Training for a hot humid race while living in a very unfriendly frigid, dry and snowy environment has been nothing short of challenging. It’s meant a complete overhaul of my training program and mind set, all changes necessary to prepare myself for an early season race while training almost exclusively inside.
Since my October Ironman Texas training start I have put my body through thousands of mindless laps in the pool, sending my allergies into hyper-drive; hundreds of mind numbing hours on the trainer, some of which done on the pool deck to simulate hot, humid conditions (if it wasn’t for the company of what is undoubtedly the best show on TV ‘The Walking Dead’, I’d be completely mentally unhinged by now) and countless miles on the treadmill, not to mention the bone chilling, frozen lung runs in -35 degree Alberta weather.
Then of course there’s the bi-weekly strength workouts, the daily pre-hab and core routines and the too-many-to-count chiro, massage and acupuncture therapy sessions, all of which working together to help prevent this bruised and battered body from completely falling apart. All of this and a switch to a hypoallergenic elimination diet that has my taste buds mourning the loss of all gluten, dairy, soy, corn, egg, nut and night shade veggie edibles.
Needless to say that after all of the personal sacrifice, energy and effort put towards this endurance endeavour once I cross the finish line and am declared (for a third time) that ‘I am an Ironman’, if only for one day I will indulge in all that has been forbidden and revel in the infamous post race endorphin high.
