Race Week

Six.

My swims in the past weeks have been awesome. I got in a few extra open water swims related to a random heat wave that led to 90 degree days. I managed a 4000 meter open water swim and chewed me up and spit me out, but I did it. Did multiple 4000+ yard swims in the pool. Did my sprints, did my endurance sets, times just kept dropping. Arms are ready.

My bike, my beautiful Aragorn, is already on his way down, having been dropped off on the 27th. There's a certain sense of anxiety related to that in that I have no control over what happens between now and when I am reunited in Florida. Hopefully he's fine? We shall see. He got me through a lot of dark places, 3 106-mile rides by myself, one crash, multiple almost crashes, and more than a few gross and rainy rides. My other baby, Earendil, has been faithfully mounted on the trainer this year for all of the 0345 rides before work and the 2000 rides after work. In addition to when it was too cold or dangerous to ride outside. I don't love my trainer, in fact I despise it, but time in the saddle is time in the saddle. My bike legs are ready.

My runs have just gotten faster and faster. I threw down a sub 2 hour half marathon as part of the brick workout. I threw down an even faster one after working back to back 12 hour shifts. I had done my tempo runs, I had done my base runs. I had managed to transition to new shoes in the last weeks of training so they would be broken in for the race. My run legs are ready.

As I type, I do so with the knowledge that I have one more run tomorrow morning, two days until I fly to Panama City Beach, three (or four depending on when we decided to go to Ironman Village) days until I officially check in, five days until I check in my bike, and just six short days until race day. Until that wonderful day when I tackle a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run and hear those tear-jerking words "You are an Ironman."