Well here we are, 2 weeks away from Ironman Western Australia, on Dec 4.
How has training been going? Not ideal, but not bad either over the past few weeks. I've managed to put in a very good 10-day training block though, and I noted a significant improvement in all 3 disciplines. It may have to do with the weather cooling off a bit in Dubai, but I've also lost quite a bit of weight recently as well, and feel stronger and faster overall.
I'm beginning my "taper" tomorrow, which means that my training volume is going to start dropping quite dramatically over the next 10 days or so as I get closer to race day. Coach Pain was telling me over the weekend that I will probably start feeling very tired (CHECK!) and increasingly edgy and irritable (CHECK!!!!).
It's amazing how the human body and mind interact. After a period of very heavy physical exertion through training, the body gets used to a certain pace. When you back it off and get more rest, both the body and mind can't adapt quickly enough. I've seen many of my more experienced teammates going through their taper before big races, and noted how they become irritable, prone to getting sick, and feeling generally lethargic. I'm looking forward to it (not!).
It should all come together on race day I hope (fingers crossed!). I'm feeling confident, and I'm really looking forward to rushing into the waters of the Pacific Ocean on December 4!
I fly out early on 30 Nov to Perth (around a 10-hour flight), and then onto a 4-hour drive to Busselton, in Western Australia. So my next update will in all likelihood come from the land down under!
How has training been going? Not ideal, but not bad either over the past few weeks. I've managed to put in a very good 10-day training block though, and I noted a significant improvement in all 3 disciplines. It may have to do with the weather cooling off a bit in Dubai, but I've also lost quite a bit of weight recently as well, and feel stronger and faster overall.
I'm beginning my "taper" tomorrow, which means that my training volume is going to start dropping quite dramatically over the next 10 days or so as I get closer to race day. Coach Pain was telling me over the weekend that I will probably start feeling very tired (CHECK!) and increasingly edgy and irritable (CHECK!!!!).
It's amazing how the human body and mind interact. After a period of very heavy physical exertion through training, the body gets used to a certain pace. When you back it off and get more rest, both the body and mind can't adapt quickly enough. I've seen many of my more experienced teammates going through their taper before big races, and noted how they become irritable, prone to getting sick, and feeling generally lethargic. I'm looking forward to it (not!).
It should all come together on race day I hope (fingers crossed!). I'm feeling confident, and I'm really looking forward to rushing into the waters of the Pacific Ocean on December 4!
I fly out early on 30 Nov to Perth (around a 10-hour flight), and then onto a 4-hour drive to Busselton, in Western Australia. So my next update will in all likelihood come from the land down under!
