Bring It

I don't really feel ready, but I'm as ready as I'm going to get.  With the completion of my long run last night I'm officially in taper mode. 

Saturday was the Madison Open Water swim.  2.4 miles on roughly the same course as IM Wisconsin.  I think 288 finished, I beat maybe 35 of them.  Yes, I'm that fast.

Start was rough, one big mass start, and pure swimmers actually kick, hard.  Got beat up pretty good in the beginning, after 400 yards or so it thinned out and was smooth sailing.  Water was fairly calm.  Nothing spectacular to report.  Just slow steady swimming.  Came out of the water in about 102.  That would be 102 minutes, or 1:42, or 1 hour, 42 minutes.  Maybe in Racine I could have done 1:02, but I digress.

Felt good about the swim, little disappointed about the time, was hoping to get out in 1:3x. 

After a super long transition I headed out on the bike for the full course ride.  Lots of people out riding the course.  Spoke with a few on the first lap.  Second lap I was mostly alone.  Beautiful day but windy.  Allergies decided to kick in with a vengeance.  Spent the better part of 7 hours sneezing or blowing snot rockets every 3-4 minutes.  Fun.

By the middle of the second loop I was completely wiped out.  Actually stopped twice and just stood over my bike trying to compose myself.  Other than that stops were minimal.  Once on each loop to get water on Timber Lane (love that guy), and once on the first loop when a large group of motorcycles with a police escort rolled by.  I think that was it.

I forget the actual numbers, but it was around 111 miles and pretty much right on 7 hours.  Plan was to run off the bike.  The last several hours of the ride I did the mental debate on whether or not to actually do it.  Final verdict was yes, then it was a matter of how far.  Decided I had to run at least as far I swam that morning, but three miles seemed like overkill.  Ended up going 2.62 miles in 25 minutes.  It wasn't terrible, but the prospect of doing it 9 more times wasn't pleasant at all.

Walked to Ians (I blame you Mike), than back to the truck.  Drove home, showered, and went to bed.

I've actually held off posting this hoping that my perspective would change, it hasn't.  I didn't go to sleep that night feeling all that great about the days efforts and I still don't.  Hard really to explain.  I know I tackled 2/3+ of the IM solo, without taper, but I still have no confidence going into the race.  Barring accident, mechanical or health issues, I know I can finish.  Just not sure it will be the race I'm hoping for.

Last nights long run did help in bringing some of the confidence back.  I covered 18+ miles, running home from the office.  It was slow but effective.  I took short walk breaks every mile.  Ate and drank regularly, and felt like I could have easily kept running.  All good things.

And so it is.  Nothing more I can do about the training.  Time to rest and get all the nagging injuries healed up for race day.  As I said above, I'm as ready as I'm going to get.  Let's go.