"You're playing and you think everything is going fine. Then one thing goes wrong. And then another. And another. You try to fight back, but the harder you fight, the deeper you sink. Until you can't move... you can't breathe... because you're in over your head. Like QUICKSAND. "
- Shane Falco, "The Replacements"
On January 16th I PR'd a Half Marathon by over 8 minutes in miserable weather conditions. This was not a real big deal to me, but what was a big deal was that my run fitness was right where it needed to be for the upcoming Ironman Texas. My swim fitness was also pretty much Ironman ready and my bike fitness was not quite ready but was getting stronger with each workout. I was feeling awesome and more importantly I was feeling extremely confident that my first Ironman was going to be a huge success. I was ready.
Then three days after the Half Marathon I began to feel sick. I had to travel for work and by the time I got back home I went to the Doctor and had Bronchitis and an Upper Sinus Respiratory Infection. This lasted over two weeks. I was able to get in a few workouts but they were all well below average and I was just going through the motions.
Last weekend I was finally over the sickness and actually ran in a local 5k. I was nowhere near peak run fitness but was able to log a good run and even finished second in my AG. Things were looking up and training was ready to go full steam ahead again.
Then came Monday - I was standing in line at the grocery store and began to sweat and the stomach started to turn. Not good. An hour later I was at home hugging the toilet. Stomach Flu. WTF???
Total time lost to being sick was about 3 weeks. For the sake of my sanity the number of missed workouts will not be added up.
My s/b/r fitness is not where it needs to be, not even close. I am still not 100% healthy.
Ironman Texas is in 97 Days.
I feel like I am in over my head ... Like Quicksand.
Thanks for Listening,
Jeff
I promise it will come back ... focus on getting healthy and then work on ramping back up (not too much too fast). Feel better soon!!
ReplyDeletestatistically speaking, one rarely gets that sick more than what, every year? So you are good there. And you have plenty of time to dial the fitness in, I can promise you that.
ReplyDeleteOnward and upward.
Consistency from here to the finish line is what will save the day. Get those workouts in as best you can. You will catch back up. Its all mental man. All mental! Physically, I doubt you have lost that much. 97 days is a long time to get your butt back in it. Does Ironman specific start up this week?
ReplyDeletesome great athlete said, "90% of the race is just getting to the start" - not many wiser words have been said since.
ReplyDeleteIt'll come back faster than you realize. The first week back will probably be the toughest, but after that, the missed time will just be a fading memory.
ReplyDeleteThink positively, at least you earned yourself a BDD Pukie award :) (or do those only count if you puke while training)?
You have a ton of time - you will get it all back and more.
ReplyDeleteHopefully better to get all the sick out of the way at once. From what I've seen of your training on this blog, this will just be a blip on the radar by the time the race rolls around. Feel better soon!
ReplyDeleteHey Jeff..sorry to hear you have been sick, that sucks.
ReplyDeleteAs far as fitness, I think that your base is really strong, I would go so far as to say superb (how often do you get to use supurb in a sentence?)...that you can continue build/peak to IM TX you are going to be solid & good to go come race day.
Being sick takes more of a mental toll on you than physical... putting doubts in your mind about where you are physically. Look forward, not back, you totally have this.
A better Keanu quote is "Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever."
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about it and look forward, not back. Your fitness has positioned you for success. You are not going to change what has already happened so just do when you can. It is all you can do.
Keep your head up! Things will come around and you will be surprised by how the fitness comes back.
ReplyDelete97 days is a lot of days... Keep taking care of yourself and keep the mind focused on the open paths & good things!
ReplyDeletePlenty of time...
ReplyDeleteYour good. 3 full months. Piece of cake. Look at the upside... you are building up your immune system. Training is way over rated anyway.
ReplyDeleteTake a deep breath! You have lots of time and more than sufficient training up to this point. I believe all things happen for a reason, better now than later. Pick up your confidence, dust it off and know that you are going to kick ass in three months!
ReplyDeleteI know it seems daunting right now with 3 weeks of no real training but you have such a strong base built up Jeff. Easier said than done,I'd probably be freaking the hell out too, but try not to stress over it b/c you are going to be ready, believe it! The next 90 days are going to be great and when race day gets here, those 3 weeks you lost will not even matter. That's my 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteOf course the big song from that movie..."I, I wish you could swim, Like the dolphins, Like dolphins can swim...We can be heroes, just for one day." I was down and out for over three months with illness and then surgery. Your body will get healthy, you will get stronger, and you will be a hero on that course in 97 days! Your secret weapon? 38 age group teammates to motivate the heck out of you!
ReplyDeleteplenty.of.time
ReplyDeletebetter now than in April
D
Ok lets break this down, IM is not a race to "race" in for your first time, its about crossing the finishline and joining an elite club, that once your in, your in forever. For the break down:
ReplyDeleteSwim - 2h 20 mins time limit = 3:37 per 100
Bike - cutoff at 5:30 that means if you took till the full amount of time to swim, your need to bike 13.7 MPH to make the cutoff
Run: Leaving you 5 and half hours to run, that means 12:35 per mile
Your base is beyond those goals I laided out, 97 days is plenty of time, hey you can come out here and bike with me outdoors this weekend
(After reading the time table, I am thinking how manageable this is)
You so have this...
ReplyDelete