Ironman Wisconsin: Week 19

Full on taper mode. Only worked out 9 hours and 42 min this past week (including 28 running miles for a total of 4:05). In contrast, the week before the Carmel Marathon I ran 24 miles and cycled 12, for a total of 4:08. I felt pretty good last week- 10 hours of training is a very manageable amount for me even when work gets nutso. The only lowlight of my workouts was my swim. I got very nauseous and cut my swim at 1.2 miles. It was super choppy so I'm hoping that was the cause.



Monday I finally used the voucher I won to go SUP. It was a gorgeous evening and Vicky and I had fun zooming around the harbor. But why on earth did we wait until the end of the season!?! I really want to go again if the weather permits post IM.



Garmin released the "Face It" app and I squealed with delight when I discovered it. I now have my CB on my watch.


Saturday was our 20th Mikkeller Running Club run. As always, we had a ton of fun running and drinking with good people. You should really join us for our next run on October 1. Info: {HERE}



CB is my super dedicated coach. He always wakes up at 4am to supervise me while I'm on the trainer.



Looking forward:

• need to make a list, round up and pack all of my Ironman stuff.

•continue going over my nutrition plan for the bike and morning of the IM

•stop freaking out. I'm equal parts scared, anxious and excited.

4 Days until I become an Ironman!

9 days until I register for the Boston Marathon.

Ironman Wisconsin: Week 18

Omg omg omg 2 weeks to go!

I'm in taper now, so I'm *only* working out 10.5 hours a week. It doesn't feel like taper yet since I've been ridiculously busy with work and home life. But to not have to run and cycle all damn day on the weekend is nice. I took an unscheduled rest day due to being tired and enjoyed the extra sleep and dinner at Villains that night (but was in meetings every second of that day, which was very tiring by itself)


Workouts are going well and I feel great. I have good days where I'm so pumped about the race and then the wind changes and suddenly I'm doubting everything. I'll be really happy when I cross the finish line and I can cross "finish an Ironman" off of my bucket list and move on with my life. I've enjoyed this journey for the most part, but sacrificing my summer for a race is not something I want to do again in the near future. I don't get paid to do this, so putting so much effort, money and time into a hobby is a bit much.


CB wanted to be included for the "take a picture of a kid in a backpack and post on social media" photos.


The weather has been so nice lately.


Saturday morning it was super foggy-contrast that with the sunrise earlier in the week.


Saturday we went to 5 Rabbits for the "Summer Crushers" beer festival. It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon. All of the beers had fruit in them- and there was also delicious food.


Sunday we relaxed and I made a mint julep for the first time ever- and used the pineapple mint from my garden. I didn't smash the mint enough so there wasn't an overly strong flavor of mint in the drink, but it was still super refreshing.

Looking forward:

•Write out a nutrition plan for race day.

•Swim and make a warmup routine. also figure out which goggles will be my #1 for race day.

•Bring Mortadella in for a tuneup

•Fix my mountain bike. (New tires, brake pads)

•Try to stay positive about the race. A huge component of endurance events is the mental aspect- I need to remain in a good mindset.

13 Days until I become an Ironman.

18 days until I register for Boston.

-Xaarlin

Ironman Wisconsin: Week 17

Peak week or something like that. Oops sorry DailyMile, didn't log my workouts this week with you. I'm not sure why I bother anymore with DM, Strava or Nike app when I log everything in Sporttracks now.


I swam in the lake again. I did an almost mile warmup by myself and then swam a timed mile with Chicago Tri Club for "Stroke and Stride." I only swam since I had run earlier in the day. I felt great cruising through the water, but ended up feeling super nauseous midway through the mile. I'm convinced it's because I didn't have enough food in my belly. Counterintuitive to everything you hear as a child growing up in Florida- "don't go in the pool within 30 min of eating otherwise you'll drown." BS. The times I've had a big lunch or decent snack pre swim, I haven't gotten nauseous. Lesson learned.


Friday evening we drove to Madison so I could ride the Ironman bike course. The open water swim I had registered for got cancelled due to high water and impending storms. I'm now 2 for 2 with registered swim events being cancelled. (Ironman Racine 70.3 being the other). But it is the summer and storms are plentiful and strong here. That's just the chance you take registering for races in the Midwest during the summer.


Saturday morning we went out to ride the bike course. It was beautiful and insanely hilly- not a surprise. I knew it was a beast- it's got the distinction of being the toughest bike course of an Ironman in the USA. L was kind enough to come along with me and slog up and down hills all day. He got a new PDR riding over a metric century that day! Can't say enough how proud of him I am.


We rode the loop that contained infamous Barlow hill. I got to the top of what I thought was the "bad hill" and was out of breath but felt great that I conquered it only to realize the actual beast of a hill was around the corner. I took one look and walked my bike up it. There's no way I could ride my bike up it without falling over. I plan to walk my bike up Barlow in the race as well. No sense burning my legs out on it.



What goes up, must come down- and while the hills were steep and plentiful, the downhills were amazing. I clocked over 35mph not even trying to go fast down one of them! And it seemed If you pedaled enough on the downhill, you could make it 3/4 the way up the next hill without too much effort. Yay.


I have mixed feelings about the recon I did of the course- on one hand I'm glad I rode the course and found it to be way less technical than most recaps of the race made it out to be. On the other hand, I never have ridden or ran a course before a race because I like the surprise element. It keeps me engaged more if it's a surprise on race day. Plus going out 3 weeks before wasn't cheap- hotel, food and dog boarding all add up for this event which has already cost me thousands of dollars so far.


Sunday morning I ran for 2 hours along Lake Monona. It was a nice run in 58 degrees! I passed the area where I'll swim and have transition set up and got a little emotional. 3 weeks from that moment I will be on my way to completing my first Ironman. I'm so excited that this journey is almost over and that I can focus on other aspects of my life that I've neglected during the past 20 weeks.


I can't believe I'm starting a cutback towards the Ironman. I registered for this race in October and feel as if it's dragged on forever without an end in sight. Being able to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel is making me more and more excited for race day. I also cannot thank my friends and colleagues enough who have given me valuable tips and encouragement along the way. Props to my family as well because without their support I wouldn't be doing this. I can't thank them enough for putting up with me during this training cycle.


Fortune cookie from Sunday evening. All the feels. Yes. There is a thrilling time ahead of me.

Looking forward:

•continue to nail down race day nutrition

•be mindful of my food intake the next few weeks.

•make sure Mortadella is in tip top shape for race day.

•swim long a few more times to feel comfortable. Get a warmup routine down.

19 days until I become an Ironman

24 days until I register for Boston

-Xaarlin