Not long ago, I wrote about my preference for hilly bike courses. Now I realize that I don’t like running on flat terrain either! I ran on the American Tobacco Trail today. It’s a lovely shaded trail built on an old railroad line. It’s really a beautiful scenic route through the woodlands near Jordan Lake. I saw wildflowers, pastures, ponds, horses and even a baby toad. The running surface is crushed stone – really a perfect place to run.
But the monotony of keeping the same stride for 15 whole miles really got to me. Mentally difficult to stay focused. I much prefer running near my house in Chapel Hill. Even tho I tend to run on the same streets week after week, and see the same houses and cars and mailboxes…somehow the hills keep me interested. I try to ‘let my body go’ and run fast down, I try to push harder up, I try to keep a good stride on the flats – which are few and far between. Thankfully!
I guess I just love hills. And now I am really thinking that I picked the wrong race for my first Ironman. Hills are my friend! How am I going to get through 112 miles of flat biking where I have to maintain a constant effort in my spinning, hour after hour – and then 26.2 miles of mostly flat running where I have to maintain a monotonous stride rate mile after mile?
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Hi there Carol!
I found your blog via beginner tri, & love it! Thank-you for sharing your journey. I am a 41 year old former couch potato about to do my first Tri at Wilmington. I got into it thru Team In Training...Reading your blog inspires me to be consistent, & patient. I have trouble imagining myself doing & half, much less, an im distance, but I will continue to train, & read your blog!
Thanks again,
Sallie Phillips
You are going to get through it because you have set your goal, trained right and are going in with a strong mental attitude with no doubts. You will enjoy your Ironman Journey every step of the way...and when you cross the finish line you will have joined a very very small percentage of the population of the world that have accomplished such an amazing feat. During the run you will wonder what in the world you are doing out there, but a week or so after the race you will be thinking of which Ironman you will do next because of the self gratification that this race brings.
You are a strong triathlete and you have a stong will, you won't have any problems. On the run you will be able to cheer on your fellow competitors and you may even find someone to run with and share stories.
I have all the faith in the world in you. Stay strong.
Don't be fooled! There are some hills on the B2B run. I was expecting it to be much flatter than it actually was.
I'm more a fan of the flats ;)