Well its getting close now. Lots of emails from IM NZ with schedules and information guides. Makes it really seem like its about to happen and well it is. In less than 3 weeks I will be in NZ hopefully enjoying the atmosphere of the big event. But before we look too far ahead I guess I should look back over the weekend.
Well Saturdays last long training session was where I left off. So the plan was 2.5km swim, 90min break, 150km ride, 90min break and then 20km run. John (the coach) wanted us to have a break in-between legs so we didn't smash ourselves to much. Mike and I decided to skip the first 90min break as it would get us out on the road early and avoid the heat if the sun came out. So Mike had organised to gain access to one of the training pools in the area early before any of the squads had started. I had to get up about 4:15am to be at the pool with my bike and gear by 5am. We started about on time. It was a good swim. No one around to have to worry about. Only issue was its a 25m pool so 100 laps. Boring... But lucky the watch did all the counting and I just thought about life outside of the pool. With that over we dried off and got on the bike. For the first 20km it all went as planned. Nothing special. I was keeping to my pace I wanted and seemed to be fueling well. Then I hit something and got a flat. No big deal but I was behind Mike so he didn't know that I had stopped. Its all good I will meet him at home after lap one was done. I changed the tube making sure I had removed the cause of the puncture and thought I was good to go. As I was packing up my rubbish I hear the rear leaking again. This time it sounded like the valve. It was pretty icy from being filled from the cylinder so maybe the valve was stuck. Not wanting to risk my last cylinder I thought I better just swap the tube again. Once again I made sure there was nothing sharp inside the tyre and put the tube in. This time it was good but what a waist of time. I wasn't happy. I packed up and took off. As I was riding I could not see Mike anywhere so I kept thinking he was just completing the lap. Thats ok with me as I will be riding on my own in the race so I have to keep getting used to it.
I completed the first lap and went to Mikes place where I was told my refill drink bottles would be. Hmm no one home. I decided I needed to get a tube and air for the last 60kms anyway so I would go home. At home grab what I need and decide to have a bathroom break while I am here. Next thing I know Dee walks through the door calling for me and wondering where I have been. I said just riding like I told her. Supposedly Mike turned around to find me and couldn't so called the girls to come and look for me. They drove the course but had not found me. I had obviously beat them home. I don't know how Mike and I missed each other but anyway.
When Mike made it back a short time later we started on a slightly modified and shorter second lap. It was a little hilly and tough but nothing crazy. Finishing that I went home to have my 90min rest. I did suggest we take longer as it was now the middle of the day and the heat was starting to pick up but Mike said he liked pain so I went with it.
90min later we were running. We split the run into 3 loops. A 10km and two 5km loops. This was to simulate the drinks stops and helped not have to carry much. The first 10 went pretty good. We had some nice places where the breeze would hit and cool you down nicely. Unfortunately the 5km loops didn't have many spots like this so it got hot. The last lap was going to be a walk / run effort due to the heat but I was happy that I was able to push myself to just keep going. It wasn't fast or pretty but I got through it without stopping. I took it as a mind game and I had won that round. There will be more like that to come soon and I know this was an easy battle compared to what I will have.
The rest of the day I just sat around the house trying to recover. I probably wasn't the most fun person to be around that night. Sunday was a rest day so that was good then the this week is recovery week.
So far this week I have not felt well. I don't know what it is but I train lightly and feel like I have been hit by a truck. So much so I have missed some sessions to help recover. We will see how the rest of the week goes and I hope its not something more than just the body recovering.
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