A little bit of panic (April 29th)

So today I am feeling a bit of panic.  I had my training guide all laid out with two indoor cycling classes mixed in on biking days and they are going to be changing the days from Mon. and Fri. to Mon and Wed.  Which I guess is not a big deal cause I can just swap 2 of the days around and really when I start to bike over 60 minutes I will need to be on the road anyway.  I checked out the pool at Finlandia the other night just to see where it was and what it looked like.  Only 4 lanes wide which I thought was small.  But there were only a few ladies in there when I went so that was nice.  I can't decide now if I should give up a biking day in the beginning of the training and take on another swim day.  I feel strong in the bike since I have been taking indoor cycling classes twice a week for a year now.  Its like I can't will the training to be here any sooner cause I just want to get it underway.  People call me crazy and I could be, but I am doing things now that 7 years ago I would not have physically been able to do since I was 80 pounds heavier.  So I have taken on a challenge that not everyone will and I will finish.  I may be last and I might get beat by a little 70 year old lady, but that's okay.  I have envisioned this challenge for 4 months now.  I will have to find out from someone how long it physically takes to swim 1200 yards.  Because honestly I don't know how long it will take me to swim 50 yards.   

Swim Clinic

So yesterday I attended the Sheila Taormina Swim Clinic at a local high school.  It was definitely worth it, even though I couldn't do some of the drills because I didn't have nose plugs and I couldn't swim with my face in the water.  The drills that I were able to do she said I have a nice stroke, which made me feel better about my swimming.  The best thing I discovered is that I can swim 25-50 meters without dying and that was one of the "if you can do's" on the training guide then you can do a triathlon.  So bonus!!!!!!!!!!!  I need to get  a pass for Finlandia asap.  That swim clinic opened my eyes on how tough the swim just might be for me.  But the training that you put in obviously prepares you for your race, right?  Got a few tips about doing a triathlon which was nice.  Stay to the back of the pack or off to the side when you swim, its safer.  Heck yeah.  Those kids were kicking in my face in the pool last night.  Sight is important, sight every 4 strokes.  Don't follow the people in front of you cause they are morons, says Sheila.  Don't trust them.  Know where you are before its too late and you have to play catch up.  Watch where you enter the water and where you will exit in proportion to where your bike is racked.  You don't want to be looking for your bike when you get out of the water.  Do I have more nerves now than I did before?  YES!!  But excitement will prevail and determination to finish, not to win, but to just finish and say I did it. 

April 17, 2011

The swim clinic is 2 days away and now I am feeling some nerves kick in.  Mainly because I am not sure if I can swim with my face in the water and not having my nose plugged.  I made some clothing purchases today for my race day outfit (yes more money).  I bought a swim cap and some goggles the other night.  Putting a swim cap on for the first time is quite an experience.  I tried many times before I figured it out only to be laughed at by my husband and my nephew.    Oh boy.
     So now I have been worrying about running when summer rolls around and the temperatures get high.  I was able to enjoy a nice spring day where the temp was only 67 and once into my run it was warm.  75 is going to feel like an oven.  So I have to figure out a way to run in the mornings. 

30 days until training

April 14, 2011 
     So I am 30 days out before I start the training plan for my first triathlon.  I am attending a swim clinic next week with an Olympic swimmer.  Not quite sure how I tell her, "Hey, I am doing my first triathlon and I can't swim underwater without plugging my nose" yet.  This is by far my biggest fear in doing this adventure along with the 3 mile run right after I bike for 17 miles.  I ran for two miles Monday night with a temperature of 67degrees and I thought oh man the summer is going to be rough for running.  I guess I will be up as soon as it gets daylight to get that run or bike ride in before the temperature gets too hot.
     The cost of doing this seems to creeping up on me.  I know I could have done it with any old bike, but I'm not.  I purchased a new bike from The Bike Shop.  Its a Jamis Allegro and the guys at the shop were really great about finding one that would be right for me. I haven't even registered yet for the race and I am close to $600.00 invested.  Which means I still don't have anything to wear, I don't have a helmet, I have to get a swim cap and goggles yet and I am sure I will need a new pair of running shoes soon. So I won't complain when I have to work on Saturdays for the next few weeks.
     My favorite quote in the training guide is this:  “DFL is better than DNF is better than DNS".  Translation "Dead Friggin last is better than Did Not Start is better than Did Not Finish.  They claim if you have even considered a triathlon then you have what it takes to finish.  Well, let me tell you, after reading some of the things in the training guide, which I have read about 10 times, I wonder.  A BRICK!!  Its when you incorporate 2 of your triathlon sports back to back.  With the bike to run being the most difficult.  Now that you have finished biking 17 miles you are going to ask your legs to run 3.  They say the heavy feeling in your thighs and the fact that you can't fully stand up straight is the hardest part to work through.  (I'll let you know about that when I get to it)   I know I can bike and I know I can at least run/walk for 20 minutes already, but the swimming is a whole new ball game.  So hopefully the swim clinic will help and then I will try to spend some more time in the pool over the next 30 days just to work on the swimming. 
     For now I can just envision myself crossing the finish line alive.
                                                   "We are capable of more than we think we are"