It's a wrap.

Woo Hoo! I am officially "done" with the 2006 triathlon season. It's been a long year, a good year - but long. I was really looking forward to getting through this last race so I could take some much needed time off. In fact, I was planning on riding the HHH100 next weekend, but you know what? I don't think so! The only reason I was going to do that is so I could get 100 miles in... and why? So I could do that before I take time off? What's the point?

We just got home from Arkansas, did the Degray Lake Iron Mountain Man / Half IM distance race. Damn, was that hard?! It was H-O-T!! I felt really good during the swim and bike (even rode conservatively) but when it came to the run... that was a different story. Big surprise, right? I'm just not a good runner. I'm really not a good runner when it's a ka-jillion degrees outside. It took the first four miles to get my legs under me. It really took everything I had not to quit. I felt SO BAD those first few miles. It totally sucked. I walked so much. My head was killing me, my foot was cramping - it was hot. WAAAHHHHH!!!!!

I kept telling myself that it was my last race, let's finish this with a bang. Don't DNF the last race.... you'll have that to think about for the rest of the year.... Somehow, things just came together for me. I started feeling good, could have been those oranges I ate at one of the aid stations. Whatever it was, it worked. The second loop of the run was pretty damn good! I finished strong and actually placed 1st in my age group. Of course there were only like five people total in my AG, but hey, I'll take the win!! I can't control who shows up to these races, right? Gimme my trophy! :)

This morning I got up and went back to the race site, I did a relay for the sprint triathlon. Lucky me, I only had to do the swim! I got in the water early, had to stretch it out.... I'm so glad I did, too. My body was sooooo stiff. I had a pretty good swim and it was really fun to see all the people out there doing the race. Lots of newbies, which is always great. I really love to see people getting into this sport.

All in all, had a good weekend, feel good about the race season and feel even better that it's over! What am I going to do with my free time? HA! I'm not quitting, people!! I'm just going to take it easy for a couple of weeks before I get on the Ironman training wagon. I'll start my weight / strength training this week or next and start working on technique and skills to help me next year. But for now, it's time to recharge!

:)

Less than a week.

Five days actually, before the Degray Half. Am I prepared? Not really. Am I excited? Not so much. Am I scared? Kind of! Why am I doing it? Good question. I want to see where I am with a longer race. I am using this as a gauge for my Ironman training. Is that sick or what? Well, at least I got a free entry!!

I am just tired of training. It's also been HOT as SHIT in Dallas. Who wants to train at the ass crack 'o' dawn every morning? If you don't you can feel the heat coming up from the ground and I swear, if I run any slower my shoes will literally melt to the pavement!! Imagine what it's like when you step in a big pile of chewed bubble gum.... that's what my shoes would look like if I ran after work! I haven't been swimming as much as I'd like. Let's face it, I haven't been taking this race seriously. I decided it would be a training day, and well that was it. If I didn't feel like swimming - I just didn't! This may bite me in the ass on Saturday.... I'm a little nervous. I did go to the pool today and the thought entered my head "what if I had to DNF during the swim?!!" Oh geez, I can get through this. It just seems funny that I haven't been too worried about this race. I remember when I trained for my first and second halves.... I really focused on my workouts, my peak weekend and my taper. I've kind of made up my own training schedule (which of course fluctuates based on how tired / bored I get), but now I'm just kind of winging it. Again, training day. I just need to keep telling myself that. Training day, training day, training day. Long training day.

So, I've got the rest of the week - then race day. Then the next weekend is HHH100. Then I get to rest!! Woo HOOOOO!! Party time!! I can NOT wait to take some serious time off. I need a break. I am thinking about taking some time off work too. Just to spend quality time at home getting my stuff in order. I'm just burned out on everything right now. Work has been extrememly busy and stressful for the past couple of weeks. I knew it would be - I just didn't expect to feel so down in the dumps. Literally, I've felt like I could just start crying at work for the past several days. I just need to get through this busy time. It doesn't seem to ever be at the right times - if I'm busy at work it just happens to coincide with a busy training schedule - then something has to give. Why can't I have the busy work week when I'm not training for a race?? Why can't I be near my peak training when work is slow? Oh yeah, Murphy's Law. Right.

It doesn't matter anyways. Who cares how long it takes me to finish the race? At least I'm doing them, dammit. Too bad I spent a small fortune for my bike though. That alone makes me feel like I really should try! Why would I invest in a piece of equipment, then not use it to it's full potential? Poor LeTigre. He needs to run fast. I'm going to work the bike this weekend. I love my LeTigre. I just hope me and LeTigre click next year! I guess we hadn't established a good relationship during the Ironman training this time around. With the multiple chain breaks, then the dreaded crash. I thought LeTigre was a lemon. Maybe he just needs to be tamed.

Okay - this is really going off the deep end....

Need to get rest. This is the taper week, less is more when it comes to workouts, quality not quantity. BUT - more is more when it comes to sleep. and I need some!

night night, little tiger.

Good Weekend of workouts....

Friday = Off - was tired from a very busy and stressful week of work, needed the rest.

Saturday = rode 40 miles. This was a short ride and it felt super easy. It was nice to be done with a workout so quickly! I rode w/ Stephanie and it was a great, relaxing ride. Later I got a much needed massage. My legs and butt were SO SORE from my three workouts on Wednesday (early morning run, resistance test / training at Baylor, hill ride in the evening) followed up by a challenging run on Thursday morning which included guess what? More hills! The massage felt good plus Donald always stretches my legs out too, which is most helpful.

Sunday = 13 mile run. I actually felt really good on this run. I was expecting the last couple of miles to hurt but I was fine. I have been taking more endurolytes lately, and I think this is really helping on the longer bike rides and runs during this crazy ass heat.

I'm two weeks out from the Degray half. I'm going into this purely as a training day, not a racing day. I just need to see where I am physically and mentally for a longer event. This should be a good check point for me. Whatever my problems are during the race, I'll have plenty of time to address and work on them for the next year in my Ironman preparations. I just hope that it's not a total disaster! A year isn't THAT long!!

For now, I'm feeling pretty good about training, I'm not completely burned out but I'm getting antzy for some time off!! I've got Degray, then Hotter 'n' Hell - then we're done for a while! Woooooo Hooooooo!!!! I can work on the house! I can get a pedicure that will last longer than one week!

happy training.