While I am myself recovering from the accident, I can use my time in giving some good advice for all you, racing in Challenge Copenhagen in couple of weeks
Enjoy that your condition is in the top now. All the days from the beginning of the year you most probably have spent your freetime into getting there, where you almost are now; in the topform, and top fit, and just in 2 weeks standing on the startline -racing in Ironman. Look forward the day, with good feelings, not with a fear…
Here something to think about just now:
– do you have a fear? an idea is to write down the points you fear about and solve them, this helps me anyway. Like if you have a fear of drowning in the swim… Well did you ever drown in your swimtraining or in the race before, or were even close to that? I think your answer is NO, so what to fear about? Decide some good strategy for the swim, where to start, on the side or just in the back, and let the 80% go crazy and burn all of their sugar in the first 500meters, but not you, if you are not a good swimmer. Stay cool
– did you feel a bit dizzy in your last long training sessions? maybe you forgot your energy? salt? water? DON’T do that as these are as important points as your training. Make a plan, write it down, make sure that you get enough energy !
– do you feel a bit stressy as starting your work again after your nice summer vacation? watch out, don’t stress yourself now and don’t take any risk and lower your immune system and get sick as your body is already pressed because of the hard training you have done. It is time to take it easy now; take some days of from the work and if you get into a stress, best after your race
Talk with your boss, many times you will find that they understand. Dont expect them to be a part of your project, just understanding.
– now it is absolutely the latest period to get the equipment in order; your bike, your shoes, they should be the ones you have used the last period-no changes anymore as you don’t want any plasters, decide which clothes you race in – make decision also for the colder weather clothes, buy your energy for the race -and make a plan for the day. Maybe you should pass by in Endurance Sport shop on Gammel Kongevej, and fix the last equipment. Do it now!
– and make already now a plan for the morning – how do you get to Amager – startline, which clothes you will wear in the morning, keep yourself warm… we are in Denmark and in 2 weeks it might be chilly that raceday…
– hey, feel ready for the race, no doubts can or can I not, because YES, YOU CAN. You had so many training hours, and you did try to swim 3,8k in the training, and you did ride almost 180k with your bike, and if you got up to 1.30-2 hours tempo runs, YES YOU CAN MAKE it. Forget the doubts, just focus on how fast you can do it
– on the days before raceday, and specially on raceday. Check your stuff, BUT………not all the time.
– and one more thing… don’t say for yourself during the raceday: this is the last time I do this or why am I here or something alike… You are there, so pull all ut of your body on the raceday, you are strong!!!
I see many that are going around, and all the time thinking practically, ect.
Be sure to stop, think, enjoy that you are going to race. It is good to stay loose, and to just be really happy that you are racing finally.
And hey, soon you have your crunch time -look forward the day, and be happy that you have made all the hard work. When the Ironman day is there, it is just time to push through the hours you have planned, and it is time to enjoy that you are able to be – the end of the day – an Ironman!!! Have fun, and take care!!