June 3, 2007

Passport to Ironman

My passport arrived today (finally!), and now I know it really is going to happen. 3 weeks to go before Ironman Switzerland, and I’m ready to get.it.on…

Well, my mind is ready. My body may or may not be ready.

Funny, but my swim endurance is what I’m most satisfied with right now. Although in January I was unable to swim more than 750 yards nonstop, my Friday 4200 yards was my second Ironman-length swim in the last month. I may be slow, but I’ll make it back to the beach, and that’s all I’m shooting for with the swim.

My long rides and runs haven’t been quite as long as they probably should be. My planned 3 hour run today became an hour and a half when stomach cramps forced 2 bathroom stops within a mile – and the promise of more to come… I haven’t figured out how to manage #2 stops on the trail unless there is a nearby bathroom, which luckily there was today. Maybe I need to pull out my college botany texts and re-learn what poison ivy/oak look like – I definitely don’t want to pick the wrong leaf for that little issue!

Wednesday will bring my final long ride of this training cycle, and my only 100+ mile ride for this Ironman.

After this week, the volume will start to go down while the intensity will creep up. Not that I really have a plan, but it seems like that’s what everyone else does during taper so I probably should do that too.

In other news, I tried today to learn how to tread water. Yea, that’s right, I have no idea how to tread water. I’ve always just used my arms/hands, but it was recently pointed out to me that if I’m in the middle of the lake and my goggles get knocked off I’m hosed unless I can tread water with my legs. So I swam into Lake Martin today and tried to do as it has been described to me.

Uhm, yea, this isn’t supposed to be hard is it? I can.not.tread.water. I tried to move my right leg forward and back and abduction to adduction and then my left leg forward and back and abduction to adduction. Clockwise, counterclockwise… I’m just thankful I still had my arms and my goggles were still firmly in place. I learned to swim essentially without a coach or lessons, but I may need a coach to teach me to tread water!

The fun never ends…

Thanks for joining me for My Daily Spin.

10 comments:

Lisa said...

Now that I think about it, I can't think of how I do it (treading water). It's all instinct now. Maybe it's easier for me since I am an excellent floater. Wish I could help.

Michele said...

Never thought about it before but I know I have had to stop and wipe out my goggles before. So I must be able to tread water.

Glad your passport came, I know they are slow. Ours finally came and they have my husband as a female.

Brent Buckner said...

The breaststoke whip kick done while vertical will at least keep you bobbing up and down.

There's another kick ("eggbeater") that will keep you more level, but it's trickier.

Brent Buckner said...

Oh yeah, can also lean/float on back with head raised while flutter kicking to have use of arms for resetting goggles.

SingletrackJenny (formerly known as IronJenny) said...

You're so ready!!!!
I can't wait to (be the last, well, me and Momo!) to finally meet you. Stronger said she had a BLAST when you went out to CO. ;-)
I did the Deadwood Trail marathon yesterday - I'll post pics tonight or tomorrow - so now my long runs are behind me - just one more long bike and I'll be ready, too.
Let's.Do.It!!!!!
Jenny

Afternoon Tea With Oranges said...

I am sure that you are ready for the Ironman...and I bet if you HAD to, you could tread water without even realizing that you were doing it.

Anonymous said...

You're mentally ready, right? The IM is 90% mental and 10% physical...you've done the physical training, so do some mental training: tell yourself that you're confident, ready and trained! You are going to have the biggest day of your life in the old country :)

A couple of little tricks:
1. Spit into your goggles so they don't get foggy, and 2. Put your goggles on BEFORE you put on your swim cap. I've never had a problems with my goggles getting kicked off.

Steve Stenzel said...

Good luck out there! And good luck figuring out how to tread water!

RunBubbaRun said...

Sounds like your ready for it..

I still can't tread water very well myself. It makes you keep swimming, I always say..

rocketpants said...

If need be...i'm sure you will sort it out in a flash while you are in the race. Practice floating on your back...that allows some time to adjust goggles too.