Peter Vu's Ironman Blog - Vineman 7/31/10

Training is hitting hard now. We're out of recovery mode and preparing for the full Ironman!!! On Saturday, the team did a 3 hour bike ride (Latigo + PCH). Today, I did a 9 mile run followed by an almost 2-mile swim. Trying to work out the kinks in my swim form:

• Glide and extension to pull
• Side to side pelvic turns
• Bringing my non-extending hand to skim the top of the water upon return instead of using my full arm

Those are only three things to work on, but it takes a lot of practice just to get it right. I really do not know if 2 months will be enough, but I hope to at least get incrementally better. Currently, I'm quite exhausted when I finish my swim. Advanced swimmers, on the other hand, are so efficient in the water that they don't expend that much energy. Work, work, work! They say that once you get to the point where you've mastered the stroke, you don't lose it. I'm really aiming for that right now, but I know that it won't come easy.

Anyhow, I thought I would share some simple phrases that I have really rung true throughout all my training:

• To go fast, you have to go slow first. Learn the form slowly, or you will waste energy trying to go fast. Go slow on the first part of the run, so that you will have energy later.
• No one can do this race for you, you have to do it. Your coaches can't race for you. To get there, you have to want it. Really want it. Badly. You have to hold yourself accountable and train responsibly. It's the same with anything hard (and potentially worthwhile) in life.
• You are your biggest enemy. The race is not you against the other competitors. It's you against yourself. How will you react when adversity hits you? How will you deal with the inevitable pain? How will you find the will to move forward when it's unbearably hot and you're tired and sore? At those moments, you just have to dig deep, believe in yourself and deal with it. Get it done!

Training ramps up this week! Plus, next weekend - wow. Sat: 5 hour bike ride Sun: 15 mile run followed by a 1.5 mile swim.