19 Days

19 Days to go. I can't believe it. It's so surreal.

I feel like I should FEEL more fit. I'm just exhausted really. It's just crazy that it's possible I'm fit enough to do this race. Especially naked, I just don't feel thin or fit enough. I don't know when I'll actually believe it.

Went up to Madison Friday night with M and stayed at a super-nice hotel. We got KFC when we got to Madison and were both hurting the next day from it (gross). We thought the swim started at 7 so we got up early and got to Monona Terrace at 6:30 or so. Turns out the swim didn't start till 8. Oops! But it was nice to get some extra time before the swim started.

The swim start is a bit crazy. As I'm sure it will be on race day. Everyone files through this little shoot and you cross the timing mat before you get in the water. Then they hit the gun and it's so crazy. People were a little nicer b/c it wasn't the race, but it was still a little crazy. Race day is going to be insane. The first loop was boring, but I got in a groove and it was a pretty good swim overall.

The second loop was better b/c I could think, "Ok, just two more turns and this is over." Pretty sweet. I'm going to try to stay closer to the buoys for the race. I started swimming out to sea a little bit on the second loop. I had no idea how well I did in the swim until I got the results Sunday night. 1:24. Not bad. It could be a lot worse. And if I pick up the pace I could get out of the water closer to 1:20 or 1:15. We'll see. No pressure.

Got out to Fireman's Park and everyone but J had bike issues. H had a broken clip, M had rim problems, and I got a flat in the first 5 miles. Kind of a mess of a morning.

Didn't feel good on the first loop. Just tired. For some reason I felt much better on the second loop. Marty always kills me on the ride, and at the end of the second loop I finally caught up to him b/c he had a flat. So we rode in together.

I was supposed to do a 1:30 run, too. But the shin splints have just wrecked me. They were sore all the way home. Just my left shin.

E was in IN for the weekend so I decided to make Sunday a Kara Day. Best decision I've ever made! Slept in till after 9 and it was a BEAUTIFUL day. Got a paper, ate breakfast outside with my paper, went to Target and Jewel, got goodies for the bookclub sundae party... vegged out. It was fantastic. Somehow this Ironman has taught me how to relax, I didn't think that was possible.

Got a massage from MMcCracken. Whoop Whoop! He's fantastic. My shoulders are a mess from the swim and being in Aero for so long. We're going to do a longer massage before the race. He's so good.

Talked to Rob yesterday about the shin splints and our game plan. Really the only treatment for shin splints is rest. Which is not ideal for my goals right now. Bummer. So I'm taking tonight off from running and Tuesday off entirely. We'll see what happens on Wednesday. Going to try to run again with three days off the legs. Here's hoping.

The idea is to go into the IM maybe a little bit undertrained but healthy. Instead of trying to squeeze in some long runs and going into the race injured or not recovered fully. So I'm following instructions and taking it easy. Feels so weird.

Bonus: I get Tuesday morning off!!! Whoop whoop!

Still hungry all the time, but have to watch the calorie intake with the reduced workout volume. Boo.