Tag: Ironman

2013

The Plan, Stan

I’m sitting at a coffee shop at 1:00 on a Saturday afternoon, blogging a little, studying a little less and re-familiarizing myself with what Saturday feels like. This. Is. Nice.

Funny thing, though – I’m also totally lost. I don’t know what to do with myself. Should I just go back to the gym and swim a little? As I’m sitting here thinking how I should have planned a little better for this weekend, I started to think about how much damn planning I’ve done over the last year.

There’s no question that training for an Ironman takes planning. Obviously, you’ll need to plan for smart training. But what about everything else? What about those days/weeks that you’re just not feeling well? Or what about weekends you’ll be off on a work trip? And most importantly, what about your cheat days?

Let’s take a look at all of different stages of planning that go into training for an Ironman.

Tags IMAZ2013, Ironman, training plans

2013

Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 4 – Two weeks out

Post author By Adam
Post date November 3, 2013
4 Comments on Road map to Ironman AZ: Part 4 – Two weeks out

A revamped training program, injury update and look ahead to taper week

Ironman Arizona is officially fourteen days away.

I see the finish line on the horizon, feel the excitement building and smell the victory approaching my reach.

However, I’m still so obsessed with my schedule, nutrition, race prep and hitting all my workouts (hhhawwrd) that the realness and nearness of race-day hasn’t quite sunk in for me.

That’s probably a good thing.

I’m feeling strong and confident heading into this final stretch, and despite the crazy, often self-induced, curve balls this year has thrown at me, I’ve built up some nice momentum and hope to ride it across the finish line on Nov. 17.

That momentum didn’t develop by accident.

I’ve spent a lot of time researching and planning as many angles of this journey as possible. And recently, I’ve made some major adjustments to my training plan and injury treatments that have helped keep me moving in the right direction.

In this post, you’re going to see an overview of the revised training program I’ve been following for the past few months, an update on my injuries and how they’re being treated, plus a look at my taper-week schedule.

Tags IMAZ2013, Ironman, training plans

2013

AF race strategy: Ironman nutrition plan

Post author By Adam
Post date October 20, 2013
2 Comments on AF race strategy: Ironman nutrition plan

How I’m going to fuel my way across the finish line

Nutrition and hydration play a huge role in your performance on race day – especially if your race entails 140.6 miles of swimming, cycling and running.

So it’s crucial to nail down a nutrition plan that’ll fit your specific needs.

There’s a ton of nutrition info on the internet, at the bike shop and from other athletes.

Whittling it all down can be tough, especially when the line between genuine advice and methodical marketing has grown so blurry.

I don’t consider myself an expert on nutrition, and I haven’t received professional training or guidance on how to properly fuel during exercise.

However, after a couple years doing triathlon, and many hours reading books (like The Paleo Diet for Athletes and currently The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and online articles (like this excellent post on Endurance Corner) I’ve developed a critical and objective eye for food, and feel confident in the approach I’ve outlined to fuel me through Ironman Arizona.

Read on to see a breakdown of my nutrition plan for the race – now less than a month away!

Tags IMAZ2013, Ironman, nutrition, training plans

2013

What’s Your Hurdle?

Flashback to November:

Q1: This’ll be your first Ironman. Are you worried, excited, in shock, all of the above?

Answer: “…The biggest part of training for something like this is making the commitment, waking up and showing up every day – and that’s what I’m going to do. I want to show up on November 17th knowing that I put everything I could into this thing – no regrets. So no, I’m not scared that I won’t finish, because if I don’t finish it won’t be due to something I could have changed.”

Flash forward to today:

The theme of my past eight months of training has been to put in the work, prepare for the unexpected and take all steps necessary to show up on Nov. 17 feeling ready, with butterflies in my stomach, excitement, pride, some natural anxiety, but with zero doubt.

The race is six weeks from today, and I feel great. Endurance-wise, I know I can get through this thing. Hell, if I needed to, I could get through it tomorrow. I’ve followed my training, built up the mileage, honed my confidence and already see myself as an Ironman. Like I said back in November:

“Becoming an Ironman (or an ultra runner, or a brain surgeon, or a freakin’ fairy princess) isn’t something that happens overnight. When I start the 2.4 mile swim, the transformation and achievement will already be done. Crossing that finish line will just be like walking across stage on graduation day. Work’s done – now you just have to prove it and get your medal.”

grad cap

Now is the time to continue building those last few miles, nurture that confidence, and try to find and address any of those last hurdles that might come your way. While working through a long brick workout yesterday, I found the last hurdle I need to focus on for these last six weeks in order to show up to Ironman Village next month with not a doubt in my mind that I’m ready. Ironically, it goes back to one of the first blog posts I wrote.

I need to take care of my poor, neglected muscles, tendons and joints.

Tags IMAZ2013, inspired, Ironman, mobility

2013

AF Race Report: Lifetime Olympic Triathlon

Post author By Adam
Post date September 28, 2013
No Comments on AF Race Report: Lifetime Olympic Triathlon

Smooth sailing, no injuries and a time of 2:46:09

Last time we spoke, I was getting my bearings after a rough bout of idiocy, recovering from an infected foot, and cautiously preparing for the Lifetime Olympic Triathlon*: 1-mile swim, 24.6-mile ride and 6.2-mile run, and my last triathlon before the big one on November 17.

Even though this race was significantly shorter than Ironman Arizona, it was a big test for me.

Why? Because, of the three races I mapped out at the beginning of this year, it was the first I’d been healthy enough to complete in its entirety.

I had to skip the DIY Olympic Tri scheduled in March thanks to posterior tibial tendinitis.

In August I still wasn’t quite ready for the Boulder Ironman 70.3‘s half marathon section, and I limited myself to just the swim, bike and half the run.

So I was more than ready to test myself, unleash the fury and cross my first finish line of 2013 at the Lifetime Olympic Triathlon on September 22.

Tags IMAZ2013, Ironman, race reports