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RACE WEEK for IRONMAN ARIZONA

IT'S RACE WEEK for Ironman Arizona. I can't say I'm enjoying tapering, but I am looking forward to heading to AZ! For the first time - I feel like I'm heading into this race prepared. I did 3 - 100+ mile rides. Last year, I went into Boulder having gone 82 miles as my furthest ride. This year, I ran 16.5 miles as my longest run (did that 3 diff times), but on one of those days ran a second time and hit 21 miles running for the day. I swam about the same as I have for every race. Maybe next year I'll actually try to get faster at swimming... :) I know what I can control on Sunday, and that many things will cross my path that I can't control. That's the part that makes it an adventure. KNOWING that things will not go according to plan is really the only certain thing about racing a full ironman distance!

 This year I've had some success racing - I did two triathlons (olypmic and 70.3 distances) and got first in my age group and top 10 overall for the women both times! I can't help my competitive nature and the fact that this now makes me want to rank in my Ironman age group - but I can't let that beat me. I have to stick to my race plan. Remember the marathon ahead. Remember that THAT is my main goal. PR my marathon time, IN an Ironman. If I can be even a LITTLE faster on the bike than last year, but run the whole marathon, I can PR by more than 2 hours. I want it. I've put in the work to achieve it. I have to beat my brain on the run and JUST. KEEP. RUNNING. 

 MY IRONMAN RACE GOALS!
swim - 1:15 (I could go 1:10 if I have a good day)
BIKE - 6:30 (this is a conservative time - I want 6:15)
RUN - 4 hrs. I want to run the full marathon

 If I achieved what I set above - I would come in under 12 hours. That would be a perfect race for me. It is unlikely I will have a perfect day - running the whole marathon would be a massive accomplishment for me, as I've never put together a good marathon after the swim/bike. This season I put together a decent half marathon during my half ironman, but that was a pace I definitely couldn't keep up twice as long!!

 I have really bad race anxiety. It's something I've worked to get more comfortable with this year - to be fueled by that anxiety vs terrified. So far, it's helped. I've gotten more comfortable with my routine, focusing on the things I can control, and trying to remember that I CHOOSE to do these races. Remember WHY I choose to do them. 

 I choose to do Ironman to be more than average. To do something extraordinary. To do more than I used to think was possible. To continually improve. To show myself what I'm made of. To be more. And because... I Love the Pain.

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 15, 2017 at 9:27 AM

    Wait. So. You have to swim for an hour straight!?!?!?! Nope, Ironman is not for me. BUT GIRLLLL YOU GOT THIS!!!!!!!!!!! And when you get nervous remember it is suposed to be fun! :D
    Cheering you on from Jersey!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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