The Meeting

About two weeks ago, Maggie had “the team” out to her house for dinner and to discuss our Ironman training. As usual for our group, we had great food and great wine and oh yeah a discussion. We all had our race “wanna do” lists and our other activities and we started planning. The discussion started with Maggie sharing the basics of our program:

• Individual Race schedule needed to be determined
• 2-3 Century rides (100 miles)
• 3 20-mile runs
• 8-10 hours a week training from now until Feb
• Official training (30 week program) to start Feb 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day!
• 3 week taper

Hmmm, let’s look at these one at a time:

1. My “Wanna Do” Race Schedule –
   1. Mardi Gras Marathon Feb 13 in New Orleans – On second thought let’s make that the Mardi Gras Half Marathon on Feb 13!
   2. La Crosse Fitness Festival Biking Time Trial and Marathon Relay first week in May
   3. Intermediate Tri in June
   4. Door County Half Iron in July
   5. Firehouse 50 in August
      1. Individ TT and then another 50 mile lap on Saturday (hope that counts as one of the Century’s? I am sure it does!)
      2. 15K Run on Sunday
   6. Open Water Swim in Madison end of Aug
2. Century Rides – Well one will be at Firehouse, I hope! So 2 more shouldn’t be too bad. I will need to do these pretty much on my own as I need to work on my mental toughness on the bike at this distance. Okay, not just mental toughness there will be “other” areas that need to toughen up! Yikes!!! Going to  learn to “Love my Time on my Bike”!
3. 20-Mile Runs – I was not too worried about the run, but had a tough Maple Leaf Half Marathon a few weeks ago and now I am a little concerned. On the positive side, I know I can run in some pain. On the negative side, I had to run a lot of the race in pain! It appears I have developed Piriformis Syndrome (tight muscle deep in your butt, very difficult to stretch) so I am currently resting and stretching. I have heard horror stories of Piriformis problems lasting for a year or two! Not acceptable! This is the current focus of my Pre-Ironman Training – “Nip piriformis in the butt! Literally!”
4. Current level of training – Well 8-10 hours is probably about my normal workout level but since I am not biking or running right now, I am lucky to get 4 hours a week with swimming 3 times a week, walking the dog 3-4 times a day (if you can even count that!!!) and then if you add my 15 minutes of stretching a few times a day! Mmm oh well, flexibility and getting to Feb 14 healthy and uninjured is the new goal right now.
5. Training Program – We haven’t decided on our actual training program yet. We are still evaluating a few and will see what we decide. Why rush??? We don’t need it until Feb. Best to find or create one that we all feel good about since it will become our part-time job!
6. TAPER!!! Can I tell you how much I LOVE TO TAPER!!! It is the best part of the whole deal! Well okay crossing the finish line is right up there too! Taper will start on Monday Aug 29!!! Love that day!!!!!

So that was the meeting. I must share that about midway through this meeting I had to “retire to the loo”. I guess my “system” still has major anxiety about this endeavor. So yes I spent a little alone time contemplating the next year in the loo. I hate to think what I will be like the week before! It may take me two days to drive to Madison with all the potty stops! I know “TMI” but then again – Get used to it, cause this blog will be about the good, the bad, the ugly, the gross, the smelly and maybe a few more before we all hear “You are an Ironman”.