The Wall

Well, considering that I have less than 7 weeks now, and I just started a new job that is rather demanding (but exciting and amazing), I am refocusing my training a little. I'm going to focus and work on the bike and swim as hard as I can and then run when I can. I basically need to get myself to a place where I can finish the bike and swim portion in ten hours so that I can give myself 7 hours to finish the marathon in a shuffle, walk, crawl sort-of-fashion. Training has been TOUGH to stay on top of and I'm just trying to fit in cardio workouts where I can. Why must I add more to the challenge of training for an Ironman?! As if training weren't enough, I decide to change jobs and slack off. Ugh! (Ok, slack off is not really correct - I guess the training has just had to take a back seat to other life priorities, so I am just doing too much right now.)

I have decided that Ironman distance is probably not for me only because I really like having a social life and the training has just been too hard to stick to/keep up with. I haven't wanted to give up hanging out with friends in order to fit in that 6 hour bike ride on Saturday. But that will have to change a bit here because this race is coming whether I like it or not! (I'm noticing a theme with this blog with the repetitive use of "shoulds" and "have tos.")

Luckily my new job allows me to have Monday off, and since most of my friends work on Monday, I should be able to use that day for LONG training rides/runs/swims. And then if I can just keep up with the rest, I'm hoping there is a chance that I will get to the finish line. I HAVE to get to that finish line by midnight because I DO NOT want to train for another one of these races! And I'm stubborn enough that just not finishing an Ironman will bug the tar out of me, so of course I will sign up again if that is what it will take. So, I am hoping/praying that I can some how pull this off, even if my race time is 11:59 and 59 seconds, I will TAKE IT and call it good!!!

I think half Ironman distances and half marathons will be my favorite length. They are challenging enough that you have to train, but manageable enough to still have a life. We shall see!

Tomorrow: 2 mile swim and possibly some time in the saddle if I can make it to the gym in time.