It's almost here...am I ready?

Wow. How quickly 11 weeks has flown! I am sitting in my condo in Kona, looking out at the water, and resting my legs before I go and do my last run session with any real effort in it before race day. And I half-wonder "am I ready?"

I say half-wonder, because if I'm NOT ready (physically) it really doesn't matter. What matters is how I feel mentally from now until I cross that finish line. 

I'll go through each discipline now, and chat a bit about how I feel I'm doing for the race. But bear in mind, although I will race all of it to the best of my ability, MY race starts (in my mind), when I turn right up Palani Rd at about the 18km mark of the run. That is where all my mental strength will be needed, and those mental chips I've been saving up will be cashed in.

THE SWIM

Practice swim

Yes, I'm ready! I did the Ho'ala practice swim this morning; a race on the full course, and managed a 1.08; a minute faster than Malaysia, and 8 minutes faster than Kona 2011. Of course conditions could be different next week and the times could be slower, but it's more about how I swam this morning. I started right behind the front row, went off nice and hard, and tried to get on any feet I could see. Most were too fast, but I was patient and eventually got on some good feet to the turnaround and swam in a bunch of about 4-5 men all the way in. The final 1/4 of the swim felt very comfortable. I couldn't have replicated those conditions just swimming with Pete or a few others in training, so I'm very happy to have raced that today. Now I just need to keep my stroke work up and confidence for Raceday.

THE BIKE

Everyone knows that the bike is my weakest leg, and the one I've had the most issues with, certainly in training mentally. I've been so privileged to have been over here 12 days already, so have had multiple opportunities to ride long sections of the bike course, in various conditions. I had an interesting experience last week- I had a 120k ride to do, from Waikoloa, up to Hawi and back (with a bit extra to make up the distance). There had been such strong winds 2 days earlier that people had turned early, and several had got off their bikes, too frightened to descend from Hawi. Hearing all this (and riding in some of the winds that day) set off anxiety in me about my ride. Now there was a good reason for genuine fear; if I was blown off my bike, I could derail my whole race. But in my case, it wasn't a genuine fear I was feeling, it was anxiety that if the winds were bad, I wouldn't ENJOY the ride. At that stage of the lead-in to the race, the last thing I wanted was to not enjoy riding the course. 

The winds at Waikoloa

As it happened, it was very windy, and with a puncture at Kawaihae, I ended up with headwind both ways! Normally a scenario that would have me in tears! But I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the descent!!
You see all my life, I have been a complete adrenaline junkie!! I loved galloping on my horse, I loved pushing the limits on skis. You put something scary in front of me, I'll do it!! 

It was a bit of an eye opener, and a massive relief. It demonstrates the massive difference between real fear and anxiety. 

So am I ready for the bike? Yes, I am. I have limited expectations, time wise, and believe me, if the winds blow like they did last week, anyone who DOES have time expectations may be sorely disappointed. And I am thoroughly looking forward to that descent from Hawi - the scarier the better as far as I'm concerned!! 

THE RUN 

Efforts at the Old Airport

"MY leg" is how I used to describe the run. I'd ditch the bike in T2 and say "NOW my race begins!". But in a lot of long course races I have compromised my run, either through a bike set-up which hurt my hips, or by overdoing it on the bike. Until Malaysia.
I was so intent on just finishing that race, I came off the bike with loads of gas left in the tank, and that was exactly what I needed in such brutal conditions. Kona isn't as hot on the run as Malaysia, but the bike will wear me down more if it is windy. But I am ready. Not necessarily for my best Ironman run. But I'm ready to turn right up Palani Rd and head out onto the Queen Ka'ahumanu highway, to embark on the final 24km of the run, with a big smile on my face. Grateful to be there. Greatful to be healthy and happy. Grateful for all the wonderful support I have around the world. 

This event is so much more than a race. It began as a bet between a bunch of mates. It has evolved into a demonstration of how willpower and determination can overcome the elements and fatigue. 

But most of all, it allows us to find out just what we are capable of, physically and mentally. It's a life-changing, empowering, wonderful part of my life. I am very lucky to have found this sport.

Mahalo Ironman. 

7 DAYS TO GO - RACE NUMBER 1470