I’m looking at the training schedule; at the opportunities in Madison to bike the bike course, swim the swim course, and do a triathlon; at already scheduled events; and at my husband to try to figure out how often I’m going to go up to Madison to prep for this thing.
Bike the bike course – Madison VQ offers 4 dates in which you can bike part of the Ironman Wisconsin bike course. Either 44 or 88 miles. Ideally, it’d be great to go up (I’m in Chicago) twice and bike 44 and then 88.
Swim the swim course – Found out from one of my cycling instructors (and Ironman Wisconsin finisher – I handed him a cola when I was up there volunteering last month) that there’s an opportunity about a month before the Ironman to swim the swim course, and that many afterwards bike the bike course and do about an hour run. I don’t know that I’ll be up for all that, but given my intense (and completely justified!) concerns about the swim, I think it’d be great to get up there and do that swim with a few hundred others.
Do a triathlon – I’ve participated in the Capital View event that takes place in June in Madison. Once I did the run portion of an Olympic relay team. And this year I did the duathlon. I like this event. I’m comfortable with it, and there wouldn’t be many logistics to figure out. And, it’s time for me to do the TRIathlon, don’t you think??
Already scheduled – I registered for the Racine, WI Half Ironman on July 17.
Talked with the hubby – I talked through the various dates and the reasons why I might want to participate in each with my husband, Kevin. He wants me to feel confident and well-prepared going into the big event. He doesn’t love all the dates away. It was adding up to more than either of us originally thought. In the end, we decided that one trip a month could work.
Here’s the line up…
| What | When | Considerations |
| Bike the bike course | May 7 | Training plan only has a 2 hour bike ride on the schedule; Could I bike the 44 miles and scale back on some other stuff in the days leading up to it? |
| Bike the bike course | June 11 | Training plan calls for B 180, R 60 on Saturday and R 60, B60 on Sunday. |
| Olympic Triathlon | June 12 | Seems good to do an Olympic tri before doing a Half Ironman! |
| Half Ironman | July 17 | Already registered. In Racine, WI. |
| Bike the bike course | July 23 | Week after the Half Ironman. Plan calls for 4.2 hours of biking. |
| Bike the bike course | Aug 13 | Day after our wedding anniversary. Same day as the opportunity to do the swim course. |
| Swim the swim course | Aug 13 | Day after our wedding anniversary. Want to go up and gain comfort with the swim course. |
Looking at inserting about one trip a month, I’m thinking 44 miles on May 17, Triathlon on June 12, Half Ironman on July 17 and Swimming on August 13 (maybe followed up by some miles on the bike course?).
I’ll talk it over with my Coach…
And my friends, the Kennedys, who live in Madison!!
Amy, you are one organized and disciplined woman! xox