Ready or Not

Here I go! My first Tri is a week away from Sunday and I feel very excited and prepared. Funny that I still have nerves though! I did the Redbud Classic ride last Saturday and despite the fact that I couldn't feel my finger or toes (due to the cold) the whole way, it didn't stop me. It was a nice ride (wish my time would have been faster, but hey, I was out there to have fun after all.)

I am running the OU Health Science Center 5k tomorrow morning because I want to beat my time from last year. Also thinking of it as a little extra before the race next weekend.

Swim practice the last 2 weeks has been awesome. My times are improving drastically and I am having a blast.
Tuesday night I swam a 600m in 9:54 and then a 500m in 7:45. 8 weeks ago Dave (coach) thought I would do a 500m in 10 minutes.
I swam a 400m last night (timed by Dave) and it was right on my mark where he thinks I should be. 8:02...he said I can do it faster, but I was really relaxed and not even outta breath after finishing. This is how I want to be when I come out of the water and heading into T1.
I know that I can do it faster, but being relaxed is the key here...still have to bike and run.

I am going to head to Claremore on Saturday so I can ride the bike course, then jog/walk the run course. I like being familiar with the course. When I race, I race mostly against the course and myself. I know that my competition is lurking out there with me, but the course is more of an enemy than they are. This is how I prepare for every race...pre-race course examination. I hope I am not the only one who does this!

Example:
The 5k I have tomorrow is a great course, but hilly! (Oh I hate hills!!!) I ran it 4 times last year to be prepared. I haven't had time to run it this year because I have been training for my tris. I was going to run it at lunch today, but I forgot about that my boss's birthday was today (thank God for calendar reminders!) and also my husband convinced me otherwise. He told me I was ready...I didn't need to run it, I knew it (the course) and could smoke my time from last year. Also he said just rest! I feel like if I don't get it in I am missing something? My brain is saying go run it, go run it, go run it! (but didn't pack my damn running shoes, and running in 3" heels is not an option. :) Maybe after work I will drive it, just to let the course know I am here and ready to take it on.

I feel like courses are such a battle...not only physically, but mentally. Challenging me to take them on...waiting for me to step foot, trying to stop me, but at this point I feel like a train at full speed...nothing will stop me!