(In case you missed the first three posts, read them here, here, and here.)
Everyone keeps asking me how training is going and it made me realize that I haven’t done a training update in a while. Actually I haven’t posted in while, period. And it’s because my brain has turned to mush. I have a lot to say, but have lost the cogitative ability to form a complete sentence. Blame Ironman.
So how IS training going? Kinda like this…
Up until a few weeks ago things were still pretty easy. The long rides on the bike trainer were rough but otherwise I was handling the training just fine. But about a month ago, Ironman hit me like a train.
When I was training for Boston, I peaked at 15 hours. I’m well past that now, last week the training load was 18 hours and I’m feeling it.
| AM | PM | Total Time | |
| Monday | 2500m swim (18x50m intervals) | 4 mile trail run | 2 hours |
| Tuesday | 1:15 on bike trainer (last 15 mins hard) & a 10 minute run | 9 miles of speedwork (10x 2 mins fast w/= recovery) | 3 hours |
| Wednesday | 2700m swim (4x400m intervals) | REST! | 1.25 hours |
| Thursday | 1:15 on bike trainer (easy recovery spin) | 3900m swim (TWO POINT FOUR MILES! IM DISTANCE ACHIEVED!) | 3 hours |
| Friday | 5:30 on bike trainer (endurance) & 10 minute run | REST! | 5.75 hours |
| Saturday | Yard work! | 18 mile run | 3 hours |
| Sunday | REST DAY!!!!! | ||
| TOTAL | 18 HOURS | ||
To say that I’m exhausted is an understatement. It’s chronic, all encompassing, and is affecting every part of my life. I’m exhausted all the time. I wish I could describe what it feels like, but there’s really no words.
Sleep
Remember how I was joking about falling asleep on the couch at 7:30? Yeah, well now that’s much less the exception and more like the expectation. If I’m still awake at 9 p.m., I’m up late. I’m getting up early, usually around 4 a.m. and earlier on long ride days. Last week, I woke up a 2 a.m. and was on my bike by 3 a.m. so I could get my ride in before the day started. It’s messed up, y’all.
Eating
I’m burning anywhere between 2,500-3,500 calories a day. 1,300 of that is my resting metabolic rate. You can do the math.
Food? Did someone say food?
I’m trying hard to continue fueling my body with healthy stuff but it’s tough to get the calories I need. I’m adding in healthy carbs, fruits and veggies as much as I can but it’s really hard to fill a body that’s literally STARVING. A few weeks ago, on the way home from church I stopped at the grocery store to buy a birthday card for my grandma. While I was there I picked up a half dozen chocolate turtle cookies. You can guess what happened.
I ate them in the car.
On the way home.
All six of them.
I wish I was kidding.
Y’all remember that skit Micahel Phelps did on SNL after the Beijing Olympics? No? Watch it here.
That’s how I feel. Maybe one day in the next couple of weeks I’ll document what I’m eating on the heavier training days. That should be entertaining.
Body Composition/Physiology
My resting heart rate, which before I started training was usually between 50-55 (55 being super high) is now in the mid 60s. I actually skipped my long ride on my recovery week because my resting heart rate was 69(!). My body is struggling. And it’s struggling hard. My immune system seems to be holding it’s own but I am opening all doors with my non-dominant hand and bathing in Purrell, just in case. I can’t afford to get sick.
I’ve gained about three and a half pounds since I started training. I’ve lost 2.5 inches from my waist, lost an inch from my hips, and lost 3/4 of a inch in my thighs. I’ve gained an inch around my puny little arms and gained another 1/2 inch around my chest. Insane, y’all.
| Pre-Ironman 7/27/17 |
Week 11 3/8/2018 |
+ / – | |
| Weight | 128.8 lbs | 132.4 lbs | +3.6 lbs |
| Upper Arms | 10″ | 11″ | +1″ |
| Chest | 33″ | 33.5″ | +.5″ |
| Waist (around hourglass) | 27.5″ | 27.5″ | same |
| Waist (around bellybutton) | 33.5″ | 31″ | -2.5″ |
| Hips | 37″ | 36″ | -1″ |
| Thighs (at largest) | 22.5″ | 22.5″ | same |
| Thighs (3″ above knee) | 17.75″ | 17″ | -.75″ |
| Calves (at largest) | 14″ | 14″ | same |
Mood
Not great, mostly due to the exhaustion. If you see me in the next seven weeks and I look down or angry, most likely I’m neither. I’m just tired. Do me a favor and remind me that I can do this, and give me a hug. Trust me, I need it. Training is taking a much larger emotional toll than I ever thought it would.
Oddly enough, life doesn’t stop for Ironman training. Shocker, right? The kids still have to be shuttled to extracurriculars, I still have obligations to my family and friends. It doesn’t matter if I spent the last 2 hours swimming or 5 hours on my bike. Life goes on. Dinner has to be made. The house has to be cleaned. The laundry has to be done.
Expectations vs. Reality
I’m not sure exactly what I thought training was going to be like. I guess I thought it’d be like training for Boston + 30%? It’s no where near that, not even close. It makes Boston training feel like a walk in the park. I wish I was exaggerating. I expected it to be physically demanding, but I didn’t expect it to be equally as emotionally demanding.
It is hands down the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And I’ve done a lot of hard things.
Training Progress
All this other stuff aside, the training is working. I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt in my life. My body is adapting to the load and I’m making amazing gains in strength and endurance. When I first started training, I honestly doubted my ability to finish the event. Now, I have no doubts. The training is giving me amazing confidence. I’m not as scared as I was. Though I’m not ready now, I WILL be ready on April 28th.
Eleven weeks in, seven weeks to go! Seven. Weeks. (and three of those are taper! yikes!!)