Back in February, I started training toward breaking 5 hours at the Ironman Looking back at the season, I knew I had to improve my training plan, quality and consistency. That's where I contacted Rich, to start working on my new training plan. Flash forward to the last month.. After months of a consistent build up in training, I got my final touch of training in the French Alps.
A one week training camp with my friends who also took part in IM On the menu, riding the mythic roads like Alpes d'Huez, swimming in mountain lakes to catch up on the almost no swimming due to pools being closed, and also touching up on my running speed, being with two fast runners. As much as that week was amazing, I also came back with a sharp pain in my shin.
A week away from race start. We arrived on Friday in Les Sables d'Olonne, just enough time for a quick swim in the ocean, an easy ride on the race course and to enjoy the beautiful town, mostly known to be the start of the sailing race Vendee Globe. Night of the race, when all the athletes were thinking about the head wind forecasted for the end of the bike course, or the stream on the swim caused by the tide getting out of the harbor, For me, my shin was the only thing on my mind.
I haven't been running since the training week in the Alps, and even though the pain was mild, I could still feel it walking to take my bike to transition. Should I run with my compression band? What if it hurts while running to the bike in T1? Just take them with me and see how it goes as the race unfolds. Ready to go, mask on, in the dark with athletes on our way to T2 to set up and get the last details sorted.
This was followed by the 20min walk along the marina to get to the starting line, time to rehearse one more time the plan of the day: pace, hydration, nutrition; and for a last stop to the toilet. It then all goes like a flash: put on the wetsuit, hear the pro race start and not even time to warm up! The sun had only just started to appear, when I'm the next one to go and a member of staff thankfully reminded me to get rid of my mask!
