Weeks 29 & 30 of Ironman training – Doubt

Two more weeks closer to Sept 7th and the big day; just trying to hang on.  I'm currently in the midst of my peak training schedule which includes days filled with 6 hour bike rides and 3 hour runs, followed by eating, sleeping, and then repeating.  This week and next I'm told can be more difficult than the Ironman race itself in that I'll be tested mentally to keep up with the pace and monotony of the training schedule.  Jess is really earning her stripes lately by keeping me feed, being patient with my lack of help around the house, allowing me to complain as well as sleeping and resting on my off days.  For being 7+ months pregnant in the hot summer months she is a blessing and tremendous asset to me and this goal…I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to repay her (although somehow I suspect she’ll provide a few ideas of how I could try).

So this past weekend brought to town 100’s of athletes in the peak of their training schedules do participate in an organized training event Thursday through Sunday.  Some athletes rode most of the bike course (105 miles), Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then ran nearly 20 miles on Sunday.  I did not participate to the extent that some of the others did; my body simply could not take that much without breaking down.  Needless to say when you see your ‘peers’ performing to this level and you’re not it allows some doubt to start creeping into your head.  I’m told that this is not the last time that doubt will try to knock me off course.  I’m told the doubt will attempt several times on race day to derail my goal, it will tell me the swim is too crowded, the bike is too hilly, and there’s just no way to run the entire 26.2 miles all in 17 hours. 

Fortunately for me I have been preparing for the doubt, I knew it was coming and actually for a while I thought it would pass me by.  It’s here, I’ll swat it away this next week as I get back into my peak training schedule but I know it will be back again soon.  I’m excited for the challenge because I know the support that I have in place won’t allow the doubt to win.  My wife, family, friends and fellow Ironmen-in-training won’t let anything get in my way of becoming an Ironman and for that I thank you all!