Race Week is here!!

So, the time has come. This week is the culmination of the last 4 months of Ironman training, and I can't wait. This last week was a good week of easy, stay fresh, training. I totaled 11.5 hours of training, with only a little bit of running. I have read it is smart to limit the amount of running done the last two weeks because it is hard on your body and takes your body longer to recover from running than the other sports.

Right now, I am completing my packing, before I get on the road tomorrow. The last few days have been diffcult mentally. There are so many things that go through a racers head leading up to the race. There is so much written about it, and it is all true. I have learned to write lists and my scedule, which helps me stay calm about not forgetting anything. I have also done a lot of quiet times and stretching.

I arrive in Arizon on Wednesday night, and will be staying at my girlfriend's parents house in Scottsdale. It is nice to have a house, not a hotel, to stay. Actually, I have stayed at a house for all of my races this year. Keeps it cheap. The days leading up to the race will involve, light training, a massage, going to the expo to take it all in, registartion, movie watching, reading, eating, resting, watching football, and hanging friends. As long as I keep myself busy, the less I will overthink everything.

I will sit down on Thursday and write down my race plan, which is a good way to visualize what you want to do on race day. This will involve everything from what I do before I go to the race site, to what and when I eat on the bike. I have undergone 4 months of hpysical preparation for this race, this is the least I can do to preapre myself mentally.

As I get read to toe the line, there are many people that I owe a great deal of thanks to. First and most important, is Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with the physical ability to race. Also, my parents, brothers, and sisters, who are the best family anybody could ask for. My girlfriend kim, who is at every race she can be at, and always helps/forces me to get my mind of triathlons. My good friends, Mills and Chuck, who are not only involved in the triathlon battle with me, but are great to draw from about every question. Lastly, I want to thank all of my other friends and family who continually encourage me and remind me how amazing it is that I do what I do.

As I complete this race, and in my weakest moments, I will keep in mind 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, " My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest onme. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THAN I AM STRONG."

For those that want to track me, go to Ironman.com on Sunday morning, and click on the link "Track an Athlete". From there enter Gilmore, and click on my name when it shows up. The race start at 6AM PST.

CHASE YOUR DREAMS!

Taper has Began

I have began my 3 week taper, and I am also happy to say that I am now completely healthy. I am using taper plans from Dave Scott (Ironman Legend) and an Ironman training book I have called "Going Long". In the end, it is all about reducing total volume over time, but making sure to include race intensity intervals to make sure you stay sharp.

My stats for the week:

Swim: 3:10- 11,400 yards

Bike: 9:15 - 177 miles

Run: 3:35 - 28 miles

TOTAL: 16:00

The week went very well. It was was hard to reduce my volume, and it will only get tougher over the next 2 weeks. However, at this point, I am not able to add anymore fitness, so I just need to stay sharp and let my body get race ready. Which means I will be doing lots of stretching, sleeping, and spending more time in front of the television keeping my mind occupied.

This next week will only be 12 hour of training, which means the television watching only increases.

The "Hard Work" is Over

This officially end my build and officially begins my taper. I go from a phase that is hard physically, to a phase that is hard mentally. The taper is hard because you begin to substantially reduce the volume of your training. However, you feel like you should be doing more, even though you should not. Either way, I have read a lot from Dave Scott and the book Going Long on the last 3 weeks (taper) before an Ironman. Just need to follow the plan and be smart. This last week, I was still a little sick, but managed to get in some decent training mixed in with some off days.

My stats for the week:

Swim: 3:45- 13,100 yards

Bike: 10:30 - 204 miles

Run: 4:20 - 34.25 miles

TOTAL: 18:35

I did a great 2:00 run that started easy and ended with the last 30 minutes at a 7:25 pace, and felt great at the end. Ran a total of 15.5 miles. Running is the area I am most nervous about, but this was a big confidence boost. My last "big" workout for the year was a 4:00 ride followed by a 1:30 transition run. Both of these start out easy and build to half-ironman pace by the end. I felt great at the end.

