Panic

Keep running and tell myself that what I'm doing right now will make it easier for me, in a few months, to do that 26.2 after the swim and bike.  I'm doing my first on this year as well, and I just had a long, tough run today but I just kept telling myself it will all be worth it.   Those points in workouts are where we have to train a key discipline of endurance sports: mental toughness.  Training isn't just about the body, it's about the mind.  Don't get me wrong, there are days I'm THRILLED that I'm signed up for an IM and days that I'm petrified...but the plan is, the more I train, the more the "thrilled" goes up and the "petrified" goes down!!

Training is harder than the race.

I remember my first 19 mile run where I felt if I had to run one more step I wasn't sure I could do it. Then my 4th 19+ mile run I did 21 instead of 20 as I felt so good and knew I could do another 5.2.

I had a few times during my training my first IM where I went from thinking I should be able to do it to I know I can. These were the sweet victories I had in training. It was when I did my first 4K swim, my 21 mile run feeling good at the finish, and then when I did some of my 100+ mile bike bricks.

Doing the training helped me gain the knowledge I could do it. Half the battle of doing an Ironman if not more for me is mental believing I could do it. Training for my second IM the thing I'm enjoying the best is I am not fearful of being able to do the distance.

 Fear, interpreted as respect for the distance, is a really useful thing to have.  It is one of the most effective emotions that you can channel to help yourself stay settled for the first five hours of your race -- around the 5-7 hour mark, appropriate pacing becomes a lot easier.

 To manage concerns over the distance, train appropriately, keep a log, review that log and remember to break your race down piece-by-piece.  Pace your entire day so that you can run well.

 When are are racing, remember that we never have a day that is all green lights and smooth sailing.  Challenges are normal in any day of our lives.  Keep moving forward and focus on what you can control (mainly pace, hydration, nutrition).  Do your best to finish as not quitting is the greatest takeaway from IM race day.

Hope this helps,

g

A good friend and Inspiration to me gave me three parting words as I left him for the swim start at IM Louisville (my first IM last August). . .  He told me, "Enjoy The Moment". . .  

I have read so many race reports of IM finishers who went through a miriad of emotions out on the course.  When I was out on the course, and I had the thoughts of the daunting miles ahead, I would recall what my friend told me.  I would consider what I was doing, and where I was, and realize that it was that moment for which I was out there.  The finish line would come soon enough, but I had to enjoy the race at any particular moment. 

Training is tough, but you're training to be out on that IM course.  Get to the starting line, and "Enjoy The Moment". . .   When you get to the finish line it will be great, but when you think back on each part of the race, all of your thoughts will be of how much fun you had.  There will be no down emotions for you to recall.  Don't think of it as daunting, but of this is what you trained for.

Enjoy The Moment! ! ! ! !

thanks, guys.

all very useful advice, suggestions, and reflections

I agree with all the advice above, but here's one more tip: don't think of it as one block of 140.6 miles. Chances are your swim will be a 1.2 lap, then a quick run on dry land to your second 1.2 lap. Your bike and marathon are probably 2 laps as well. Try thinking along the line of 'I'll do this part, and that will be done' and then going on to the next. A hundred and forty sounds a lot longer than it actually is.

(Of course, having said that, I must also disclose that I'm not a podium finisher guy but more of a middle of the pack 40-45 year old guy, who found myself in the middle of the Lake Placid run contemplating chucking all my tri equipment in exchange for a golf club membership and a convertible. And if you ask my wife, who stood patiently along the course throughout the day in the rain to cheer me on, she'll tell you that 140 seems to drag on forever.)

By the way -- see you at Providence!