Week 2.5 of IM Training

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We’re 2 ½ weeks into Ironman training, and I’ve learned a few things so far:
  1. Naps are going to be crucial to IM training.
  2. Massages are going to be important….but painful.
  3. Unless otherwise notified, weekends will be: eat, workout, eat, shower, nap, eat, workout, shower, eat, sleep.
  4. Similarly, weekdays will be: eat, workout, shower, go to work, eat, workout, shower, eat, sleep. (notice a pattern??)
  5. My body craves endorphins. When I am not working out (or in after-burn), I am more likely to be cranky. This is bad. Need to get this under control.
  6. There will always be more dirty workout clothes than dirty work clothes.
    6a. Constant trips to the laundromat can only be avoided by investing in more workout clothes.
  7. The body does not recover as quickly as I expected.
  8. The body is often capable of more than I think. My mind gets in the way sometimes. 
Newly adopted traits:
  • Incessantly checking weather.com to see if it's warm/dry enough to run or bike outside :-)
  • Carrying a water bottle (almost) everywhere
  • Cracking my back about 2x/hour
  • Nightmares the night before a tempo run. Luckily, these have finally subsided. (it was going to be a LONG 8 months if they didn’t!)
  • Inability to sleep until my alarm…not good 
In other Ironman-related news:

We are both currently experimenting with different hydration and nutrition products.

I had aerobars installed on my bike 2 weeks ago. The two times I’ve been out on the road since, I’ve felt faster. Not sure if it’s just mental, the aerobars, or me busting my butt in the Pain Cave all winter.

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