Things that signal full blown IM training

I have slowly come to notice some subtle changes that have taken place within me and around me, all due to a little thing called Ironman Training. Since this is all new to me, and the longest event I ever trained for up to now were marathons (well, halves I guess but they only involve 90 min long runs and 3-3.5hr bike rides for me, as opposed to 2-3hr runs and 6hr rides) Here's a list of these "things" I am experiencing. In no particular order:

You know you're really training for an IM (especially your first) when:

1) 15mi at 7:10 pace feels "easy and relaxed", not to mention "short". And 25mi don't faze you either, heck a training marathon feels doable any day of the week.

2) same for rides, anything under 3 hours "doesn't even really count".

3) Swimming 5k in the pool definitely takes some getting used to, but once you're there, you might as well keep going and keep tacking on 1000's- if only I wasn't so slow and it wouldn't take up half my day...

4) You don't feel like you have done any kind of workout if the total time doesn't exceed at least 3 hours.

5) Your clothes start to fit a little more loosely, and you are finding it hard to find a pair of jeans that don't need a belt.

6) You eat a ton, and you still manage to drop some pounds.

7) You find yourself obsessing about D-day every day.

8) You get uneasy as the temps get cooler, even though you had wished for this to happen all summer long- now all of a sudden you would love to drip, drip along on your runs and rides.

9) Chamois cream becomes a must before EVERY ride.

10) Your sink is cluttered with more water bottles than dirty dishes.

11) If it wasn't already, coffee has now become a part of your staple diet, and you crave it first thing every morning before you can do anything else- kind of like engine oil for your motor.

12) And speaking of beverages, you as a self proclaimed health freak, have developed a deep craving for soda, especially Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and on occasion Sprite- nothing quite like it when you take that first sip!

13) You eat alot more pizza than you ever anticipated since it was in your "bad food category".

14) You freak out at every little sign of minor aches and pains, as these could foreshadow injuries.

15) You don't go out. Ever.

16) Keeping the house clean becomes a monumental task, even when broken down into smaller chores.

17) Sometimes you wonder if IM training eats your brain as you seem to be able to focus on almost nothing as you stare into space on your couch after your workouts.

18) Your family thinks you're nuts for training as much as you do.

19) You think there is absolutely nothing wrong with it and feel like you could always do just a little more. In fact, you wonder if 7 hr rides are better than 6 hr rides.

20) You constantly struggle with the thought of finishing 140.6 miles and go from excited to nervous to disbelief to doubt to absolute confidence and pride and back again.

Whew, well I am ready for my taper, I can tell my body is too. Bring it! Less than a month to go!