2 weeks

How can that be...?

Final race rehearsal done. Weather is in the forecast. Daily water temps are being taken. Team shirts are in. Had a great race plan talk with my coach. This train is coming down the tracks and the big day is in sight. I. Am. So. Excited.

We've officially entered taper. Race wheels are on Bruce the Bike. Packing list has been updated and updated and updated. I'm ready. As I said the other day - I'm coming for you, Ironman. And I am not alone.

Swimming - 3.9
Biking - 134
Running - 16.3

3 weeks!

Holy moley. We are less than three weeks away. 17 days, 16 hours, 36 minutes until showtime. I can hardly believe it. I've fallen way behind on my blogging and I have plans to at least go write about Race Rehearsal #1, but that day is not today.

This week was a weird one. It wasn't recovery and it wasn't peak. I had my longest run (15 miles in the sweltering heat) and a 4-hour bike ride. I believe I also swam 1:30. My longest swim and bike are next week. so it's kind of a stair step, staggery thing.

We had a lot of good family time this week with some friends we haven't seen in a while and a skating party to celebrate Miss Lia's 6th birthday.

 Climbing trees and having so much fun with friends...

Roller queen!

Saturday was the windiest, ridiculous ride ever. I got Bruce dudded up in his race wheels and I think he looks super aggressive and race ready!

After a 4-hour ride, I stopped to take a picture with the kite surfers on my 2-mile run. You know it's stupid windy when people are kite surfing in the same crap you're riding in!

Lastly, we had a pre-IM dinner with all of the folks we're racing with. Everyone in this photo has prayed with me and for me for health, safety, healing, and calm nerves. I cannot imagine doing this thing without these people. They are truly the best group of friends to walk through this with. 

Ready or not, we're coming for you, Ironman.

Swimming - 3.4

Biking- 88 (what???)

Running - 24.9

5 weeks

Swimming - 2.93
Biking - 124
Running - 11

6 weeks

Swimming - 2.65
Biking - 124
Running - 21

7 weeks

I fell behind on my blogging. I'm just entering distances for now. I'll come back soon and add some photos and some color commentary. :o)

Swimming - 3.6 miles
Biking - 132 miles
Running - 19 miles

8 weeks

Holy moley. How are we down to 8 weeks? Where has the time gone?? This week was a good week. We had a lot of fun as a family and my training was great. Monday's swim was terrible and I was totally disgusted with the pool. Then Friday came and I nailed a 3200m swim and all was right with the world.

My kids are both crazy. Daniel is suddenly obsessed with having a 6-pack (see below...) and Lia thinks she's the fashionista of the world. I don't get these two, but I guess that's what this parenting road is all about!

Wednesday I PRd my half marathon by a whopping 3 seconds (that'd be a 2:21:58 for anyone who cares...). No crowd. No aid stations. About 200% humidity (started in the rain and then the sun came out - can you say S-A-U-N-A?).  Definitely no taper. AND I got to try out these new socks from Swiftwick, proud sponsor of the Best Tri Club Ever. So when I ran 13.1 miles that started in the rain, I expected blisters to say the least. Dude. My feet weren't even wrinkly. I'm a believer. Swiftwick FTW!

I ended the week with a 75-mile bike ride with Nicole. What a windy, brutal day it was, complete with rain, 8mph speeds on the Texas City Dike, and some chipseal action on 146. We were worried for a bit that we wouldn't be able to get around the road construction without getting on the highway, but it all worked out. More hay in the barn and one more ride closer to IMTX!

All in all, it was a good week. We're moving into the homestretch and things are about to get really, really crazy. I'm having to schedule every waking moment of my life to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. I've got backups to my backups for long training days. The countdown in on, to say the least. I started making my lists for my transition and special needs bags for race day and we collectively decided as a family we need a race day rehearsal for our spectators. We're heading up April 9 to drive the course and scout locations for them to give a hug, a booty slap, and a kiss on the cheek. It's getting really, really real, y'all.

Mileage

Swim - 3.375

Bike - 109

Run - 25.6

9 weeks

This is what recovery/assessment week looks like. :o) That'd be 7 (maybe 8?) loads of laundry I folded and put away. It's terrible, but laundry is almost always what falls below the suck line.

So after 6 months of working with John and using the TriDot system, I had the 5k of my life and ran a 35-second PR. I believe when I started with John, my 5K was hovering somewhere just under 32. I never thought I'd see 30:anything, much less 26:36. To say I'm pleased is a HUGE understatement. I met up with John and three other TriDot athletes at Bakfish in Pearland to run their social run and dang. I'm glad I did. This did a lot for my confidence!

I also got some new shoes this week! Brooks Ghost 9 from runningwarehouse.com. Super fast shipping and a sweet discount with the Best Tri Club Ever. I ran 7 in them yesterday and they felt amazing. So glad to have a shoe that I like!! 

This week was also the Blue and Gold Banquet for Pack 678. This year's theme was The Great Outdoors. Daniel and I made this awesome tree stump cake which took 2nd place and tasted delicious! Ok... I lie. I licked the icing and almost gagged. WAY too sweet with three types of icing going on! But he was happy and we had a great event. 

Saturday was my bike TT and this pic and 26 mph winds is all I'm gonna say about that.

We finished off the week with baptisms and friends and a great swim party to follow. I love watching my kids in the water. They are such little fishies! I can't wait for swim team to start so that they can eat everything in sight and put themselves to bed at dusk. :o)

Relaxing pool side... may be the last time until April 23!!

Mileage
Swim - 2.3
Bike - 51
Run - 10