Ironman Melbourne: 9 days to go - a message for competitors

This is a message for all the men and women who will be racing at Ironman Melbourne next weekend:

You must rest your body! 

There is just over eight days until you will be lining up for a challenge that will test your body and your mind. You have trained for months and now there is no need to over do it.

I can see that my Ironman is in need of good sleep, healthy food and a calm mind. So, my post message of STOP is to say now you are allowed to taper and rest. 

Sure, tapering doesn't mean stopping altogether - this post on the Active website has some great advice on effective tapering and points out two common mistakes people make when tapering  -(i) not tapering for long enough and (ii) going at too high intensity when tapering. So take note.

Now I am no expert by any means but I do believe in listening to your body, so if you feel tired as many do at this point, take what rest you can.

Remember too -  avoid planning too many activities in the lead up days to the race, don't overdo it once you get to the race location by feeling you have to swim, ride and run over the whole course length,  and make sure you take care of your body inside and out so it is in top condition for race day.

Thats all I need to say tonight xx

Ironman Melbourne - 10 Days to go...

So I just screen shot this - are the nerves setting in? Excitement? Apprehension? Sense of urgency?

Here's another one...

This is the day we arrive - as many from interstate and overseas will. We have all been watching the weather forecasts and hearing about the longest sequence of 30 plus days Melbourne has experienced  ever! So what will happen next weekend?

We have been remembering last years weather. It was so cold that I had to buy a jacket and scarf. I just didn't expect it. Peter froze in the swim on the day and didn't have warm gear for the bike. By the time he hit the run, it started to heat up but really conditions were such (and we were lucky) that it ended up being a fast race as not too hot and little wind.

Peter's feelings on next weekend - 1% chance the conditions will be as good as they were last year. 

In the couple of days we were at St Kilda pre-race last year it was so windy with waves hitting the bay that they cancelled the swim practice and it looked like if conditions remained there would be no swim - and a very tough run into the headwind.

This year,  if its really hot and there is a northerly blowing the Melbourne Ironman course will go from being one of the fastest Ironman courses to one of the slowest.

Be prepared!

For competitors take gear for all conditions. It could be cold and rainy or hot and sunny so take wet weather kit, warm kit  - take it all. At least it seems the water will be barmy compared to last year.

For supporters - same goes. It's long day out there and quite a way to travel between start and finish, so will be no fun at all on a wet, windy or very hot day  - especially with kids! (more about spectating on the course another day).

So start the packing list and lets do a little weather dance :-)

IRONMAN CHALLENGE - Counting down the days..

OK. We have reached eleven days until race day so I have decided to mix it up and now count down the days beginning tomorrow. 

What has become very clear to me since I set myself this posting challenge is that with everything else going on in life its not easy to come up with a post every day! I take my hat off to those who do manage this on the thousands of other blogs out there.

What I  have just spent lots of time on however is redesigning my TriCrew website. Still needs a few tweeks but I am pretty happy with how it is coming together. Now I just need lots more content for you all. Let me know what you think?

To keep things all about Ironman Melbourne on these posts and as a catch up to the days missed, read my latest post on TriCrew and an old post linking you to websites on St Kilda and what to do in Melbourne.

Until tomorrow...

IRONMAN CHALLENGE DAY 10/11: Essentials B4 you leave

Now we are entering the final two weeks before Ironman Melbourne - the lists need to be made. 

Here's a simple check list of mine for this week to make sure bookings are in place and we don't miss out.  Hope its a good little reminder for you too!

• Flights and extra baggage
• Accommodation 
• Transport to accommodation and back and/or car hire
• Bus tickets for travel to and from Frankston
• Bike transport for Ironman's bike to check in
• Bike hire (in St Kilda)
• Welcome and Awards dinner tickets (for partners/family/friends)

Did I forget anything?

Packing lists is a whole other ball game - will leave another post for that one!