... the taper is in full force. Frankly, it's making me nutty. Yesterday, my training schedule had one word on it, Yoga.
Yoga?
Just yoga?!
For the last three months Wednesday meant riding hills and a 5k run PLUS yoga. But this week, in the middle of the taper it's just yoga. Ummmm... I don't know if I can do just yoga!!
... sigh ...
Also, why didn't someone tell me that the Ironman taper means eating anything in sight? Holy All-You-Can-Eat-Rib-Night, Flatman! I'm on a constant "get in my belly!" I've raided the kitchen for every piece of fruit, the 'fridge for all the meat, and the pantry for every Powerbar we had and I'm still craving a whole baked chicken. Usually when the kids refuse to finish their dinner I coax them into cleaning their plate. But not these days. Now, when TriBuddy says, "I don't like this meat," or Miss M cries, "I hate salad," I say, "Good, that means more for me" and I pour their food onto my plate. Yeah, things are out of control. Hell, if the cat's food didn't smell like ... well ... cat food even her dinner would be at risk.
Oh, and let's not forget the sleeping, or more correctly, the lack of sleeping. Every day this week I stayed awake until nearly midnight and woke up at 4 AM feeling so full of energy I could whip Mike Tyson's butt ... after eating my middleweight in breakfast, of course.
Maybe somebody should put a warning label on this Ironman taper thing.
Moooooving on....
Like most triathletes I'm a bike guy. I always check out the equipment I see others riding, ogle the glossy bike porn ads in the tri magazines, and go to the bike store to run my fingers across the newest frames. I just can't help myself. So, let me show you my ride.
It's a 2005 Specialized S-Works Transition triathlon specific geometry.
Here are the specs:
Frame: Specialized S-Works Tranistion Aluminum Size 54
Aerobars: Profile Design Carbon Stryke
Fork: Specialized Carbon Speed Zertz
Hydration: Specialized Aluminum Cages (yeah, I know, old school, but hey, they work great!)
Computer: Polar CS200cad Wireless
Seatpost: Specialized Carbon Speed Zertz
Wheels: Zip 404 Carbon Tubulars (labels removed)
Tires: Continental Sprinter Tubulars. 27mm front and 28mm rear
Drive Train: Shimano DuraAce 7800 Crank 53-39, Shimano DuraAce Ten Speed 11-23 Cassette
Pedals: Look Keo
It's a very stiff and responsive rig with a hair trigger off of the line. Pure zoom, zoom!
I'd write more but I just returned from the grocery store and have a whole chicken baking in the oven.
Stay tuned...
18 comments:
NIce bike porn. Tapering can make you nutty, It drove me insane during my IM taper, but just try to relax and you will do great.
Sweet ride!!! I too woke up 1/2 hr before my alarm was supposed to go off at 4:45..what's with that???
Awesome bike! I was reading an article in Runner's World magazine about tapering for marathons. It went on about the physical and psycological effects. Sounds like what you're going through, only worse ;-) Enjoy the time for your body to replenish itself. Hang in there!
No time to look, now, but I believe a bit of digging will reveal a similar story on Wil's page. In fact, I'm thinking you don't have a chicken to eat because she already ate it.
Nice bike. I bought a Specialized aluminum bottle cage because it's yellow and matches the Pol-R Express.
You are ready! Don't violate your training plan (by thinking you are going to gain anything in these next 2 weeks.. you can only harm yourself). I'm on board with the blacked out bike, it just looks faster that way.
2 weeks out was is always my most anxious period. Race week I come to terms with "it is what it is", and feel much more calm.
When you get to FL, you will see people swimming/riding/running long. DONT GET SUCKED INTO THAT. Again, it can only hurt you, not help.
You are going to have a great day.
Curt
suh-wheet!
love the bike porn... what's with pulling the Zipp labels off -- stealthier?
what's a taper? mine doesn't start till Sunday...
but, if it helps, i ate my right arm yesterday!!
Those S-works are pure speed. The Polar CS200cad is what I use too. Great system.
Make sure you don't get those gnarly chicken hands all over that ride...
Nice, nice ride... you're making my Specialized "Diesel" jealous. Put that away before he has body image issues!
Dude, you've been hiding that beauty from us??? HAWT!
I am sure you have been training enough to eat whatever you want...even candy corn!!! :)
Yep, that's a beautiful ride! Enjoy your taper but watch out for overstuffing yourself.
Nice bike :-) It has alot of the same components as my Allez Pro. Mine has Ksyrium wheels and of course an Allez Pro frame instead of the S-Works, the frames look alot alike though. I was really close to buying the Cipollini World Champion S-Works frame.
Sweet bike!
Good luck with the taper-madness. You'll do great come IMFL.
aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! It's ok that I'm eating constantly, I'm sure I'm using the calories fidgeting.
That bike is damn sexy! Enjoy the taper!
funny... i feel that way about food all the time... and i'm nowhere close to doing an ironman.
thanks for the support for the Nytro vs Greyhound Clash of the Titans. you're a good man.
just stay away from the cat food.
With helpful food suppliers (and unqualified Boomer supporters) like TriBuddy & Miss M, you just can't go wrong!!!! (They are just adorable.)
Cheering you on from the blogosphere!
Love the "more for me" motto! :-)
Love the bike too! Very nice! I have a Specialized Mtn. bike- and love it even tho it's a "lower-end" model price-wise.
Best of luck in your race this next weekend! And remember to have fun!
(Stay away from my frige,,,there's a baked chicken in there!)
Triboomer,
For some reason, your site does not update on my blogline..
HAVE A BLAST IN IMFL :)..you are so ready...
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