Sometimes there are things that can overshadow the highs of an Ironman finish.
Buttercup - In Loving Memory...
Hope you've found Wesley and Shelby - and are chasing soccer balls, finding soft pillows, enjoying head rubs, eating biscuits and "roo rooing" your happiness.
The past few days have been busy.
On Monday and Tuesday, I wrapped up things at work and finished a few last minute race preparations. On both days I came home to wonderful little surprises waiting in my mailbox that left me feeling a little verklempt. A beautiful silver and turquoise bracelet from TriDi - inscribed with my 2009 word - "Hope." I've been wearing it since and letting the inspirational message soothe my race nerves. Then, the next day, SuperAnnn left me a wonderful "brick" card - and four types of "magic" candy - to boost my body and spirits on the tougher parts of Sunday's 112 mile Adirondack ride.
Tuesday night, the hubby and I joined the Barricudas for the trek to Placid. We packed the car to the rafters and had a smooth drive, with a stop in Scranton. Their Peloton SUV was nice and comfy for catching up on some sleep, too. Driving into Placid, we were psyched to see that the top rollers before the descent had been repaved - looking smooth and fast!
Wednesday we pulled into our lovely Hawthorne home (the same one we stayed in for Torturefest) around 1:00. Our next door neighbors include great training buddies and sherpas. After unloading the car, we headed to the Cottage for lunch. As our parents were arriving (with food to pack our fridge for the week), the Barricudas and I headed down to to Mirror Lake for a practice loop. The water was chilly, but not miserable. Swimming on the cable was awesome, though I reminded myself after about 10-12 minutes that I would not be able to rely on seeing it on race day, so I practiced sighting on landmarks. I even found a way to get off course on the cable swim - since the cable at the second turn goes in two directions - and - I chose the wrong one! (Real Deal, don't joke about those pink painted feet.) After the swim, I had a short run, shower - and then it was time for dinner at the Boathouse.
Walking back from dinner, my mother shared with the group that she learned our house supposedly had a ghost. Minutes later, we opened the door and walked into the living room noticing that all the furniture has been rearranged. The ghosts has a good time while they visited, leaving behind beer bottles and cheap wine - and even helping themselves to a few cookies.
Thursday started around 9:00 with a ride of the first 15-16 miles of the bike course, including the bastard climb out of town - and the descent. I was a little worried if I'd be able to handle the descent as well using Ironwoman Canada's race tires - but all went great - best downhill I've had here yet and reaching over 38 miles per hour. Blakey Blake and Karen B told me I should shoot for 40 - and if the weather is decent on race day, I am going to give it a shot! Barricuda BL also had a confidence building ride - and we were happy to end the workout with her parents picking us up in Keene. After, the Barricudas went off for a run, while I headed to do another loop of the swim course. The water felt a little chillier, but I stayed on course this time.
The Barricudas and I registered. So now I have my race band on one wrist, with hope on the other. It was fun to see the Barricudas receive their first M-Dot item.
Last night, dinner was at the Whiteface Lodge and Inn. What a gorgeous resort and restaurant! We all had amazing meals and lovely wines (in moderation, sigh). And wouldn't you know, those ghosts decided to visit again, rearranging the living furniture, leaving replacement cookies, having a few drinks, helping with a crossword puzzle - and leaving salt and pepper in interesting places.
Today - no workouts. For some odd reason, my shins feel on the verge of shin splints. We did a little stroll around Ironman Village - and may go for a little tour of the bike course later.
But don't tell the ghosts.
With today marking the "one week till race day" milestone, I've been immersed in all things Ironman and Placid, from pre-race gatherings to packing preparations.
I've also been trying to remember how it felt before IMFL. How nervous was I? How prepared? How trained?
And while this season has been almost bipolar in serveral ways, I can see some similarities. Which I hope is a good sign - because, other than a few rough spots here and there, IMFL was incredible.
Oddly, the biggest difference may be "the knowing." The week before IMFL I was winging it on faith in the unknown. I'd never done an Ironman nor been in Panama City, let alone seen the race course.
Going into IMUSA, I know I should be able to do the distance. I've experienced the swim and run loops once - and biked most the course four times - if you include last year's pre-registration ride.
Which seems to have resulted in a mixed blessing. Knowing what to expect brings familiarity - the good and the bad.
Maybe, for now, I need to let my mind forget - and my body remember.
More often than not, I've been eerily calm about the quickly approaching IMUSA date.
I am pretty sure it is some kind of denial. At best it is acceptance.
Yep, I've panicked here or there when completing some type of race preparation, like ordering nutrition or scheduling a bike tune-up. The hardest moments have been when someone has asked me if I am ready.
And I sigh or shrug. I can't say I am or am not. I am not thrilled with what that means either way, but I do know I've worked hard, struggling through the most challenging workouts I've ever attempted.
The shoulder is still feeling good. I had an incredible opportunity to swim at Guppy AS's Lake Gaston's paradise - a "not so torturefest" few days with Ironwoman Canada and several great training buddies - helping me to believe I could have a solid swim (for me) at Placid if I can overcome the claustrophobia of 2000 plus swimmers hitting tiny Mirror Lake (and if I could bribe the Real Deal to be a bandit and let me draft of him).
While I wish I had more time to work on climbing, I also know that too many more long mountainous bike rides without a bunch more good fun ones thrown in between might break my spirit.
After beginning to stabilize on new asthma meds, running is on the upswing. It is not anywhere near where it was at its best, but it is a heck of lot better than where it was even a few weeks ago. I could kick myself for not recognizing what was going on and dealing with it sooner, but am grateful that something finally clicked in my stubborn brain.
And in this non denial moment, I've let it register that in exactly a week, I'll be in the Peloton SUV with the Barracudas and the hubby.
But I'm still plugging my ears with my fingers about the following four days after our arrival in Lake Placid.
"la, la, la, la, la, la, la..."
This week, I had my first IMUSA dream.
And like the few other race dreams I've had, this one bore no resemblance to the actual race.
I grab my bike out of transition and head down roads that look surprisingly like those around the Shady Grove Y. I am riding fairly well, though am not thrilled when I notice the asphalt has turned into cobblestones. During this stretch, there is an aid station, which happens to be a bike store. I jump off my bike and start browsing around the store, noticing very cool race tires. A few training buddies (including a few folks I wish were doing Placid with me) show up. I decide I should probably get back on the course, so I jump on the bike and head further down the cobblestone path. After a half mile, I look down and notice I am not on my bike. I curse and turn around. I drop off the bike and start looking for mine. I can't find it. Panicking, I search some more and decide to go back into the bike store. I ask a few folks if they've seen my bike and no one says they have. I go into a back room and see a pencil drawing of my bike. And then notice a bunch of parts that look familiar. I realize that someone stole my bike and dismantled it.
And then I wake up.