At this point, I just need to stay sharp, healthy, and injury free. Although this was not the ideal last 2 weeks of my build, I am happy with the end result, based on my key workouts. For those of you that have supported me through these last few months of long hours of training, I thank you.

Challenging Week

This week was definitely a challenge, both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, I got sick this week, and was only able to train 4 days. It was a struggle to not train, especially when I am so close to race day. However, I was smart and focused on getting healthy. I knew I was better of missing a few days and making it back healthy, rather than allowing the sickness to linger on. Fortunately, I still made 2 of my key workouts. Later in the week, my knee start to bother me, but once again I was smart and decided to back off. All in all, it was definitely a challenging week, but I am sure I came out of fitter, due to my smart choices. As my stats will show, I definitely only hit my bike goals.

My stats for the week:

Swim: 1:45- 6,100 yards

Bike: 13:25 - 261 miles

Run: 1:45 - 14 miles

TOTAL: 16:55

I was able to do 2 key brick workouts. A speed session of 3:00 biking and 1:00 running. On Saturday I biked 6:00 followed by a :45 run.

This upcoming week will be my last week before I start my taper for the race. Once again, I will try and put in as much work as possible, but be careful to stay healthy and make my key workouts.

Now I know I am getting closer to race day.

Today, the Ironman Arizona athlete guide was posted. This led me to experience both excitement and begin to ask myself questions. However, I just remind myself how well my training has been going, and how much fun this day is going to be. I am so close, but so far away.

My stats for the week:

Swim: 3:55- 14,000 yards

Bike: 12:45 - 250 miles

Run: 5:20 - 41.5 miles

TOTAL: 22:00

Great week of training. My big training block was a 6:00 bike ride followed by a 1:00 high tempo transition run. I felt great at the end of this, and it was a really great confidence booster. This next week will be very similar to last week's totals. However, this weekend will be my biggest training block of the year. Saturday and Sunday will help test and set-up my body for the rigors of the race, but not put too much stress on it, which would require a lot of recovery.

On another note, I think it is important in times like these (i.e. weakening economy and political changes) that we recognize what matters most in life. These things that matter most in life tend be something that cannot be bought or sold. However, you must guard these even more than your money or belongings. Always keep what is truly most important, most important. Keep living the good life!

Mills Finished Kona!!!

Wow! What a great weekend! This weekend was the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. The whole spectacle before hand, articles online, and pictures online make it a very fun week leading up. Definitely kept me busy everyday reading the articles and checking out the pictures and new gear the pros were showing up with.

However, the highlight was definitely tracking one of my best-friends Chris Millard. Chris overcame some injuries to finish the race. His parents were catchers at the finish, and watching him cross the finish line and jump into their arms was amazing. It proves that you must toes the line and cross the line on your own power, but at the end of the day those people that support you are the most important Huge congrats to Millsie for killing it out there.

This week began my last big training bock. It will be four weeks of lots of long sessions, good recovery, and great nutrition.

My stats for the week:

Swim: 4:25- 15,000 yards

Bike: 13:05 - 252 miles

Run: 5:10 - 39.5 miles

TOTAL: 22:40

My big training block was a 6:00 ride followed by a 40 minute run. I am beginning to get my nutrition figured out, and felt great after the run. I will hold these big training sessions for the next few weeks. These will become important to nail my race day nutrition. I continue to be smart with my stretching, recovery, ice baths, and massage.

This was a great week, and I hope the next 3 weeks are the same. Cheers!

Good Easy Week

I took a nice recovery week. I am now mentally, physically, and equipmentally (if thats a word) ready for the next 7 weeks of training. The next seven weeks will have 3 weeks of my big build, 3 weeks of a peak, and my race week. This week I trained 10.5 hours, and came out feeling both physically and mentally refreshed. I had tons of fun, and went out partying 3 nights in a row knowing that these days are over for awhile.

This week is the Hawaii Ironman, and one of my best friends Chris Millard will be competing. The race begins at 10 AM PST, and you can watch or track people by visiting ironman.com.

I am beginning rally anxious to race, since I have not done so since September 7th. So much training and so little racing, will drive a person crazy.