Epiphany in Monterey

The only way to tackle an Ironman is to break the training up into different cycles (base, build, peak) and into smaller goals.  The idea of riding 112 miles followed by a marathon is ridiculous and overwhelming, so you have to break it up.  You work your way up to 10 mile runs, then those start to be not such a big deal, so you build up to 12 miles, then 14.  Same with long rides.  At first 40 miles is a huge accomplishment.  Eventually that becomes an "easy day" and you have built up to 80, 90, 100 mile rides.  This is the only way to approach Ironman training; otherwise it would be overwhelming.

The problem with this is that as you reach each goal, you start to get the mistaken idea that you have a handle on this whole Ironman thing.  Your goal is to run 16 miles, then 18.  And you do it, and it doesn't kill you, and you start to think it's not such a big deal.  Then you go out for a little 20-mile run, and 2.5 hours in you feel like you are about done; after all, you have been running for 2 and a half hours.  Then suddenly it hits you that, yes, you have already been running for 2.5 hours, and yet, you still have an hour to go!  Then it hits you that you have spent nearly a year gradually conditioning your body to do this.  And around 2.5 hours you realize that a 20 mile run is no joke.  It is a long way and it is a big deal; and it hurts.  But then, THEN, it suddenly hits you that...THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING compared to what you have committed to do all in one day on November 17th!  The hardest workouts you have ever done, the ones that you worked so long to accomplish and were so proud to achieve are nothing in the face of what awaits you on the day of Ironman.

This realization hit me yesterday, on my 20-mile run in Monterey, CA.  A while ago I told Karin that I wanted to go somewhere nice for my longest training run, the 20 miler.  Since Karin has been nothing short of the greatest Ironfan a girl could ever hope for, I wanted to make it an overnighter where I could run but we could also hang out and enjoy a little getaway.  She chose Monterey, CA, which is funny because that is the very first place that came to my mind when I thought about the idea of a long-run-getaway!

So we went to Monterey, where:

                         We went whale watching

We rode bikes along the shoreline.

I ran 20 miles

And we ate clam chowder on the wharf.