4 days...

Today is my last day full day in Iowa before the big race. I am taking off tomorrow for Louisville. I could not be more excited to do this race. I am sure as soon as I get there, the nerves will set in. Right now I am more anxious just to get going. Tonight I am dropping my dog off at the kennel, dinner with friends and then spending the night with Rob. I am pretty excited about that too since he has a huge work project to turn around. Tomorrow Rob and I are having breakfast before I am on my way. I have a full schedule Friday and Saturday which will be nice so I am not going crazy over race prep stuff like I have earlier this week. I will do a massive check over my stuff probably Friday and Saturday before equipment drop off to make sure I have everything. It is challenging because I won’t see my run or bike bags until I get them in the race. I have to make sure I have body glide in all of them since I won’t be able to get my bike bag for the run. Just things like that. I just noticed last week I should get my oil changed soon in my car, but wasn’t sure if I would have time to do it. I was able to get squeezed in this morning. Good thing I did because my brake lights weren’t working. I would have never known and that would have not been a good thing to not have when you are driving 8 hours some place. Good thing only the bulbs needed to be replaced. All in all, I am so ready for this race and can’t wait to get out on the course to see what I can do.
Race Goals:
#1: Finish and have fun doing it
#2: Have a great time
Strategy:
Swim: take it easy (which isn't hard for me) but not to easy that I lose track of time
Bike: Slow, Slow, Slow to start. My heart rate tends to be the highest here.
Keep power even on the hills
If I am feeling good and no stomach issues, the last 10 miles I can push it a little bit
gel every 30 min, salt tab every 30 min, 1 water bottle/hour, half bottle of gatorade/hour
Run: Just keep moving
Walk Aid stations, Run inbetween
Gatorade and water at every station, salt every 30 min

Race weather: upper 70s, party sunny, wind 5-10mph. I will take that! Hopefully the ran in the preceeding days goes through quickly to result in a fabulous day!

Question I am going to ask myself several times during the day: Why are you doing this?
Answer: Because I really want the tattoo, haha, just kidding, ok I really do, but mostly to prove that I can be successful in anything I set my mind to and why not!

I am always looking to challenge myself and better myself in anyway that I can. After all, I have an "A" personality :)

Follow me on race day: August 30, 2009 at www.Ironman.com. On the home page will be a link to the athlete tracker. #337!!!!!!!!!

#337

Officially Ironman Louisville Race Participant #337!

Going Strong

I am so happy to be tapering because my body just could not take any more. I was finally able to run Sunday and last night and feel "good". My legs are still a little tired and achy, but not near as bad as they have been. I am doing a 3 week taper. I decided on this last year when I tapered for 1.5 weeks for my half and I was tired during that race. This year I tapered 2 weeks for Kansas and felt great. I also have doubled my workout times since then and decided 3 weeks would be the min. I still did workout 11 hours last week, but it felt like hardly anything. This week I have 7 hours which feels like nothing. I am doing some final lists of stuff I need and then going to start compling my stuff. I have my room lined up, Anubis' "room" reserved, directions and schedule all ready. I can't wait to get going. Workouts this week and up to my race: Monday ran 30 min, tonight: bike 1 hour, tomorrow: swim 45, Thursday: off, Friday: 2 hour bike, 30 min run, Saturday: 45 min - 1.5 hour swim (depends how I feel), Sunday: 1 hour run, 45 min bike, Monday: 30 min swim, 1 hour bike, tuesday: 30 bike, wednesday: 30 min run, off thursday - travel day. Friday I have a million things to do: 30 min swim, check in, I volunteered for a pain focus management group (I get $75 to buy stuff with!), IAMTRI group get-together, race essentials clinic, welcome dinner and mandatory athlete meeting. Also inbetween all that I am going to go to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Bat Factory. Saturday 20 min swim, 20 min bike, 2 mile underpants run for charity then back to my room to get my gear and check in at noon. Then I am relaxing the rest of the day. Hoping to meet a couple friends that evening for dinner from IAMTRI that are coming down to cheer. Sunday is the big race day. It is going to come fast. I feel like I am not ready yet just because I have to get a few things from the store and then gather up everything, clean my bike and check the rest of my gear. I will get most of that done this weekend, then I can relax.