Step Away From the Cake

Well, I'm busy getting my things together for the race. I'm excited... I'm really looking forward to this. I can't wait to totally rock that swim. Okay, I need to make sure I got everything: Swim: Wave cap - check goggles - check Bike: Bike - duh!!! Helmet - check Shoes - check Socks - check Sunglasses - check Race belt w/number - check Gloves - check Energy bar in bento box - check Bottles; 1 - water, 1 - Gatorade Endurance - check Run: Shoes - check Hat - check Water belt - check Clif Shot Blox - check Transition: 2 towels - check 2 water bottles for rinsing - check Alright I think I got it all. Wow, this sport requires a lot of stuff. I'm going to go load my car up so I don't forget anything at 3:30 tomorrow morning.

Last night at my stroke clinic something amazing happened. We were practicing our drills, working specifically on the catch and the pull. We had to watch the catch and follow through with the pull. We were also doing funky things so we could get a feel for what was right and what was wrong. So I'm cruising down my lane working my arms when it suddenly dawned on me; I hadn't taken a breath. I found myself doing that the whole night, forgetting to breath. Now this is such a huge step forwarded I don't even think I can explain it. One of my huge fears while swimming is that I won't have enough air. Generally I breath almost every stroke (on the right) because I freak about running out. I think this is a hurdle that I needed to get over and didn't even realize it. Part of my freaking out is the whole not being able to catch my breath. When you run a race (a running race) you can be all excited and take off too fast and get short of breath but all you have to do is slow

Well, I've toned it down this week as prep for my race on Sunday. Monday I swam and ran and that was it. Yesterday I slept in a bit and then did some relaxing yoga. This morning it was pretty much the same. Tonight is my stroke clinic so I'll swim for an hour. Tomorrow I may go for a short bike ride in the morning just to make sure everything is okay. Friday I'm thinking of walking just to work out kinks that are starting to develop. Saturday is all rest all the time. And Sunday is d-day. I have been working on my Plan and I'm very excited about it. I've got the Triathlete's Training Bible, a log book, and some swim workouts. I'm developing a plan and I really can't wait to get it started. The week after my race (next week) will be a time of finalizing plans and getting all necessary equipment gathered. Sunday, 7/30, will be a day of testing. Measurements will be taken, HR will be monitored, time trials will be run, it will be a great day. Last night I w

2 months ago I decided what I wanted my times to be for my upcoming tri. They were as follows: Swim 800m: 20 minutes Bike 40k: 1:45 Run 10k: 1:00 Well, I have worked up to 800m in 20 minutes. I've done it a couple of times. Unfortunately I've done it in the pool, never in open water. Oh well. I'll do my best. The bike I'm not too worried about. I went out Saturday morning and did Heartbreak Hill. It's pretty steep but nothing I can't handle. The run, ummm, not so much. For some reason I have not been running much and so a 10k in an hour is pretty much out of the question. I figure 1:30 (that takes all pressure off me :) I have decided that this race is all about the swim. I want to feel a certain way when I swim and that is what I'm focusing on. The run and the bike are not that important this time. It is all about the swim... This morning was my last "real" workout before the race. Tomorrow I'm going for a short, easy bike ride. Wednesday I ma