Are We There Yet?

Four weeks out and yes, I'm scared!  Last week I looked at the final 5 weeks of my plan and freaked out!  My peak seemed to come too soon, my taper seemed too long, and I was clueless how to fix it.  I have experience with endurance, but this is a different animal.  I turned to my friend who has been doing IM for 10+ years.  He graciously jumped in with both feet and after a week of emailing documents back and forth and chatting about this and that, my anxiety level is back in check and I feel so much better. 

Yep, there it is, the last 5 weeks of this adventure.  Make that 4 weeks because I just finished my first of two big weeks by volume.  Yesterday I rode 85 miles (40+ into a nasty head wind) with a 3 mile brick.  Today I ran 16 and swam 3650.  I was supposed to swim 4000, but I've been sick and somehow at 3650 I just crawled out of the pool mumbling all kinds of stuff I shall not repeat. 

I've had a lot of time to try new things, do my own research, and kick things to the curb.  Here are the things I think are cool and work for me.

My Mizuno Wave Inspire 8's.  I have this awesome red, white, and blue, a spring white and purple, and a really obnoxious blue/green color.  I need to accessorize!  

The TYR Torque speed suit.  I am very doubtful that IMTX will be wetsuit legal.  I've heard that the lake is usually warm year round.  So I will be wearing this speed suit over my tri suit to prevent drag and compress my core a little more through the long swim.  

Goggles have been a pain in the rump.  I have been using the TYR NestPro for....like ever.  They are a great OW goggle with a good deal of comfort.  While swimming laps one day, my fairly new set began to leak.  So naturally I freaked out.  This can't happen on race day.  I did a ton of research and bought the latest technology and top of the line goggles.  Blueseventy, Aquasphere, Zoggs, and Speedo.  Aquasphere leaked horribly...even the small ones.  Blueseventy does not make a goggle small enough for my face.  Zoggs were ginormous.  Speedo worked for a few swims and then started to leak.  $100 later I bought a new pair of my old goggles.  Yep...they are the best!  To sum it up...this was all total nonsense.

 

This is the race kit I'll be wearing.  Sorry, no TRG.  My TRG kit is awesome for shorter races and I prefer a one piece kit, but for this event I think a two piece is really important.  I tried on a lot of new kits and SOAS was the best as far as female fit and hey....it's still TRG colors.

This little thing is sweet!  I'm not big into gadgets and it took me a while to learn how to use my 500, but the Garmin 900XT is AMAZING!  I learned how to use it in just a couple of work outs.  It's very user friendly and does all three sports.  Comfortable, not huge, and it swims!  Love it!

 

Hill Country Running Company held a Triggerpoint class put on by a sports medicine doctor.  I dragged a friend with me and although we both thought it was extremely painful, we could feel the benefits.  I bought a kit and have been pretty faithful with rolling out both before and after hard workouts.  I am a believer!

PB & J...I eat it every day.  I have my own jar in my classroom and yes, I double dip!  :)  I know some people have snubbed comments at me for not being social at lunch.  I eat in my classroom.  I'm kind of done with people starring at, questioning, and making comments about my food.  I have a hard time eating meals right now and pretty much eat all day long in small portions.  If I can't eat, I drink my food.  I've been able to maintain my weight quite well through this process and it's working for me.  Besides, it's my 20 minutes of peace and quiet.  Most of the time I can get one more thing done and that's one less thing I have to do at the end of the day. 

One more really heavy weekend is in my sights.  Even if I don't pull this thing off on May 19, I've done the training.  Every last little bit of it....3 am/4 days a week, 2 a days, 3 a days, and all that comes with IM training.  For that I am thankful for.  I HAVE trained for an IM.  That is something in itself.