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.