The waiting game...

I always wake up during the middle of the night. Last night I woke, looked at the alarm clock and it was 2:26 am. I took that as an omen, the Ironman is 226 km's long. The odds of waking up at that time is 480 to 1.

I'm taking it as a "good" omen and most of my dreams right now are Ironman related, not one nightmare.

I've moved up to "70% pumped" about doing this race and I'm sure by race start I'll be 100% pumped. Immersing myself in Kona videos, magazines and a book is helping. My only concern is my body "falling apart" before the race. I have to be careful.

For the first time in a long time, since Monday's long run, my calf's are "tight". I think nerves are also causing me to "walk differently" and as a result is adding pressure to my calf's.

I've been using "the stick", "stretching" and taking "hot baths" to combat it. It may also be phantom pains, I've had them before when I'm stressed. I know I am stressed and detoxing, I have small pimple like bumps on my scalp.

One thing that is not a phantom pain is my left ankle. It was sprained during the "Battle Royal" at the Beer Run and hasn't fully healed. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a slight stress fracture. Thankfully I don't notice it when I train, but it makes certain lower body stretches semi-painful when I need to press my left ankle against the floor.

Until today's training, I felt my body was on the "bubble" of injury or breakdown. Unexpectedly, I had a "great" biking speed work session. I haven't felt this strong during a bike speed work session in at least a couple of months. I was happy to see my heart rate get above the 150 bpm range.

Reading the book "30 Years of the Ironman" has been really helpful in "rejuvenating" my enjoyment of training. I read the great stories and look at the pictures and realize I'm going to "the big show" and let's finish the training strong before race day. Rather than "grind it out", I want to "enjoy it out" and having a sunny day to train today also helped.

After my ride, I went to the school track for my final speed work session. There was some "retrospective" moments as I did my laps. Mostly disbelief that I'm going to Kona. I kept thinking about how many times I've run intervals on this track and how the goals and feelings have been different at different times.

Three years ago it was just John Barclay and I trying to get in good enough shape to do Ironman Louisville . It was his first Ironman and my first after a 16 year layoff. It was semi-competitive and we pushed each other as we ran.

Year two it was a lot of "lap grinding" by myself as part of my regular season and Clearwater training. Today, three years after that first track session, it felt like a "victory" speed work session. I actually felt like an athlete and all those lonely, post John Barclay laps around the track paid off.

Speed work isn't easy and I remember running around the track; in the black of darkness, in the rain, in the humid heat, in the winter snow, in the wind, and many times with "no motivation" and just "wishing" for that last interval to be over. I'm proud to say, I never cut a speed run workout short.

It was only fitting today that I was the only person on the track, I enjoyed it all to myself. There was a young high-school couple on the bleachers and I'm not sure what they were doing. At one point, her head was in his lap with his jacket covering it, I don't know if she was tired, crying or "smoking his pole".

My final training session was a taper swim. It was a "low" priority according to my training plan. I drove to the pool, walked into the change rooms, walked to the pool door and even looked into the pool area before turning around and driving home. I "bailed". I hate swimming, it wasn't critical, and decided to add the distance to tomorrows swim.

I'm almost ready for Kona. Yesterday, I got my "aero-dynamic" haircut. I think it's the shortest I've ever got it. Then today, my "finish line prop" arrived and so did my "kegerator lock" and I picked up my "contact lenses". The only thing I'm waiting for is my Triathlon Toons Tri-Jersey, which Fedex tracking says will arrive tomorrow. One more finish line prop to pick up locally and I'm ready, except for more training.

Reid was also ready today for "Picture day" in his paisley shirt, bow tie and suspenders. He even tried to go to bed early and it was "no problem" for him to wake up today. He said the photographer laughed and thought his outfit was great.

The Kona video of the day is the "Legendary" Julie Moss finish. Her finish was "epic" and was watched by millions on "ABC Wide World of Sports". It was a major turning point in putting Ironman on the map.

Many don't know this, but Mark Allen and Julie Moss are married to each other and arguably both had the most epic finishes in the history of Ironman, Julie for the women and Mark for the men. (I added a second video of Julie below it, same video with music added that "choked me up".

The third video is of Wendy Ingraham (finished 4th) and Sian Welch (finished 5th) during the 1997 Ironman. Another Epic finish. Who say's Kona can't "eat up" even the best in the world.

Speed bike - 58:24 / 30.67 km / 31.5 kph

Speed Run - 45:30 / 9.08 km / 5:00 per km avg