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Amishland and Believing

Last weekend David and I headed up to LaGrange for the Amishland and Lakes grand touring ride. Our friend Swati was also doing the ride with her friends. We stayed in this super cute cabin outside Shipshewana and drove to LaGrange on Saturday morning to start the ride. It was a beautiful, cool morning. David and Swati were riding the 67 mile route, while I was riding the 100 mile route. We were together for the first few miles and then the routes diverged. There were seemingly few people riding the century, or they started earlier, or something because after the first 15 miles I was quite alone for most of the ride. It was good, because I was riding my ride...just a lot of time in my head. The route folded in on itself a number of times and somehow I got off the right route, and then made a poor routing decision leaving the last SAG and could have been in for a 120+ mile day, but I checked maps and made my own way back to the school for a total of 106 miles. This was actually good for me, not quite IM distance, but further than the typical 100-101 and stop. Then it was time to run. Yup, coach used this opportunity for a brick. I changed clothes and headed out, but decided just to run the last few miles of the bike route as an out-and-back so that I didn't misjudge anything and there were people around (and maybe cars being diligent). It was a bit rolling for what I needed, but a good run - well faster than what I need for IM. After the run we went back to the cabin, showered, and went on a quest for dinner. Then some yoga on the porch and an early evening. Sunday we started with Swati and her friends, but then David and I rode the 50 mile while they were doing the short route. We did catch them lingering at the first SAG stop, but then continued along. It felt hillier than necessary/planned, but we both rode well considering the previous day's effort.

 After the weekend rides I got a message from coach's wife (and Ironman herself) that said she was impressed with my training and couldn't wait to see it come together in Louisville. In writing my response to her I realized that I am now at the point where I believe I really can/will finish. The Saturday brick was reassuring, as have been other trainings and races...but I really crossed from "I want to believe/I think I can" to "I believe/I will be an Ironman."


So the week training was:
Monday - 1 hour open water swim (2,422 yards)
Tuesday - 3,2,1 repeats with PBT for 7.35 miles
Wednesday - 2,250 yard swim and 15 mile bike
Thursday - easy 5 mile run
Friday - pool time with Coach Sean and then 3,500 yard swim
Saturday - 106 mile bike, 6 mile run
Sunday - 50 mile bike

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