Ironman Training.....This is Hard

Lately I have found that work and training have completely and utterly taken over my life.  On a normal weekday, I am up and out of bed by 4:20AM and then my day goes as follows:

• 5:00AM - Swim 3,500 meters
• 7:15AM - In my office working
• 11:45AM - If I am lucky I get out for an hour run.
• 4:00PM - Leave work to pick up my daughters
• 5:00PM - Get home and start making dinner
• 7:00PM - Fire up my work laptop and get some work done, while helping get the girls with normal bedtime stuff.
• 9:00PM - 10:00PM - Shut down my laptop
• 10:00PM - 10:30PM - Try to get to sleep since I have to get up between 4:20AM & 5:00AM the next day.

That is pretty much every Tuesday through Friday.  Monday is a rest day, but I am still getting up before 6:00AM and the rest of my day is the same as above.  Even my weekends are tough, waking at 4:30AM - 5:00AM to get in a long run or ride before I have to coach my daughters soccer game or simply try to be a good husband and father. 

I read a lot before signing up for Ironman Arizona, I spoke to a lot of Ironman veterans, and I thought I knew what to expect.  Nothing can prepare you for the journey until you actually are a part of it.  This has been the most difficult sporting endeavor that I have ever under taken

Here's a quick weekend recap:

Saturday
My daughter had a 10:00AM soccer game which meant I had to get my 2.5 hour run in before that.  I was up and out the door by 5:15AM, with the difference being that I was in my car driving down to the Delaware River to run along the canal.  I had spoken to a friend at the gym on Friday and he advised me to make my long runs easy (with regard to terrain).  I agreed and opted for the nice tow path along the river.  I did 18 miles in 2:31:26, good for around an 8:24/mile pace.  I forgot to bring my Garmin, so I was running on feel.  Kind of a nice feeling for a change.

After running it was soccer time, then we rushed home and then drove up to Lafayette College (my father-in-law's Alma Mater), where we attended Homecoming with my in-laws.  We had a really good time; it was a beautiful day and Lafayette won.  Once we get home, we headed out again to get dinner (I pigged out on pasta) and were home by 8:00PM.  I then had to put in a 1.5 hour ride.  Well, it was late and I had a 5.5 hour ride on Sunday, so I cut the ride down to 45 minutes.  I didn't get to sleep until around 11:00PM.

Sunday
Seems that my daughters soccer games are determining my schedule....noon soccer game meant I had to be on my bike by 5:00AM if I had any chance of getting in my whole workout (5.5 hour ride FIB 1 hour run).  Up at 4:40AM, on my trainer at 5:06AM where I put in two hours before the sun came up.  I then had to do a quick change into my warm weather clothes (it was ~42F outside), swap out my back wheel and do 3.5 hours outside.  Unfortunately my change wasn't so quick and I lost about 15 minutes.  The 3.5 hour ride went really well for the most part, I would say right up until around 2.75 hours in (4.75 hours into the ride overall).  I started to just feel exhausted, I think my lack of sleep for the week was finally catching up with me.  Oh yeah, it was friggin' freezing out!!!  My feet were numb the entire ride, I didn't not dress appropriately.  Here is a ride summary:

• 2:00:00 - Trainer Ride - 32 miles (outside it would have been closer to 38 miles)
• 3:25:00 - Ride north along Delaware River ~ 64 miles
• Total - 5:25:00, ~ 96 miles

I managed to make it back to my house by around 11:00AM and realized that I only had time for a 15 - 20 minute run (DANG!).  I trudged along for around for 15:30, 1.83 miles at 8:29/mile pace.

Then it was soccer time and then pumpkin picking time.  I spent the rest of the day, from 4:00PM on just trying to take a nap, but it didn't happen.  It is tough to nap when you have two little girls that just want you to play with them.

I think I finally fell asleep last night around 10:30PM, despite my best efforts to make it happen earlier.

Today
I am plum tired, having gotten out of bed at 6:15AM this morning.  It is my goal tonight to get to sleep by 9:00AM and get a solid 7.5 hours of sleep in, if not more.  That is if for now.  Adios!