Stalling

With two weeks to go until the Ironman, I am remarkably calm.. Oh wait, that's because I am not actually racing this year. Thoughts continue to roll through my head about next year, though. I have the ability, given my motivation level, to get the necessary training time in for 2008, but given my intense school schedule this past year, I am not confident I can keep that up through the tougher times.
So, I'm setting this out as a challenge to myself... and a bit of a mission. I have been somewhat lazy this year in terms of training. I've sputtered at the best of times, going a few days on but then requiring a long period of recovery as I caught up on projects. It's tough to balance the two, I am discovering. I had this challenge while trying to build a career as a financial advisor, and i let the job take the majority of my focus... But now I have entered a field that I am truly inspired and passionate about - filmmaking - and it requires more of my time, an erratic schedule, and sometimes a lot of focus.
The key to any type of success in this is in planning, a technique I am haphazardly amateurish at.
Bottom line is this, though. I like how being in "Ironman shape" makes me feel. I need to prove that I like that enough to dedicate myself to it. It may mean early morning trainer rides again, (amazingly enough I found myself more able in January to accomplish this), runs, etc. and a lot of solo training. However, I DO know that Masters swimming s at 5:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays... I know I won't have class at that time. So, I can plan on that.
The other level to this is energy. I need lots of it. I can't afford to feel exhausted by every workout. I can be tired, but I need to be able to recover quickly. This is a grim reality that I am facing in that it will mean a drastic change to my eating habits. I am better at this, but not good enough to manage a hectic work schedule and training...
But if I treat Ironman as a reward for being able to make these healthy changes to my life, then I will be all the better for it.
Back to work... Two weeks until sign up, then the fun begins!
The Road to 2008!