So with all of that being said the Ironman gods have opened up for me and found a race that I am actually able to partake in! I have moved my race from Couer D'Alene to Santa Cruz, California!! I am super excited about this move because from what I have heard Santa Cruz is an amazing course, beautiful the whole time and challenging all at the same time!
Okay so my excitement doens't come without nerves becaue I am going to do an Ironman in an different climate setting than I'm used too, but that just means I have more to train for, more summer running, more summer riding and all the things I know I need to do to be ready for this.
I looked at the maps for the different segments and I will freely admit that I cried a little...I mean there is some elevation changes involved and we all know how I feel about hills...and if you don't they should go away and we should live in a flat world {Now, I am mostly kidding about that because I am a Washington girl and I love my mountians, but that doens't mean I am ready to ride my bike up them yet!!}. If I was to break down the different parts here are my thoughts:
Swimming Part:
When looking at the maps I am not to worried about it. I am good at the swimming. I'm not saying that I could skip the pool this summer and rock it out, but I'm not saying that it is the part of this race that I need the most practice on. Now...again with that said, I do need to get outside and do more open water swimming because that I something that I don't do all that often...or ever rather. It is a 1.2 mile loop and the harbor area that is the transition place is beautiful. I can't wait to get out of the water and go running up the beach because it is going to be classic California beauty.
Bike Part:
Now here is the part that I will be the first to admit is going to be the hardest part for me. I need to spend a lot of time on my bike this summer. I need to get a lot of miles in. I need to figure out how to become one with my bike because the whole dying buffalo thing at a stop light hurts...but beyond that I am beginning to think I need to learn how to love hills! There is some major elevation gain within the bike course and like it or not I can't afford to lose it on the hill so...yeah, leg day and bike ride anyone?!
One thing I am excited about is look at the course itself! I will be looking at water the entire (well almost) time that I am riding and I can't think of anything better. There is something so beautiful about the Pacific Ocean alone the 101 highway that reminds me why I love the Left Coast of the US the best...and I am going to get to spend a lot of time on it!!!
The Run...The 13 Point 1...The "Will My Legs Make It" Part:
So here is the run part.
A Half Marathon...
...After a 56 mile bike ride!
I am loving the course that they have outlined for the run to the finish line because again look at how much of the coast we are going to be running along. There is going to be beauty in every step that I take and I can't think of a better way to run, walk and/or death crawl my way across that finish line to call myself ann IRONMAN!!
Once again, just like the bike part, I am going to need to learrn to love the hills that are all around me and start training hard core. Since there is a time limit I can't afford to walk all the hills and after looking at that elevation chart...I DON'T WANT TOO!! I am thinking hill repeats are going to be part of my training this summer hard core {And weirdly I am excited about it...NEVER EVER thought I would say that!!!}.
So over all I am way too excited about this one! I have an amazing hotel right in Santa Cruz, I am going to have a great road trip down and hopefully I'll get to see some of my friends in the Bay area while I am there. The only thing that I don't love about thecourse is that it is an out and back for both the ride and the run...and I've never been a fan of out and backs, but I think I'll be able to deal with this one okay as again I get to stair at the Pacific Ocean the whole time!!!
...looks like the meal planning, gym time and everything are going to be ramped up and maintained all summer long!!! What are your favorite ways to kick off a new training schedule?!
Who's coming with me?!
Meg
aka Nutmegz
HF 12033
HTR Member
