Over the past few weeks I've been increasing my volume. A couple of weeks ago I did 110 miles on the bike while I was up in Lake Placid. I followed that up with an 1:30 run a day later. Last weekend was a 95 mile solo ride w/a 30 minute transition run. I followed that up with a 1:45 trail run a day later. This weekend I had been planning on joining the Infinit Tri Team's Iron Distance weekend. Infinit Tri is a small, local team "coached" by my buddy Tony Delogne. So I train with them on occasion. The weekend consisted of a swim and short bike on Friday (which I didn't do); a 92 mile ride/8.8 mile run on Saturday; and a 17.5 mile run on Sunday. Today was the 92 mile ride/8.8 mile run brick workout. The ride took place on an 11.5 mile loop located in Sharon, Massachusetts. It's a great course, which I train on frequently, because it's a rolling course (but nothing too steep that you have to get out of the aerobars) and only has about 4 turns on the whole loop. The ride started at 8am...and boy did it start fast. We averaged over 25mph on the first loop. By mile 15 I had decided that I had enough of the group. First, it was too fast (as I have a big 1/2 ironman race in 2 weeks); Second, we were riding paceline, and you can't do that in an ironman, so I felt it wasn't beneficial for me; Lastly, and most importantly, at the speed we were riding, I was having trouble getting in my nutrition, which is something that I'm really working on (executing nutrition is key). Anyway, I rode the remainder of the ride on my own. It was pretty good until about 50 miles. That's when I realized that it's time to change my bike saddle! On a tri bike, I sit on the nose of the saddle. When the padding goes, you need to buy a new saddle, or it can be VERY uncomfortable to ride. I actually have a new saddle sitting at my house, but I just haven't put it on my bike yet. Well, anyway, the last 42 miles sucked! But, I did it. It's very hard to keep riding in pain like that, especially when you pass your car multiple times. I was very happy when I finished my 8th lap of the course (92 miles). The run was very promissing. I felt very good (all things considered). I ran about 6:20 pace without really pushing. And, I even-split the run. Now, as I sit here typing, I'm beginning to get myself mentally ready to run 17.5 miles tomorrow....FUN!
People sometimes ask me how I do the ironman....swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 and running 26.2. Hell, it's a long race. My response is always this: The ironman is the easy part. It's the training for the ironman that's the hard part. Doing long rides, run, and bricks (ride/run) every weekend. It leaves little time for anything else. Don't get me wrong, I love to train. I like to ride long on the weekends....when i want to....not because I have to. So, even before I had qualified for Kona, I had decided that this year would be my last year doing ironman....at least for a few years. Getting to Kona this year makes it that much sweeter!
