through my plan, trying to stay as close to his schedule as I possibly can while still keeping some semblance of a life. Like trying to devote enough to my job, Julia, Rob, keeping up with laundry, house stuff, friends, etc. I'm tired just thinking about it.

 

There are days when I feel like I'm a complete failure but I keep trying and doing my best.

via Google

 

Oh and special congratulations to Gretchen and Melissa who both finished Ironman Louisville yesterday! Awesome job, ladies - you are amazing!!!

 

Questions:

1) Did you have a fun weekend?
2) Does your training plan ever get you really freaked out when you cheat and look ahead too far?

3) Any advice on how to handle these next few weeks?!