Confessions of a Ironman Mommy - then vs now

So, the joke goes something like this...

"How do you know someone is training for an Ironman?"
Answer?
"Don't worry, they'll tell you.  Every. Single. Day"

Source

Or something like that.  There's a lot of self depreciating jokes about us crazy ultra guys - and we wear every black toenail, every mile, every race, every chafe, like a frickin badge.  Right?

So, what am I training for?

Gotcha.

Aside from the fact that I clearly lost my blogger badge years ago, and I won't even get into it, cause its so old....I could post the same thing on my facebook wall and maybe some people would get it because I have it as a cover photo.

Workouts?  Radio silence.  Weekly recaps?  Yeah, right.  Here's the rub - I'm running a 12 hour ultra in 3 weeks (am ridiculously unprepared) and doing an Ironman in 13 (not so unprepared), and barely anyone really knows about it.  To me, I remember my training days for IMLP and IMMD (formerly Chessyman) back in 2010 and 2011 and it seems so ridiculously different.  So what changed?

These guys.  

It's all about the mommin.  So, I give you and oldie but goody from when I was preggo....time for....

Confessions of an Ironman Mommy!!!

Then (2010):  Kickoff Day for Training was highly celebrated.  Planned races perfectly in key spots.  Days off Arranged months in advance.  All the new gear bought.

Now:  I think I started training in March.  I sort of took a free plan and bastardized it into 4 week blocks that are hilariously executed.  I tried strava, found it showy, and resorted to my notebook to log workouts.  Whats a power meter?  What data?  Don't tell me.  I don't wanna know.  I did buy new sneakers, so that's something.

Then:  A week was perfectly thought out.  Monday, off.  Tuesday, swim/run.  Weds - mid bike (must take PTO for 2 hours or more).  Thursday, run.  Friday - weights.  Saturday, increasing long ride followed by T run.  Sunday - long run.  Any workout longer than 90 minutes required massive thought, perfect start time, perfect conditions, and ample recovery.

Now:  I've been known to have work meetings via uber conference at mile 55 of an 80 mile ride.  Nutrition is a squeezy pouch of applesauce and probably my sons favorite gummy snacks.  It's perfectly acceptable to stack 3 long workouts back to back to back and perhaps grab a sammich post run on my way to an outside work meeting.  I grocery shop in my compression socks and my son asks innocently as we stroll through check out "Mommy, does your girl wee parts hurt after that 4 hour ride?"  True. Story.

Then:  Weekly updates with kitschy phrases on my blog.

Now:  Wait, what are you training for?

Then:  Monthly massages for recovery.

Now:  Foam rolling on my trigger point tube while both kids aim for the inner part to drive cars through.

Then:  My own training plan, as no couple is ridiculous enough to try to do this at the same time.

Now:  careful google calendering for claimage of the Tacx (bike trainer), kid free workouts (highly coveted), and couple time (it does count of he's on the trainer and I am on the treadmill, right?)

Then:  Long, blissful, time outs for thinking deep thoughts during runs and rides.

Now:  Running on the treadmill while Rob plays Xbox, Biz jumps on the trampoline, and I throw them snacks every few miles or so.  I have been known to hydrate off of a sippy cup, and my aim is getting much better at throwing gummies to the kids  #mommultitasking

Then:  a 3 hour run happens...in 3 hours.

Now:  1 hour at 7am,  30 minutes at noon, 1 hour at 5:30pm and a half hour at 9pm.  Hey, I'll be ready for mile 139.

Then:  I AM TRAINING FOR AN IRONMAN.  MY IRONMAN IS EXACTLY 3 months, 1 day, 19 hours and 3 minutes until go time.

Now:  I think I have something going on the weekend of July 22.  Not too sure.  I'll get back to you.

In conclusion....I believe a few things here....

1.  Doing an Ironman with two toddlers is basically like having a second kid.  No one cares and half the time you even forget it's happening until you get a kickstart reminder.

2.  Training as a couple is ridiculous.  With two kids borders on insane.  But Greg and I don't do easy, so I guess this is par for the course, right?  har har.

3.  Expect the unexpected is my mantra and I have learned to train on no sleep, no fuel, less than ideal conditions, and even while forgetting my bike shorts (that was a long 3 hour ride).  Needless to say, I should be set on that for race day.

4.  I'm probably in the best shape of my life because GET IT DONE is just a mantra.

And at the end of it, even though I'm not sure I would recommend this crazy ride to anyone, it somehow is working.  I had doubts for awhile there because it felt like something was missing, but then I realized that, unlike before, Ironman does not define me.  I'm loving the tests, the limits (I will love it even more if this winter shit ever ends) but at the end of the day, it's a piece of my life that makes up a whole - it's a great thing to share with Greg and something we are already seeing our kids are picking up on - when Rob levelled up at swimming last month, he climbed out of the pool and goes "Mommy, I'm ready to do my Ironman!".  That makes it worth it.  How my son and daughter see me - their mom - a super woman, an Iron woman.

Race day goals....well, we aren't there yet.  But I can say I am fully loving the process, as insane as it is, and am grateful for it.  As it gets closer to race day, there's time for that.  But for now, it's time to enjoy the wild and crazy ride!