Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” — Marcus Aurelius
Ironman training comes with a roller coaster of emotions, and one of the most prevalent is doubt. It doesn’t help when you’re sick a month from the race and battling Achilles and plantar fasciitis issues, but I am remaining positive and in “everything happens for a reason” mode.
Yesterday was massage day and my therapist basically told me, “my body is a wreck.” Oddly, it was my back and shoulders that seemed the most jacked up as she wrenched on the sore tendons. I told her to “Make me squirm,” and it was easy to oblige.
On top of that, I started getting a sore throat Tuesday night and spent most of the day inhaling fresh juice and tons of water. It took about a day to release that problem, but I’m still weak and congested. One month away from Ironman and I am not sure I could comfortably run a mile.
I keep reminding myself that Ironman training is a lesson in patience. You can’t “always” be ready to race and a major part of training is breaking your body down, so you can build it back up. Today, I have a great opportunity.
One thing I wish I did was keep a food journal because I think that is likely where my problem lies. I get sloppy with my diet because of ravenous hunger and next thing I know I am plowing down tortilla chips. That’s one place for change or I may soon be smiling on the open road behind the wheel of this truck.
Nothing about Ironman says “moderation” and honestly, that is a major conflict with my training and racing. I get to points where my body feels invincible and push it over the edge, only to wake up the next day feeling like I got run over by my own 18 Wheeler.
With that in mind, here’s my latest thought on training for Ironman with a month left. I’m supposed to be in “build” phase, but since I am “building” from a trough of exhaustion, I have to be careful about my workouts. Because if I have one mantra about racing an Ironman, it is this: “I simply want to feel great on race day.”
So, that could very well mean I won’t have a full distance swim, bike, or run under my belt when I toe the line in Louisville. In fact, I won’t even really be close in any of the three. My longest swim is around 3,200 meters, bike is 80 miles, and run is 12 miles. How in the hell do I think I’ll be able to do a full Ironman on August 24th?
With patience and confidence.
This race is one stroke, one spin, and one stride at a time. None of mine will (or should) be at max effort. For me it’s about finding your flow and managing pain.
As I write this, doubt is all over my body and mind, but it’s because of how I feel right at this moment. My opportunity is to listen to my body. To start fueling, resting, and “building” within my limits.
With one month left, I have to let go of doubt and fear, trust where I’ve been, and believe I will be prepared to face that moment with the same weapons I’ve been using today.
Great post. Injury has plagued me this entire IM training session with running. I finally ran 8 miles last week, but paid for it. My legs / body are stiff, they dont want to move. I’m doing IM WI in September – and the doubt in my head is great. I need as long as possbile ont hat run, pretty confident I will have to walk it (with a few jogs!). But I”m pushing ahead. I’m not quiting. I’m attempting this. What do I have to lose ? My $700 (and some!) is gone. If I dont finish, I won’t see my self as a quiter – I tried. I won’t see myself as failure, I am attempting something that most people wouldn’t even dream about – heck, something most poeple don’t even understand what it is!! Good luck to you – and thanks for your posts!
Hey Laura… thanks for the comment… I really believe you can do it… my furthest run ever before IMWI was 14 miles… Run for something in your mind… do it for someone else… My family and friends were there and I thought of them every time I wanted to walk… and my friend Tim who died a couple years earlier… he was with me… It will definitely hurt… but reaches a point where it won’t get worse, so stay under control and move… Highly recommend living on that foam roller… my therapist told me my legs weren’t as bad as my back and that has to be the reason… anyway… I will likely be up there watching IMWI… stay in touch and let me know how training goes. Mike