Countdown to San Juan 70.3

Well, it’s been a crazy few weeks.  I’ve been without internet at the new house so that’s why no blogs.  Last time I blogged I was headed into a helluva week, and it was, a helluva week.  Now I’m out of it, wasn’t so bad, but man was I tired.  Did most of my training that week, plus moved.  Did finally get closed on the house, and then had to spend a lot of time getting all associated “stuff” done.  But the stuff is done, I’m moved in, and now it’s a lot of reno in front of me – fun, but time consuming – good thing is I can do it on my timetable, so it’s at least manageable. 

I’m sitting here in San Juan, now with only two days till the race.  I definitely feel less prepared for this race than any other HIM I’ve done to date.  But then, it is an early season race, and it’s not my A race, so that’s all to be expected.  Still tough to mentally get through for an A-A-A type like me ;)   Chris has told me several times now – “stop worrying, you are ready.  Don’t forget you have two years of base behind you now and that makes a big difference.”  I had been really focusing on it too much, and realized it Monday morning on the drive home from Masters swim – I finally just said to myself – “Katie girl, you need to stop this.  Stop imagining the worst, and start visualizing the positive.  Law of attraction, come on!”  And from that point forward I have.  Gave Kayla a bit of a pep talk on Tuesday night and realized it was the same one for different things.  As much as certain people hate how much I talk about triathlon, fact is that the struggles I face in training and racing are simply a metaphor for the struggles I face in the rest of my life.  Figure out how to overcome them in one, and apply the same lesson to the other.  It’s not rocket science!  And, funny thing, but then not really surprising, as soon as I made that mental shift in the car on Monday morning, things started to just feel a whole lot better.  Found out my swim wave – THIRD!!!! WOOHOO – and my number – 99 – and it was like “hey!! Things are looking up!!”  How cool to have number 99 – The Great One’s number…I’m sure it is ordained in the heavens that any Canadian wearing 99 in any sport gets a little extra dash of luck during competition.  It only seems right!!  That’s my story anyway, lol.

And now I’m here, still with my positive attitude, and things are better than I had been expecting.  Biggest concerns were 1) the salt water, 2) the hilly run, and 3) the humidity.  It’s my first ocean swim, and the truth is I just swallow a lot of water – yes yes yes, just shut my mouth.  My swimming technique doesn’t seem to fit with that oh so wise piece of instruction – I’m surprised they don’t have to top off the pool every time I finish a swim.  So I was worried about having a belly full of seawater – not good.  Well, I’ve been in the ocean twice now, and really have swallowed very little.  First time out yesterday was blech – all I could think about was the seawater, how awful it tasted in my mouth, how much I wanted a drink, and not swallowing it.  Today, much longer swim, and I really didn’t think too much about it.  And, added bonus – I know everyone said “oh but you’re so much more buoyant in the ocean”, but I had no idea just how much that would be.  VERY COOL.  My legs are practically floating on the top of the water and I’m not even trying.   Worry #1 – under control.  As for the run, we ran the course yesterday – or most of it, it’s a double loop so no we didn’t run 13 miles, but we ran what we think is the course, or close to it except for the farthest point at the turnaround.  Most importantly we ran the two big hills on the course.  Hills are not nearly as bad as the elevation profile would have you believe.  No doubt the worst of the two on the second loop is gonna SUCK big time, but it’s nothing that isn’t doable.  Worry #2 – under control.  And frankly on the humidity – it’s just not that bad, not even noticeable.  And the heat, which I have been painstakingly training for, is completely manageable, and I feel that my study in heat acclimation has paid off.  Worry #3 – not even there.

I did slip pretty badly on the swim ramp yesterday – one step and whhooosh – straight down on my back and head.  Smacked my head something terrible.  Probably the worst head bang since Kayla dropped the window on my head back in the Bowness house in Calgary.  But I think I’m okay – woke up this morning with some neck pain/stiffness, which I noticed a little on the swim at first, but I’m sure it will be fine by Saturday.  If not, I’ll just be taking more meds than I thought!! 

Now it’s relax time.  I’ve done my swim (which I wasn’t supposed to do, oops, Chris), and now it’s off our feet for most of the day.  Having a great time with the girls – and man how lucky – Christine has a car down here, and knows her way around, so very fortunate.  Hydrate, rest, visualize.  That’s my job for the day.  Oh, and contribute to the extortion exercised by Ironman as I purchase my mandatory m-dot stuff for this race.  J

Happy Training!

Kat