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September 17, 2008
Leaving tomorrow for Oregon!!
Well I am just so excited and nervous I can hardly stand it. I think flying to any race adds pressure because I am constantly thinking about the financial and time investment it's taken to go to this race - when you add up flights, bike transport, hotel, rental car, time off from work, etc., etc., it becomes very expensive to travel for a race! I am also flipping out a little about the level of competition I will face, but I just have to know that I can mix it up with those girls and start the race calm and confident. Luckily I have a 2 1/2 hour flight tomorrow on which I can visualize my race and work on the mental aspects of the competition. I feel like triathlon is way more mental, at least for me, than a running race. I am so confident about running because I've been doing it forever - but with triathlon, I think this will be maybe my 7th or 8th tri ever?
I feel confident but in ways I still feel like such a rookie. I have still not mastered (or even really attempted) a flying mount/dismount, because I would feel like such an idiot if I crashed my bike coming into transition. So I am just going to have to transition as fast as I can without all the professional-looking stunts. I also still have a road bike with aero bars so I feel like maybe the other girls will think I'm a bit less serious than them.
Anyway as you can see I am a big ball of nerves and nervous energy. I can't wait to get through this taper and race and get back into training. I can hardly believe I'm saying this but I really miss those 3000 meter swims, and I really miss lifting!! WTF. I used to hate lifting with a fiery flaming passion. Maybe the fact that I am fully jacked now makes me enjoy it more - I can see my muscles getting bigger and stronger. Or right now I can see them wasting away!
One thing I do enjoy about tapering, however, is the additional free time I have. I have had an awesome social life this week, and I get to sleep a lot and still get into work early. This morning I woke up at 6:10, did two workouts (easy 30:00 run and 1000 meter swim), and was at my desk by 8:00. How awesome is that! Tonight I have an easy 45:00 ride and then I am going to run a few errands. Since my new bike is on its way to Oregon (hopefully - this is one source of stress but you know I can't control it so I just have to stop worrying), I have been riding my old steel bike and it is so awesome. Steel is a super cushy material, it feels like I am riding around on a sofa. It doesn't even have a computer so it feels kind of ghetto but in an awesome old school way, not a lame way. Tomorrow is my travel day and a day off from workouts so I am going to sleep in until 7:00, run two errands, and then my mom is picking me up and I am making her go to breakfast. Breakfast foods are so awesome, I think it will be a great way to fuel up for the race. Then we will head to the airport and I will be on my way to Oregon!! It is really so exciting when I think about it - new state, new level of competition, all kinds of awesome stuff. As much as I say I am freaking out I am so excited to see how I can do at this level. I feel like my training has been smart (or as smart as possible with my crazy travel schedule), I have total confidence in my coaches, and I am ready to have a truly awesome race.
That is about all for today, I am going to go try not to bounce all my energy out!!
Posted by barb at September 17, 2008 9:13 AM
Comments
Yeah Barb!! Good luck!! And most importantly...have fun. And don't worry. There will be lots of people on road bikes. Very few people do flying mounts/dismounts. You BELONG!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!
Posted by: Beth at September 17, 2008 11:20 AM