It’s crunch time and we can all feel it. Walking into our appartment is like entering ground zero of Ironman Training. Once you open the door, and step into the living room you are faced with our sturdy bikes, proped up on the trainers ready for the next tripple digit ride; bento boxes open, revealing a left over powerbar or perhaps some salt pills in a miniature zip lock bag. An ITB roller towers over our living room as if to warn us of the injuries to come. If you dare venture into our kitchen, it’s like you’re standing next to the discount bin in a sports nutrition shop. We have an endless array of gels, bars, pills and powders, all in place with several full refill bags underneath the table. Instead of drying pots and pans, we have Aerobotles and shakers, maybe a left over oatmeal pot from the treturous weekend that passed.

A few steps further on the left is the shower. “His & Hers” wetsuits are lying on the top of the shower curtain dripping down, drying from the morning ocean swim. It already looks used and we have a few tears to fix. Then there is THE room. THE room with everything else. A room full of our workout clothes, shoes and everything in between. A dresser that was used in the 1960′s for some ladies purfume, brush and lipstick was now home to about 7 body glides, two sports sun screen bottles and about 15 trophies. My Zipp wheels are resting on the couch (tapering for race day), another neglected mountain bike and my teleporting folding bike stand in the shadows of our serious equiptment.

The bedroom is no better. There are ice packs from the night before which we promptly return to the freezer for next time; More pills and water bottles next to our bed and a tredmill covered with drying towels and some clothes just to feel normal.

This is our life right now.

It won’t get better until we return from our Ironman and regain sanity.

We can’t think about that now though.

Now we just have to live through this week, taper right and plan our race and race like we planned.

UPDATES

I now have two 200km ride under my belt and one 5km open water swim. Tamir and I just got back from a weekend training camp. On Friday I rode 4 hours, swam 1 hour and ran 1 hour. On Saturday I rode 4 hours and ran 2 hours. On Friday Tamir swam 1 hour and ran two hours. On Saturday he rode 180 km and ran 20 minutes.

We are BEAT!

Raanan – People in Zone 3 smile sometimes. We just have to do it in secret so that a certain someone doesn’t see. Then we can pretend that the sun is in our eyes if we get caught. It will be worth it when I’m not throwing up during the marathon. You wait and see

As for the future – This week was tough and I’m planning an 8 hour sleeping night, needless to say “woo hoo”. Tomorrow morning I have an ocean swim with Mor, my spiritual zone 3 leader and a 2 hour run in the evening. Friday is a short 4 hour ride and saturday is a super duper double brick (say that ten times fast).  In English that translates to 85km ride, then 17km run, then 51km ride, then 8km run.

Running technique for dummies.. and by dummies I mean dummy… me.

I joined a long distance triathlon group called Zone 3*applause* and I have a new coach – Lior Zach-Maor *applause again*. Before Lior I was training with Sharone Aharone from Chicago but the distance took it’s toll.  Sharone is an amazing person and coach and he lead me to results beyond what I had imagined BUT I felt that I needed a local group that can push me and a coach that I could meet for a 10 ILS coffee and not a $1000 + 10 ILS coffee.  It just made more sence to search for someone local.  After Nina, my former riding friend and #1 triathlete in Israel, recommended Lior and after I saw the success of their team in the Israman, I understood that this was the group for me. 

To date, I participated in two group training sessions.  The first was a technique ride and the second was a track run.  Yesterday, at 5:45AM, I was on my way to Wingate for a track session.  Wingate is like Israel’s very own Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center… minus the Springs and minus the Colorado and minus most of the Olympics too;  It is a training center though, and it’s ours so we love it.

After arriving, I waited for the group to drizzle in and everyone began with a group warm up of about 4-5 laps.  I used to think that Nina shrinks when she runs because she kept getting smaller and smaller until she disappeared.  When I showed up at the end of the run, she was big again.  This time, since we were on the track and she was tired from the Ironman, I could run next to her and even talk (or listen which is what you do when you’re running next to Nina); she stayed the same size throughout the warmup. I guess I was wrong.

After the warmup people started taking off their shoes and socks.  Just like you, my first thought was that this could only mean one thing – a surprise foot massage for everyone! Think again… New socks and shoes for everyone?… Nope… sock transition training? .. not that either (neat idea though) . We ended up doing drills on the grass in our birthday feet.  I won’t get into detail but after some embarrassing coordination tests at a heart rate of about 183-185, my upper calves are freakin’ killing me.  Having said that, it was fun to run on the track with my new group.

Only one thing was missing, you know which wheel you are That’s alright though, we still have our swims and rides and , well , runs too.  Plus you have another wheel to keep you going.

Upcoming Events

Ein Gedi 21km – What to expect? I’m running according to heart rate in the lowest hottest place on earth so nothing earth shattering from me. Expect a good result from Tamir though – sub 1:50 for sure 

London training camp – I’ll be in London next week.  I’ll be in the 4 season which has access to virgin gym. See Link.  Since I’m studying there, I will wake up, do some training and then get cracking.  I do have one track session with the Barclays Running Club.  Stay tuned for photos and their track summary.

Miami / Orlando training camp – Tamir will be in a conference. He has a full training plan there which has to be coordinated around his work oblications – no smelly feet… I mean, no small feat.

Tzehala Training Camp – Raanan, don’t you go anywhere?

Possible Duathlon – I may participate in the Petach Tiqua (Chicago’s sister city – I know because I saw the flag in Chicago O’hare airport) duathlon with the one who gave me life (AKA Mommy).  Plus, I get to try out my new Zipp babies… once they are home with mamma …