My first triathlon of the season is on Sunday... whoo hoo! I'm not feeling ready for it, but somehow I'm ok with that. This past month has been a bit pathetic from a training standpoint -- out for 2 weeks with business travel, another week trying to ramp back up mentally, and the past couple weeks a bit hampered by recurring glute/piriformis pain... which is now much better thanks to a couple expensive trips to the best sports massage place in SF plus the addition of a tennis ball in my stretch/roll routine.
This past week of work has been insanely busy... pretty much 'round the clock computer time. I prioritize sleep in a big way, so if I'm only getting 7 hours of sleep and the rest of the time is work, guess what drops? First, reading blogs and writing. Then training. Argh.
Fortunately I've been able to get in some key workouts... hill repeats have been great and much needed for the super-hilly Wildflower run course. The areas that have taken a hit are strength and swim. Strength I've started back up again for injury prevention, but the swim is still lagging... I'm feeling comfortable and steady in the water. Not to say I don't have a lot of improvement to make on the swim, but I'm not stressed about it like I am the run and bike.
Preparing for Wildflower is unlike any other triathlon. 8000 athletes are camping this weekend at Lake San Antonio, and I need to remember all my camping gear PLUS all my training gear. It's a blast, but it's hard to get good sleep the night before the race. Keys for me are a big blow-up mattress covered with a foam mattress pad (yes, I make up a full bed in my tent!), earplugs, and a hat (because it's really cold at night.) The good news: latest reports say the water temp is 68! That is total heaven compared to my last Aquatic Park swim at 53 (yet another reason I'm not stressed about the swim.)
So I've been pondering why I'm not stressed about being underprepared. I think it has something to do with a previous post I wrote about excuses.
There's a part of me that's scared of this process. I may pour a ton of time, energy, and my heart into this and then not succeed at the level I'd expect from the time investment. I won't have the excuse of "well, I didn't really try." That was my easy excuse last year, and it's probably why I wasn't nervous for any of my races. I didn't put a lot in, so I didn't expect a lot out. This year is different.
I think I lost my nervousness about my race because I now have excuses. "I had to travel. I had to deal with another injury. I got crushed under a mountain of work." Mind you, I'm not ok with this realization, but it helps to have some self-awareness and see old habit patterns. It was helpful to go back and re-read that post. I want to be nervous for Honu. I want to feel like I really did prepare and do the work. I somehow lost the fire in my belly, and I'm hoping that the immersive Wildflower experience will help to bring it back. That, and nailing some key workouts in the coming weeks.... that seems to do the trick as well.
I think the single biggest benefit that triathlon has given me (and continues to give) is a mirror to see what's going on in my head and the barriers I put up to block my own success. This is a very interesting journey.
Putting barriers up to block success is SO common! Though I don't see it that way in your case this year... It's not like you planned your work and travel so you wouldn't have to train. ;) Go have FUN at Wildflower! Enjoy the fact that you are healthy/fit enough to be out there... thank the volunteers, smile at the scenery, enjoy the camping time with your friends. I would LOVE to be at Wildflower this weekend! :)
Posted by: Michelle Simmons | 04/27/2011 at 10:31 PM
Great attitude, though you don't need any excuses. I can't imagine anyone really feels prepared for their first triathlon. Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Kovas | 04/28/2011 at 05:21 AM
Good luck this weekend; don't forget to have fun!!!
Posted by: Mary Tanner | 04/28/2011 at 05:28 AM
Have a great time this weekend and enjoy the warm water and sunshine!
Posted by: Molly | 04/28/2011 at 10:03 AM
Have a great race! Glad the h2o temps are perfect-just have fun out there. The course is beautiful and the crazy people on the run course keep you going when you don't want to! Party party afterwards!
Posted by: cheryl | 04/29/2011 at 06:48 AM
Congrats on your 3:17! great time for that course...your AG had over 100+ ladies in it? Amazing!
Posted by: cheryl | 05/01/2011 at 04:37 PM