Final Week

Okay. 5 days to go. I had a full weekend and the rain didn't make it easier. Saturday, my scheduled 8 mile run was stopped after 6.5 miles. I felt great, and didn't shorten my run just because of rain, which I don't mind, but thunder, lightning, and tornado sirens tend to spook me a bit. I don't mess around with lightning, at all. I think my fear of lightning is pretty valid since I am usually the tallest person in the vacinity.

Anyway, my weekend workouts went fine. I'm feeling much better (physically) and I think skipping a couple workouts last week was exactly what I needed to do. I'm still not sure whether I have the ability to do this race, but I'm ready to give it a shot.

After my last 50 mile bike ride, Jessi asked me whether I felt like I could run a half-marathon. Obviously, I answered her with a "no." I have never "felt like" I could run 13 miles in my life (even when running 13 miles). The good thing is that you don't have to "feel" like you can do something in order to do it. When I do my 10-milers, I never "feel" like I could do it -- but I do.

I've never seen a star ward, but have heard Yoda quoted more than once this weekend. It may not be completely correct, but the quote I have heard goes something like -- "Do or do not, there is no try."

The only thing I will be focused on Saturday will be the next mile, or maybe the next 500 yards, or maybe to the next tree, or maybe the next step, or maybe the cold beer at the finish line. As long as I keep plugging away and keep my nutrition in check, the time and distance will pass and the rest will take care of itself.

I am actually considering a little bit of a run/walk during the event if necessary. It may be stupid to try something on race day that I have never practiced, but I fully expect to feel like hell by the time I get a few miles into the run and will probably be in need of a "Plan B" (or maybe "Plan G" by that point). It will slow me down a bit, but I am thinking of maybe falling back to a 5 minute run, 1 minute walk if things get too bad. As long as I could keep my run pace under (or around) 10:00 min/mile, I could still make pretty good time. Maybe I'll try it out a little this week and see how it feels. Maybe I should also see how long it takes me to crawl a mile just in case.

*** This weekend (last weekend before tri) I had a great 6.5 mile run in the rain on Saturday. I actually felt much stronger when I finished than when I started. On Sunday, I did a 2.5 hour hard trainer session and felt good. I am so glad to be done with my long trainer sessions -- that thing gets old.

I swam this morning. I guess the swim portion is the biggest unknown variable of the race. I'm sure it gets lonely with your head in the water a half mile from shore, even with other people kicking you in the face from time to time. I haven't done the straight distance that I will be doing in the race, but I have been routinely doing more yardage during my swim workouts. I know I can finish the swim (what other choice do I have), but am worried about feeling wiped out afterwards. That's what's crazy about this event. It's one thing to swim 1.2 miles, but it is a completely different thing to swim 1.2 miles and then be able to bike and run for another 5.5-6 hours.

Later this week I'll try and do some race calculations and post my time goals and prep lists. Oh crap.

Later.