Tapering 9/15/12

One week until Leadman!

I've realized that I began tapering last week or so.  I really didn't have much of a taper on the schedule - just lower numbers the last week - but I think  a combination of things changed that.

First - burnout.  Mental, physical, emotional and just in general burnout.  I feel tired, I know not much will change in the last couple weeks, I'm frustrated at all the time that training sucks out of my life, and my body is fighting back when I do longer training activities (possible rhabdomyolysis).

Second - did I mention my body is fighting back?  I'm experiencing symptoms that match up pretty well with rhabdomyolysis.  This is a condition where after strenuous activitiy the body destroys the skeletal muscle and dumps the rubbish into the body's systems and causes stress on them.  In extreme cases the condition can lead to kidney failure.  I've been seeing the symptoms for a few weeks now (not gonna describe it here) and they occur after such things as long runs, fast medium runs, and long bike rides.  Why this is happening?  I dunno.  I'm going to schedule an appoitment to review the issue with a sports doctor hopefully for the week after Leadman.  Until then, it's a good thing I'm tapering and not doing endurance stuff every day or two!

Third - unlike a few weeks ago where I was frustrated about not getting in enough training, I've now flipped and feel like "it's all ok" and that I can coast the last couple weeks because they are the "taper" weeks.  Sure, this is a half-Ironman type of event and some people think no taper is necessary, but I don't have that kind of foundation yet.  An Olympic event kicked my butt!  This is well over Olympic levels, especially the cycle part - 69 miles at race pace is no joke!

I kind of just want this done now.  Do I feel ready?  Not necessarily, but that's my normal MO.  I'll always think I can do something more or better, but for now I feel it's all ok and I just need to focus on finishing the event.

On the bright side - I'm excited to be volunteering at the IMAZ 2012 event!  I signed up a few weeks back and will on a run aid station.  I should be able to get signed up to compete in the 2013 IMAZ the day following the race.  Doing the Arizona Ironman was Melissa's suggestion - she felt it would be the 'easiest' Ironman event to try to do.  We shall see!  For now I'm happy I'm volunteering and looking forward to going to Arizona in November for this years race.