I have watched friends and roommates experience 'peak week' over the last few years. In 2009, I lived in less than 1000 square feet with TWO roommates training for Kona - I figured I had some idea of what I was in for. However, I guess peak weak manifests itself in different ways.
Little did I know, I would basically lose any and all brain function during my last peak weekend - starting about mid-ride Saturday morning. A sampling of my lack of brainpower:
- Decided there was no need to bring water on my 60-minute brick run on Saturday. at 1pm. in 90 degrees. FAIL.
- Jumped in the car to the local bike shop in my pajamas. Sure, it's totally appropriate to buy ride glide in socks, boxers and a sweatshirt.
- Mapped out 8 different routes for my 3-hour ride on Sunday morning. I didn't want to ride hills. The WO&D sounded too boring. Laps of Hains sounded painful. So I decided on laps of Prince William Forest. Sunday morning I did something completely different.
- In the middle of 10x400, I had to stop to regroup after 8. Force myself to go on. So I pushed off, did the first 50 of #9 and tried to flip and I literally could not do the flip turn. I took another few minutes to regroup, have a little cry, and finished off #9 and 10.
- Left the house on Sunday to ride, assured Dan I had my keys, and was off. I did indeed have my keys, my CAR KEYS. Which means, after 11.5 hours of peak weekend training, I rolled up to my house and was LOCKED OUT.
- Decided since I was locked out, I deserved McDonald's. Got to the drive up window and literally COULD NOT ORDER. I froze. And ended up with a large coke and the only thing I could remember they had - those new spicy chicken nugget things. HUGE fail.
-Invited some friends over for dinner next week, finalized the plans, and literally almost LOST IT when they asked me what they could bring. Why would they asking such things?!?
Little did I know, I would basically lose any and all brain function during my last peak weekend - starting about mid-ride Saturday morning. A sampling of my lack of brainpower:
- Decided there was no need to bring water on my 60-minute brick run on Saturday. at 1pm. in 90 degrees. FAIL.
- Jumped in the car to the local bike shop in my pajamas. Sure, it's totally appropriate to buy ride glide in socks, boxers and a sweatshirt.
- Mapped out 8 different routes for my 3-hour ride on Sunday morning. I didn't want to ride hills. The WO&D sounded too boring. Laps of Hains sounded painful. So I decided on laps of Prince William Forest. Sunday morning I did something completely different.
- In the middle of 10x400, I had to stop to regroup after 8. Force myself to go on. So I pushed off, did the first 50 of #9 and tried to flip and I literally could not do the flip turn. I took another few minutes to regroup, have a little cry, and finished off #9 and 10.
- Left the house on Sunday to ride, assured Dan I had my keys, and was off. I did indeed have my keys, my CAR KEYS. Which means, after 11.5 hours of peak weekend training, I rolled up to my house and was LOCKED OUT.
- Decided since I was locked out, I deserved McDonald's. Got to the drive up window and literally COULD NOT ORDER. I froze. And ended up with a large coke and the only thing I could remember they had - those new spicy chicken nugget things. HUGE fail.
-Invited some friends over for dinner next week, finalized the plans, and literally almost LOST IT when they asked me what they could bring. Why would they asking such things?!?
Just think of the wonderful poutine you will be eating in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to me in the pool during peak week, except it was 3x1600 and I got out and went home and cried. Then Sonja yelled at me and I went back and finished it. I think it bodes well.
ReplyDeletei remember the same thing happening to me at florida training nearly every year. we were doing some ridiculous set of like 400's butterfly when i literally couldn't make my arms come around one more time. so i stopped in the middle of the pool and just started crying. that was without running and biking involved. so basically, you are my hero.
ReplyDeleteGoing to the bike shop in boxers + sweatshirt is better than going in your tri kit, like some (bleeeeeps) in DC. You will do awesome, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI'm SO sorry for taking forever to get back to you on your comment about calories on the bike! I'm a scatter-brained mess. Anyway, I certainly do not aim for taking in such a low amount of calories, it's actually one thing I'm really scared of for Ironman. I really just don't get that hungry on the bike (most times) and so I don't eat. In my brain, while I'm riding at least, it makes sense so I roll with it. I think my body has learned to burn fat for fuel during rides + runs so I don't run into a huge problem (thankfully), but that's my story on my HUGE caloric fail on my rides. Surely though I've had some not so great experiences after long training days when I don't eat enough during or post-training (headaches, crabbiness, fatigue, etc.). It is really hard to get in the necessary amount of calories, especially when you're aiming for 250-300 per hour, I just don't know that I could stomach that. I have had success with eating a Clif bar on my long rides, but typically just one and eaten half at a time. I don't know how it would do eating a few of them, maybe too much solid? Do you take calories in liquid form?
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