RW Forum Six - Sub 5.30

Well done Spence.  

I wimped out - not much of a machine hahahaha.   I drove to work and did a long swim afterwards.  Didn't fancy biking in that wind so swapped my days round - swimming should have been yesterday rather than a run anyway.  Bike and run tomorrow instead.  Could have still done a run I suppose. Or a turbo session come to that.  Oh dear, machine seems to have malfunctioned.

I still have no face!

I ran yesterday but forgot to turbo. Don't ask how I managed to forget!! I jsut did the 2.5k swim and it definitely was not pretty!!

Think I've malfunctioned....

"just" a 2.5k swim she says.

I did a bike this morning to work with 10 mins on the turbo before hopping on the hybrid then just ran home.  Couldn't keep my heart rate down on the run and feeling snuffly like I'm getting a bit of a cold. 5 miles took me 70 mins which is slow even by my standards.  But I did it.

For some reason I'm not really moaning about training.  I've just taken it as a fact of life that I either swim, bike, or run in various combinations. When the distances start increasing I think I might think differently.  I do confess though to sometimes wondering why I'm doing this and perhaps I should take the easy option and "just" do a couple of marathons this year (a lovely word "just" isn't it?).   I tell myself that I've jumped on a bandwaggon, that if I'd never heard of Pirates I wouldn't even think of doing Ironman and its the most stupid thing in the world to be aiming for.  So I think okay, I'll just do running but I want to be a better swimmer so I'll stick to doing that for fun, and I enjoy biking so I want to be able to do some longer rides as well - which brings me right back to IM training!  And I know if I read about people crossing the finish line at Outlaw  I'll be gutted if I don't even try and I'll always wonder what if?  I know I want to do it but it scares me and my brain is going in to self-protect mode.  Think I need to train my mind as well as my body if I'm going to finish this thing.

Soupy

You are doing brilliantly and with the increased time you'll have from going back to part time plus the lengthening days and (hopefully) improving weather you will easily manage to fit in all the plan and everyone says that the plan does work and will get you round.............

People like you and me are not likely to be challenging the podium positions but the way I look at it is (or try to in my more positive moments!):

"the harder the journey the more worthwhile the reward"........

I know my journey will be very hard:
- full time job
- 3 dogs
- middle aged
- 1st ironman
- overweight
and dog only knows what else!

But as you say I know how much I would regret not trying...........all too often in my life I've wimped out of things - mainly for stupid reasons - some big things some little things - but I have never failed to regret each one..........

Now I know for a fact that at least 3 of my "negatives" don't apply to you and I also know that your cycling has come on leaps and bounds (by your own admission and Dustboy's appraisal), you've been enjoying your swim technique stuff, you are an experienced runner and you have the chance to train with other pie-rights who will give you all the advice and support you could possibly want.........

..........so in summary

YOU WILL DO GREAT GIRL!

And so endeth the sermon for today

Thanks Podds - yep we have to trust that the schedule works, not to mention Pirate Power.  I am lucky to have the time to train and to have so much help and support. I remember when I was wibbling about the Vit the first time, to the extent that I withdrew from the race then promptly burst into tears and had to email them back to say I wanted to stay in the race.   I felt totally fantastic when I finished it (and then cried all over Schmunks at the finish line) so I'm sure Outlaw will be a million times more emotional. 

Bring it on!   Brain shut up!!  

I think Podds has put it very well there. None of us find it easy - even the super duper fast peeps. If it was, it wouldn't be an Ironman, would it?

Also, I wouldn't worry that your brain has gone into self protect mode - if that works for your brain, go with it. My opinion is that completing is a 70 - 30 mix; with the 30 being the physical and the 70 being the mental. Anyone CAN do it, if they have the right attitude. And you guys do.

A 30 min swim and an hour on the turbo today.  And my pirate kit arrived.  A biking jacket and top which thankfully fit perfect. So thats it, got to do it now.

I'm challenging my (false) doubts now so I've got answers and strength when the hard sessions come. I'll be at that start line no matter what. I've re-read what Fink says about when mental strength dips in training and remembering the feeling and how to overcome it.  I'm sure on race day there will be plenty of dips and peaks to find my way through.

Waves excitedly to DL   Good to hear from you. Plenty of mojo here.  Well sometimes anyway.  I missed my planned run and swim yesterday but I blame the fire alarms sounding at the gym and everyone stood outside freezing to death when I got there, so I moved on but still didn't run for some reason - my planned route had been foiled and couldn't get my head round a different one.  But a 5 mile plod just banked now and bike tomorrow. 

Podds - Next Sunday is a Dustboy ride near Camberley (I think). 30 to 40 miles with only gentle hills, mainly flat.  I know its a long way for you but would be nice if you could join us.

*delurks*

Good to see Soupy doing oodles of training (some of the time!) I had a rough long run last weekend - longest so far and it was just awful, but today's was far better and I'm feeling the love again.

I'm doing Ashby as well, so will look out for Spence & DL there. Do you know if we get numbers in advance for that one? as I'll never recognise either of you from your pictures! unless a dog in a red hat really runs races

*goes back to lurking*

*delurks* 

Soup Dragon  wrote (see)

 I felt totally fantastic when I finished it (and then cried all over Schmunks at the finish line) so I'm sure Outlaw will be a million times more emotional.   

And I will have the shoulder ready at Outlaw for you too, Soups

*relurks*

Helen, yes they send numbers out. Far Far is coming too  XB can't get a day pass

It's pizza at Ask after

What kinda time are you hoping for?

oh, pizza?!  Might have to get the pass out signed for a bit longer, in that case!  Will let you know. Something in the low 4 hr mark would be magic. 

Can I go straight for the pizza avoiding the 20 miles bit?????

What? 

Miss 3 hours and 49 wonderful minutes of our company!!??

It's such a good job we know you'rejoking !!!