Night before the race...

Alright...
So..the night before Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Sitting in the hotel room, everything that possibly can be done right now is done. Today I checked my bike, dropped off gear bags, and relaxed with friends and family who are here supporting me. Got back from dinner about an hour ago, and I just finished mixing my drinks for tomorrow, and getting my nutrition and last minute stuff ready...

So I just wanted to thank everyone who has supported me on my way to this my 2nd Ironman. It takes a lot of time, money, and patience to train for an Ironman and to live with one :-) And in many cases even to be related to or be friends with one for that matter. So thank you all so much for your support, patience, and encouragement, it means a lot to me to have every single one of you as a supporter. Thank you to those of you who drove 30 miles one way to watch me swim "open water" for an hour in circles around a dam. Thank you also to the person who joined me on a few runs on her bike along beside me. It means so much to me to have your support. Thank you most especially to the person who sat at home for many hours alone while I did 2 hour runs and 5 hour bike rides. It meant the world to see you sitting there waiting for me when I got back...

So tomorrow the alarm goes off at 3:45. Get up, quick wake up shower, bagel and coffee, get my stuff together and head out the door to the race. Once there I'll drop off my special needs bags, set up my bike with nutrition and fluids, air up the tires, wait in the porta potty line a couple times probably, sit and contemplate why I am doing this again, then go stand on the beach with 2000 + other people, then swim bike and run for a very long time.. Thats about how tomorrow will go. I am racer number 277 if you want to follow on ironman.com. Well I guess thats all I have to say. Once more huge thank you to everyone for everything, you know who you are, and I love you all very much!! Next entry will be my race report. Have a good night everyone, its a good day to be an Ironman tomorrow...

Less than 5 days to go...oh my...

Well,
Here I am in my hotel in Butte, MT after driving about 13 hours to get here. We are staying the night here and finishing the relatively short journey to Coeur d'Alene tomorrow. We got checked into our hotel and I got changed and headed out on a very easy 30 minute run just up and down the street outside the hotel - it was actually nice and scenic, near a golf course I believe, and it felt good to loosen up. My awesomest sherpa / fan had ordered pizza and so I ate a bit when I got back from the run. Just got back from sitting in the hot tub for a bit and that felt great. Tomorrow is a short ride once we get settled in in CDA. Then its time to drive everyone nuts and be very impersonable until Sunday morning at 7 when the cannon goes off for Ironman Coeur d'Alene :-) I feel good, taper feels good, and I feel very fit and very strong.

Also, a shoutout to one of my biggest fans in GF...you know who you are..

1 hour 35 into my last ride before Ironman CDA next weekend. Feeling great. Tasty average speed of 21.1 mph - tail wind! hour and a half to go...ltr race fans!!

Just passed 100 miles...less than 15 to go...not gonna lie...ready to get off this bike...feeling as good as can be expected...nutrition and hydration good..

Stop in Thompson for a coke at the cenex...3 hours 40...72 miles in...avg speed 20.2 mph...hope coke will wake me up a bit...still feeling good though!!

Hi!! Just stopped in Hatton to fill up bottles...2 hours 25 in...48 miles....feeling good!!

About an hour and 20 in to my ride...feeling good...about 70 degrees and little wind...this is more like it!!

Monster weekend

Ok folks...tomorrow is an hour open water, 6 on the bike, and an hour run. So tonight is carbs for dinner!! Weather looks like it'l hold with very little wind and not 90 + degrees. Hopefully this weather will better simulate CDA... I will update soon, or maybe even while I ride...you'll have to wait and find out. Happy Friday!!
Don

26 days to go...

Alright people, almost a month since my last entry and only 26 days til the big race so lemme fill u in. Overall, I would have to say I am feeling prepared and fit. I have one big weekend out of the way, which consisted of an hour open water, 4.5 on the bike, followed by a :40 minute brick run on Saturday. And a 2 hour run on Sunday. Saturday was very hot - mid 90s and windy. I started out riding into the wind and it kinda sucked... I had 5 bottles of fluids with me, and I filled them all once, and drank them all. So I went through 10 bottles of fluids in around 4.5 hours. Plus 2 powerbars, 2 uncrustables, and 2 salt tablets. Kinda felt like hell when I got off the bike, but I'm guessing thats due to the fact that I'm not used to training when it's 90 + degrees. I cooled off for around 20 minutes after the ride, and then did my :40 at a very slow pace... The run on Sunday went very well and I felt strong. I did one gel halfway, 2 salt tablets at about :45 and 1:30, and hydrated with water and I felt good. I was very happy at being able to hold around a 10 minute mile pace. As for Saturday, I don't think it's going to be 95 in Coeur d'Alene, so I think I may have "acclimated" just fine. And I feel good and strong on the run, with the longest weekend still to go.

As always, there are little aches and pains I am working through, the most persistent of which is the calf tendon on my left leg. After trying the prolotherapy, and then a cortisone injection with some but limited success, my doctor suggested I try a course of prednisone to try and get the body to heal. It has been a week and I do feel it working. The idea behind taking prednisone is that it is systemic and will suppress the inflamation long enough that the body heals. I have a week left of taking it and then we'll see. I trust this doctor very much and he really goes the distance to make sure I'm taken care of...

Ok... So thats what's going on. This weekend on Saturday is an hour open water, 6 on the bike, followed by a :50 minute run. And on Sunday is a 2.5 hour run. Then I start my taper. I will be sure to post more frequent updates about training and as the date draws closer. As always, thanks to my readers for your support. Keep reading!!