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May 28, 2008
new bike, new age group, things are looking up!
Well I tell you what, I am just having such a fun year so far. Now that I am focusing on tri's this year it is really helping me stay sane. Last year was just so tough, I felt like I did not really do as well in triathlon or running as I could have, because I had a split focus. But this year, it is all about the tri!
And it really is just a big year for me, I cannot wait to see how my first race goes. I am so nervous and excited about it. I am really afraid I may have high expectations which is always a problem. My college coach always used to tell us to have low expectations going into races. This was so that we would not get over-excited and go out way too fast. In triathlon, for me it is even more critical to lower expectations because if they are too high I will freak out in the swim and doggy paddle, which will pretty much ruin my chances for a good swim, and thus for placing high in my age group. So I am glad I am getting all my pre-race anxiety out now, while I am not in the water waiting to start. It is so weird, I can literally feel my heart rate accelerating and my stomach tying itself into knots just sitting here.
Also, in my pre-race anxiety or something, I forgot to announce that I am moving up to the 30-34 age group this year. How exciting! People are always saying that it's more competitive, but based on last year's results it is less competitive in Boulder than 25-29. It is also slower at age group nationals from last year. However, now that I am in the group, my luck may make it the most competitive age group ever :) Hopefully not! I am not really crazy about being 30, but I am excited about being in a new age group, especially because my Denver BFF is also in this age group. It will be fun to have someone to start races with (and hopefully use for drafting in the swim, ha!).
I am also super excited about my new bike. It is really sweet and although I did not expect this it seems to be making me faster, especially now that it is basically a tri geometry. I rode the course for the sprint triathlon I'm doing in 2 1/2 weeks on Sunday and averaged 20.8 mph, which is faster than my race last year, and it did not feel like a race pace effort. So that is pretty exciting! My stretch goal is to average around 22 mph in my first race. I'm not sure if I can do it, but it seems more doable after my ride this past weekend.
And since I am on a running blogs site and this blog did start as a running blog, I am enjoying my reduced mileage. I am running between 30 and 40 mpw right now on 5 days of running. It seems like nothing, but I do not seem to be getting slower so I am going to go with it, at least through my first race. If my run isn't any slower than last year, I think I will declare success!
That is about all for now. I am busting out a swim (hopefully outdoors, it has actually been freezing the last few days!) at lunch today and then tonight I am doing a ride with my friend Michelle after work. We are apparently doing a speed workout. It should be fun!
Posted by barb at May 28, 2008 8:39 AM
Comments
Hey Barb!
Nice to see you posting again!
Happy -belated- birthday and I will be joining you in that same age group in just a few months!
Posted by: Meghan at May 30, 2008 6:49 PM