IT’S ON.
What do you have to say to that?
*silence*
Just what I thought.
Thanks to Jeff Keil for designing the logo on my new hat – I am going to be the best dressed spectathlete in Kona. That’s right, folks. The hat says SPECTATHLETE. Not just any hat. A trucker hat. Rock on. Plus there is a matching shirt. But I figured Bree and Kerrie could handle only one attack at a time.
There I am practicing my hoots, hollers and gestures in the bathroom. These are the last minute preparations for a spectathlete going to Ironman.
My final brick was today. A 3 hour ride out to Fermilab. Just like in Kona, I rode into the fiercist winds I’ve felt for a long time. Averaged 14.9 mph going out to the lab. Someone turned on the wind. And the cold. Nothing like getting out the wool socks and the tights. Once inside the lab I looked down and realized I was busting out over threshold wattage at 11 mph. I just laughed. But I knew I was ready for any winds I would face in Hawaii while I’m training or spectating.
When I got back home I hopped on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Cranked it over 9 mph while shouting “YOU CAN DO IT”, “GET ON IT”, and my all time favorite “YOU LOOK GREAT.” My legs felt great and I could even ramp the speed up a bit more while busting out a few lyrics to Hanna Montana. At that point I knew the taper was working.
Heard back from Sherpa Thomas today. When I told him the week’s worth of workouts first he ignored me. Then he wrote back about how he has roughly 6 hours of bike training in the past 6 weeks so how was he going to ride 6 hours in a day. Finally he caved and told me just to pack extra shorts because when he craps himself at Hawi we’ll be prepared. I told him I’d also bring along an entire box of tissues for when he starts to cry.
Our flight changed to Sunday. I’m feeling a little rushed to finish up schedules, prepare Boss for his week away with Drew, pack and still train. Plus today I signed up for Arizona. I almost crapped my own pants when I got an e-mail from Heather Fuhr about signing up for Ironman. How often do you see Heather Fuhr in your inbox? I’m framing that one.
This weekend I have a 100 mile ride with Adam. He’s the kind of guy that routinely goes sub 10 at an Ironman. Even at Kona. I’m a little scared. I told him I was game for the ride as long as he pulled me the entire way. It’s only fair. A man pulls me on Saturday because on Wednesday I’m clearly pulling the Sherpa man.
I can’t believe we leave in less than 3 days. I can’t believe I’m so excited to go there and not race. There seems to be some confusion – I am not doing the race although I am actually on the start list. I have no idea how that happened. Rachel Ross pointed it out to me months ago. I guess if I see myself out there racing I know I’m screwed.
Or dead. Which very well might be the case after pulling Thomas for over 100 miles on the Queen K.
