Taper Time, It's Taper Time!

Crap, it's taper time. I hate the taper, although I know it is a much needed time. I spent this labor day weekend finishing my long workouts. Friday was a 4000 yard swim, Sat was my first century ride and Monday morning was suppose to be a 12-15 mile run, which turned out to only be 11 miles (but, I am OK with that).

I feel like I have had some strong workouts in July/Aug. I have been peaking in other words. Here are my July/Aug numbers:

July
Swim-  20,400 yards
Bike-  283.84 miles
Run- 54.88 miles

August
Swim- 19,100 yards
Bike- 359.59 miles
Run- 60.91 miles

My biggest month's by far. So Am I ready?

 

 

I mean, I believe I am. My only goal is to finish. I feel good about the swim. I feel good about the bike and eating on the bike, and I feel OK about the run/walk. I have a plan in place that I want to execute to get me to the finish line. So in other words, I think I am prepared. I am prepared for:

1. It's going to be a long day.
2. I am prepared for what I want in my specials needs bag on both the bike and the run.
3. I am prepared for it to be painful.
4. I am prepared for me to want to stop at some point.
5. I am prepared for all the awesome ideas I know I will have out on the course.
6. I am prepared to know I have no set time goals on any segment.
7. I am prepared to get an IV at the finish line!
8. I am prepared to represent my God, my  family, the G.I. Jess Warriors team & my friends well.
9. I am prepared for the satisfaction of completing the race.
10. I am prepared to find out I am not as prepared as I think.

I am excited. The hard work is done. It's time t not go crazy for the next few weeks. It's time.

I can't wait!

It Just Got Real, Real Fast!

I know I have joked around about blog post titles like mine before, but I experienced it! As you can gather, or if you know me on Facebook, you know that today I officially registered for my 1st 140.6 iron distance race.

So there it is. I am committed. I have to tell you that it took me all day to register. Not because I was having internet troubles or anything like that, I was just having trouble hitting the submit button. I was nervous about hitting it. I was having a moment of no self confidence that I could actually do finish it and that I would be wasting everyone's time. I had a moment of thinking that I do not have time to train for it, I mean, I only have 8 months to prepare!

But then, I had a moment of clarity. I was talking to my bride, telling her that I had almost signed up three different times today and she said plainly, "well, why didn't you, you sexy sexy man?"  So we continued to talk and before we hung up, she said "Go sign up for your race and I will see you when you get home you hot stud of a man"  So hearing it from her totally change my outlook and I then hit submit and it was history.

And then I got sick to my stomach again! I think I walked around with a wide eyed look on my face, still a little speechless for a few minutes. And I did what everybody does when something big happens in their life, I put it on FaceBook! Tons of likes followed with a lot of encouragement. I even got a message form an elementary school friend of mine asking about it, which was cool.

Another good thing is that t he race is on my son's birthday and he is excited about going to OK City for it. Which is a big relief to me. I have been asking him for awhile if he would be OK with me racing on that day and he has always said yes!! So that definitely made it and easier decision.

So, in true National Signing Day form:

After discussing this with my family and a few close friends, I have decided that I will be taking my talents to OK City to race the Redman 140.6 Iron distance race in Sept!