This past weekend was the end of what the training plan calles the "IM Hard" phase...and now moves on to what they call a "3 Week Taper". Coming from a single sport backround, it isn't the kind of "taper" you would expect. Tapers usually don't last 3 weeks, maybe 1-2 weeks maximum. It follows a similar structure, decrease volume and maintain or increase intensity...it just does all of this more slowly and over a longer period of time.
On Saturday, Greg "Gills" Carr and I headed South through the "Potato Fields" and past the batting cages, etc. My legs didn't feel great...kind of tired and a bit sore. The workout called for 5 hours, with a block at Ironman race pace, and then a 50 minute run. After about an hour we started race pace effort...ouch, I could tell I had bad legs that day. I was also trying to put down some extra calories to find out where my limits were...well, I found them. My heart rate was fine as well as the speed, but it took a lot more effort, and much more pain than it should have been. I wanted to turn off the gas after the first hour, but hoped it would get better...uh, it didn't. I was planning on 3 hours at race pace...so I pushed on for another hour. Once I got through that hour, and felt considerably worse, I told Greg that I wasn't feeling good. Nutrition may have had something to do with it...my stomach had shut down, and I felt nauseous...so I couldn't eat anymore. This is kind of an interesting scenario...if you can't take in more calories, then you REALLY pay for it on the run...if you get sick and throw up, then you have just dumped all the calories you've painstackingly eaten up until that point...not a great postion to be in. Anyhow, I could ramble forever...to make this short(er), I slowed a bit and made it back home, jumped off the bike and went for a 50+ minute run...and actually felt pretty good...strange. I ended the day doing the original scheduled 5 hours, with 2 hours at race pace instead of 3, and then the run.
Sunday I woke to sore legs, and a couple pretty bad spots. The day's 2 hour run forecast looked bleak! I only drank a Boost shake, so that I could practice getting down calories on the run. I packed up the car and headed out to the Baldwin Rails to Trails...so that I could get some accurate mile splits. It was perfect weather, and the run felt good. I did the first 8 miles at heart rate zone 1 in 1:02:29...and then pushed it into zone 2 on the return trip with a 57:29 for the last 8 miles. I'm very happy with how the run went, so that helps with the confidence. I ended the day with a short swim to loosen up the legs.
The ride on Saturday was good...I don't remember the last time my legs actully "hurt" that bad on the bike...it was extremely painful, I can't even put into words the feeling...but, I know that it won't be any worse than that during the race...so going through that will mentally make me stronger.
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