I was just going to enjoy my summer I said, I was getting my Ironman over early I said, I was going to take some time and improve my flexibility and get rid of my aches and pains I said, I was going to do some fun bike rides I said (vs. training rides – there is a difference!).

Well guess what it’s freaking September! The marathon is in a month and I signed up for a Leadman  which is next week(because apparently Iron isn’t good enough for me or I want to work my way through the periodic metal table). 

YES I AM FREAKING OUT!

I haven’t been training for the marathon because of my damn foot and I really have not been training for a triathlon.  At least of this magnitude (3 mile swim, 138 mile ride, 13.1 mile run).  The longest I’ve ridden is 90 miles this past weekend with about 6000 feet of climbing, it was painfully slow though – averaged 13 MPH not nearly fast enough to make the bike cut-off for this race and my back hurt afterwards.  The only thing I have to hang my hat on is that they say the last 20 miles is downhill. OH please god let them be right.  So basically I rode only 2/3’s of the distance. I swam the 3 miles in the lake, again slowly and have been in the pool 2-3 times a week clocking 1.5 – 2.5 miles.  What have I gotten myself into! I signed up decided to do it when my friend Hootie suggested it. I’ve never been to Oregon and  I heard it was pretty and thought it would be “fun” …. Well pretty and fun is not going to get me through the mileage!  I put off actually signing up for it as long as I could even although in the back of my mind I knew I wanted to do it.  Sure I could drop down and do the half but why do half when you can do the whole.  YES I love punishing my body! Plus it sort of reminds me of how I trained for my first half ironman.  I think my longest ride was about 36 miles and I bought the bike the day before the race.  I still made it! This race may very well be my first DNF!

Then of course there is the marathon in a month and the NY marathon in 2 months.  For the first time in my marathon running career, I am thinking of DNSing the Chicago marathon. BECAUSE I’m freaking out!  I know it’s not a huge deal in the broad scheme of all things but I guess I’m just disappointed.  My thought right now is to treat Chicago as my long run for NY and try to get back into doing some speed work.  I read an article saying that walking up hill on a treadmill at 13-14% is like running… perhaps I can do that.  At least it’ll prepare me for walking up the bridges in NY!

So, DNF and DNS all in one post, not very inspiring am I.   I expect the same thing to happen in a few weeks when I decide to do IM New Zealand in March ;-p.

I’m sure my FREAK OUT shall pass – look for an update from Bend, Oregon next Saturday if I am alive. http://www.leadmantri.com/page/show/391875   here is the profile – if anyone can gauge the level of diffictuly I’d appreciate any input http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/74504636

My goals for Leadman will be the following

• complete the 3 mile swim before the 2.5 hour cut-off
• enjoy the view and the ride, just pretend I am out for a nice long ride with some friends and just see what happens
• build some resiliance
• get some practice doing traveling triathlons (ah hem NZ)
• learn from the experience
• enjoy the micro-brewerys afterwards!