It's Taper Time!

Kia ora guys, with only three more sleeps until Ironman New Zealand on Saturday it was my last session with efforts and I have been doing light sessions since and having a break off the bike after a niggle has come about in my left knee when cycling due to a tight quad.

With all the hard work done over the last 8 months and specifically the last 7 weeks building up to this weekend it is now time now to park up my “race car” to start to freshen up for race day; however, a taper is an interesting feeling when for the last 7 weeks you have been pushing your self during sessions proving you can do the effort or hit the numbers I have found myself really having to hold myself back.
I did a 30min easy run yesterday evening in Tauranga and with a sore knee at the back of my mind I found something inside me saying “Let’s see if it hurts running, lets stride it out, lets feel race pace” I managed to keep the eager little boy inside me locked down and stick to my 30min easy run which once again during taper I have noticed my heart rate drop another 5 beats per minute, very similar to what it did before Tauranga half ironman which tells me my body is ready to race.

Over the next few evenings I will be reflecting on all my sessions I have done (The good and the bad) covering what I have learned to make sure I have everything locked down as well as laying out all of my gear and my nutrition making sure I leave no stone unturned when it comes to preparation “The 5 P’s”

My race number is 135 so if you are tracking me come race day below is an overview of my race time plan (However I am racing by watts and heart rate so times will change depending on conditions);

· Swim: 55 - 57 minutes
· Bike: 5:00 – 5:10 hour
· Run: 3:10 – 3:20 hour
· Total 9:10 – 9:30 hour (Finish 4:10pm– 4:30pm)

To all those racing, the hard work is done, it’s about getting to the start line rested and ready, you have done all the hard work so the key is believing in yourself leading up to and on race start, once that cannon goes off all nerves will blow away as you set off on achieving your goal.

I’ll see you down in Taupo this afternoon :-)
​
Robo