Wednesday, 27 April 2016

Start of race week

Well race week is upon us. The last training weeks have been a little more bearable. I still had to put hours in. A 100km ride here or there, a bunch of 10km runs and some 2km swims. But all up it was a lot more enjoyable. Getting closer to the race I start to judge everything that I do. Not always a good idea as you start to get doubts that you are ready. I am sure that no matter how ready I am I will get through it but will I live up to my own expectations and others. I don’t know. Oh well I will just have a go and see where I am when I get to the run. I know if I make it to that in good condition I can push myself. If not I will just cry myself to the finish. Haha

Looking back at this year’s training I guess I can see a few differences the second time around. Motivation to get out there and do it is a lot harder the second time around. The first IM I was so scared about not getting through it that thought really pushed me to train hard. This time I have a belief that I can make it. Training when it is wet and miserable just didn’t really happen. There was a couple of runs in the wet but generally if it was raining heavily I would stay indoors. The first time I would go out no matter the conditions. The long swims and runs were actually easier this time. I found it easier to just get into a rhythm and keep going. I don’t think I am any faster but I can push to go further. So that’s a positive. I found rides still hurt. Maybe as some of the long ones included terrible head winds I don’t know or maybe I am just no good a riding but it still hurt and makes my worry the most about this race.

Injury wise I feel a lot better than I did last year. I do have a couple of small pains here and there but nothing that I think will slow me down. I know I will get pains on race day but this year I am not dealing with anything that worries me I might not finish because of. So that is definitely a positive. Shame also as I will have nothing to blame if it all goes to crap. I should be really working out all my excuses now. Haha

Last Monday I packed all my bags. Its good to race close to home. You can pack so many more things. I have basically packed double my normal gear. That way I can't be caught out missing or breaking something pre-race. Sure my car looked like I have packed for a 6 month trip but I have room so I will fill it. I gave the bike a good clean and checked it one more time that it was working as expected. Not much more to do.


Tuesday the car was packed and after the peak hour traffic cleared we headed off. The drive is about 4.5hrs from home. The drive is rather boring as there is not a lot to look at. The apartment is nice. Has lots of room and everything I need for the week. With not much going on it was a good day to buy food and watch tv. The weather started out well. Warm but not overly hot. Then we had a few showers in the afternoon before it cleared.


Waking up today it has been raining overnight and looks grey and sad. I was hoping to go for a ride out to the famous hill that everyone talks about. I have seen it last year on foot but never tried to ride up it. Only being 8kms from here I thought it would make an easy ride. I might just drive the course instead. It’s too late to ride in the rain and fall off. Haha

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