4 days to IMAZ

As of now I am done with work (f0r the time being). Yesterday I made an appointment with a doctor to grab a new prescription of ear drops, just in case my ear starts getting worse again. With doctors approval I actually went for a last swim team workout. I know that the triathlon swim should not really give me any major troubles, but I also know that the swim start will likely be the most nerve wrecking part of the day and I wanted to feel as solid as possible on my swim conditioning. With three serious swim workouts within the last seven days I feel good about it.

Tonight I am planning to simply enjoy a relaxed family evening at home and plan to worry about packing my bags in the morning.

6 days to IMAZ

My ear seems to be responding to the drops. It's not getting worse, slightly better actually. So hopefully this will be a non-issue in a couple of days. Beyond that, I am mentally beginning to plan my trip. Read through all the pre-race instructions and athletes guide on the subway on my way home from work. Though not much new information was in there, my stomach is starting to get a bit queasy.

7 days to IMAZ

Ouch, Ouch, my left ear started to hurt really bad yesterday. Almost by the hour it had gotten progressively worse. That's all I needed, a painful ear infection only a week before the big race. I know this will not get better without treatment, only much worse. Rummaging through my bathroom luckily I found some ear drops from about a year ago. A quick check on the label, not expired yet. After a treatment last night they already seem to be working. I am definitely keeping my fingers crossed. Still, Ouch though.

This morning the temperature dropped about 20 degrees here in New York. It is cold and windy. With my messed up ear this is definitely no time to head out on the bike. So, the gym it was instead. 40 minutes in a spin class followed by 25 minutes on the treadmill. I was not really planning on such a little brick workout, but I feel good. Just wanted to do a fairly light workout but still get a bit of intensity in there.

8 days to IMAZ

It is a warm, rainy Saturday here in Park Slope. Last night I went for a nice TNYA swim workout and then walked to the Metropolitan Opera for an evening of cultural bliss. Well, the parts I stayed awake for at least. I have no idea why I felt to dead tired after the swim, but I decided to take the day off today and plan an hour bike ride for tomorrow instead.

While relaxing, I am beginning to fill my head with more and more Ironman war stories, taper advice, race day preparations etc. Reading through all that advice, gets me thinking more and more: I am ready, or at least at ready as I will be. So, I am shutting off this computer now, heading to a coffeehouse and think bout something else.

9 Days to IMAZ

Just another Friday at the office so far. Been busy enough not to think too much about the race, but I am about to head out the door for a swim workout and then directly to the Metropolitan Opera. Definitely looking forward to this evening.

10 days to IMAZ

10 days left before Ironman Arizona. After spending the first part of this week mostly in work meetings and filling up on work dinner, luncheons and a few martinis, last night I got through a 3000+ yeard swim workout without trouble. Today, an hour of running on the treadmill (it was raining today in New York). I am trying to relax as much as I can, reading Ironman blogs and race reports and slowly getting my brain focused on the task at hand.

My bike is off to Arizona

This morning I took my bike to Cadence Cycling in Tribeca and sent it off on its way to Tempe AZ. Guess this means its only days before my very first attempt to become an Ironman. Not quite sure how I feel about all this these days. Clearly I have mixed emotions. Am I prepared? Did I train enough? What if its hot and windy? Blah Blah Blah.

On the other hand, my last few workouts were all pretty solid. While I never rode the full 112 mile distance on the bike, my last few bike rides felt good, at times almost effortless and comfortable. My runs are slowly evolving into a slower but steady trot. For the most part I have been injury free, just a slight harmstring pull. With only twelve days to go, this is not the time to worry about my training or any lack of it. Now it is simply time to taper, to start resting up.

Over the past days, I have feverishly read up on race reports from IMAZ veterans. Most of them left me worried, disturbed as they talked about high winds, excessive heat, horrible conditions. Then I try to calm myself down, arguing in my head that the weather in later November should be ok, much cooler than the traditional April race date.

So, in short this is my state of mind right now. For one minute worried, scared, the next, confident and eager to get the race going. What fun the next 12 days will be.

What Have I done?

A simple new posting on New York Tritons bulletin board alerted me of the new Arizona Ironman Fall race in 2008 and the online sign -up today. Although I have given it some thought before, I had no real plans to embark on the IM mission next season. Just about an hour later, I now have a new target race for next year and a clear mission for my race efforts: Finish my first Ironman Distance Race and finish it in style! Target Date: November 23, 2008