Richard Allen - October Diary

Sunday, 23rd October 2005

I have three weeks to go until my first Ironman experience in Florida.  It's a huge event with some pretty awesome Ironmen racing.  I am starting to get excited, but there is loads to think about like putting together a food plan and how exactly to pace myself.  I know I have done the training, but it is getting the small things right that will determine how I do - that makes me nervous!  The equipment is important too and because it is so flat I want to get really aero on the bike.  I will use a special Cannondale TT bike, not the Six13, an aero carbon Limar helmet and probably a disk.  I don't know if it will make me go faster, but I will look cool!

I have just returned from a weeks training in Greece.  I went back to the Neilson Resort in Sivota where we had the Addidas Eyewear triathlon training camp back in May.  The riding was fantastic.  It is basically like the Alps but with no traffic at all.  I did some great long rides and clocked up 18 hours of riding in five days.  The food is so great at Neilson Resorts and when you are Ironman training you need good food and lots of it - yes - it's all you can eat too! 

I just have a week back at home now before flying out to Florida and getting used to the humidity there.  It will not be too hot but it is still warmer than Bath!  I will have a nice two weeks of tapering for the race and then will drive up to Panama City for the race.  I am looking forward to the whole IronMan experience as I have heard that they are week long events of fun!  Not sure if the actual race is fun?  After the race I will have a nice rest week just cruising around Florida before back to the cold winter in the UK.  Fingers crossed for the race.