In just two days, I will be in Bintan (an island of Indonesia that is just 45 minutes away from Singapore by ferry) for my second Ironman 70.3 race this year. The past three months have gone by in a blur – with training (I went to Phuket for 2 weeks and was hospitalised when I returned), exciting work opportunities (like the SCSM Women Squad), moving into my new bachelorette pad and going on Tinder dates (more about this in another post ok).
Here I am again, in the official race week, and I can’t believe the race is coming so soon. Like, OMG CRAP it’s here already? I’m racing this Sunday?! LOL. A part of me just wants to get the race over and done with quickly; another part of me feels I’m not ready for it. But hey, you’re never gonna be ready lah. That’s just life.
Anyway there’s no point thinking so much and I’m just living by my usual racing motto – #JustWhackOnlyLah. Get in there, go with the flow, deal with the conditions, curse and swear as much as you want to, and get across the finish line in one piece. Sounds like the best race strategy right?
So, prep during race week is quite straightforward for me:
1) Create a checklist
I have a checklist to help me with my packing, so it’s useful to have one for yourself. There are general checklists you can get online, but there are some things specific to ourselves so create your own to make sure you don’t miss out anything.
2) Try to get enough sleep
Work still goes on yes, but for the days leading up to the race, try to sleep early and get enough rest. We will always have a perpetual sleep debt lah, but don’t add to it this week!
3) Stay hydrated
This is especially important if you are racing in this part of the world where it is hot and humid. We lose water fast because we perspire a lot, so keep drinking water!
4) Cut out stress
Mental fatigue can be a limiting factor, so keep the mind clear and fresh. TRY. Sometimes I understand you have to deal with stupid people at work, but do what you can to avoid/ignore/get rid of them. (Ok I’m kidding about getting rid of them.)
Another thing I wanted to talk about was the taper.
After all the hard weeks of training, the taper is what we look forward to; when the intensity and volume is reduced in preparation for the race. But at the same time, there is a string of symptoms that I experience during this specific taper period and I wanted to talk about it.
1) Feeling extra fatigued
I’ve been struggling to wake up the last few weeks, but these past few days the fatigue has become stronger. I am unable to focus at work and I just keep wanting to sleep. This is normal and some might even feel more tired than when they were pushing in the high volume/intensity.
2) Becoming moody and irritable
Along with the fatigue, I felt like I was having my second round of PMS in the month because I was getting so moody and irritable. I had less patience for everything, so I generally had to become more anti-social than I would have liked to be. That way, I wouldn’t snap at people unintentionally. Your friends or family might notice that you are becoming grumpier than usual, and they may make comments that rub you off the wrong way. Just apologise and don’t start arguing with them ok!
3) Performance slows
You might find that you’re unable to hit the timings you usually do, or the pace that your coach wants you to. Please don’t go into panic mode – this is normal too. Don’t try to put in extra training or force yourself to push too hard. Just finish it and CHILL.
4) Getting weird aches
I started getting tummy pains on some mornings and I got worried, but this is also not out of the ordinary. You might notice certain aches you never had before. Unless the pain really persists, you don’t have to panic about it either.
5) Feeling a little emo
Haha again I feel like the taper is quite similar to PMS! I was feeling emo and a little sad out of nowhere, and I had to reach out for chocolate and ice cream. LOL! Others might end up feeling more hyper because they have more energy from the reduced training volume. Either way, just live through them lah.
Anyway, try to observe your feelings leading up to the race and see if it differs from race to race, or largely the same. This is the most tired I’ve felt, but as the race draws near, I’m getting excited. To those racing Ironman 70.3 Bintan this Sunday, GOOD LUCK and see you out there!!
