Finally...Taper Time!

Taper could not have arrived soon enough. Well, actually it could have! You know - always worried about whether you did enough 'work' for race day. But I did most of the hard stuff and did miss a few things and missed out on some runs due to some foot issue...which turned out to be tight leg muscles! At this point 'it is what it is' - haha - which for some reason became a phrase during a training weekend...or something! 

This past Sunday, with 21 days till race day, I decided since I really won't be losing any weight before race day at this point I would do all I could to not gain any during taper. So (1) eat healthier in general, and no junk / bad food till the day after race day (I have two places I plan to visit in Madison already picked out), (2) no Starbucks - not even after Thursday morning swim, which is speed work day, (3) stay hydrated/drink more water (and I already drink a fair bit), (4) more stretching, because one can never do enough of that, and finally (5) more sleep. Also, I plan to use MyFitnessPal to diligently record what goes in my mouth! I've been using this off and off for the past few years and it can be quite helpful. But when life gets busy this is one of those things that take a back burner. I do record my workouts in TrainingPeaks though because I know my coach can see that. I need her to start checking myfitnesspal again, too! 

I'm in my fourth day and for the most part is has gone fairly well. In the evening I've been a little hungry so I just make sure I drink another glass of water. I did slip a little last night and have a Snack Pack pudding cup. Chocolate Vanilla - like picture. The good thing is that between entering my calories and exercise in MyFitnessPal I did have the 'room' for it and did not go over for the day.

Speaking of nutrition, it has now been over five months since I had my last Diet Coke. I do crave one occasionally, but for the most part I do not miss it at all. I am also planning to reduce my caffeine intake or cut it out completely. In fact this morning before swim I had a cup of decaf coffee! I really love the smell of coffee brewing... I already gave up artificial sweeteners for a little sugar in my coffee and tea and am using Sugar in the Raw instead. After the big race I plan to try to go gluten free as well. 

Anyway, this weekend I have an 8 mile run: first half in zone 2, and the second half in zone 3 and plan to do this right from my house towards Lake Accotink park and back. I am looking forward to it! Sunday is a bike/run brick of 29 and 1 miles. Team Rabbit should be reunited for this brick and I think we are going to meet at Audrey Moore RECenter because there is a good loop we can bike to right from there. Looking forward to that as well. 

So just 16 days and some odd hours to Ironman Wisconsin. Yikes! But I'm very excited as I've wanted to race this since the first time I saw it on the Team Z training weekend in June 2010!

Happy and Healthy Training!