Confidence is growing

The moment in training when you realize you are ready, the excitement then starts to fill the veins. I am 16 days away from taking on the hardest IRONMAN distance race I will have ever attempted, and I couldn't be more excited!!!

 

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of riding with Joe White, aka, Tatonka Blanco, a fellow Norseman athlete and friend in the mountains of North Georgia. We road a version of the 6 Gap bike race course that takes place in September near Dahlonega, GA. 

The route we road consisted of 7 significant climbs, the longest climb was Neels Gap at about 8 miles (did that one twice). That climb took about 45 minutes to get to the top with an average pace of around 10.5 mph. The total elevation gain for the 95-mile route we did was around 9,500 ft.   

The total elevation gain was similar to what I will encounter in Norway. The Norseman 112-mile bike course has nearly 12,000 ft of elevation gain. The initial climb leaving the fjord and heading to the first mountain plateau is about 24 miles. This climb is significantly longer than any of the climbs I experienced in North Georgia; however, the average gradient isn't as steep. 

In addition to feeling ready on the bike, I have managed my knee pain and feel confident I will be able to run the 16 miles of flat course before I reach "Zombie Hill". The final 10 miles of the run climbs 5,000 ft to the top of Mount Gaustatoppen. That is if I reach the Mountain Finish checkpoint at 32.5km into the run as one of the first 160 athletes or a fixed time cutoff of 14 hours 30 minutes. 

I am going into this race with my number one goal of enjoying the experience. I would be lying though if I didn't admit to having high hopes for the Black T-Shirt. I will rely heavily on my crew to help get me there!!! They will be my support throughout the race. Helping me get ready for the bike when I exit the cold waters of the fjord, providing nutrition, hydration, and clothing on the bike, having T2 set up for me with all my run gear, providing aid on the run, then helping me up "Zombie Hill" with motivation by my side and encouragement to push. Starting at 25km I am allowed to have my support run with me, I can already feel their support and encouragement! Ahhhhh.....the butterflies have set it! 

A few more key workouts and traveling to Norway is all that stands between me and the summit of Mount Gaustatoppen.

34 Days to Norseman

A live broadcast will be available on race day, subscribe to the Norseman YouTube channel, and get ready for the show! https://nxtri.com/isklar-norseman-2018-live/

I have had a lot of friends ask me how I am preparing for this race? Living in Florida, the conditions are nowhere near the same I will face in Norway on August 4. The air temperature is much hotter, the topography is much flatter and the water is a lot warmer. 

As this is my first time doing Norseman, and by far the hardest course I will attempt, I have set out to train long and in very tough conditions. Preparing my mind for the day, along with my body is key.

Even though Florida doesn't have the long sustained climbs I will have in Norway, the undulating (relentless) hills in North Florida have proven to be quite the challenge. I have ventured out solo for 4 century rides in the summer heat of North Florida. Each ride has presented its own challenges from 100 degrees heat indexes, loneliness and solidarity, and courses with 5,000 ft of elevation gain. I have also been doing a trainer ride each week with long sets of low cadence and high wattage to simulate a long steep climb. These rides seem to be working as I had one of the fastest Olympic distance bike splits of my life a couple weeks ago. I will be heading up to North Georgia on July 7 to ride 6 Gap. The 6 Gap course has a very similar profile and just as much elevation gain as I will see in Norway, that ride will be the true test to see if I am prepared. 

Not all days have been enjoyable or fun. But even after the long and hard days, I am proud of myself for not giving up, I gain confidence with every workout and I find the motivation to keep at it by the support from my family and friends. 

I have just over 1 month until race day. A few swims at Wakulla Springs, a trip up to North Georgia and 1 more long run/hike to go!