2010: here I come

So here we go again. Another triathlon season, more races.

My goal this year is to do at least four races and do them FASTER.

First on the docket, the JerseyMan Sprint Triathlon. This was my first race last year and I had problems on every leg -- swimming panic and lack of sighting know-how, then serious stomach cramps, puking and other um, issues, on the bike and run.

Unless I am hit by a bus, I don't see how I can't improve on my time for this race. ::fingers crossed::

September 20 - September 26

Backing off this week in preparation for Saturday's tri.

Times are in minutes unless otherwise noted:

Sunday: OFF

Monday: Run 30

Tuesday: Swim 30
Actual: Swim 35

Wednesday: OFF
Actual: Run 20, Strength 10

Thursday: Bike 45, Run 15
Actual: OFF

Friday: OFF

Saturday: Mainiac Sprint Triathlon
(1/4 mile swim, 14.85 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)
Actual: Swim 1/4 mile, bike 14.85 miles, run 3.1 miles
1:53

Third tri's a charm

NEXT!

Mainiac Sprint Tri

Maine? Why Maine? Are you insane? In the brain?

Um. Yes. Possibly. I also have two good friends in the Boston/NH area who have agreed to do this with me. Plus you get a free beer after the race.

How COLD will the water be?

Not cold at all. For a polar bear. Or a beluga whale. Water temps are predicted to be between 58 and 62 degrees. Actually, I think for Maine, that's downright balmy.

You do realize this swim in in the OCEAN, don't you? Something you said you'd NEVER do?

Hmmm? What? Did you say something? Mmmm. Beeeer.

Did you order the pink "ALERT" swim cap?

Surprisingly, I did not. I blame being distracted by the offer of free beer. I am simple like that.

You know, you can just buy beer? In like, tons of stores right near your house. And not have to freeze, sweat or risk being eaten by a beluga whale to get it.

True, but what fun is that?

Are you going to be singing "Maniac" from Flashdance the morning of the race?

Already there, dude. Already there.
"She's a maniac, maniac, oh oh. And she's dancing like she's never danced before-ore."

And then it hit in the face like a brick shot out of a cannon

So, if you pay any regular attention to this blog, and really, you probably don't. But if you did, you might notice that my training lately has been a little . . . irregular? Scattered?

And if you did think that, you would be right. Reason #1 is that I've been thinking lately that I just had SO MUCH TIME until my next tri. SO MUCH TIME to train and get myself back up to speed. Because after all, my next tri is August 16 and that is a WHOLE LONG WAY OFF.

Except, well, it isn't.

Because yesterday I looked at the calendar and it was August 1. Meaning I have 16 days.

Six-teeeeen days.

Fuck.

And that's bad, because while the swim & bike distances on this tri are a lot shorter than than the first one (quarter mile swim vs. a half mile swim, and 10 mile bike vs. 19.5 mile bike), the course is SIGNIFICANTLY more challenging.

The bike course is very, very hilly. The climb out of transition is about 1.5 miles long, and parts of it wickedly steep. Then there's the loop through the park - more hills, not steep, but long. My legs are like jello after one loop, and the course requires two.

I'm not thrilled, but with some weekly riding of the course, I have gotten to the point where I can climb all the hills without stopping, though like I said, my legs are all shaky and my time is, well, not great.

Then there is the tricky issue of the descent back to transition. It's really steep and I am a big chicken. I ride my brakes the whole way down and that's with just ME on the course. What's it going to be like with other cyclists - the faster ones whizzing by and having to pass the slower ones (if there are in fact any slower than me). The hill is not only steep, it's curvy.

Quite frankly, it scares the ever-loving crap out of me. And the hill does empty directly into the transition area.

I can't imagine what the plan is for avoiding a 100-bike pile-up in the transition area. I'm just blindly hoping they have a plan to avoid this.

::sigh::

Then there's the issue of the run. It's a trail run, also hilly, and also full of ruts and big roots sticking up all over the place.

It will be a minor miracle if none of the athletes in this thing walk away unscathed.

I've been in a bit of denial about all of this, which, I think, has been part of my lack of motivation in training.

But now that it's August 2?

I'm making the most of the next two weeks.

Next up . . .

Women's Revolutionary Sprint Triathlon.
1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run.

I was considering one in July too, but it filled up. Ugh. I snooze, I loose.

Time to start looking at September races . . .