Tuesday was my day off from training, so I headed downtown to Podium Multisports, a new tri store in the ATL, to get myself a new aero helmet. My other one, aside from making me look like I'm wearing an oversized golf ball on my head, is damaged - someone stepped on it in a transition last year. If I gotta replace it, may as well do it now in time for the big race. Kevin met me there, and we looked around. Left with a sweet new aero helmet, subsequently decorated TSF style.
After the purchase, we grabbed a bite around the corner at the Floataway Cafe - yummy yummy pizza and good good beer. Heard all the stories from Kevin's kickass performance at Lake Placid - an enviable 10:45 with a badass 3:48 marathon. Way to go Kev!!
Swimming was interesting this week - got 3 Masters classes in. Felt slow as molasses on Wednesday, but thankfully there are clocks to save us from our perceived efforts - I was actually swimming 1:40 100's, so for me, that is not slow. Interesting little set we did on Monday towards the end of the workout - 8x50 with fins. I was actually in the fast lane - not because I have gotten faster, but because when I got there, lanes were all full, and Luis called me over to swim in his lane, which he split with me. He was swimming 800 in the time I was swimming 600. Then we got to the 50's with fins, and don't you know that I beat him and the guy in the fastest lane, each time! I was like, damn! goes to show how much upper body strength has to do with swimming speed. Note to self for the off-season. Luis was a little surprised I think, and said "I'd love to see you on the bike" - all I could think was, ya, I'd like to see me on a bike too the way I was 6 weeks ago. :( Friday's swim was good, and finished up the week on a good note.
Had my second iron transfusion on Thursday. This one hurt a bit more - just a different day I guess, but everything was more sensitive. It only took a few hours though, and honestly, I'm not gonna complain - how can I when I am in getting stronger, and others I am sitting around are in getting chemo. Really just made me appreciate what I have more. Everyone has been asking if I'm feeling better, if it is making a difference...and honestly, it's hard to say at this point. There are so many factors contributing to how I feel, and it is difficult to separate the normal tiredness that I should feel as I start tapering for an Ironman, and what is caused by the iron deficiency. I guess from an objective point of view, I can say that the rate at which I am losing my hair seems to have slowed, and the dizzy spells/head rushes have become much more rare, with days going by without any at all. So, that can only be good. The doc will do another ferritin test when I get back from IMC. That'll tell us for sure I guess.
Thursday I had lunch with my ironman bud John*. Also gearing up for his first ironman, we compared notes on how we were feeling, what we'd been doing, and our mutual levels of preparedness, excitement, nervousness, and so on. He confided in me that for the last week he's cried at something almost every day! See, it's not just the girls. (Matt was right). Not the sobbing that I've occasionally reported here, but nevertheless an emotional reaction with a few tears sliding down the cheek. Awwwww!! Just wanted to hug him, poor guy. I mean, for us women, we know how to handle it for the most part, but these guys who never cry...poor things. Though I definitely understand why it is happening! Plus, I was kinda impressed that he even admitted it. Now there's a guy who's confident in who he is.
(*names have been changed to protect the fragile male ego)
Thursday night's group ride was kinda blah. Just wasn't feeling it. Kinda weird too, given how much I'd been all about the "it is what it is and think positive" all week, with Kev, and John*, and Kayla, and others. Didn't help that I was riding my stupid old road bike that I hate. We had packed up the tri bikes on Monday, all ready for the trip to the Great White North. And thanks guys, for really making me feel *special* on that bold blue beauty with matching shoes ;) ... and a triple ring...and mountain bike pedals...and really old style aerobars that need to be thrown out. oh, and yes, the aero helmet since I let Matt convince me that I needed to wear it at least once before the race. All I needed was my compression socks and I'd have been Jason's protege. (sorry Jason, love ya buddy). Anyway, Matt rode up beside me, and I was just like, I'm gonna go back. He looked at me and said Oh no you're not. Imagine how you are going to feel bailing on a workout this close to the race. Let's go. Then he said we're gonna play a game where you tell me everything going through your head. And I honestly couldn't say anything because I would've started crying, right there in front of Matt. When I finally told him that my bike is my thing, and it's gone, and I'm not sure it's gonna come back in time, he just said, don't worry it'll come back. So we continued on, and it did get better. Chris and Matt and I went out for a bite, and they both gave me a really great pep talk. Thanks guys.
So, finished up the week with a short ride (2hr) yesterday - and I swear, as God is my witness, it is going to be the last time I ever ride that blue bike - and a short 1 hour "long run" today. Felt pretty good on the run this morning, though possibly more from excitement than anything else. Heart rate was still higher than it should've been for the pace I was running, but there is still a lot of humidity goin' on. And I'm not done recovery either. On the second loop, I committed myself to drinking in every moment of this coming week, and most of all, whatever this race is going to be. I've banished the little devil on my one shoulder, who keeps trying to pipe up with the 'what if's' and 'should have's' to the corner until he's ready to come out waving a Go Kat Go banner. Then he's welcome, horns and all, as long as he's embracing the experience. :)
So, with less than a week to go...7 days from now I will be well into my run...I'm pretty excited. Richard has landed in the homeland, Z and I leave on Tuesday bright and early, with our AWESOME chauffeur, Mo. Mo, we definitely owe you one!! I'm still packing, but will be wrapping that up shortly I hope. Much more to come in this final week.
ACK! I can hardly believe it is finally here!!!!!
Happy training,
Kat
No comments:
Post a Comment