Early season HIM support/training group? (Page 9)

Hmm, no advice for me?

I did my last long brick workout today (40 ride, 9 run, 2 walking home up the big hill at end of run), which was a heck of a lot longer/more challenging than any brick I've ever done. A few more days and taper starts. I guess this is as good as it gets!

What race are you doing???

I have felt pretty good about my training, but I still feel so out of my league for this race (Wildflower).  I had a chance to preview the course, and it's about what I expected in terms of difficulty -- it will take me no less than 7.5 hours, probably closer to 8.  I didn't realize you go straight up a huge hill each time out of transition (I knew about the one at 40 miles on the bike course, though, and it is appropriately named Nasty grade). 

I am a new and slow runner and just did my second-ever half marathon on Sat., and it took forever and left me feeling a bit discouraged.  Trail run, though, and got stuck behind about 200 people all walking up the big hill on the single track, so had no real choice...and once walking, it's hard for me to get back in the run groove and end up taking unnecessary walk breaks. 

I would love some advice on the mental part of this, how to gut it out on race day, because I am starting to feel like those ice skaters who train really well but fall down at every major comp.

Wildflower.  My training plan this week actually says, "Wildflower Long Course is hella-hard and everyone knows that ... You keep moving forward steadily all the time and keep the calories and liquid coming in and then you finish what is arguably the second hardest half IM in the US."  I don't know about that -- I suspect Auburn and Silverman are both harder -- but this will be a big challenge for a first HIM (considering I've never even run a complete Oly...). 

Thanks for the good wishes!  My taper was unfortunately interrupted by the SoCal wildfire this week -- the fire started at about Mile 31 on the route I posted at the top of this page, and much of Miles 1-10 and 25-50 have been burned or were evacuated.  My house is first in line to burn down, so I took my cats, bike, and grandma's antique watch and got the heck out when the fire hit the ridge behind us (pix in my training log).  It has been a very difficult week, but we are fine and back at home now!  I am very tired, but I will head up to WF tomorrow and enjoy the race as much as possible.  Certainly it puts things into perspective.

Good luck to everyone else!  Hope your training and taper are less traumatic! 

Thanks for the good wishes!  My taper was unfortunately interrupted by the SoCal wildfire this week -- the fire started at about Mile 31 on the route I posted at the top of this page, and much of Miles 1-10 and 25-50 have been burned or were evacuated.  My house is first in line to burn down, so I took my cats, bike, and grandma's antique watch and got the heck out when the fire hit the ridge behind us (pix in my training log).  It has been a very difficult week, but we are fine and back at home now!  I am very tired, but I will head up to WF tomorrow and enjoy the race as much as possible.  Certainly it puts things into perspective.

Good luck to everyone else!  Hope your training and taper are less traumatic! 

Exactly one month today until Ironman Boise 70.3! 

Lucky for me I have a taper Olympic on May 18th so this month is purely a nutrition planning focus! 

Hope all those doing thire forst HIM this weekend have a BLAST!

Thanks for the good wishes!  My taper was unfortunately interrupted by the SoCal wildfire this week -- the fire started at about Mile 31 on the route I posted at the top of this page, and much of Miles 1-10 and 25-50 have been burned or were evacuated.  My house is first in line to burn down, so I took my cats, bike, and grandma's antique watch and got the heck out when the fire hit the ridge behind us (pix in my training log).  It has been a very difficult week, but we are fine and back at home now!  I am very tired, but I will head up to WF tomorrow and enjoy the race as much as possible.  Certainly it puts things into perspective.

Good luck to everyone else!  Hope your training and taper are less traumatic!