Back to Reality

After arriving in the beautiful state of Idaho yesterday afternoon we stopped by to zip through athlete check in and retrieve our bikes from Tri Bike Transport.  After biking to the hotel we checked in and got settled before heading out to dinner.  It was an early night as we had grand aspirations of hitting the water at 7 am to check out race time conditions.  As we wandered around athlete village it struck me how windy it was, and chillier than I had expected. 

After a restless nights sleep we crawled out of bed and headed down to the lake.  The wind slapped us in the face as we looked out over Lake Coeur d'Alene.  We suited up in our wetsuits and made our way down to the beach.  In an effort to simulate race day we took off running into the water and dove in.  No dipping the feet.  No getting used to it.  We took the plunge.  The swim is a rectangular course, swum twice.  You start swimming straight out from the shore for about a half mile.  You make a left hand turn to swim the short side of the rectangle, and then another left for a straight shot into shore. 

The wind blows over the lake making creating a chop that smacks you in the face as you swim away from shore.  You will be pulling strong one second and the next you are completely submerged underwater, unable to clear your arm for the next pull.  The waves just roll over you.  After the first loop I was a bit panicked and not feeling the slightest bit confident.  So I went out for a second loop.  I needed to know that on race day I can do this.  As a strong swimmer, I know that if I am feeling bad about the swim, everyone else must be feeling 10 times worse.  This only provides a teensy amount of comfort though, cause I really don't care about anyone else's swim.  Only mine.  But it's better to go into the race with realistic expectations than to get out of the water 7 minutes off of goal time and be disappointed.  I am strong.  I am prepared.  I am ready. 

After our dip in the lake, we stopped for breakfast of oatmeal and lattes at our favorite coffee shop in CDA, Calypso.  We took our steaming cups of java back to the hotel and sank into the hot tub for a while.  We talked race strategy and motivation and made predictions on Kona in October.  After we felt sufficiently warm again, we donned our Triscottsdale cycling kits and hit the run course on our bikes for a little preview.  I really like the run course at CDA, and with the changes they made to the course this year, I'm pretty excited about it.  From the transition, we run through the neighborhoods in town for about 2 miles as we weave our way out to the Centennial Trail that runs along the lake.  We follow CT for the next 4 miles with gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding tree-covered hills.  The final mile out to the turnaround involves a good climb, a downhill and then after making a 180 degree turn you run back up the hill, over the top and back down to the lakeside.  I am taking all my confidence from my accomplishment in Big Sur onto this run course.  Though is is primarily flat, those 4 hills will provide me with the break and comfort that I need to feel like me.  Where hills might break some, they empower me. 

After a quick shower, and a visit to the Pro Panel / Press Conference, we drove out onto the bike course for a refresher.  I love this bike course.  It's not easy, but it's worth it.  It's relatively flat for the first 20 miles, then there are some interesting technical/ hilly bits for about 10 miles or so, and then it's 20 miles going gangbusters back into town.... and then repeat for second loop.  The roads are narrow and winding.  The spectators are thick and generous with encouragement.  The wind will be a factor in parts of the bike course, but there are good stretches of road that are protected by the tall groves of pine trees.  Simply breathtaking. 

When I think about Sunday, I need to not have an expectation.  It's good to have a goal, but it's also good to know when that goal is realistic or not.  I'm not giving up on my aspirations, but if we wake up to 25 mph winds on Sunday (which I am expecting based on the weather we are currently experiencing...) I know that I will need to adjust the plan.  I want to swim strong and feel confident in the water.  I want to bike even splits and manage my nutrition well.  I want to crush the run.  Smash it.  Kill it.  Leave it all out on course.  I have never had a good IM run.  Of the 6 I've done, my fastest run was my very first one.  Not acceptable.  My run is my strength.  I need to bike within my limits so that I can showcase my strength.  This is my only hope for Sunday. 

Ironman is a long day.  Anything can happen.  I could get kicked in the face (maybe this should read... will get kicked in the face) on the swim.  I could flat on the bike or have a mechanical.  I could fail my nutrition and end up sick (as most previous races) or starving (as in Canada last year).  When I cross the finish line on Sunday, after finishing my 7th Ironman race, I will breathe a sigh of relief and begin the process of recovery and celebration.  No matter what happens out there, if I hear my name called by Mike Reilly it will all have been worth it.  The ups and downs.  The confidence and fear.  The joy and pain.  It is all part of an Ironman race and I will embrace it.  It will make me stronger.