I have to admit, I am addicted to reading about Ironman. Every night after Miles is asleep I search the internet for articles on Ironman. I particularly love reading blogs of other people's experience. I have read everything from training methods, to gear requirements (or suggestions on what gear you need), to nutrition. I have spent tons of time poring over gear reviews and have found a very comprehensive reviewer of gear related to Triathlon (search DC Rainmaker). The problem with this, is no matter how much I read, I feel empty when I am done. Most of what I read isn't going to change how I train, I can't afford the newest gadgets or bike, and I haven't really played with nutrition yet.
So what is all this reading doing for me? Well it is either creating more anxiety, or reducing my anxiety....I am not sure which. I have lots of anxiety about pacing and nutrition. I expect that with time I will get both of those worked out as my training sessions get longer, but I haven't had the opportunity to really work on those yet. One of my biggest fears for the Ironman is blowing up on the bike, or feeling like I am fine on the bike only to find out during the run I should have gone a lot easier. My second fear is how to get the nutrition and hydration that I will need. I think nutrition will be okay as I seem to be able to eat about anything but hydration concerns me. I sweat.......a lot. When I am spinning I am the only one around with an actual puddle beneath me. I think my Polson Triathlon last summer was a prime example of not getting enough hydration. I took two bottles on the bike, and a swallow at each of the aide stations along the run, but by the end of the triathlon I was very hot but sweating very little. I was beginning to feel like I was overheating. My pace kept dropping as I got closer to the finish line. For this reason, I sometimes wish that the Ironman will be a cool and rainy day. I might get cold, but at least I won't be sweating a ton of fluids to get cooled off.
So if anyone has great reading on Ironman, send it my way!
So what is all this reading doing for me? Well it is either creating more anxiety, or reducing my anxiety....I am not sure which. I have lots of anxiety about pacing and nutrition. I expect that with time I will get both of those worked out as my training sessions get longer, but I haven't had the opportunity to really work on those yet. One of my biggest fears for the Ironman is blowing up on the bike, or feeling like I am fine on the bike only to find out during the run I should have gone a lot easier. My second fear is how to get the nutrition and hydration that I will need. I think nutrition will be okay as I seem to be able to eat about anything but hydration concerns me. I sweat.......a lot. When I am spinning I am the only one around with an actual puddle beneath me. I think my Polson Triathlon last summer was a prime example of not getting enough hydration. I took two bottles on the bike, and a swallow at each of the aide stations along the run, but by the end of the triathlon I was very hot but sweating very little. I was beginning to feel like I was overheating. My pace kept dropping as I got closer to the finish line. For this reason, I sometimes wish that the Ironman will be a cool and rainy day. I might get cold, but at least I won't be sweating a ton of fluids to get cooled off.
So if anyone has great reading on Ironman, send it my way!