The pre-race brick went mostly well today. Ride felt fantastic - this is one smokin flat fast course!! Saw Lance, waved at him, and he waved back!!! - kinda made my day. Yes, I know not everyone is a Lance fan anymore, but I am; and not because he's doing Ironman now, either. The run was not so perfect :) had some issues with my left hip flexor, left ham, and right knee. All felt better by the end of it, but not exactly what you want in the pre-race brick. I stretched it out, and I'm going with Janet's diagnosis of pre-race phantom pain :) PMA!!
The swim was less of a swim and more of a good time jumping in the waves, lol!! A bit crazy, and really impossible to get a quality swim out of it. But whatever, we were in the water with our wetsuits on, and that's better than not. We all got a kick out of the fact that after fighting our way out, and fighting our way in, I announced that we'd been at it for a full 6 minutes. HA! At that point I simply accepted the fact that my swim is likely to be a little long. C'est la vie!
So. My race plan. I've known for some time that this race was not going to be what I'd hoped it to be when I first signed up. The season has been quite bumpy for me so far, with illness and injury, and continuing symptoms of overtraining from last year, along with what I suspect is low iron again, though I have not yet had the blood drawn. Brett and I decided a while back that this would be a race to try some different things and see how it went since I am not going to be a contender here in Galveston, I am simply going to be a participant.
That all sounds 'good' as you are talking about it. Then the Coach gives you the marching orders, and things seem a little different :) Essentially my race plan is this - Be Patient. Yes, me. Be Patient. You all know how good I am at that! More precisely be patient on the bike. Even worse ;) He says to me, "I know you don't like being passed, and I know your strength is on the bike. But. Your only job in this race is to have a good run." Ok! After riding today, I texted Brett "it's going to be very hard to hold back on the bike...it's very fast". His response - "lol. your mantra tomorrow is patience". Argh. Ok. I know I know!! My target is 155-160W, and if HR goes above 153 I am supposed to hold back. <GASP>. Seriously? Holy mackerel! I don't think I have ever raced at a HR that low. Nay, I KNOW I have not. Patience Patience Patience. But then I get to give it on the run. First loop conservative, 2nd loop turn it up a bit, and 3rd loop give whatever I have left.
So, I've been telling myself for a while that there are lessons to be learned from this race and being where I am at the moment, mentally and physically. Like, every race CANNOT be an A race. And, have fun. Seems like the other big lesson will be Patience. I could stand to learn a bit on that, no doubt ;) ...as in tri, so in life...
I figure it WILL be very hard to hold back. But I also figure I owe it to myself (and Brett) to stick to the plan and see what happens. I am excited to get out there, I hope my body and my current level of stamina will be enough to get me through the race. It's going to be a hot one, with record highs here in Galveston, and hot damn the humidity is through the roof. But I am ready to rock with my Positive Mental Attitude. Stay in the Moment. Be Patient. Stick to the Plan.
Good luck to all my house mates - April, Janet, James, Sylvia and Missy!
Happy Racing everyone. PMA!
Kat
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