18 Seconds Short!

Soak up the Sun came and went. And we survived. It was a good day, but a hot day. HOT!

This year many things were different. The cost was substantially less. $56 for a hotel room and $65 for registration. This meager total doesn't come close to last year's $600+.

My times were better for the most part. The tendonitis showed up in my run time, but otherwise things were all around better.

Swim 6:02 (-2:15 from last year)
T1 1:23 (-1:25)
Bike 33:12 (-1:40)
T2 1:04 (-0:11)
Run 19:38 (+1:00)
Total 1:01:18 (-4:35)

I got 3rd. I was surprised and excited. And really mad when I saw that I was 18 seconds short of 2nd! I think about how I casually sipped G2 in T2 or how I coasted down a hill... and I just see the 18 seconds I needed. It makes me a little mad. Next time I will not loaf I guess so I won't have these regrets.

Overall it was another great experience. I didn't cry, so that's a plus! One thing I did do, that maybe is a little silly now... but did not seem at all crazy at the time when I was heat blasted, dehydrated, and worn out. When I was on the basketball team in HS we would sing a song before every game in the locker room. We would start by "clapping" hands with 1 finger, then 2, then 3, etc., until we were full-on clapping and we would get louder with each added finger. So there I was, trotting along, humming quietly, singing in my head, clapping my little fingers together. I would say I did this for almost all of mile 2. I would get to 5 and just go back to 1. All I can say is that it worked. Mile 2 just breezed by.

I've got confidence. The Lord is gonna see me through. Not matter what the case may be, my Lord, my Lord is gonna fix it for me.

One Week

I can't believe it's this weekend. After being sidelined with the gimpy shoulder and then the wonked up tendon, I just feel like I haven't trained at all. I can't believe it's almost here. I just keep telling myself that it's supposed to be fun and there is no pressure to do anything but enjoy myself. I am wondering how I will be able to lightly jog the 2 miles without letting my "competitive meanness" as Marc once called it take over. This will either be a great experience or the turning point I look to when I tell people why they had to amputate at the ankle.

I am also worried about the swim. I have been doing great at the pool, but I remember last year that all that training and swimming instruction went out the window the minute I hit the water. I haven't been practicing my famous swan stroke, so hopefully my back won't give out on me if I panic again and can't swim like a normal person. I have done so little biking that it also hurts my back, so it could be a long day. I guess I better go ahead and book that massage now.

I Can't Believe It!!

It's less than 3 weeks til Soak up the Sun!! Less!!! Yikes. Where does the time go? Today was only my second ride since probably last year's Soak up the Sun Tri. I should be doing bricks by now!

The good news is I am swimming like a champ after getting waylaid by tendinitis. Two weeks in the pool proved to me that I won't drown. I may not break any records, but I am completely nose clip free and feeling a lot more confident about my swimming abilities.

This week was my first run in 2 weeks. A very slow, very plodding 2 miles on the treadmill. Thank goodness the run is only 2 miles at the race or I would be in trouble. The run went OK and didn't appear to cause any setbacks in the healing process, so tomorrow I will try again.

And next week, well I guess it will be time to get serious because I am about to have to do this thing for real!