Countdown to Lake Placid

I realize it’s been a while since my last entry, so I thought I’d send a quick update. This Sunday marks 4 weeks till Lake Placid and I am feeling AWESOME! I’m psyched and I’m ready. I have made some changes, and have been training hard while trying to be careful not to go over the “razors edge”. Some bigger names have signed up for Placid (Hillary Biscay, Kim Loeffler) but I am really confident and excited to race them. With probably hundreds of people from here either doing the race or spectating, I feel like I have a bit of the “hometown advantage” as well, which is nice. It's an amazing feeling running by the Runner’s Edge tent by the brewery in Placid and hearing your name being screamed out by tons of people on the team. Plus, along with Bob Cook (who is SO great to have out there) my close friends Nancy and Bill will be there! It should be a blast!
I’ve had two monster weeks that have included lots of biking with intervals and IM pace mixed in, I’ve done some long runs (18 and 20 milers) as well as some “paced runs” that were lengthy as well. My swimming has included short hard sets with lots of rest and longer steady swimming, as well as threshold work. When I rest, I rest hard and when I train, I train hard. This weekend, 4 weeks out, will include a 5 hour ride with some intervals mixed in and a steady IM pace home, a run off the bike at IM pace descending down, a long paced run (and possibly an 8+ mile Time Trial on the bike on VERY tired legs Sunday!) as well as an open water swim. After that will be a nice short rest before heading into the taper!!!
So, all is well…I look forward to July 20th, but really I take each day as it comes. I think about the race and what I want to do, what I know I CAN do, but I try not to obsess over the race and the results. I’m REALLY enjoying my training right now and enjoying what I do. I feel STRONG. Ironman is something that I feel I am very good at when my head is on straight and my confidence is unwavering… Both of these things are the best that I can remember them being (focused and confident), now I just have to stay healthy and get to the start line!
For entertainment purposes (and because I like to add pictures in every blog entry) here are some pictures from a race that I watched on Father’s Day. It was called the “Harlem Rock’s Criterium” and it was sponsored by Michael Ball and Rock Racing Team. After running 20 miles in the morning I went in with George and Lou to watch them in their races, and then we all watched the pro race. It was an AWESOME event and a lot of fun! Here are some of the pics: Ivan Dominquez and myself, Rock Racing leading a lap, me and Michael Ball, Lou and Tyler Hamilton and George chasing down a break.