23 Weeks to Kona

Did a ride run combo Monday to make up for missing last Sunday's run due to illness. Hit a massive pot hole on the bike which broke off my water bottle holders behind the seat and pushed the tri bars forward. Then ran for 75min slowly because I was still feeling lethargic. It's very quiet at the Tan on a Monday morning.

....Then stepped in dog sh!t while running and walked it into the office. Not a great start to the week. 

Bottles now go on the frame

Tuesday was the first group swim training session. Great to be getting pushed in the pool again. Really need to work on my kicking, keeping my head down, my hand entry, my stroke...need to work on my swimming.

Had work dinners on Tuesday & Wednesday which called for a training shuffle and associated tiredness from lack of sleep. Got on with it.

Kinglake was the destination again for Saturday's ride. Had a strong group that morning - Sean who took out the Gatorade series in his age group this season, Brodie who is leaving for Germany in 2 weeks to race with his pro team, Kristy the Fluid Movements pro, Red Bear a fellow Kona qualifier and Geoff who is lining up for 2014 Ironman Melbourne. Given last week's struggle I was worried I'd pop again. Still wasn't sure how I was traveling. 

Made it to St Andrews intact then managed to get up the hill towards Kinglake with Red Bear. We held Brodie's wheel until he turned off for repeats. Red Bear and I then pushed on to the round-a-bout just behind Sean. Survived it!

It was a cold descent which made the coffee stop at Smiths Gully a welcome break. We re-grouped and headed for home. It was when we got to Eltham that I started to feel the sting in the legs. I started to fade up the steep bits then was forced to chase the group on the downhill. Caught them each time but it was anything but pleasant. 

Off the bike for a 60min run. Started slow but then built up to an ok pace. Did the time.

Sunday's run started with a 1hr 45min bike 'warm up' tempo ride. Felt sluggish on the bike and struggled to get the heart rate up. Didn't matter, it's all about the run on Sunday. Started running off the bike, took a bit to warm up, bit of a niggle in the left knee which went away after 5min.

I ran on the Ironman Melbourne course for the first time since the race. I re-lived it all over again. Running down the finish chute brought a tear to my eye. All the memories from that day came back. The finish, where I saw my family, the MTC tent, the crowd, the elated feeling.


The run was good - 24km at 4:30min/km average. Saw a few MTC team members out running and riding. You're never on your own on Beach Road.
  
Cold water immersion followed. Unlike training in the summer months the water is now really cold.

Hit the pool for some paddle work then home. A good week's training with 19.5 hours. 

And this week a Kona slot sold on eBay for US$30,100!!!!

159 days to Hawaii. I checked the qualified athletes list on ironman.com, my name's on it!