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!