powering through long runs.

During my long run last week – one of the best times to clear my head – I got to thinking… what gets me through these 19- and 21-milers? What makes the 00:00:00 on my Garmin ok when there’s three hours of pavement pounding ahead? What will get me through my 2.5-hour run on Saturday, the last long run before race day?

This is what…

ironman canada | week 26

Top takeaways this week, three weeks out from Ironman Canada (how is that possible?!):

Sleep. I had some incredibly early mornings (3:30a… whaaa?!), which are not conducive to training. They also don’t help my mood. Holy crabby pants last week. Lesson learned: GET MORE SLEEP.

Stress. Stress does really mean things to your body. It makes your hair fall out and your GI system wonky. Working on making some much needed changes to reduce that stress because it cannot and will not continue.

Enough. I repeatedly asked Nick this past week if I was doing enough… if I was running enough, if I was biking enough, if I was eating enough (the latter, no, especially considering I saw 120 on the scale for the first time in at least 10 years). Swim bike run, yes, I’m doing enough. He even pulled out his Ironman Florida training from last year to reassure me, and three weeks out, he had 13 hours; I had 15 and a half this week. A-OK. It’s enough! (And, STOP COMPARING!)

With that, my week…

in july…

To be perfectly honest, there’s only one goal on my mind this month.

Ironman Canada.

I’ve been eating, sleeping and breathing this race since registering in October, and six weeks out, it’s intensified. My days revolve around training (and eating, obviously… so much eating). Should I run circles around the track in the morning or after work? What pool should I swim at? Where should I run long (so.tired.of.Summit)? Do I have to go to the co-op again at 8:30p? I need new socks and goggles and aero bar spacers and a wetsuit and a swimsuit and, dang it, why are we always out of Skratch / Vega Sport protein / Bonk Breakers / Honey Stinger chews / <insert fave nutrition here>?