26 days to go until IRONMAN TEXAS. I can’t believe how fast it is coming up. Looking back one year, I was getting ready to do my first half IRONMAN. Did it on a road bike. Had never ridden in high wind before – I was SCARED TO DEATH the entire 56 miles. I will be doing the bike leg of the same race this year on a relay. I’m not nervous – I am excited to practice my IRONMAN race at this half.
The past two weeks have been absolutely critical in my training. I did two long rides outside which the old Cheryl never would have completed. Being out on the road with cars is scary. I never had enough confidence in myself or my riding ability to do it well or at all. That has started to change. And while I fully realize the car will always win and I need to be very very careful, I also realize I have to believe in myself on the bike.
This Friday, I did a long ride that was supported with some of my usual training partners. Two of them missed a turn. I yelled to make sure they knew they needed to come back and then I headed out on the turn. When I got to a main road we needed to cross, I stopped and waited for them. They didn’t come and didn’t come. I knew something was wrong because truly they usually would have passed me before I got to the light. A SAG car came by and told me they were coming. But all was not well. One of them had a car pull out in front of her; she braked too hard and flew off her bike. She was in the road on the ground and all her things were scattered; aero bars broken. She said she was fine and wanted to keep riding, but a SAG driver talked her out of it and into his car. I am so so so grateful that she was OK.
Old Cheryl would have gotten in the car after this happened. But I made myself get back on my bike and finish the ride. Thinking about her made me remember I need to be super cautious while I’m out there. But I focused and had a great ride. Along the way, I met the pro who competes all over the world at the Shell station while making a stop. She’s here training for IMTX. That was awesome. One of my training partners got a flat tire and I helped her change it – that was awesome. Best power on a long ride to date – super awesome.
I promised to make my weakness (riding) my strength when I left Arizona. I’ve worked super hard towards this goal. I have a very specific plan in mind for the bike leg at IMTX and all I have to do is go execute the plan. I’m not afraid of doing this any more.
Last week, I took part in the Vantage Point Endurance tri training camp. That was an amazing experience and I learned so much more than I imagined I would. Filmed swim analysis helped me make an adjustment that just might give me an extra 10 minutes to use on the bike. Met with a sport psychologist and getting my head right on the bike will be key to getting to the finish line. Had a running gait analysis that told me I’m doing a lot of things right. I was really impressed that my coach and his partners would take so much time to spend with their athletes. These guys really care about their athletes and their performance; even though I am never going to podium or qualify for Kona – they respect my effort and my goals. Very impressive.
So, just a couple more weeks of hard training and then the taper will begin………. it’s going to fly by now.
ironcheryl2018 